I recall a nature photography class where the instructor (a professional photographer) said, when photographing birds, the key is to get a good shot of the eye and to be sure that the eye is at a junction of two grid lines. He said that this would give the most impact and that if that junction wasn’t set exactly in the photo, a post-processing crop could be done to make that happen.
I was fortunate that this pelican rested perfectly still on the pier railing, so that I could get close enough to set up the shot.
Most people with whom I have discussed pigeons hold them in low esteem. I have history with pigeons, or perhaps I would not even have noticed the small creature. The great gentleness I have found seems to have escaped most people’s notice. Of course, like most humans, I did not recognize their true worth at all until I got to know one very well.” ― Kathleen Knight, Sanctuary – Exploring the Magical World of Birds
For my past several posts, I’ve been writing about my foray into ChatGPT.
These posts have included notes about ai assistance I’ve received with indoor decor, painting cabinets, landscaping, lesson preparation for a workshop I teach, exercises to boost metabolism, and art work guidance.
Another area where I’m receiving extraordinary help is in that of a sustainable diet – also intended to boost metabolism.
After the usual question and answer format, the ChatGPT app developed an eating program specifically for my age, activity level, and health status that is both doable and liveable.
Regular check ins are a part of it, and the always kind and supportive approach worked into the algorithm is most helpful.
As I enter week three of the eight week reset developed for me, I’ve lost 2.5 lbs, and 1/2 inch from my waist. These are the measurable victories.
The things that matter far more to me than rapid results and/or the numbers on the scale are: slow and sustainable results, a healthy higher protein and lower carb eating plan, and my clothing fitting better.
In recent years, I’ve been offering a free smart phone photography class for seniors here in our park.
The class has been popular and teaching it has been a fun and rewarding venture for me.
The only issue I’ve had is that as technology evolves and advances, prep for this course has always been tedious and time consuming.
The 3-4 hour session is for both android and iPhone users. I shoot with strictly iPhone, but because there are many android users, I have to teach myself those camera systems too, so I can hopefully offer assistance to everyone in attendance.
This year’s course is at the end of February, and I was dreading the prep.
Hmmm, I wondered if ChatGPT could help.
I entered what I was looking for, and after a couple of minutes of refining via the question and answer format of the app, voila!! I not onlyhad the course outline complete with practice exercises for participants, but handouts were also created. All of this was returned to me in a printable pdf version.
What usually takes many hours out of several days in preparation, took less than 15 minutes total this year.
My next challenge for ChatGPT was to develop a new exercise program for me.
Because I’d been power walking for over eight years, I think my body had become accustomed to it, so it wasn’t as efficient anymore in terms of maintaining fitness.
It seemed my metabolism had stalled out.
I entered my issues, my age, and my goals.Before too long, I had a program that I could live with.
I’ve now switched from power walking to the Japanese walking method and have added strength training.
ChatGPT outlined everything in detail, and so far, it’s going well.
The Japanese walking method takes half the time of the power walking (30 mins vs an hour), but it definitely feels more intense. The frequency is five days per week with slower and/or longer walks or a rest on the other two days.
The strength training is mild and done via light weights, resistance bands, and calisthenics. Right now the frequency is 3x per week.
Today is day 10 and I’m already noticing improvements in terms of energy and how much better my clothes are fitting.
Once I was finished with ChatGPT assisting me with indoors, I decided to take it outside to see how it would do with landscaping.
On the positive side, the app was able to follow my directions: compact growth, drought resistant, minimal care, hardy in zone 10a, and starter plants available nearby.
Where we ran into issues was: The first rendition wasn’t even our house in the background.
The next issue was that once our actual front was back in the photo, the labels on the plants were skewed and all wrong.
Next issue was that I did not want a prickly pear because it’s not in the compact plant category. I’ve seen here how it takes off to become almost a tree. Also, the red yucca was too tall. When I entered these comments, this is what I got back.
It was “just ok” but looked bulky to me.
I then asked for a switch to potted plants.
These were the suggestions:
I didn’t mind these, but these huge pots, especially the Mexican Talavera ones (which I love) would cost me a fortune.
Which of these five do you, my readers prefer?
This project is down the road, as next year, the house is getting new siding, the soffit under the deck roofing will be replaced, and the deck will be jacked up to straighten it. All of that needs to happen before I even consider landscaping in this spot.
The wall in my feature photo has bothered me for some time.
It was uncomfortably out of balance and felt awkward. I knew the basic thing that needed to be done (changing the elevation of the things on either side of the TV), but even when I did that, it still felt wrong.
I submitted the photo to ChatGPT, and with the suggestions it gave me, I was able to come up with an arrangement I could live with.
The pieces on the right are palm husks that I’ve painted.
These photos were taken at a different time of day (feature photo daytime with natural light coming in from the sides and this one early evening with light from table lamps coming from the front), thus the colour difference.
Radically Retired 