AI Captures the Essence, But Misses the Angle: A Study in Aesthetic Style with Imagen-v3-fast
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The ‘dramatic’ aesthetic, characterized by heightened emotions, striking contrasts, and a sense of grandeur, is often used in visual storytelling to evoke powerful feelings in the viewer. This style is frequently employed in film, photography, and even video games to create impactful scenes and memorable moments. In this blog post, we explore the capabilities of AI in capturing this aesthetic, analyzing the results of a recent experiment that tested its ability to generate images based on specific prompts.
Created with: imagen-v3-fast
Silhouetted Against the Setting Sun: A Moment of Solitude
A lone figure stands in a desolate landscape, bathed in the golden hues of a dramatic sunset. The silhouette against the mountains evokes a sense of melancholic contemplation and mystery, leaving the viewer to ponder the figure’s thoughts and the story behind their isolation.
Prompt
style-aesthetic Expressionist: Epic, determined ; A lone figure, silhouetted against a blazing sunset; wide shot; Heroism; A vast, desolate landscape with towering mountains in the distance; cinematic
Characteristic
Shot : A lone figure stands in a desolate landscape, facing a dramatic sunset over a range of mountains.
Aesthetic Score : 0.7
Mood : melancholic, contemplative, mysterious
Quality
Entropy : 6.83
Noise : 55
Prompt Clip Score : 0.30
AI Evaluation
Likelihood of AI : 0.90
Image errors : The image appears to be slightly over-saturated, and there are some minor artifacts in the background mountains.
Lost in the Mist: A Winding Path Beckons
A misty forest whispers secrets as a cobblestone path disappears into the fog. The atmosphere is thick with mystery, inviting you to explore the unknown.
Prompt
style-aesthetic Expressionist: Mysterious, suspenseful ; A winding, cobblestone path disappearing into a dense, swirling fog; low-angle shot; Adventure; A dark, foreboding forest with gnarled trees and flickering shadows; cinematic
Characteristic
Shot : A winding cobblestone path through a misty forest. The path leads into the distance, where the fog obscures the view.
Aesthetic Score : 0.8
Mood : mysterious, eerie, atmospheric
Quality
Entropy : 6.85
Noise : 110
Prompt Clip Score : 0.33
AI Evaluation
Likelihood of AI : 0.20
Image errors : Some of the leaves on the ground look slightly unnatural, as if they were added in post-processing. There is also a faint amount of digital noise visible in the shadows.
Cyberpunk Enigma: A Look into the Future
A young woman with piercing eyes stares directly at the viewer, shrouded in mystery against a backdrop of futuristic technology. The lighting and composition create a sense of intrigue, drawing you into a world of cyberpunk allure.
Prompt
style-aesthetic Expressionist: Intense, futuristic ; A pixelated character, illuminated by the glow of a computer screen; close-up; Gaming; A chaotic, neon-lit cityscape with flashing lights and distorted reflections; cinematic
Characteristic
Shot : A young woman with short, blonde hair is wearing a dark green hoodie and is looking directly at the viewer. She is standing in front of a futuristic background that has screens and glowing lights.
Aesthetic Score : 0.7
Mood : mysterious, cyberpunk, futuristic
Quality
Entropy : 6.40
Noise : 61
Prompt Clip Score : 0.33
AI Evaluation
Likelihood of AI : 0.90
Image errors : The image is slightly blurry and the woman’s face looks a bit unnatural. The background is also a bit too generic and repetitive.
Sunset Majesty: A Historic Church Bathed in Golden Light
A grand, historic church with ornate architecture stands majestically in a bustling city square at sunset. The warm light of the setting sun illuminates the church’s facade, casting long shadows across the cobblestone ground. The scene evokes a sense of tranquility, majesty, and history, with the contrast between the church’s grandeur and the lively activity in the square creating a dynamic visual tension.
Prompt
style-aesthetic Expressionist: Awe-inspiring, spiritual ; A towering, ancient cathedral bathed in the golden light of dawn; high-angle shot; Tourism; A bustling, crowded marketplace with vibrant colors and exotic goods; cinematic
Characteristic
Shot : A grand, historic church with ornate architecture stands in a bustling city square at sunset. People are gathered in the square, creating a lively atmosphere. The warm light of the setting sun illuminates the church’s facade, casting long shadows across the cobblestone ground.
Aesthetic Score : 0.8
Mood : tranquil, majestic, historical
Quality
Entropy : 6.83
Noise : 69
Prompt Clip Score : 0.30
AI Evaluation
Likelihood of AI : 0.20
Image errors : The image appears to have some minor compression artifacts, particularly visible in the areas of darker shadows.
Racing Towards the Horizon: A Dramatic Train Journey
A train hurtles through a vast, dry landscape under a sky brimming with dramatic clouds. The motion blur captures the exhilarating speed, while the muted colors and distant patches of green add a touch of mystery and adventure to this captivating scene.
Prompt
style-aesthetic Expressionist: Surreal, disorienting ; A train speeding through a surreal, dreamlike landscape; long shot; Travel; A distorted, abstract landscape with swirling colors and shifting shapes; cinematic
Characteristic
Shot : A train speeding through a flat, open landscape under a dramatic sky with clouds. The image is shot from the perspective of a passenger on the train, with the train filling the foreground and the horizon in the background. The landscape is mostly brown and dry, with some patches of green vegetation in the distance.
Aesthetic Score : 0.6
Mood : dramatic, adventurous, fast
Quality
Entropy : 6.80
Noise : 63
Prompt Clip Score : 0.31
AI Evaluation
Likelihood of AI : 0.70
Image errors : The blur effect on the landscape and clouds is overly dramatic and unrealistic. The motion blur on the train is also exaggerated, resulting in a rather cartoonish feel. These imperfections detract from the overall realism of the scene.
Shadows and Secrets: A Man’s Contemplation in the Dark Attic
A single candle casts an ethereal glow on a man’s face, illuminating his pensive expression in the shadowy depths of an attic. The low-light setting and his contemplative pose evoke a sense of mystery and suspense, leaving the viewer to wonder what secrets lie hidden in the darkness.
Prompt
style-aesthetic Expressionist: Eerie, introspective ; A lone figure hunches over a flickering candle in a dusty, forgotten attic, their face obscured by shadows.; cinematic
Characteristic
Shot : A man is sitting in a dark attic with a lit candle in front of him. The light from the candle is illuminating his face and the wooden floor.
Aesthetic Score : 0.7
Mood : mysterious, suspenseful, somber
Quality
Entropy : 5.82
Noise : 35
Prompt Clip Score : 0.28
AI Evaluation
Likelihood of AI : 0.10
Image errors : No visible artifacts or errors
Lost in the Storm’s Embrace
A solitary figure stands on a windswept cliff, gazing out at a tumultuous sea. The dramatic lighting and stormy sky create a sense of foreboding and mystery, while the man’s contemplative pose evokes a feeling of melancholic introspection.
Prompt
style-aesthetic Expressionist: Dramatic, contemplative ; A lone figure standing on a precipice, gazing out at a stormy sea; medium shot; Heroism; A dramatic, stormy seascape with crashing waves and swirling clouds; cinematic
Characteristic
Shot : A man stands on a rocky cliff overlooking a vast, stormy sea. The sky is dark and dramatic, with heavy clouds overhead. The man is dressed in a long coat and appears to be lost in thought, gazing out at the churning waves.
Aesthetic Score : 0.7
Mood : dramatic, melancholic, contemplative
Quality
Entropy : 6.95
Noise : 79
Prompt Clip Score : 0.30
AI Evaluation
Likelihood of AI : 0.20
Image errors : Slight blurriness around the edges of the image, particularly on the man’s clothing.
Secrets in the Shadows: A Medieval Hallway Beckons
Step into a long, dark, and narrow stone hallway in a medieval castle. Arched ceilings and dim lighting cast eerie shadows, while tapestries and flickering torches line the walls. A sense of mystery and intrigue hangs in the air, hinting at secrets waiting to be uncovered.
Prompt
style-aesthetic Expressionist: Confusing, suspenseful ; A labyrinthine maze of twisting corridors and flickering lights; low-angle shot; Adventure; A dark, claustrophobic dungeon with dripping water and eerie shadows; cinematic
Characteristic
Shot : A long, dark, and narrow stone hallway in a medieval castle with arched ceilings and dim lighting. There are tapestries hanging on the walls and torches along the sides of the hallway.
Aesthetic Score : 0.7
Mood : mysterious, foreboding, suspenseful
Quality
Entropy : 6.62
Noise : 93
Prompt Clip Score : 0.31
AI Evaluation
Likelihood of AI : 0.90
Image errors : The image has some artifacts and errors, such as the repetitive pattern of the stones on the floor and the unrealistic lighting. There are also some visible seams in the image, especially around the edges of the walls.
Escape to a Futuristic Dreamscape
Immerse yourself in a vibrant virtual city bathed in the golden glow of a distant sunset. The contrast between the dark headset and the dazzling virtual world creates a sense of intrigue and mystery, drawing you into a hopeful and dreamy future.
Prompt
style-aesthetic Expressionist: Immersive, futuristic ; A virtual reality headset, displaying a vibrant, pixelated world; close-up; Gaming; A distorted, abstract landscape with swirling colors and shifting shapes; cinematic
Characteristic
Shot : A virtual reality headset displaying a futuristic city scene with a sunset in the distance
Aesthetic Score : 0.7
Mood : futuristic, dreamy, hopeful
Quality
Entropy : 5.73
Noise : 33
Prompt Clip Score : 0.32
AI Evaluation
Likelihood of AI : 0.80
Image errors : The image has some minor artifacts, such as slight pixelation in the virtual world. The colors in the virtual world are also slightly oversaturated.
City Pulse: A Blur of Motion and Energy
Experience the frenetic energy of city life through a low-angle shot that captures the blur of movement and speed. The zoomed-in perspective creates a sense of urgency, highlighting the dynamic and intense atmosphere of an urban environment.
Prompt
style-aesthetic Expressionist: Chaotic, overwhelming ; A bustling, crowded street scene, with people rushing past in a blur; long shot; Tourism; A distorted, abstract cityscape with exaggerated buildings and swirling colors; cinematic
Characteristic
Shot : A busy street in a city, shot from a low angle with a zoom effect creating a sense of movement and speed. The buildings on either side of the street are blurred and the people walking are also blurred, suggesting a fast pace.
Aesthetic Score : 0.4
Mood : intense, dynamic, urban
Quality
Entropy : 6.80
Noise : 77
Prompt Clip Score : 0.30
AI Evaluation
Likelihood of AI : 0.20
Image errors : The image has a lot of motion blur which might be considered an error by some, but it is intentional.
Conclusion
The results show that the generative AI model performed well in understanding the scene and camera position, but struggled with the aesthetic. Here’s a breakdown:
- Camera Position: The model scored 0.43, which is considered below average. This suggests that the model didn’t accurately capture the intended camera position in the prompt.
- Shot Analysis: The model scored 0.62, which is considered good. This indicates that the model was able to understand the scene described in the prompt and create a shot that aligns with it.
- Aesthetic Analysis: The model scored 0.07, which is considered very good. This means that the generated image closely matched the expected aesthetic, despite the camera position and shot analysis being less accurate.
Overall, the model demonstrates a good understanding of the scene and its aesthetic, but struggles with accurately capturing the intended camera position.
Sources:
- https://heartofnoir.com/knowing-noir/aesthetic-of-noir/
- https://www.yellowbrick.co/blog/film/maximizing-the-visual-impact-unveiling-the-art-of-film-aesthetics
- https://www.questjournals.org/jrhss/papers/vol10-issue8/1008255260.pdf
- https://www.jstor.org/stable/3331672
- https://www.cinepoetics.fu-berlin.de/activities/workshops/2020-12-ws/index.html
- https://resource.download.wjec.co.uk/vtc/2016-17/16-17_1-22/eng/Part%201%20What%20is%20Aesthetics.pdf
- https://deepmind.google/technologies/imagen-3/