I think Peak Design has done about 79 Kickstarters or so. I can’t keep track… but this one is the coolest one so far! Just listen to Adam’s sweet voice in the video below. If you were thirsty and wandering in the Sahara desert, Adam could sell you a pile of sand.

This outdoor line (which also supports their photography cubes) looks really slick hey? The only problem is deciding which one I want… I’ll probably get a few! And it’s quite cool that they have a lifelong guarantee. I’ve never needed to use it because the bags are super sturdy. I’ve got this one sling bag I used at Burning Man for several years in a row. That’s about the toughest possible situation and it’s still perfect. Well, it’s a bit dusty, but that’s part of the charm.

Oh, and just to be clear, we don’t collaborate any more. All these new bags are simply the genius of their design team!

I know AI tends to rub a lot of photographers the wrong way. That’s fine—it’s not about me. Maybe it’s about you and your unresolved life issues. But that’s beside the point. I’m here to show you how to make something really cool. 😉

If you’ve been following my @Trairatcliff account, you know I’ve been churning out a lot of fun AI-generated content. And hey, if the Godfather of photography, Rick Sammon, approves, there’s probably something to it. To me, art doesn’t start or stop with a camera. In fact, the camera’s just a tool. True creation happens in the mind of the creator. You don’t need a fancy piece of plastic and glass to make something visceral.

Now, let’s get into the exciting blend of photography and AI. First, here’s one I made earlier…

The Big Picture

If you’re like me, you’ve probably taken thousands—maybe hundreds of thousands—of photos. So, why not use AI to turn them into a fun video?

Before we get too technical, let’s talk about the concept. You took the original photo, and that becomes the foundation for the AI to build upon. At the time of writing this, AI can extrapolate 5+ seconds of video from a single image. With video typically running at 30 frames per second (FPS), that means your photo is the first frame, and the AI generates the remaining 149.

Photos are great, and good videos are great too—no need to pick a side. But there’s something about video that resonates differently, especially when paired with the right music. Humans experience life in a continuous stream of video moments, so video often feels more dynamic and immersive. I like to think of life as a movie, with each scene transitioning into the next, and sometimes a video can move people in ways a single image can’t. Personally, I often find myself watching great films at night, rather than staring at a static photo.

The Tech Stuff

How I Did It
I’ve tried about 4-5 different AI tools, but for this video, I only used one. This isn’t an affiliate link, by the way—I’m not getting paid to promote this. I used Luma for this video, but another option as of now is Runway.

Step 1: Get a Subscription
I opted for the Pro account because my videos are longer and sometimes it takes a few tries to get things looking just right and that requires “credits” which are part of the sub.

Step 2: Develop a concept
This is the fun part! Pick a music track that inspires you—something from Hans Zimmer, your favorite old-school jam, whatever moves you. Don’t sweat copyright too much; YouTube won’t let you monetize it, but if you’re doing this for art’s sake, it’s fine. If you plan to sell the video, use original music or AI-generated tunes. What matters is that the music fits the vibe of the video. For example, I used a song that meant a lot to me from a recent trip to Costa Rica.

Step 3: Upload your photo to Luma
In Luma’s “Create” section, upload your image. There’s a prompt field, but don’t overthink it to begin with. I usually start with something simple like “A slow drone shot” or “Snow is falling in Japan.” The AI will give you 5 seconds of video, and if you like what you see, you can extend it to 10 seconds. Or sometimes the results can be a bit wonky, but that’s not on you — just tweak the prompt to be more specific to what you want for different results. The latest version of Luma even has a dropdown under “Camera” where you can select options like “Pan Left” or “Move in” to give your video a more cinematic feel. This tech evolves quickly, so expect even more features by the time you try it.

Step 4: Edit your video
Once you’ve got your video clips, use your favorite video editing software to combine them with the music. I use Screenflow for Mac—it’s quick and easy. But feel free to use Adobe Premiere, iMovie, or whatever you’re comfortable with.

Have Fun!
And that’s it! This technique works wonders for old family photos, pictures of your kids, vacation snaps, or even that unforgettable fraternity party. The key is to have fun and let your creativity flow. Find joy in the process, and share that joy with the world. 🙂

Here are a few other short vids I made with Luma while experimenting…

This is a fun idea… These scenes began with still photos that I took while in Scotland and then I ran them through a video AI (Luma Dream Machine) and then each photo became a little video. Kind of a weird combo, but I like the way it turned out!

I’m so proud of my daughter Isabella who is heading to university this week to study art and a myriad of other things… All of my kids are beautiful polymaths, and I am so thankful. I’m so amazed by Izzy and everything she has accomplished, and what a strong and beautiful heart she has. She’s off on an adventure, and I wanted to dedicate this creation to her. I love you so much, Isabella. I always have your back… and I’m always here for you. Love, Dad.

Music by: Netanel Goldberg Song: Holy

If you’re visiting the site after watching my interview with the awesome Jakub here’s a nice quick and easy link to the new preset pack! And here’s an image created with one of them… have fun. 🙂

I often get requests from students around the world to answer questions about how I run my art business, travel, etc. Recently one of those dropped into my IG inbox so I decided to record the answers as a vlog of sorts so that it is available for anyone in the future. I hope some of you find some value in it. 🙂

Here’s part 2!

Know anyone who travelled to New Zealand and didn’t return with their gear? I might have stumbled across it! Check out the new newsletter for more on the story and maybe we can find out what actually happened. (Photo credit: Chris Watson)