HOUSES OF THE HOLY
50 years ago…
Author: Randy Wells
FIRST CAME CELL PHONE CAMERA APPS, THEN AI. NOW THERE’S GPT.
Artificial Intelligence is readily available for photographs and is in production for video at various platforms like Adobe. Generative Pre-Trained Transformer (GPT) is now being readied by Microsoft and others for word processing text and conversations. The goal seems to be to increase productivity at a monthly cost to subscribers.
In the short term, writing run through GPT will be supplemented with “automated human-like enhancements”. In the long term, everything will appear more and more similar and homogenous, and no longer will that work be copyrightable. Unfortunately, everyone will probably think they are a photographer and a writer aided by AI and GPT, whether or not they have any real talent. It’s a brave new world for the artist, once again.
WHERE TO GO IN MARCH
About this time of year I grow tired of the PNW winter rain and yearn for someplace warm and dry.
Tahiti and Australia make my short list, as do closer locales like Hawaii and Mexico. I still pine for that bungalow on the beach in Bora Bora, where I spent a winter week below the equator in 1991.
ACCEPTANCE, NOT EXPECTATIONS
Not everyone seeks perfection. In contrast, I’ve always been a bit of a perfectionist. It stems from my belief that things can always be better.
As I’ve matured, that trait has been somewhat subdued by my need to be more mindful of others. Judging others and criticizing behavior is not where I want to be. As I let go of that, my life becomes easier. And in today’s world, anything that simplifies my journey is most welcome.
(Photo: Randy Wells – Un-manipulated sky in Arizona)
3-3-23
I WON’T BACK DOWN
Above: Cool music video with Tom, Jeff, Mike, Ringo and George.
Below: Even cooler webpage:
“How I Found My Vocation” By Brett & Kate McKay
R.I.P. Tom Sizemore and David Lindley
BECOME WHO YOU ARE
Friedrich Nietzsche was never the easiest philosopher to understand.
Another way of saying this is, “Be your own best version of your self.”
Here are more of his aphorisms:
2-14-23
LEICA Q
I use this original Leica Q for most of my personal work. It’s worn but my favorite mirrorless camera. The Q is so intuitive to use, and, unlike my cell phone, the files it produces are sharp, do not need work and are gorgeous straight out of the camera. Match it with a small DJI Pro drone, and you are ready for almost anything in a 28mm wide full-frame view. Despite what you may been told, 24 MP RAW is the sweet spot in digital image files.
I don’t have to worry about this camera. It’s durable and reliable even after some hard knocks. I bought it from the Bellevue Leica Store by trading in an extra Leica M. It works every time, and is the ultimate travel camera for me.
HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY!
LATEST PUBLICATIONS
Clockwise are my PCA Panorama Magazine, National Geographic Books, and Vicarious Magazine publications from the last month.
It’s a good year and getting better!
My buddy Chad Kassem at Acoustic Sounds is killing it with his new high resolution Steely Dan reissues.
So far, I’ve received the UHQR (Ultra High Quality Recording) 180 gram LPs of Can’t Buy a Thrill and Countdown to Ectasy, both of which sounds phenomenal.
Next up is Pretzel Logic followed by Katy Lied and The Royal Scam. That last album will have a hard time topping my White Label Promo LP. Continue reading “”
2-6-23
SAMPLE REEL – HOT ROD FILMS from hotrodfilms.com on Vimeo.
CAR VIDEOS + WRITING + STILLS
Since 1992, I’ve pursued an organic approach to seeing the world, working full-time as a visual artist.
I took my style of still photography and writing, then added motion and audio to produce emotional cinematic narratives. To this day, I continue to create consistent on-target branding for discerning collectors, on-line car sales, race teams, car manufacturers, and automotive suppliers worldwide.
Check out my new reel above!
BABY, CAN I HOLD YOU
Still one of the most moving performances ever.
Pavarotti and Tracy Chapman live in 2001.
DON’T THINK, JUST DO
Top Gun: Maverick is firing on all cylinders. Oscar time baby!
BRIAN REDMAN – PORSCHE RACING ICON
I was recently called in to be the official photographer for a regional PCA tech session featuring the famous Porsche race driver Brian Redman. Brian’s racing record reads like a list of every famous team and venue. Alfa Romeo, BMW, Ferrari, Lola, Cooper, Brabham, McLaren, BRM, Shadow, Chevron, Ford, Jaguar, Aston Martin, and, of course, Porsche.
I was able to spend some time alone with Brian, a very nice man. My photographs were used in both the regional and national Porsche Club of America January 2023 publications.
1-11-23
JEFF BECK R.I.P.
1-19-23
DAVID CROSBY R.I.P.
This is getting old. Literally.
Guess I’m going to have to keep this blog from becoming an obituary column…
Jeff Beck, one of the greatest guitarists ever, of The Yardbirds, etc., passed away last week from a case of acute bacterial meningitis. He was otherwise in great shape at 78.
David Crosby of the Byrds and CSNY fame passed away today after a long illness at the age of 81. Continue reading “”
I’LL DRAW THE FIRE
I don’t know how many of you are watching the Yellowsone TV series, but it is something else.
1-3-23
KEN BLOCK R.I.P.
Posted yesterday about the rally car driver and marketing influencer:
“It’s with our deepest regrets that we can confirm that Ken Block passed away in a snowmobile accident today.
Ken was a visionary, a pioneer and an icon. And most importantly, a father and husband.
He will be incredibly missed.”
(Photographer: Unknown)