Inspiration

I found the image below on Susan T. Braithwaite’s website. Here’s what inspired Susan to create this image.

As with many writers, the thought of being able to write without the constant distractions of everyday life is something I dream about. Being able to completely immerse myself in my world of romantic suspense, free from mundane responsibilities…

The fantasy of a wee campervan transformed into a roving office also flits through my mind. Imagine jumping in the van and heading off to inspiring locales, penning stories against the backdrop of nature or bustling cityscapes.

I uploaded it to ChatGPT and asked for a description. ChatGPT responded:

This photograph depicts a serene scene with a vintage camper van parked in a woodland area during what appears to be a sunset. The van's side door is open, revealing a cosy interior with bookshelves, a small desk, and a chair, resembling a compact mobile office or study. Outside the van, there is a typewriter on a small table and books scattered around, suggesting a creative or scholarly pursuit amidst nature. A lantern hangs on the van's side mirror, and another is placed on the ground, enhancing the warm, ambient glow of the scene. The path and the trees are bathed in the golden light of the setting sun, adding to the tranquil and inviting atmosphere of the setting.

I then asked ChatGPT to use the description it had just provided to create a DALL-E prompt to create a new image. Here is the detailed prompt used for the DALL-E generation:

A vintage camper van is parked in a peaceful woodland area during sunset. The side door of the van is open, revealing an interior setup with bookshelves, a small desk, and a chair, creating an impression of a cosy mobile study space. Outside, a typewriter rests on a small table with books around it, suggesting a space for writing and reading amidst nature. A lantern hangs from the van’s side mirror, and another stands on the ground, both emitting a warm light. The surrounding trees are illuminated by the golden hues of the setting sun, contributing to the serene and welcoming environment.

The result.

I asked DALL-E to create a few variations using the same prompt.

I had a lot of fun with this. It was so much fun that I exceeded the daily maximum number of images for DALL-E!

I’ve long dreamed of selling everything (except my Mac and digital camera gear) and embracing a digital nomad lifestyle alongside my wife, Bhavna. I imagine sitting in the quiet glow of a campfire beside an Airstream camper van parked under a star-studded sky. The crackling flames mirrored the spark in Bhavna's eyes. We'd wander through the vast landscapes of the Americas from Canada to Costa Rica, from the rugged Rockies to the serene coastlines of Patagonia, our laptops connecting us to a world of opportunities. With each sunrise, a new adventure. I would work on information technology projects from the heart of nature, my office changing with the seasons. We'd capture the beauty of every place through my photography, creating memories that last a lifetime. Just thinking about it, I feel the wanderlust pulling me closer to a dream I hope will become our reality.

I was inspired by Susan’s original prompt to write a new prompt to create my own imaginary dream space. I used variations of the following prompt.

During sunrise, an Airstream camper van is parked in a peaceful tropical woodland area. The van’s side door is open, revealing an interior setup with a two-person bed, creating an impression of a cosy mobile bedroom space. Outside, an open Apple MacBook and a compact ILC mirrorless camera rest on a small table with a chair, suggesting a space for writing and photo editing amidst nature. A camera backpack and open tripod are on the ground just outside the side door to the camper van. The surrounding tropical trees are illuminated by the golden hues of the rising sun, contributing to the serene and welcoming environment. Generate a large 3:2 ratio image.

So, what’s the greatest gift someone can give me? Inspiration. Thank you, Susan T. Braithwaite!!

From what I've learned about U.S. copyright laws, artwork created entirely by AI, without any human input, can't be copyrighted. My conversation with DALL-E suggests that things are more complicated.

To be clear:

I, Khürt Williams, hereby release all of my images created using DALL·E under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License (CC BY-SA 4.0). This means that anyone is free to share, copy, redistribute, and adapt these images, even commercially, as long as they provide appropriate credit to me, indicate if changes were made, and distribute any modified material under the same license as the original. By applying the CC BY-SA 4.0 license to my DALL·E-created images, I am promoting open and accessible use of these works, while ensuring that I am credited for my original creation.

Author:Khürt Williams

A human who works in information security and enjoys photography, Formula 1 and craft ale.