NPR Photography

Some abandoned locations Elizabeth and I explored during our trip to and from Austin, TX in August of 2023.

Don't get me wrong...I can see the appeal behind using generative A.I.
There are images in my head that I have neither the skill nor the time (to learn the skills and obtain the practice) required to bring those visions to life.
I'm also 100% certain that every story I've written could be written better (whether by myself or by a better author). But if I want to write better stories, I need to read more and practice both my writing and my critical eye for said writing.
A good editor helps a lot, but they're not writing the stories or coaching me on how to write the recommended additions or adjustments...they're just suggesting what they think will work or what the narrative needs, and I've got to use my own voice to implement those changes for myself.
There are no shortcuts.
You either take the time to develop the skills and get the practice, or you don't.
It's not gatekeeping.
It's not ableist.
I could have dedicated my time to studying computer programming, music theory, or any number of things...but I didn't.
I don't get to pretend I'm a programmer because I tell a generative A.I. that I'd like a line of code that produces such-and-such result.
We all have stories we want to tell, music we want to hear, and art we'd like to see...and it's up to us to put in the work to make those things happen.

Elizabeth and I were at an estate sale here in Vancouver, sometime this summer...and the owner of the home had a number of old film-loaded cameras. I took a particular liking to this one...and while I was wandering around, looking at other things, Elizabeth snuck off and purchased this for me...holding onto it until she could give it to me for Christmas.
Whether it will still work, even if we load her up with film, is irrelevant to me. It's aesthetically pleasing to me, and the thought behind the gift makes it an amazing one.