AI's Struggle with Noir: A Look at the 'Dramatic' Aesthetic with Midjourney

The ‘dramatic’ aesthetic, often associated with film noir, is characterized by its dark, gritty, and atmospheric visuals. It’s a style that relies heavily on shadows, contrast, and a sense of mystery and intrigue. While AI has made significant strides in image generation, capturing the essence of this aesthetic remains a challenge. This blog post explores the limitations of AI in generating images with a ‘dramatic’ aesthetic, using a case study of prompts designed to evoke this style.

Created with: midjourney

Shadowy Figure in the Rain

A mysterious silhouette stands in a dimly lit alleyway, bathed in the glow of neon signs. The rain creates an atmosphere of suspense and isolation, leaving you wondering who this figure is and what secrets they hold.

Prompt

Film noir: Gritty, determined, melancholic ; A lone detective; medium shot; Heroism; A dimly lit alleyway with rain pouring down, neon signs reflecting in puddles.; cinematic

Characteristic

Shot : A silhouette of a man in a trench coat walking down a narrow, rain-slicked alleyway at night. Neon lights illuminate the walls and the puddles on the ground. The alleyway seems to be in an urban environment.

Aesthetic Score : 0.7

Mode : mysterious, dark, atmospheric

Quality

Entropy : 6.10

Noise : 109

Prompt Clip Score : 0.32

AI Evaluation

Likelihood of AI : 0.80

Image errors : There is a slight amount of pixelation in the image, especially noticeable on the man’s trench coat.

Lost in the Labyrinth of Lights: A Night Market’s Enchanting Glow

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A high-angle perspective reveals a bustling night market nestled within a narrow alleyway. Streetlights and lanterns cast an ethereal glow, illuminating the vibrant stalls and the throngs of people browsing the wares. The scene evokes a sense of mystery and urban charm, with the play of light and shadow adding depth and intrigue.

Prompt

Film noir: Suspenseful, mysterious, thrilling ; A shadowy figure escaping through a maze of narrow streets; long shot; Adventure; A bustling night market with flickering lanterns and crowded stalls.; cinematic

Characteristic

Shot : A dimly lit street market in a city at night, with many stalls and people walking around. The image is in black and white, creating a stark and moody atmosphere.

Aesthetic Score : 0.7

Mode : dark, mysterious, urban

Quality

Entropy : 6.60

Noise : 118

Prompt Clip Score : 0.27

AI Evaluation

Likelihood of AI : 0.30

Image errors : The image has some noise and graininess, which is characteristic of low-light photography. The lighting is also uneven, with some areas being much brighter than others.

A Hand in the Shadows: Mystery Unfolds

A smoky atmosphere shrouds a hand holding a deck of cards, creating an air of mystery and suspense. The out-of-focus image adds to the intrigue, leaving the viewer to wonder what secrets lie within the cards.

Prompt

Film noir: Intense, suspenseful, dangerous ; A gambler’s hand holding a pair of aces; close-up; Gaming; A smoky, dimly lit casino with flashing lights and the sound of slot machines.; cinematic

Characteristic

Shot : A hand holding playing cards with a smokey background, the focus is on the cards and hand, with a blurred background.

Aesthetic Score : 0.6

Mode : mysterious, dark, suspenseful

Quality

Entropy : 6.43

Noise : 82

Prompt Clip Score : 0.30

AI Evaluation

Likelihood of AI : 0.10

Image errors : There’s a slight blurring effect around the edges that might be due to post-processing or lens distortion. The smoke’s texture could be improved.

Nostalgia on a Wet Road: A Classic Car Disappears into the Storm

A classic car cruises down a rain-slicked road, disappearing into the distance under a dramatic, dark sky. The mood is nostalgic and moody, with a hint of mystery. The sign for ‘HORRY’ in the distance adds a touch of intrigue, leaving you wondering what lies ahead.

Prompt

Film noir: Lonely, melancholic, atmospheric ; A vintage car speeding through a deserted highway; wide shot; Tourism; A desolate, rain-soaked landscape with a lone motel in the distance.; cinematic

Characteristic

Shot : A classic car drives down a deserted highway in a rainstorm, with a dark, ominous sky in the background. There is a motel sign off in the distance.

Aesthetic Score : 0.8

Mode : lonely, moody, dramatic

Quality

Entropy : 6.86

Noise : 96

Prompt Clip Score : 0.36

AI Evaluation

Likelihood of AI : 0.10

Image errors : The image is slightly overexposed, which is contributing to a bland look overall.

Lost in the Rain: A Moment of Melancholy

A woman gazes out a train window, her face etched with a pensive expression as the rain washes over a city skyline. The scene evokes a sense of mystery, nostalgia, and melancholy, leaving the viewer to ponder the woman’s thoughts and the story behind her gaze.

Prompt

Film noir: Nostalgic, melancholic, introspective ; A woman looking out of a train window at a passing cityscape; medium shot; Travel; A dark, rainy cityscape with towering buildings and flickering streetlights.; cinematic

Characteristic

Shot : A woman in a train looking out the window at a rainy city at night

Aesthetic Score : 0.7

Mode : dark, melancholic, nostalgic

Quality

Entropy : 6.47

Noise : 99

Prompt Clip Score : 0.36

AI Evaluation

Likelihood of AI : 0.80

Image errors : The image has some minor artifacts, such as the rain streaks appearing too artificial and the lighting being slightly uneven. The cityscapes and the woman look like they might be AI-generated.

Fear in the Shadows: A Family’s Tense Encounter

A dimly lit room, a family huddled together, their faces etched with worry. The children are visibly distressed, their fear palpable. This scene, captured with dramatic lighting and close-up framing, evokes a sense of claustrophobia and suspense, leaving the viewer on the edge of their seat.

Prompt

Film noir: Intimate, tense, claustrophobic ; A family huddled together in a dimly lit room; medium shot; Family; A cramped apartment with peeling paint and a flickering gas lamp.; cinematic

Characteristic

Shot : A family huddled together in a dimly lit room, likely a home, with a single light source illuminating part of their faces.

Aesthetic Score : 0.8

Mode : suspenseful, dramatic, anxious

Quality

Entropy : 6.53

Noise : 102

Prompt Clip Score : 0.32

AI Evaluation

Likelihood of AI : 0.00

Image errors : The image appears to be a scanned copy and has some grain and slight blurriness, especially in the shadows.

Lost in the Shadows: A Noir Tale Unfolds in the Rain

A solitary figure, shrouded in a trench coat, navigates a deserted city street bathed in smoke and rain. The silhouette against the misty backdrop creates an air of mystery and intrigue, while the play of light and shadow adds to the dramatic effect. The reflection in the wet pavement offers a glimpse into the depths of this urban noir scene.

Prompt

Film noir: Mysterious, brooding, contemplative ; A detective’s silhouette against a window, cigarette smoke swirling around him; low-angle shot; Heroism; A rain-soaked city street with neon signs reflecting in the puddles.; cinematic

Characteristic

Shot : A lone figure walks down a wet, foggy street at night in a city. The reflection of the streetlights and the figure are visible in the puddles.

Aesthetic Score : 0.7

Mode : mysterious, noir, urban

Quality

Entropy : 6.48

Noise : 89

Prompt Clip Score : 0.34

AI Evaluation

Likelihood of AI : 0.30

Image errors : The fog is slightly too uniform and the reflections in the puddles are a bit too perfect.

The Gun in the Shadows: A Moment of Suspense

A hand grips a firearm, its barrel pointed towards an unseen target. The dimly lit environment amplifies the tension, with a single, bright light source casting long shadows and highlighting the weapon. The scene evokes a sense of danger and anticipation, leaving the viewer to wonder what lies beyond the darkness.

Prompt

Film noir: Suspenseful, dangerous, threatening ; A close-up of a hand holding a gun, the barrel pointed at a shadowy figure; extreme close-up; Adventure; A dark, smoky back alley with a flickering streetlight.; cinematic

Characteristic

Shot : A silhouette of a hand holding a gun, pointed towards the camera, in a dark, smoky alleyway.

Aesthetic Score : 0.3

Mode : dark, ominous, suspenseful

Quality

Entropy : 5.94

Noise : 84

Prompt Clip Score : 0.32

AI Evaluation

Likelihood of AI : 0.50

Image errors : The image has some noise and artifacts, particularly in the shadows. The silhouette is not well-defined.

Shadows and Stakes: The Thrill of the Roulette Wheel

A dimly lit casino scene pulsates with anticipation. The roulette table takes center stage, surrounded by shadowy figures, their faces hidden in the darkness. The air crackles with excitement, hinting at the high stakes and the allure of the game.

Prompt

Film noir: Intense, suspenseful, unpredictable ; A roulette wheel spinning, the ball landing on a single number; close-up; Gaming; A dimly lit casino with the sound of chips clinking and people whispering.; cinematic

Characteristic

Shot : A black and white image of a roulette table in a dimly lit casino, with people gathered around the table.

Aesthetic Score : 0.6

Mode : mysterious, suspenseful, elegant

Quality

Entropy : 6.44

Noise : 90

Prompt Clip Score : 0.31

AI Evaluation

Likelihood of AI : 0.30

Image errors : The image appears to have some noise and graininess, especially in the darker areas.

Lost in the Fog: A Solitary Figure Seeks the Lighthouse

A lone figure walks towards a distant lighthouse, shrouded in a thick fog that creates an atmosphere of mystery and isolation. The scene evokes feelings of loneliness and melancholy, highlighting the vastness of the sea and the unknown that lies ahead.

Prompt

Film noir: Lonely, melancholic, atmospheric ; A lone figure walking down a deserted pier, the ocean waves crashing against the pilings; long shot; Travel; A foggy, desolate coastline with a lighthouse in the distance.; cinematic

Characteristic

Shot : A lone figure walks down a pier towards a lighthouse in the distance, all shrouded in fog.

Aesthetic Score : 0.8

Mode : mysterious, lonely, contemplative

Quality

Entropy : 6.87

Noise : 113

Prompt Clip Score : 0.34

AI Evaluation

Likelihood of AI : 0.10

Image errors : No visible artifacts or errors.

Conclusion

The generative AI model performed well in terms of understanding the scene and camera position, but struggled with the aesthetic. Here’s a breakdown:

• Camera Position: The model scored 0.45, which is considered okay. This means the camera position in the generated image was somewhat different from what was requested in the prompt.
• Shot Analysis: The model scored 0.515, which is also considered okay. This indicates the model had some difficulty understanding the scene described in the prompt and translating it into the generated image.
• Aesthetic Analysis: The model scored 0.33, which is considered pretty bad. This means the generated image’s aesthetic was significantly different from what was expected based on the prompt.

Overall, the model shows some promise in understanding camera positions and scenes, but needs improvement in generating images that match the desired aesthetic.