Learning more about my current project by doing a different project in between. | Continue reading
Over 25 weeks, I tested whether AI can match the emotion and imperfection of human photography. The results? AI is fast and functional but still sterile. Here’s what this experiment reveals about the future of photography in the age of AI. | Continue reading
The soul of an image can not and will not be generated by computers. Humans create human experiences. Humans connect to human experiences. Computers are mimicking that very closely, but you can always tell. | Continue reading
Whatever time I have left, I spend wrecking my brain over the conclusions of this soon-to-be 25 weeks of AI-experimentation. It's taking shape, albeit slowly, and this week is very helpful with that. | Continue reading
We're slowly reaching conclusions in the final weeks of this experiment. Now is the time to share your suggestions if you still want to become part of it. | Continue reading
Why take it upon myself to dedicate my time and energy towards a goal that isn’t even clearly visible from the beginning. Will it matter if I don’t? What do I contribute, do I want to contribute? Why? To what? Again, why? | Continue reading
To bring the 2025 series of Closer to a fruitful end, bestowed upon us is the opportunity to revisit its first editions. A newly release GPT-5 Prompting Guide breathes new life into our previously tried tests. | Continue reading
To bring the 2025 series of Closer to a fruitful end, bestowed upon us is the opportunity to revisit its first editions. A newly release GPT-5 Prompting Guide breathes new life into our previously tried tests. | Continue reading
GPT-5 is out and underwhelming. Our mini six-week experiment has come to an end. There's only five more regular editions of this newsletter before we wrap up with some preliminary conclusions in edition #25. | Continue reading
GPT-5 is out and underwhelming. Our mini six-week experiment has come to an end. There's only five more regular editions of this newsletter before we wrap up with some preliminary conclusions in edition #25. | Continue reading
GPT-5 is out! That's just in time for the last edition of our 6-week experiment using the same image. I'm curious to find out of this new model brings any improvements. | Continue reading
The second-to-last edition of this experiment within an experiment, where AI gets to not only describe the image, and then generate an image based on said description, but also determine how to describe the image. Succes, finally? | Continue reading
We're back to work with rediscovered vigor and, hopefully, new-found focus. | Continue reading
A walk from one edge of a city to the other — west to east, north to south. A straight line through a place to see what connects its opposite sides. | Continue reading
After this week, there's two editions of the same image being described in different ways. Thankfully, because it's not bringing us anywhere. But that's interesting to note in itself too. | Continue reading
We are sixteen weeks into this experiment, and I'm unsure if this is still providing value. This is the third week we let AI decide how to prompt and the results are... well, you be the judge. | Continue reading
Week two of our 'experiment within an ongoing experiment' where AI is not only doing the image description and generation, but is also deciding the prompting to get to that description. | Continue reading
Hey, so, thought: you know how we're already generating AI-images, based on AI-descriptions of real life images, right? What if... we also asked ChatGPT how to properly ask for those descriptions? Would that make it better? | Continue reading
I'm reconsidering my approach, but I'm not sure I'm willing to change it. Not right now. These are still interesting times we live in. | Continue reading
Tears of relief as I'm waist-deep in the ocean, trying to see if I can dance still. I can, I think, I CAN, I scream. So that's how we make our way over the island. Curious to learn, relieved the fire still burns. | Continue reading
Imagine a cat behind a closed door, only paws and nose peeking from under the small crack between the door and the floor. Now imagine it again. How different are those results? Quite a lot, as it turns out. | Continue reading
We all know things can get weird in AI image land. But what if you give it a weird image? Will we get twice the weirdness or will they balance each other out? | Continue reading
SHOCKER: Asking AI for a direct replication of your work will give you a direct replication of your work. But does it really? | Continue reading
This one is for my Amersfoort folks. It goes Tjommies, OostWest 1, OostWest City, Van Zanten, OostWest, Van Zanten, OW, VZ, OW, VZ, Tjommies, OW, VZ, OW, VZ, OW, VZ | Continue reading
Learning that it's the imperfections of our actions causing things to feel real is one of this week's biggest take-aways. And that's something I think we should ponder on for some time. | Continue reading
Eight weeks in. Time to evaluate early results and recalibrate accordingly. What other directions should we take this experiment in? | Continue reading
Not to ruffle someone's feathers but a little birdie told me to continue this newsletter until the pecking order between us, beautifully flawed and inherently creative humans, and AI, the ever logical mimicker of life, has been determined. Who comes out on top this week? | Continue reading
By popular demand, ChatGPT gets pushed aside to give Midjourney its chance to shine. This is also the first time I'm using a self portrait as the base image. What do I look like according to AI? | Continue reading
Four cities, thousands of images, endless new impressions, one additional newsletter. April, 2025, was a rich, full month that allowed me to tap into my wanderlust as well as organize my thoughts a little. | Continue reading
What happens when an image is described super accurately, to the point that you can picture the thing in your mind with ease? Does AI have the same skills? | Continue reading
On the surface, things seem to be looking good. But look more closely, and you'll find that fiction is, thankfully, still stranger than reality. | Continue reading
I purposely chose to share a relatively complex black and white image with ChatGPT for this week's entry. Lots of layers and many things going on in the frame. The black and white edit also provides the AI with less context. How does it perform? | Continue reading
Although AI perfectly describes my input photograph, it somehow isn't able to reproduce an image that's the same as the original. | Continue reading
A surprising start to this new experiment. Using one of my favorite portfolio images from 2023, ChatGPT both accurately describes as well as impressively generates an image based on my original work. | Continue reading
Closer is a weekly newsletter where I take one of my photos, ask AI to describe it, then see what kind of image it can generate from its own description—an ongoing experiment in the capabilities of AI, and what that means for humans. | Continue reading
Surely a city with many flaws, but none that I personally witnessed and/or impacted me during this trip. This city treated me well. | Continue reading
Packing for a weekend trip? Less is more. In just two days, you won’t need half the things you think you do. This guide breaks down how to travel light, choose the right bag, and pack only the essentials—so you can move freely and focus on the experience, not your luggage. | Continue reading
I ditched overpacking for minimalist travel. Discover how I learned to pack light and travel freely, and find the tips that helped me simplify my journeys. | Continue reading
Travel light. See more. Experience fully. Packless is your guide to minimalist travel and photography, helping you refine your gear, simplify your approach, and focus on what truly matters: the journey. Explore the toolkit and start your path to unburdened, effortless adventure. | Continue reading
I haven't made an app. I'm pitching the idea of an app. One that doesn't exist currently (to my knowledge) but could exist. Using the iPhone's Back Tap functionality to alleviate and 'track' anxiety | Continue reading
The second edition of my Doe Gewoon writing camp photo essays. Is this going to be a series? | Continue reading
Vang de ziel van je huisdier (met een persoonlijke twist). Ze vormen een klein deel van ons leven, maar voor hen zijn wij alles. Dat is het vastleggen waard. | Continue reading
Image licensing made quick, simple and affordable. Straight from my extensive personal archive. | Continue reading
A project started in 2021, continues in 2025. | Continue reading
A peek through my archive allows me to remember what a year it has been, again. It's easy to forget the details when you don't document them. Thankfully I do. This is my 2024 in review, using the b-side images that I never shared before. | Continue reading