MidJourney Prompts For Ultra-Realistic Images

Matt Wolfe
28 Feb 202312:26

TLDRIn this video, the creator discusses how to produce ultra-photorealistic images using Midjourney, a tool that generates images from text prompts. Inspired by a Reddit thread, the video explores various prompts that can yield highly realistic results. The original prompt shared by Reddit user Archie 7 is analyzed, and the process of refining it for better results is demonstrated. The video also covers additional techniques such as using camera details like '35mm lens F 1.8' and 'accent lighting' to enhance realism. Experiments with different prompts, including a 'Polaroid' style and 'National Geographic' style, are shown to produce stunningly lifelike images. The video concludes with a call to action for viewers to share their own effective prompts and to explore further resources on AI tools.

Takeaways

  • 🎨 The video discusses techniques for creating ultra-photorealistic images using Midjourney, a tool that can generate high-quality images based on prompts.
  • 📌 The inspiration for the video came from a Reddit thread by user Archie 7, who shared their successful prompts for generating realistic images.
  • 💡 The original prompt used by Archie 7 included detailed keywords such as 'portrait of an Indian village woman in forest in Himachal Pradesh' with specific camera settings and lighting conditions.
  • ➡️ Through experimentation, a shorter prompt was found to generate similar results, emphasizing the importance of iterative testing with AI image generation tools.
  • 📸 Midjourney allows users to generate up to 25 free images within Discord, after which a subscription plan starts at around $10 per month.
  • 🔍 The video demonstrates how adding camera-specific details to the prompt, such as '35 millimeter lens F 1.8' and 'accent lighting', can enhance the realism of the generated images.
  • 📈 Upscaling the generated images can further improve their detail and quality, making them indistinguishable from real photographs at a glance.
  • 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 The video also explores changing the subject of the prompt, such as from an Indian village woman to a young American boy, and the resulting variations in realism.
  • 📏 The aspect ratio and film type can be specified in the prompt to achieve a desired look, such as a Polaroid style or a National Geographic aesthetic.
  • 🌄 For landscape photography, using camera details like '35 millimeter lens F-22' and aspect ratios can create ultra-realistic outdoor scenes.
  • 📹 A technique shared by a friend named Linus involves specifying the animal, shot direction, pose, time of day, and adding 'National Geographic' to the prompt for a professional look.
  • 🌟 The video concludes by encouraging viewers to experiment with different prompts and share their findings, highlighting the creative potential of AI image generation.

Q & A

  • What is the main topic of the video?

    -The main topic of the video is creating ultra photorealistic images using mid-journey, a tool that generates images based on prompts.

  • What inspired the video content?

    -The video content was inspired by a Reddit thread where user Archie 7 shared ultra-realistic images created with mid-journey.

  • What is the significance of the prompt used by Archie 7?

    -The prompt used by Archie 7 was significant because it was a shorter version that still generated highly realistic images, which was a result of their experimentation.

  • How can one start using mid-journey?

    -To start using mid-journey, one needs to visit midjourney.com, join the beta, and generate images through Discord. The first 25 images are free, after which a monthly subscription starts at about $10.

  • What are some of the camera details added to the prompt to enhance realism?

    -The camera details added to the prompt include clear facial features, cinematic 35 millimeter lens, F 1.8 aperture, accent lighting, and global illumination.

  • What effect does using an F 1.8 aperture have on the generated image?

    -Using an F 1.8 aperture creates a shallow depth of field, which means the foreground subject is in focus while the background is blurred.

  • How does the accent lighting and global illumination contribute to the realism of the image?

    -Accent lighting and global illumination contribute to the realism by adding shadows and light effects that mimic those produced by a real camera, enhancing the three-dimensional appearance of the image.

  • What is the effect of using 'Polaroid' in the prompt?

    -Using 'Polaroid' in the prompt generates images that resemble traditional Polaroid photos, giving them an aged and authentic look.

  • What is the National Geographic technique mentioned in the video?

    -The National Geographic technique involves specifying the animal, shot direction, pose, time of day, and adding 'National Geographic' along with the film type to the prompt for a realistic and professional look.

  • How does changing the time of day in the prompt affect the image?

    -Changing the time of day in the prompt alters the lighting and color tone of the image, for example, 'golden hour' gives a warm, golden overlay, while 'morning hour' results in a cooler, bluer tone.

  • What is the purpose of the aspect ratio in the prompt?

    -The aspect ratio in the prompt determines the shape of the generated image, with 16:9 being a common widescreen format that is suitable for landscapes and certain compositions.

  • How can one share their findings or prompts that work well with the mid-journey community?

    -One can share their findings or effective prompts in the comments section of relevant discussion threads, such as on Reddit or the mid-journey community platform, to contribute to the collective knowledge and experimentation.

Outlines

00:00

🖼️ Creating Ultra Photorealistic Images with Mid-Journey

The video discusses the creation of ultra photorealistic images using Mid-Journey, a tool that generates images from text prompts. Inspired by a Reddit thread by user Archie 7, the video explores how to achieve high-quality, realistic images. The original prompt used by Archie 7 is shared, along with a shorter version that still produces similar results. The video demonstrates the process of using these prompts in Mid-Journey, and the results are showcased, emphasizing the realistic nature of the generated images. The importance of specific prompt keywords like 'clear facial features,' 'cinematic 35 millimeter lens F 1.8,' 'accent lighting,' and 'global illumination' are explained, as they contribute to the photorealistic outcome. The video also upscales some of the generated images for closer examination of their detail.

05:01

🎉 Experimenting with Polaroid-Style and National Geographic-Inspired Prompts

Building on the initial discussion, the video continues to explore different prompts to generate various styles of images, including Polaroid-style photos and National Geographic-inspired wildlife photography. The video demonstrates how adding 'Polaroid' to the prompt results in images that resemble traditional Polaroid snapshots, complete with an aged look. It also adapts a technique shared by Linus for creating National Geographic-style images, which involves specifying the animal, shot direction, pose, time of day, and adding 'National Geographic' along with the film type. The video shows the results of these prompts, highlighting the realism and detail that can be achieved with Mid-Journey. The video also attempts to combine these techniques with human subjects to see if a similar level of realism can be achieved.

10:02

🌏 Blending Techniques for Enhanced Realism in Human Images

The final part of the video focuses on blending the techniques learned to create realistic images of humans. The host types an 'imagine' prompt with a young boy on a street corner, a graffiti wall background, and incorporates elements like 'from above side view,' 'morning hour,' 'National Geographic,' and 'shot on Agfa Vista' with a 16:9 aspect ratio. The results are mixed, with some images appearing very realistic, especially one where the subject's back is facing the camera. The video concludes by expressing amazement at the capabilities of Mid-Journey and encourages viewers to share their successful prompts in the comments. It also provides links to resources and invites viewers to subscribe for more content on exploring the limits of Mid-Journey.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡MidJourney

MidJourney is an AI-powered image generation tool that allows users to create ultra-realistic images using detailed prompts. In the video, it is the primary tool used to generate a variety of images, from portraits to landscapes, demonstrating its capability to produce high-quality, photorealistic results.

💡Photorealistic

Photorealistic refers to the quality of an image or visual representation that closely resembles an actual photograph. The video focuses on creating images that are so detailed and lifelike that they could be mistaken for real photographs, especially when viewed on social media platforms like Instagram.

💡Prompt

A prompt in the context of MidJourney is a detailed description or set of instructions that guides the AI in generating an image. The video discusses various prompts, from simple to complex, and how they can be manipulated to achieve different levels of realism and style in the generated images.

💡Cinematic 35 Millimeter Lens

This term refers to a type of camera lens that mimics the field of view and depth of field characteristics of a 35mm film camera. In the video, using a 'cinematic 35 millimeter lens' in the prompt results in images with a shallow depth of field, where the subject is in sharp focus and the background is blurred, similar to the aesthetic of many films.

💡F 1.8

F 1.8 denotes the aperture setting of a camera lens, which affects the amount of light that enters the camera and the depth of field. An F 1.8 setting allows for a wider aperture, creating a shallow depth of field where the subject is in focus and the background is blurred. This is used in the video to generate images with a professional, out-of-focus background.

💡Accent Lighting

Accent lighting is a lighting technique used to emphasize certain parts of a scene or subject. In the context of the video, adding 'accent lighting' to the prompt influences the AI to generate images with specific lighting that highlights the subject's features, contributing to the photorealistic effect.

💡Global Illumination

Global illumination is a complex lighting technique that simulates the way light interacts in a scene, including indirect lighting, shadows, and reflections. The video mentions 'global illumination' as part of the prompt to achieve more realistic lighting effects in the generated images, making them appear more like real photographs.

💡Polaroid

Polaroid refers to the instant photography process and the characteristic square-shaped images produced by Polaroid cameras. In the video, including 'Polaroid' in the prompt results in images that have the appearance of instant film photos, complete with an aged look, adding a nostalgic and realistic touch to the AI-generated images.

💡National Geographic

National Geographic is a renowned magazine and organization known for its high-quality photography of nature, wildlife, and cultures. The video uses 'National Geographic' in the prompt to inspire the AI to create images that emulate the style of photography typically seen in the magazine, which is known for its realism and storytelling.

💡Telephoto Lens

A telephoto lens is a type of camera lens that allows for the magnification of distant objects, creating a closer appearance than the naked eye would perceive. In the video, specifying a 'telephoto lens' in the prompt helps the AI generate images with a perspective that mimics the compression effect of such lenses, which is often used in wildlife and sports photography.

💡Golden Hour

Golden hour refers to the period of daylight shortly after sunrise or before sunset when the sunlight is softer, warmer, and more diffused, creating a special quality of light. The video uses 'golden hour' in the prompt to generate images with a warm, golden glow, which adds a natural and visually appealing lighting effect to the AI-generated photos.

Highlights

The video discusses creating ultra-photorealistic images using Midjourney, inspired by a Reddit thread.

The original prompt used by Reddit user Archie 7 is shared, which generated highly realistic images.

Archie 7 experimented with removing keywords to create a shorter prompt for similar results.

The video demonstrates using the shared prompt in Midjourney to generate realistic images.

Midjourney account is required, and viewers are guided to join the beta for free image generation.

The prompt includes details like 'clear facial features', 'cinematic 35 millimeter lens', 'F 1.8', 'accent lighting', 'Global illumination', 'uplight', and 'version 4' for high-quality results.

The generated images are compared to real photographs, showcasing their realism.

Upscaling the generated images retains the impressive level of detail.

The video explores tweaking the prompt to create images of different subjects, like a young American boy.

Adding 'Polaroid' to the prompt results in images that resemble traditional Polaroid photos.

The video tests the 'Polaroid' effect with different prompts to verify its versatility.

Landscape photography is enhanced with camera details like '35 millimeter lens F-22' and 'wide angle'.

National Geographic style photography is achieved by including details like animal, shot direction, pose, time of day, and film type in the prompt.

The video demonstrates the effectiveness of the National Geographic prompt with various animals.

Combining techniques from different sources, the video attempts to create realistic images of people.

The video concludes by highlighting the potential of Midjourney for creating ultra-realistic images and encourages sharing effective prompts.

Resources and further reading on AI tools and techniques are provided for those interested in exploring more.