Inconvenient Images
Notes on the unexpected visualization of carcinogenesis
Written by Screenpunk. Imagined by Screenpunk (on Midjourney).
2025 February 12.
It can be tricky to visually distinguish patterns from structures. Previously, I suggested to conceive a structure as a bigger entity that unites smaller ones, while a pattern can be understood as the way those smaller pieces are arranged on or within that structure. After rendering various visuals I noticed that patterns, however, can turn into interlinking structures themselves — so the boundary between patterns and structures gets blurry.
Not to get caught up in a complicated process of redefinition, I hopped over to Midjourney to see if this merging of patterns and structures could make for more appealing AI-images .
Image#1 Yellow structures growing in black structures
Image#2 More yellow structures growing in black structures
Three dimensional extraterrestial raspberries
My first attempts weren’t all that inspiring (#1 and #2). Expanding the idea of growing structures, ended up generating dull clusters of cells.
At some point I added a 3d twist, which improved the outcomes. I arrived at fruit-like objects with an alien vibe (#3 and #4).
Image#3 Reengineered strawberries from the future
Image#4 Flying extraterrestial raspberries
Image-to-prompt Conversion
It didn’t take me long to lose interest again. The strange fruits just weren’t hitting the wow-factor. The whole structures-within-structures-idea strated to feel like a dead-end-exploration.
Then I used Midjourney’s image-to-prompt feature (/describe) to find out if I could twist it once more. When I tweaked my prompts with the conversion results and fed them back into Midjourney, I got the most appealing images so far (#5 and #6)
Image#5 A structure of black carbon particles on top of a structure of black threads
Image#6 Cluttering black carbon particles trying to get out of a structure of oorange threads
Confusing Images
After more experiments, I started also noticing clutter in the 3D images (#6 for example). I asked Midjourney to describe the clutter images, and on serveal occassions to describe the images it came up with key words “cancer cells” and “neurons” that were located "inside a human body". A bit surprised, I tweaked my prompts. Then Midjourney started generating pretty confusing images of, what could indeed be, cancer cells growing out and overtaking other tissues (#7 and #8).
Image#7 structures of cancer cells inside a body
Image#8 structures of cancer cells inside a body
From the Abyss
The visuals made me think of Nietzsches remark, that “when you gaze long into the abyss, the abyss gazes also into you.” After a glance at the new imagery, I instantly felt the monsters in the abyss looking back at me. Scary, but at the same time fascinating.
And it is not only that the malicious cells are staring back (#9). They seem eager to jump right of the screen at you. Wow.
Image#9 structures of cancer cells inside a body
Keep pushing aesthetic boundaries
What started as a session exploring abstract patterns and structures ended up producing vivid depictions of cancer cells in various stages and forms—equally daunting and mesmerizing. As the session was intentend to find out if the blurring of conceptual distinction between patterns and structures can enhance AI-images, it can be remarked that, indeed, it can.
In relation to the proces in which the outcomes were generated, a few key insights can be noted. First, the 3d turn illustrates not to hesistate to twist prompt design whenever outcomes are disappointing. Second, do not hesistate either to involve image-to-description-functionalities to enrich your prompts with lingo that suits the machine better than your own. And third, keep aiming for your own personal wow. Without your wow to the machine's translation of your prompted intentions, you cannot close a session succesfully.
