Caterina

La donzelletta [young woman] vien [walking] dalla campagna [italian countryside],

In sul calar del sole [sunset, backlight, rimlight],

Col suo fascio dell’erba [bundle of grass]; e reca in mano [holding]

Un mazzolin [bouquet] di rose e di viole, [roses and violets]

Some time ago, after attending a masterclass at Futura-AI Academy , my former colleague Mattia Arnaù suggested we explore generative AI. It was an opportunity to challenge ourselves creatively and reconnect after being out of touch.

I tend to work slowly and thoughtfully, so it took me a while to settle on a subject and -SORRY BRO!- I took my time to fully engage with the process.

??Concept

Observing the flow of people during a festive day brought Leopardi’s poetry to mind, inspiring me to transform his imaginative verses into prompts and bring his characters to life.

I went home and started experimenting. While I’m familiar with photography, I’m still a beginner with MidJourney.

?? Style

I imagined a portrait that could convey the depth of Leopardi’s words. To achieve this, I drew on elements of reportage photography. Choosing black and white felt like a natural way to highlight the atmosphere.

To combine the qualities of portraiture and reportage, I took inspiration from Magnum Photography. For the maiden from The Saturday in the Village, Ferdinando Scianna’s work served as a key reference.

As the image came together in my mind, I focused on the technical aspects. Although I’ve never used a high-end camera, MidJourney gave me the chance to emulate one.

Enter Hasselblad! While medium format cameras are often out of reach, MJ replicates their characteristics with impressive accuracy

I wanted the final image to feel realistic and cohesive, avoiding the overly polished look that can feel artificial.

?? Lighting [golden hour lighting, backlight, rimlight]

I imagined the scene at sunset, with the subject returning from the fields bathed in golden hour light.

??? Film [Ilford Delta 400]

To match the lighting conditions, I consulted a professional who suggested the legendary Ilford Delta 400 film, known for its ability to capture rich textures—a feature MidJourney could emulate effectively.

??? Depth [DoF f/1.4]

To highlight the subject while softly blurring the background, I envisioned a wide aperture. This detail was key to achieving the right focus and mood.

?? Details [Grain]

Using high ISO film introduced natural grain, adding texture and character to the image. This feature became an integral part of the composition.

?? Expression and Pose [walking, introspective, hope, --no looking at camera]

The maiden carries flowers as she returns from the fields:

"...she’s ready, as before,to wreathe her hair and bodice,for tomorrow’s holiday..."

Her gaze looks ahead, distant and introspective, avoiding direct eye contact with the camera. This expression underscores her connection to the future.

?? Execution

With all the elements in place, I began crafting prompts following the guidance of my teacher, Ilaria Merola .

The process involved trial and error, requiring patience. What surprised me most was the sense of connection I felt with the generated results.

When I finally created "Caterina," I was struck by how closely it aligned with my vision. Despite minor imperfections, the lighting, pose, and expression came together beautifully.

While there are undoubtedly more advanced tools and refined workflows that could achieve even greater precision, my objective was to push the boundaries of what could be accomplished through prompting alone.

This experiment not only tested the capabilities of AI but also deepened my understanding of its creative potential, reaffirming that even within constraints, artistry and intent remain at the core of the process.

MidJourney allowed me to translate poetic imagery into visual form, but the process raised many questions about authorship and artistic control.

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How do you define creativity and its boundaries in an era of AI-driven art?

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And yes, you definitely know that face! Guess Who she is?!?