Spirit and Stone: AI Interpretations of Minor White
Inspired by a common photographic exercise creating images in the style of a master photographer these AI-generated works reinterpret a visual theme drawn from Minor White’s Easter Sunday. Each variation explores the core concept of a spirit-like presence emerging from darkness, surrounded by stones, echoing the original photograph’s symbolic depth. White created the original image during a period of serious illness, intuitively responding to a scene that reflected his inner state.
This exploration of visual ideas connects directly with insights from A Creative Path to Understanding Pictures, Artificial Intelligence and Photography, and The Aesthetic Theories of Minor White, demonstrating how concepts can evolve across mediums while retaining their symbolic and emotional essence. By referencing the original photograph, these AI-generated variations show how a single visual idea can be transformed into new narratives and artistic expressions offering inspiration for future projects, including a second book.
Cloud Equivalents – A Visual Exploration
Inspired by a classic photographic exploration of visual ideas, these AI-generated cloud images reinterpret a concept rooted in Alfred Stieglitz’s Cloud Equivalents and Minor White’s later development of the series. Each variation investigates the expressive potential of clouds to convey “idea feelings,” capturing ephemeral forms, light, and movement to evoke emotion and imagination. Stieglitz and White sought to transcend literal representation, and these contemporary works continue that tradition through artificial intelligence, transforming natural phenomena into visual narratives that resonate with symbolic and emotional depth.
This exploration connects directly with the themes and insights presented in Stuart Oring’s books—A Creative Path to Understanding Pictures, Artificial Intelligence and Photography, and The Aesthetic Theories of Minor White—illustrating how visual ideas can evolve across mediums while retaining their symbolic and emotional essence. By engaging with the history of cloud photography, these AI-generated works demonstrate the enduring power of imagery to inspire reflection and new artistic directions.
