David Bradley – Page 27

Broken keys and ticking clocks

TL:DR – I asked ChatGPT to help me write my latest song, although I ignored all of its suggestions in the end. You can stream or download the song here.

You may have noticed, I’ve been experimenting with ChatGPT a little this month. If you carefully craft a prompt it can give you some quite remarkable responses, I got it to write a new article based on my writing style, for instance. I also had it mess around with some of my lyrics. To be honest, I wouldn’t use anything that it’s come up with without massively editing, but it does trigger new thoughts and ideas when it bounces back a response.

I thought it might be worth trying it for inspiration for the chord progression to help me develop the melody to go with those new lyrics. I’d originally had a simple chord progression that shuttled between FM7 and Gm7 for the verse, but needed something to take the lyrics elsewhere melodically speaking. I could easily think of a new set of chords myself, but I’ve done that hundreds of times, this is a first for me and AI.

If you craft an appropriate response you can get the bot to respond as if it is a certain kind of person So, here are my prompts in italics, with the bots answers after each:

I want you to act as a Grammy-winning singer-songwriter working on their latest masterpiece, you’re going to give me the most evocative and emotional chord progression for the verses, a bridge that builds on that, and then the most powerful and uplifting progression for the chorus. You can choose the key but it must work well on guitar.

For the verses, a chord progression that evokes a sense of longing and introspection could be Am – F – C – G. The Am and F chords create a sense of tension, while the C and G chords bring a sense of resolution.

For the bridge, a progression that builds on the emotions of the verses could be C – G – Am – F. This progression takes the listener on a journey, starting with a sense of resolution and then building back up to the tension of the verses.

For the chorus, a powerful and uplifting progression could be D – G – Bm – A. The D and G chords create a sense of energy and triumph, while the Bm and A chords bring a sense of emotional release.

All of these chords work well on the guitar, and this progression is in D major.

That’s almost perfect, now give me some jazzy inversions and substitutions of the verse chords to add colour to verse 2.

For a jazzy inversion of the Am chord, you could try using an A minor 7th chord in first inversion. This adds a bit of colour to the chord and creates a smoother transition to the F chord. Another option would be to use an A minor 6th chord in second inversion.

For the F chord, a jazzy substitution could be an F7 chord which adds a bit of tension and dissonance to the progression. Another option would be to use an Fmaj7 chord which adds a bit of complexity and richness to the sound.

For the C chord, a jazzy substitution could be a C9 chord which adds a bit of dissonance and tension, but also a sense of resolution. Another option would be to use a Cmaj7 chord which adds a bit of colour to the chord and creates a smoother transition to the G chord.

For the G chord, a jazzy substitution could be a G6 chord which adds a bit of complexity and richness to the sound. Another option would be to use a G9 chord which adds a bit of dissonance and tension, but also a sense of resolution.

These chord substitutions and inversions would add more depth, complexity and jazzy flavour to your verse progression.

Okay, so I need more inversions for verse 3 that would give the overall feel a bit more of a progressive rock vibe side-stepping the jazz but perhaps even more sophisticated chords.

For a more progressive rock feel in the verse, you could try using some more complex chord voicings and inversions. Here are a few options:

For the Am chord, you could try using an Am11 chord in second inversion . This adds a lot of dissonance and tension to the chord, giving it a more progressive rock feel.

For the F chord, you could try using an Fmaj9 chord in first inversion. This adds a lot of colour to the chord and creates a more complex and sophisticated sound.

For the C chord, you could try using a Cmaj13 chord in second inversion. This adds a lot of dissonance and tension to the chord, giving it a more progressive rock feel.

For the G chord, you could try using a G9sus4 chord in first inversion. This adds a lot of dissonance and tension to the chord, giving it a more progressive rock feel.

These chord voicings and inversions would give your verse progression a more progressive rock feel and add a more sophisticated and complex sound.

So, now that we’ve got all those substitutions and inversions do we need to add some colour to the chorus or can it stay as it is to bring us back to the hook?

The chorus is typically the most memorable and catchy part of a song, so it’s important to make sure it stands out and has a strong impact. While the original chord progression you provided (D – G – Bm – A) is strong and works well to create a sense of energy and triumph, you could consider adding some colour and variation to the chorus to make it even more powerful and impactful.

Here are a few options for adding colour to the chorus:

Use a different inversion of the chords. For example, instead of playing a D chord in root position, play it in first inversion. This adds a different flavour to the chord and makes it stand out more.

Add an extension or alteration to the chords. For example, you could add a 9th or 11th to the D chord, or add a b5 note to the G chord. This adds dissonance and tension to the chords, making them more interesting and impactful.

Play around with the rhythm of the chords. For example, instead of strumming the chords in a regular pattern, try using syncopated rhythms or arpeggiating the chords. This adds a different feel to the chords and makes them stand out more.

Overall, the chorus chord progression you’ve got is solid, and with a little bit of colour and variation, it could be made even more powerful and impactful.

What’s this song with all these powerful and evocative chords going to be about?

As a language model AI, I don’t have personal experiences or emotions, so I can’t write a song from my own perspective. However, the chords and progressions I’ve provided are quite versatile and could be used in a variety of different types of songs and contexts. They evoke feelings of longing, introspection, triumph, and resolution, so the lyrics could be about a wide range of topics and emotions, such as overcoming a difficult challenge, the longing for a lost loved one, or the journey of self-discovery.

The song could be about a person that has been through a lot of struggles and is on a journey to find hope, redemption and happiness. The verses could be about the struggles and the pain, with the bridge representing a turning point, an epiphany or a moment of realization that leads to a change in the protagonist’s perspective. The chorus could be the uplifting and triumphant moment where the person finds the light at the end of the tunnel and the hope that things will get better.

Ultimately, the message and theme of the song would depend on the lyrics and the story you want to tell. The chords and progressions provide a foundation for the emotion of the song, but the lyrics and melody would bring the story to life.

Your suggestions tie in with some lyrics I have in my own repertoire about a young woman returning to an abusive childhood home after her parents have died and coping with her pain and memories.

Those chords and progressions I provided earlier would work well with lyrics about a young woman returning to her childhood home after her parents have passed away and coping with her pain and memories. The verses could focus on the pain and struggles she experiences as she revisits her past and the memories of the abuse she endured. The bridge could represent a turning point in her journey, where she starts to come to terms with her past and begins to find the strength to move forward. The chorus could be about her finding hope and redemption as she begins to heal and move on from her past.

The song could be about how the protagonist overcomes the pain and trauma of her past and finds the strength to move forward. The verses could be about the struggles and the pain, with the bridge representing a turning point, an epiphany or a moment of realization that leads to a change in the protagonist’s perspective. The chorus could be the uplifting and triumphant moment where the person finds the light at the end of the tunnel and the hope that things will get better.

It’s a very emotional and personal topic and the lyrics and melody you would use would be very important in making the song relatable and impactful. It’s important to remember that this type of songs are to be written with care and sensitivity and with the intention of being helpful for people that went through similar experiences.

Okay, so now give me the title for this award-winning song. The lyrics contain references to ticking clocks, time passing, shocks, keys and locks.

“Ticking Clocks, Shocks, and Keys”
“Time’s Locks and Shocks”
“Unlocking Memories”
“Echoes of Yesterday”
“The Sound of Time Passing”
“Locked in Time”
“Shocked by Time”
“The Ticking of the Clock”
“Broken Keys, Broken Time”
“The echoes of Yesterday’s Locks”

These are just a few ideas for a song title that incorporates the themes of ticking clocks, time passing, shocks, keys, and locks. The title should ideally be evocative and reflective of the emotional journey of the protagonist as she revisits her past and copes with her pain and memories. Ultimately, the title should be something that resonates with you and feels like the perfect fit for your song.

None of your suggestions for titles grab me, so I’ve come up with “Broken keys and ticking clocks”.

“Broken Keys and Ticking Clocks” is a great title for your song. It evokes a sense of both nostalgia and pain, reflecting the protagonist’s journey of revisiting her past and coping with her memories. It also hints at the themes of time passing and the struggles of unlocking the past. The image of broken keys suggests that the protagonist’s journey will not be easy and the ticking clocks suggest that time is of the essence. It’s a strong and powerful title that encapsulates the themes and emotions of your song.

—

So, the next thing to do, which AI can’t quite manage yet (although it is getting there!) would have been for me to record a demo with my lyrics, building a melody, using the bot’s chord progressions as the basis.

However, when I picked up a guitar, I realised the bot’s progressions were just variations on the four-chord trick, which has been used in thousands of songs, and is a well-trodden musical path. I went back to my original progression, which with the melody I’d originally had in mind was much stronger than just using the four-chord trick again. The refrain departs from my two-chord shuttle and adds some colour as well as rounding back into the verses quite nicely.

So, now that I think about it, all the AI did for me in this whole process is reinforce the original ideas I had myself by showing me alternatives that were not quite as strong.

I’ve done a very rough demo, so I have a record of what I am thinking musically with this song, but it needs a lot of work.

Lyrically, it’s a bit tragic, actually it’s more than a bit tragic. It doesn’t sound like The Beatles but lyrically it’s almost as if She’s leaving home were the prequel to Suzanne Vega’s Luka and this is the follow-up. If you read between the lines, you can imagine the tale does not have a positive outcome…but that might change, I could easily make it uplifting at the end instead of depressing…we’ll see…especially if Suzanne would like to collaborate on it!

Broken keys and ticking clocks

The key turns in the lock
she pushed the door wide open with her suitcase
It’s a shock
to find herself back here once again

She locked the secrets deep inside
Unanswered prayers her woe betide

She finds the clocks
They stopped the day she stepped away
From the cruellest of hard knocks
and all the fears that it revealed

The silent screams, the sound that mocks
Those echoes drowned by ticking clocks

No need to knock
She grasps the letters from the floor
You know she’s taking stock.
And gasps to know the secrets hold her no more

The key’s inside the box.
She didn’t need to worry
It’s time to face the shocks
There’s always time to hurry

She locked the secrets deep inside
Unanswered prayers her woe betide

She winds the clocks
And knows the secrets can’t hold her
The cruellest of hard knocks
and all the fears gone forever more

Dave Bradley’s Greatest Hits

TL:DR – It’s 21:12 on Friday the 13th…it’s time for some music. My most popular ten songs, according to my BandCamp statistics.

Regular readers know by now that I occasionally post stuff about my music, the music I write and record, the music I perform with my band C5 and the TyrannoChorus, and even occasionally about the am dram pit band with whom I play once a year for their Xmas show.

I’ve got a lot of demos on BandCamp and SoundCloud and occasionally look at the very embarrassing stats they give on how many listens I get. Some of my older material is on a BandCamp account I originally called Sciencebass instead of Sciencebase, haha. Here’s the all-time top ten of my songs on that account that people actually listened to back in the day…my more recent material (a decade of music in ten albums can be found here).

Golden Light – Enlightenment in the desert
Love’s Offline – No more cybersex
Winter Warmer – A seasonal perspective on addiction
Gravity’s Rainbow – Always under pressure
Security High – Learn about leaks
Dawn Chorus – The sequel to Daft Punk’s Get Lucky
Wishful Thinking – What if?
Collateral Damage – War and peace
In Deep Water – The tide is turning…
Radio Love (Radio Edit) – Should’ve been a number one

Being a ray of sunshine even when it is dark and dull outside

TL:DR – Tips on how to cope with feeling gloomy when the weather is dull.

A friend over on Mastodon was telling us how it’s been dull and gloomy in her hometown for 15 days on the trot. That’s miserable, it’s not easy jumping out of bed with any kind of enthusiasm when the day ahead looks dull and grey. She wanted some advice on how to break through the gloom.

I don’t like it when it’s dark either, only thing I could suggest is to set an alarm and have some specific small task to do each morning. Switch on the lights, throw the curtains wide, jump to your feet, make a start on the task, get it done and dusted quickly and then get on with the rest of the day!

Tasks could be something mundane like cleaning, reordering a bookshelf, swapping pictures and photos from room to room doing the NYT mini, Wordle, Heardle or some other puzzle as fast as you can, tuning the radio to a station you don’t normally listen to and dancing to the first song that comes on, maybe even , descaling the kettle, bundling up the laundry and getting it in the machine, doing a couple of sets of crunches and press-ups, a quick sun-salutation (one can always hope). Just a few ideas, anything to give you the initial kickstart that gets you going and moving more sprigtly through the day.

I confess that the only time I feel enthusiastic about getting out of bed especially on a dull day, is if I a big writing project to start, I have a song on the go that needs new parts added or a mix redone, or there’s a bird species in the neighbourhood that I haven’t seen before, and I want to photograph…but that can be enough. I need to take my own advice, now that I’ve typed it up!

Setting the tone artificially

TL:DR – You can get ChatGPT to analyse a piece of prose for style and tone and then use the results to get it to generate a new piece of prose on another topic with an approximation of that style and tone.

If you feed ChatGPT, the AI language model, an appropriate prompt followed by a sample of writing, it does something that could be rather useful. The bot analyses the writing style. The prompt needs to be something like this: “Analyze the text below for style, voice, and tone. Then, using natural language processing (NLP) create a prompt to write a new article in the same style, voice, and tone.” and you paste in a sample of your own writing.

I gave the bot this prompt and pasted the text from a recent blog post of mine about migratory blackcaps in our garden. It came back with this summary:

Style: Informal, observational
Voice: First person narrator
Tone: Thoughtful, contemplative

I’d agree with that, I certainly try to write my nature posts in that kind of style, voice, and tone. The bot also generates a new prompt based on its analysis:

Prompt: Write an article about observing a different species of bird in your backyard and the possible reasons for changes in their migration patterns. Use personal anecdotes and scientific explanation to convey a thoughtful, contemplative tone.

This prompt can then be used to generate a new article. So, I tried that but I modified the prompt to focus on a particular species of bird, the Fieldfare, rather than using the phrase “different species of bird” and I changed the word backyard to garden. This is the article that ChatGPT generated, you can compare it with my own original article on the topic of Fieldfares in the garden, which wrote a few years ago for the blog.

NB The following article was generated by the AI to emulate my writing style!

Fieldfares in the Garden: A Wintertime Delight

As a nature lover, I have always enjoyed watching the various birds that visit my back garden throughout the year. Recently, I have had the pleasure of observing a type of thrush known as a Fieldfare. These birds are typically found in Northern Europe and Asia, and are known for their striking plumage, consisting of a grey head and mantle, with a chestnut-colored breast and belly.

I first noticed some Fieldfares in my garden during a harsh winter period. They were attracted to the berry bushes in my garden. Their presence was a welcome sight, as the dull grey days of winter can sometimes feel quite monotonous.

One possible explanation for change [in their migration patterns] could be the milder winter temperatures that have been observed in recent years. Fieldfares have a high metabolic rate and require a lot of food to survive the cold winter months. Milder temperatures may make it possible for them to find enough food in their breeding grounds, reducing the need for them to migrate as far south.

Another potential explanation could be the availability of food in urban areas like my garden. As more and more people take up gardening, the amount of food available to birds in urban areas has increased, making it less necessary for them to travel as far to find sustenance. This may also explain why I have observed more Fieldfares in my garden over the years, as the berry bushes have matured and now provide a reliable source of food.

As I watch the Fieldfares flitting from bush to bush in my garden, I am reminded that the natural world is ever-changing, and that even small changes in the environment can have a big impact on the lives of the animals that call it home. It is important that we continue to observe and study these changes, so that we can understand and appreciate the intricate connections that exist within our natural world.

Note, there were a couple of sentences that were factually incorrect regarding the numbers of Fieldfares I have actually seen in my garden and some aspects of their behaviour which did not ring true, so I have removed those. I also asked the AI to give the article a title.

Ticking Clocks – She’s coming home

TL:DR – Notes on writing my latest song, which you can stream or download here.

I had a little chord progression that got me thinking…nothing complicated just some interesting inversions on BM7, FM7 Gm7 and C7 that came up on a social media site. Sounded nice, but I ditched the BM7 and the C7 and just oscillated between the other two to sing an ad lib lyric…and then to break away into a chorus based on Dm7 Am, and Gm7.

Thing is, I thought I came up with something neat lyrically, a kind of riposte to The Beatles’ song She’s Leaving Home, whereby we find the protagonist returning to her childhood home after her parents have died, there always was the implication of a less than happy childhood for her, but what if it had been worse, what if it were a miserable childhood, one in which one or both parents were abusive in some way? That was my train of thought when I came up with this little lot…

Ticking Clocks

The key turns in the lock, she shoves the door wide open with her suitcase
It’s a shock, to find herself back here once again.

CHORUS
She locked her secret deep inside
Unanswered prayers her woe betide
Now silent screams, the sound that mocks
Those echoes drowned by ticking clocks

INSTRUMENTAL BREAK

No need to knock, she clutches letters from the floor
She’s taking stock. Of secrets she holds, no time to worry more

CHORUS

She winds the clocks That stopped the day she stepped away
From darning socks and all the hazards that entailed

Finding keys and picking locks. She didn’t need to hurry
There’s always time to worry

CHORUS to fade…

Of course, I couldn’t leave it there, especially seeing as I haven’t even started thinking about recording the actual song, so I thought I’d give ChatGPT a chance to review and revise my lyrics. I prompted the bot by telling it that it is a “world-renowned singer-songwriter with a string of grammy-award winning songs” and asking it to redraft my lyrics to make them award-winning too. This is what it came up with:

She turns the key and pushes open the door
With a suitcase in hand, she’s back once more.
It’s a surprise, to find herself in this place,
Memories flood in, as she sees her old space.

CHORUS:
She locked her emotions deep inside,
Unanswered prayers and broken ties.
Now, silent screams echo in her mind,
As she tries to leave the past behind.

No need to knock, she picks up letters from the ground,
Sifting through the words, that once brought her down.
She takes stock of all the secrets she holds,
No time to dwell, on the stories she’s told.

CHORUS

BRIDGE
She winds the clocks, that stopped the day she left
Leaving behind the mundanity, with no regret.
Finding keys and picking locks, she takes her time,
To leave behind the memories, that once were her crime.

CHORUS

OUTRO
With a new sense of freedom, she steps out the door,
No more looking back, as she’s ready to soar.
She’s finally free from the past and all its weight,
And can embrace a brighter future, with no more hate.

Of course, I won’t use the ChatGPT output as my lyric, but I might redraft my own once more before I record to see if I can make them more evocative…

Bot writes artificial clickbait

TL:DR – I asked the language model ChatGPT, to give me an answer to the question: “Is it unethical to use ChatGPT to write a blog post?” The following “chat” ensued.

It is generally considered ethical to use language models like chatbot to generate text as long as you disclose that you used a language model and do not present the generated text as your own original work. However, it is important to use your own judgement and consider the specific context in which you are using the language model. If you are using the language model to generate content for a blog post, it would be a good idea to clearly disclose that you used a language model and to provide appropriate attribution. This will ensure that readers are aware of the source of the content and can make their own decisions about its value. It is also important to consider whether the use of a language model is appropriate for the specific purpose and audience of your blog post.

I then suggested that I didn’t think most people would consider it ethical. It answered as follows, reiterating what it had already said and expanding on the topic a little.

There is some debate about the ethics of using language models to generate text, and different people may have different views on the matter. Some may argue that it is acceptable to use language models to generate text as long as it is clearly disclosed and properly attributed, while others may have concerns about the potential for language models to be used to deceive or mislead readers. Ultimately, it is up to individuals to decide what they consider to be ethical in a given context. It is always a good idea to be transparent about the sources of your content and to give appropriate credit to any sources that you use. This will help to ensure that readers are able to make informed decisions about the content they are reading.

I wanted the AI to expand further and asked why do people think it’s unethical to use AI as it’s just a tool.

There are a few reasons why some people may consider the use of language models to generate text to be unethical. One reason is that using a language model to generate text may be seen as a form of plagiarism, since the text is not originally created by the person presenting it. Additionally, there is a concern that language models could be used to deceive or mislead readers by generating text that is difficult to distinguish from human-written content. Some people may also have concerns about the potential for language models to be used to automate the creation of content, potentially leading to the displacement of human writers. These are all valid concerns, and it is important to be transparent about the use of language models and to use them responsibly.

I questioned its suggestion that the use of such text might be considered plagiarism given that there is no creator to claim ownership.

Plagiarism is generally defined as the act of presenting the work of others as your own, without proper attribution. While it is true that a language model does not have an “author” in the same way that a human does, the use of a language model to generate text could still be considered plagiarism if the generated text is presented as the original work of the person using the language model, without proper attribution. In order to avoid the appearance of plagiarism, it is important to clearly disclose that the text was generated using a language model and to provide appropriate attribution to the source of the text. This will ensure that readers are aware of the source of the content and can make their own decisions about its value.

I think I’ve reached a dead-end when I pointed out that the AI app is essentially just a sophisticated editing tool. In a parallel activity, if I were to convert my photograph into a cartoon using a graphics editor with an AI plugin for making such a conversion, the output would still be a derivative of my original work. Similarly, my language prompt given to the chat AI is analogous to my photograph and its output is simply a derivative work. ChatGPT simply reiterates what it had already said.

It is true that a language model like ChatGPT can be used as a tool to help generate text, much like an editing tool or graphics editor can be used to manipulate or transform a photograph. However, it is important to consider the specific context in which the text generated by the language model is being used. If you are using the language model to generate content for a blog post or other publication, it would be important to clearly disclose that you used a language model to generate the text and to provide appropriate attribution. This will help to ensure that readers are aware of the source of the content and can make their own decisions about its value. Ultimately, it is up to the individual to use their own judgement and to consider the specific context in which they are using the language model to determine whether it is appropriate to present the generated text as their own original work.

Fowl play: old gravelpits as birdwatching hotspots

TL:DR – Gravel pits that have been converted into nature reserves can offer some lovely scenery and the opportunity to see interesting and even rare wildlife.

There are lots of old gravelworks in our area some of which are earmarked as nature reserves as I’ve mentioned before, a couple of times, and some are used as fisheries. Where there’s water and reeds and trees there will most likely be birds regardless of the anglers or visitors.

Great White Egret perched on a half-submerged tree stump

On this almost sunny Friday morning, I headed to the fishery lakes adjacent to Meadow Lane, St Ives – known to some as Meadow Lane Pits. I was hoping to see and perhaps get photos of the five Smew, a type of diving duck, that had turned up there earlier in the week. Birders had reported three drakes (males) and two females, known among birders as “redheads” for their obviously different appearance to the males.

A female "redhead" Smew flanked by two drakes — A female “redhead” Smew flanked by two drakes, an additional redhead and another drake were on the water nearby

I parked up and trekked around the muddy footpaths, trouser bottoms tucked unfashionably into my walking socks, to try and catch sight of the Smew. En route I saw (in no particular order) Tufted Duck, Black-headed Gull, Bullfinch, Starling, Blackbird, Gadwall, Little Egret, Goldeneye, Egyptian Goose, Wigeon, Great White Egret, Great Crested Grebe, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Grey Heron, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Coot, Cormorant, and at some point quite early on, one or two of the Smew, and then all five.

Old gravel pits, particularly those that have been allowed to fill with water, can be nice spots for birdwatching for various reasons. First, there is the potential for habitat diversity. Gravel pits can develop a mix of habitat types, including open water, reedbeds, mudflats, and vegetated areas. This can attract a variety of bird species but it also cultivates large numbers of invertebrates as well as small mammals, amphibia, and fish which can all thrive there if given the chance.

Where old gravelpits have been managed there are often large areas that are not open to the public, so there can be far less disturbance to the wildlife in those areas and along the margins this spills over into the publicly accessible areas. As they mature, these old gravel pits often become tranquil areas of scenic beauty. Many are rather peaceful, hardly see any visitors, have attractive vegetation and in short, the overall combination of habitat diversity, food availability, and lack of disturbance make them excellent spots for a bit of peace and quiet and a spot of birdwatching.

My photographic setup for birds

TL:DR – A quick summary of how I set up for bird photography.

I get asked a lot about what camera (and lens) I use to take my bird photos. It comes with a simple answer. Most of the time, I use a Canon 7D Mark ii (a model first launched in 2014). I bought the 7Dii during the first COVID-19 lockdown (March 2020). It was cutting edge when it was launched and was a leader for the top-end pro-sumer wildlife photographer for many years because of its focusing abilities and burst mode rates. It’s very susceptible to noise, more so than the Canon 6D I used for a few years before buying that camera.

I have various lenses, but the one I use while birding (or strictly speaking togging) is the Sigma Contemporary 150-600mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM. This lens was launched in the same year as the camera, I bought mine in January 2017. It is a relatively slow lens in terms of aperture and that combines detrimentally with the noisiness of the camera. But, the total cost of my kit was far less than if I’d gone full professional Canon for the camera and a big aperture zoom, four or five times cheaper in fact.

I have to admit, I am rarely 100% happy with the photos I get with this equipment but I shoot RAW and software can counter the kit’s limitations to a degree. I’ve mostly used PaintShopPro (PSP) in recent years although I did some Photoshop training many years ago and used that for several years. I recently turned to RawTherapee for converting the camera RAW file into an editable format that I could then tweak with PSP, but I moved over to the Topaz AI software for a time. The Denoise AI is very good at removing motion blur, as I reported here some time ago. I’ve looked at Adobe Lightroom once or twice, but never stuck with it, see also the open source alternative to Photoshop known as GIMP, GNU Image Manipulation Program.

However, I discovered DxO’s PureRaw, which does denoising rather better than anything I’ve tried before. I would say applying it to a fairly noisy photo is equivalent to having been able to stop down three stops (akin to going from ISO 3200 to 400 but without the loss of sensitivity) of ISO with the same aperture and shutterspeed. That makes a big difference with my Canon 7Dii and the Sigma lens, it has to be said.

My developing process usually follows a sequence whereby I use the denoising in DxO Photolab (which is the same as in the standalone PureRaw software) to remove noise as best it can and to apply some basic levels and sharpening adjustments. The software also makes standard adjustments for known aberrations in the camera-lens combination. I then export the resulting file and then open that in PSP to do final levels tweaks to adjust brightness, contrast, pull in the blacks, bring out the whites, lift the shadows and vibrancy, do an unsharp mask and then add my dB/ logo and add it to my online galleries, social media, or use it to illustrate an article or blog post or whatever. Sometimes, I just show the result to Mrs Sciencebase and then archive the image.

A few people have expressed surprise at the quality of a particular photo given the vintage of my camera and the type of lens I’m using. I think I could do better with a professional digital SLR, but they’re expensive and it’s not three years since I replaced my 6D with the 7Dii and I don’t feel like I can justify an upgrade. As to lenses, I’d love to be able to splash the cash on a big prime telephoto or maybe just a fast zoom with a big focal length, but again…cost.

As to mirrorless, I’ve handled one or two, I really don’t like looking at a screen to take a photo, maybe that’s old school, but I want to feel like I’m looking at my subject through glass rather than pixels, at least for now. Moreover, I’ve not seen any results with mirrorless cameras that better the top-end professional shots taken with dSLR.

Give it a year or two and things will have improved and my viewfinder stance might have changed, I suspect I will get myself some better kit for my 60th birthday, but then there’s always the urge to get a new electric guitar too…

Will AI help us be more creative?

TL:DR – The short answer is yes and no, depending on how one uses it, AI can be a prompt for ideas and those ideas might support or stifle creativity.

If you read the previous two Sciencebase articles, you will note that the first one about our New Year trip to Norfolk was a conventional article in my usual style, descriptive, with a few puns and pops, and a load of bird photos. The next article was a reboot of that same article where I fed each paragraph from the former to an AI tool known as ChatGPT and provided its responses.

They were almost insightful, the AI responded in a positive way to my paragraphs basically rewriting them as a response in a way a chatshow host might reiterate and re-emphasise the points made by a guest on the show. It also seemed to extrapolate and extend on open-ended points I made in my original article to make suggestions. For example, I’d used the phrase “for starters” to allude to their being a main course when it came to our birdwatching over the three days. I think the AI picked up in this and while mentioning some birds then asked whether I’d seen any more.

Anyway, I started a fresh chat with the AI bot after writing up that latter call-and-response article and asked it the following question:

“I am wondering how important AI will be in the near future will it boost our collective creativity or stifle innovation?”

It came back with this response, which sums things up in a positive and succinct way, I must admit:

“AI has the potential to enhance and augment human creativity and innovation in many ways. For example, AI can help people generate new ideas by providing them with a diverse set of options or by suggesting connections between seemingly unrelated concepts. AI can also help people evaluate and refine their ideas by providing them with data-driven insights or by helping them identify potential problems or challenges.

At the same time, it is important to recognize that AI is only a tool, and its impact on creativity and innovation will depend on how it is used. If AI is used in a way that complements and enhances human capabilities, it has the potential to boost creativity and innovation. However, if AI is used to replace human decision-making or to automate creative processes, it may stifle innovation. Ultimately, the key to maximizing the benefits of AI for creativity and innovation is to find the right balance between using AI to augment human capabilities and preserving the unique strengths and creativity of humans.“

How to have an intelligent conversation with a bot

TL:DR – The language model ChatGPT seems to put a positive spin on everything, even rather negative topics.

I fed the paragraphs from my recent blog post about our new year trip to the Norfolk coast sequentially to the ChatGPT, language model to see what sort of things it would say in response to my words…its responses put a positive spin on everything, even my complaint about the number of dogs!

It’s also interesting, that it recognises that I said “for starters” and so asked if I saw any other interesting birds. For the most part, it looks like the bot repeats back to you what you’ve said like a vaguely interested and patronising friend might! Be interesting to know from where it grabs the additional information about each species and whether that’s copyright material or open to use because it was my creative input that generated it using the app…

I discuss this artificial discussion in an article entitled “Will AI help us be more creative and innovate?”

Here’s the call-and-response chat I had with the AI:

Sciencebase: As has been our habit for the last few years, we have eschewed the midnight festivities of New Year and escaped to the coast. This time, we straddled the New Year with three nights in a cosy cottage in Wells-next-the-Sea. We enjoyed the local hostelries in the evenings during our trip, but the main focus was to walk as far as we could manage each day (usually 7 or 8 miles) and to take in the birding and other sites of nature en route.

ChatGPT: Sounds like you had a great time! Wells-next-the-Sea is a beautiful location and it’s always nice to take a break from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Walking and birdwatching are both excellent ways to relax and connect with nature. It’s great that you were able to spend some time doing activities that you enjoy and getting some exercise at the same time. I hope you had a wonderful trip and that you’re feeling refreshed and rejuvenated for the new year.

Sciencebase: Wells, Warham, Titchwell, and Holkham Gap were the main areas, beach, woodland, marsh, and nature reserve. A couple of Muntjac (one deceased), two or three Grey Squirrel, half a dozen Grey Seal, and 1001 dalmations and others dogs were the limited list of mammals we saw.

ChatGPT: It sounds like you had a great time exploring the different environments in Wells-next-the-Sea and the surrounding areas. Muntjac, grey squirrel, and grey seal are all interesting animals to see, and it’s great that you were able to spot them during your walks. The variety of dogs you saw must have been fun to watch as well. I hope you were able to get some good photos or memories of your adventures!

Sciencebase: The birding list was much better as you’d expect, for starters, we saw a rare vagrant over the marsh at Warham east of Wells, a Pallid Harrier, along with a couple of Hen Harriers on the same marsh. It was dull and grey at that point and the low-light photos of the harriers are just my record shots.

ChatGPT: Seeing a Pallid Harrier and a couple of Hen Harriers is quite a treat for birdwatchers! These birds are not often seen, especially the Pallid Harrier, which is a rare vagrant to the UK. It sounds like you were lucky to spot them during your trip. It’s understandable that the photos may not have turned out well in the low light, but I’m sure the experience of seeing these birds in person was well worth it. Did you see any other interesting birds during your trip?

Sciencebase: The Pallid Harrier, Circus macrourus, is a migrant that breeds in Eastern Europe, Iran, and central Asia, wintering in India or Africa depending on its migratory wont. It is rare in Western Europe and the UK, but occasional vagrants are ticked here. That said, the species is now known to have bred in The Netherlands (2017) and Spain (2019). A changing world means a changing world for the birds too.

ChatGPT: Yes, that’s correct. The Pallid Harrier is a species that typically breeds in Eastern Europe, Iran, and Central Asia, and winters in India or Africa. It is not a common sight in Western Europe, including the UK, but as you mentioned, there have been a few instances of the species being spotted as a vagrant in these regions. It’s interesting to see how changing environments and conditions can affect the distribution and migration patterns of different species of birds. Did you see any other unusual or rare birds during your trip?

Sciencebase: We saw dozens of other species (around 80). Many of those we had seen before, some many times, but one was rather special and we’d only seen it once before, in Poole Harbour in the autumn of 2022 – White-tailed Eagle. An immature specimen flew over us as we were heading back along the beach to Holkham Gap from the westward marsh end of the patch. The bird itself was heading to its roost on the marsh where it had been reported at roughly the same time for the previous couple of days. We don’t know at this point whether the bird we saw was one of the two we saw in Poole, these Isle of Wight reintroduction birds do cover a lot of ground on their travels.

ChatGPT: Seeing a White-tailed Eagle is definitely a special and memorable experience! These birds are not commonly seen in the UK, so it’s great that you were able to spot one during your trip. It’s interesting that you saw one in Poole Harbour in the autumn of 2022 and then saw a potentially different one in Wells-next-the-Sea a few months later. It’s possible that the one you saw in Poole was one of the Isle of Wight reintroduction birds, as you mentioned. These birds are known to cover a lot of ground on their travels, so it’s not uncommon for them to be spotted in different locations. It’s wonderful that you were able to see such a beautiful and impressive bird during your trip.

Sciencebase: On a smaller scale, but much more numerous, we had some lovely views of visitors from The Arctic, Snow Buntings (30+), which are distant cousins of the Yellowhammers and Reed Buntings. We also saw Shorelarks (about 11) at Holkham Gap despite the best efforts of uncontrolled dog walkers to repeatedly scare the birds away.

ChatGPT: Snow Buntings and Shorelarks are both interesting and attractive birds to see. It’s great that you were able to spot a large number of Snow Buntings and a few Shorelarks during your trip. It’s unfortunate that the Shorelarks were being disturbed by uncontrolled dogs, but it’s good that you were still able to get some views of them. These arctic visitors can be a real treat for birdwatchers, and it sounds like you had a great time spotting them during your walks.

Sciencebase: Below is the, hopefully complete, list of birds we saw, we may have a few others that we may have glimpsed in passing but are not claiming for the list, Grey Partridge, Bullfinch, Whooper Swan, Sparrowhawk. There were no feeders at the RSPB Titchwell cafe area on this visit, so no sighting of Coal Tit on this visit.

ChatGPT: Here is the list of birds you saw, with a few notes about each species:

Grey Partridge: This is a bird that is native to Europe and Asia. It is a medium-sized bird with a plump body and a reddish-brown head and neck.
Bullfinch: This is a small, stocky finch with a distinctive black head and a bright pink breast. It is native to Europe, Asia, and North Africa.
Whooper Swan: This is a large, white swan with a long neck and a distinctive, bell-like call. It is native to parts of Europe, Asia, and North America.
Sparrowhawk: This is a small, agile bird of prey with a long tail and short, rounded wings. It is found throughout Europe, Asia, and Africa.

It sounds like you had a good variety of birds on your list, and it’s a shame that you weren’t able to spot a Coal Tit on this trip. I hope you had a great time birdwatching and that you were able to get some good views of the birds you saw.Sciencebase: I listed all the birds we saw in my original blog post and then fed them to the bot to see what it would give me.

ChatGPT: It looks like you saw a wide variety of birds during your trip! It’s impressive to see such a long list of different species. Some of the more interesting or notable birds on the list include the Pallid Harrier (which is a rare vagrant to the UK), the Hen Harrier (which is a threatened species in the UK), the Great White Egret (which is a large and striking bird), the Red Kite (which has made a comeback in the UK after being nearly extinct in the 19th century), and the Rough-legged Buzzard (which is a rare winter visitor to the UK). It’s great that you were able to see so many different birds and that you had such a successful trip. I hope you enjoyed your birdwatching experience and that you were able to get some good views of the birds you saw.

Sciencebase: I then fed it a shorter list of some of the birds – Avocet, Bar-tailed Godwit, Black-tailed Godwit, Brent Goose, Pink-footed Goose, Pintail, Red-breasted Merganser Red-throated Diver, Shore Lark.

ChatGPT: Here is some information about the bird species you listed:

Avocet: This is a long-legged wading bird with a distinctive upturned bill. It is found in parts of Europe, Asia, and Africa.
Bar-tailed Godwit: This is a large, long-billed shorebird with a reddish-brown head and neck and a barred tail. It is found in parts of Europe, Asia, and North America.
Black-tailed Godwit: This is a large, long-billed shorebird with a reddish-brown head and neck and a black tail. It is found in parts of Europe, Asia, and North America.
Brent Goose: This is a small, dark goose with a distinctive black neck and head. It is found in parts of Europe, Asia, and North America.
Pink-footed Goose: This is a medium-sized goose with a pinkish-brown breast and pink legs and feet. It is found in parts of Europe and Asia.
Pintail: This is a medium-sized duck with a long, narrow tail and a distinctive, upward-curving bill. It is found in parts of Europe, Asia, and North America.
Red-breasted Merganser: This is a medium-sized diving duck with a thin, serrated bill and a distinctive, crest-like tuft of feathers on its head. It is found in parts of Europe, Asia, and North America.
Red-throated Diver: This is a medium-sized diving bird with a distinctive red throat patch and a long, thin bill. It is found in parts of Europe, Asia, and North America.
Shore Lark: This is a small, plump bird with a distinctive, black-and-yellow head pattern. It is found in parts of Europe and Asia.

These are all interesting and attractive birds to see, and it’s great that you were able to spot them during your trip. I hope you enjoyed your birdwatching experience and that you were able to get some good views of these species.