Inspired by Guy Billout and Insight

The original inspiration for this project came from the work of Guy Billout.

I first saw his work when my brother shared some images with me. I saw a lot of meaning in these images and as a way to explore these ideas a little more, I planned to create a series of composite images inspired by Guy’s work. In more conversation about the meaning in these with my brother I just love what he had to say:

“It’s cathartic for me because the topics play with the tension between natural and unnatural elements and people’s search for meaning in an increasingly meaningless and modern world.”

How Insight got involved:

I had been following photographer Sam Hurd‘s work through the development of this new AI-assisted creative tool called Insight. I really appreciate Sam’s perspective on how AI technology can be used as a tool for creative work while maintaining your own authenticity as an artist. When this thoughtfully crafted program became available I was curious to try it with my composite work, so I used this Guy Billout project idea as a way to test out Insight. And it turns out to be a great fit with the original ideas of this tension between natural and unnatural elements, and finding meaning.

How Insight works: Upload a photo either directly from your camera or text it from your phone and receive 4 AI-generated images to consider for potential ideas specific to who and where you are photographing. Check out more details here!

A Few Takeaways

This was so much fun to work with!!

This project was like having a conversation with the images I make. I would reflect on what I just created, get outside input/a different perspective after running it through Insight, and then incorporate what I wanted into the second image. 

Using Insight like this felt like a little nudge saying, “what else can you create if you go just a little further with this idea?” And it was always fun to wait (just over a minute) in anticipation after sending off an image to see what would come back!

It was a challenge sometimes to not fall into copying the AI images, they were so beautiful to me. And sometimes there was more replication than others. But I would keep returning focus to what specific pieces I wanted to incorporate and expand from there. Make it my own. And I think this mindset is really valuable when creating anything! Inspiration is everywhere, so how can you absorb it and transform it into something unique to you?

The First Set in Depth

The very first image I created did feel a little forced, or maybe more like replicating someone else’s work closely. I didn’t spend a lot of time on it, I was more so eager to send something to Insight. When I looked at it I thought; I’m following the bright shinny thing, someone else’s guidance/direction. And this is exactly not what I want to be doing.

What I received back absolutely lit me up inside! So imaginative, playful!

What I was most interested in from these images was the lighting. There was just a little light left coming in my window so I collected a few portraits in lighting I never would have considered before. For the composite, I chose the one that pulled most at me and reused the same background images in different ways. When I look at this one in relation to the first I thought; no longer following someone else’s guidance.

One More Set in Depth

In this one, I used images collected from the lake I grew up on. A tiny cottage built by my grandpa and great grandpa, then passed down to my dad. The light at sunset on the lake always felt like magic.

A little from what I wrote about this one: Maybe this image is about returning to the heart of things for me, the base motivation. Rooted in places that feel warm, simple, nourishing. But also fleeting.

Again, the images I received back were so interesting! What stood out to me in these images were what Insight did with the light sparkling on the water. I can’t really tell what they are, but they were large and closer to the subject. This is the piece I wanted to incorporate in the next composite.

This one holds a special place. I wanted to make the same light sparkling on the water surround me. When I look at this in relation to the first image I think: those places that feel warm, simple and nourishing wrapped all around me.

The Full Collection

Truthfully, I was a little sad to wrap up this project when I used the last of the original portraits taken. Insight ended up being even more interesting than I expected to work with in my composite work. So much so, I continue to incorporate it in my personal work.