At our project, we are not just exploring food security and entrepreneurship—we are also diving into the world of artificial intelligence and learning how to harness its potential for creative and practical applications. But some of us are also coming from the arts sector too. So, with the support of the OpenAI Researcher Access Program, we’ve been using DALL-E 3 to bring our ideas to life and visualize concepts that are crucial to our work.

Learning Through AI:

We recently had a fantastic experience using tools like DALL-E 3 to learn how to create food images. This time, we made a beautifully arranged photograph of a charcuterie board featuring a variety of premium Manitoba beef products. Our goal was to visualize what Manitoba’s finest beef and pork products could look like in a high-quality advertisement. This activity wasn’t just about creating stunning images—it was about learning to craft effective prompts and understanding the broader implications of AI in food security, marketing, and entrepreneurship.

Here’s what we came up with:

Our Cool Prompt:

Here’s the prompt we used to generate the image, and so that you can re-create them too!

“A beautifully arranged charcuterie board featuring a variety of premium Manitoba beef products. Showcase an assortment of perfectly grilled sausages, thinly sliced deli meats, and elegantly packaged cuts of beef. The setting is a rustic wooden table adorned with fresh herbs, artisanal cheeses, and a variety of bread and crackers. Use soft, natural sunlight streaming in from a nearby window to create a warm, inviting atmosphere. Emphasize the rich, marbled textures and vibrant colors of the meat with high-resolution, close-up shots. The mood should be cozy and indulgent, evoking a sense of comfort and culinary delight. Subtle shadows and highlights should enhance the depth and detail of the food, making it look irresistibly appetizing.”

Photography Details:

• Lens: Captured with a 50mm prime lens to achieve a natural perspective with a shallow depth of field, creating a pleasing bokeh effect in the background.
• Lighting: Soft, natural sunlight streaming in from a nearby window creates a warm, inviting atmosphere. A diffuse reflector eliminates harsh shadows, ensuring the food is evenly illuminated.
• Composition: The shot is framed from a slightly elevated angle (45 degrees) to capture the depth and variety of the charcuterie board. The rich, marbled textures and vibrant colors of the meat are in sharp focus, enhancing the visual appeal.
• Mood: The cozy and indulgent feel evokes a sense of comfort and culinary delight. The lighting highlights the details and textures, with subtle shadows and highlights enhancing the depth of the food.
• Props: Rustic elements like the wooden table, fresh herbs, and artisanal cheeses complement the premium beef products, creating a balanced and aesthetically pleasing composition.

Building Skills for an AI Future:

By engaging with tools like DALL-E 3, we’re not just playing around with AI—we’re equipping ourselves with valuable skills for the future. Crafting effective prompts, understanding AI’s capabilities, and visualizing our ideas are all part of a broader educational journey. This ties into our priorities of youth learning, entrepreneurship, and preparing for a future where AI plays a significant role in various industries.

About our summer programming

Youth, Arts and Media Team summer activities are supported with funding and support from a number of partners and collaborators, including: Global Dignity Canada, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, the Minneapolis College of Art and Design, the University of Minnesota Duluth, Manitoba Agriculture and the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership. We also acknowledge support from the OpenAI Researcher Access Program, Agri-Food and Agriculture Canada and the Government of Canada’s Youth Employment Skills Program. Thank you for believing in us and supporting the Youth, Arts and Media Team.