Closer #019

Welcome to Closer,

A weekly experiment in AI interpretation: I share a photo, ask AI to describe it, then generate an image from that description. This is edition #019. Prompts are in grey boxes. Descriptions are in italics.

Chat GPT-4o gave me six different Prompt Styles and we've tried them all on the same image over the past six weeks. The first week was hilariously bad, the second week was uneventful, the third week made me question the continued value of this newsletter. The fourth week? More unsuccessful tries. Last week was our last time using GPT-4o for image interpretation and generation. This week, I'm mostly glad this mini-experiment is over.

LLM models used

GPT-4o for prompt engineering
GPT-5 for image interpretation, and image generation.

The input with Prompt Style: Emotion-Focused

Purpose: Draw out feeling first, then form.

The output

This image evokes a strong sense of joy, companionship, and relaxed freedom. Several elements work together to create that feeling:

• Light: The soft, natural daylight — likely early morning or late afternoon — casts a gentle, even illumination over the scene. The lack of harsh shadows gives it a calm, warm, and unhurried vibe.
• Posture: The man’s relaxed, smiling body language as he holds the dog in his arms radiates affection and trust. The dogs appear comfortable and calm in the water, reinforcing the theme of companionship and mutual enjoyment.
• Framing: The composition places the man and dogs prominently in the foreground, while the boat and American flag sit in the background, slightly out of focus. This creates a sense of place without distracting from the emotional core — the connection between human and animals.
• Atmosphere: The clear, turquoise water and open horizon suggest openness, leisure, and escape from daily stress. The presence of the boat hints at adventure and exploration, but the stillness of the moment keeps the focus on peace and contentment rather than adrenaline.

Overall, it feels like a snapshot of a perfect day where time slows down — just a man, his dogs, and the sea.

If you want, I can also break down how the color palette contributes to the emotional tone. That’s doing a lot of work here too.