Summary

The undefined website features an exploration of AI-generated street photography, where the author uses Midjourney AI to emulate the styles of renowned photographers like Vivian Maier, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Diane Arbus, and Garry Winogrand.

Abstract

The article delves into the author's experimentation with AI image generation, specifically using Midjourney AI, to create street photography that mimics the styles of famous street photographers. The author, who has a background in street photography, provides insights into the unique characteristics of each photographer's work and compares the AI-generated images to the authenticity of real street photography. The piece highlights the AI's ability to produce striking visuals that resemble the photographers' styles but also acknowledges the limitations of AI in capturing the genuine human moments and the "decisive moment" that real street photography encapsulates.

Opinions

The author appreciates the AI's ability to generate images that capture the essence of street photography but notes they may lack the raw human character present in the works of photographers like Vivian Maier.
There is a recognition of the AI's potential to pay homage to the styles of historical figures in photography, such as Henri Cartier-Bresson, yet the results are seen as too digital and not quite capturing the authenticity of the original works.
The author expresses admiration for Diane Arbus's ability to connect with subjects, elevating photography to fine art, and suggests that AI-generated images fall short of this human touch.
Garry Winogrand's preference for capturing people and cars in interaction is acknowledged, with the AI's attempts at replicating this seen as modern and somewhat accurate, yet still missing the realness of actual documentary-type photos.
The article concludes with a strong opinion that real street photographers are irreplaceable, as they capture real moments that AI cannot replicate, and emphasizes the importance of authenticity in photography, especially in the context of documentary and fine art street photography.

Midjourney AI ‘Imagines’ Street Photography From The Greats

The image generator produces some striking results, but not all the magic of the real thing.

Prompt: **Photo of a pretty girl hanging out car window**. A street photo in the style of Vivian Maier, by Midjourney v4

Here’s something you may not know about me: before getting addicted to AI image generation (or promptism as it’s sometimes referred to as), I was an avid street photographer.

While I tried to keep the hobby going during the pandemic, I found myself going out less often (sometimes due to lockdowns), and as a result, I lost some of my confidence to shoot strangers. I did take advantage of more indoor time to put together a street photography book, containing my best candids over 20 years or so.

I love encountering the unexpected on the streets — you never know what’s around the corner when you’re out with your camera, much like I never quite know what AI generators will interpret from my prompts.

Naturally, I decided to blend my love for the two creative expressions with the help of Midjourney v4. For each image, I imagined a scene that famous street shooters might have photographed (based on their body of work). Then I asked the algorithm to render it in the particular photographer’s style. I chose some of the greats for this experiment — Vivian Maier, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Diane Arbus, and Garry Winogrand.

Let’s dive in…

1. Vivian Maier

If you don’t know about this photographer, you should. She was largely unknown with a collection of undeveloped negatives that were discovered at auction. She has now gone on posthumously to be known as one of the best candid photographers ever.

Part of the secret to up-close and personal photo style on the streets was her twin reflex camera, which required her to look down into the viewfinder. Many people did not realize their image was being taken when she did this.

It was in the 1950’s when she started capturing scenes in New York City (and Chicago). She continued on to shoot colour film on various 35mm cameras in the 1970's.

Anyways, everything about this woman is fascinating — from her secluded nature as a nanny, to her discovered treasure trove of negatives. Check out her official site and see all of her best work, it’s worth it.

Here’s how Midjourney pays tribute to her style:

Prompt: street photo of woman looking over shoulder, in style of Vivian Maier

Prompt: street photograph of kids playing, in style of Vivian Maier

I like how the samples capture the purity of the streets that Maier’s photos also did — but they’re almost too pure. Maier often chose people with real character in their faces.

2. Henri Cartier-Bresson

He is widely considered to be the father of modern street photography, and for good reason. Born in 1908, he was an early adopter of 35mm film — and mastered the art of candid photography in black and white.

His archived work uses contrast, form, and movement to create striking scenes from the everyday. Some of his best works capture the “decisive moment” — a phrase he coined for the perfect time to click the shutter.

I asked Midjourney to imagine a scene in his style, and this is what it came up with:

Prompt: moving silhouettes, street photography, high contrast, in style of Henri Cartier-Bresson

It looks a little too “digital” to be Cartier-Bresson’s real work, but it was a good try.

3. Diane Arbus

Like Maier, Arbus was a woman photographer that captured scenes in New York City. However, she gained fame for her work thanks to Esquire magazine in 1960, prior to her death in 1971.

It’s clear she made a connection with many of her subjects, who posed for her in interesting ways. She also became known as an edgy photographer who would shoot in locations other photographers shied away from, such as brothels.

Like Maier, more of her work emerged following her death.

Here’s how Midjourney imagines her work, inspired by one of her most famous frames:

Prompt: young boy in park, in style of Diane Arbus

Arbus is regarded as the photographer that elevated photography to fine art status.

4. Garry Winogrand

This was another photographer in New York that had the gift of capturing interesting moments on film. He shot many of his photos between the 1950’s and 1980’s, eventually shooting in colour.

I noticed from looking at his work that he liked to capture people and cars, whether standing beside them or driving by in them. He also liked groups of people interacting. So I had Midjourney conjure images with both of these themes:

Prompt: couple driving by in car, side view, in style of Garry Winogrand

Prompt: street photo of people interacting on bench, in style of Garry Winogrand

I like Midjourney’s modern touch of the people on the bench ignoring each other.

The real street photographers win

The street images generated by the machine are quite impressive. However, as I said in this article about my photography vs. AI, photographers will always be needed. We will always need real moments to fill newspapers, and be accepted as fine art street photography.

There’s a realness to actual documentary-type photos that can’t quite be replicated by an algorithm yet. Even if it could, reputable newspapers would generally not run a faked scene (although it’s happened before, and probably will again.)

Besides, snapping images on the streets is half the fun, and it’s good exercise! If you’re too timid to point your camera at strangers, spend some time researching all of the great photographers mentioned here.