Or How I Taught Claude to Appreciate a 64-Degree Angle
I have that photo project 64D, named after the diagonal angle of view of my Leica 35mm Summicron lens, because apparently photographers need to turn every technical specification into a philosophy..
I needed a website.
Working with Visual Studio Code and Anthropic’s AI model Claude Sonnet 4.5, my exact prompt was:
Please create an object oriented PHP script generating a single-page web app with the following features and technical setup. Responsive HTML5 website, mobile first. Skeleton v4.0 based UI. Google webfont: Wendy One (to be used for all text on the page). Javascript libs: jQuery and Nanogallery2. On the Home page we need a full screen slideshow auto-loading all images from the subfolder ‘showroom’. At the top an Headline ’64D.pro’ in that section top left. And last but not least a ‘MORE’ button at the bottom right
What I got back was a responsive full-stack website almost ready to release..
My first thought: Okay, this AI thing might actually be useful.
My second thought: Wait, can it analyse my photos and write reviews? Turns out: yes. Yes, it can.
From Pixels to Philosophy
The Image Reviews
Spira Aurea
A black-and-white spiral staircase
Claude identified the golden ratio composition, connected it to Renaissance art theory and Leonardo da Vinci (after a 2nd prompt), discussing logarithmic geometry and visual metaphor.
Lago di Sorapis
Dolomites landscape with turquoise water
Not only did Claude identify the exact location in the Italian Alps, it explained the glacial geology behind that supernatural blue color (rock flour from glacial erosion scattering light) and analyzed the layered composition.
Dream of a Cat
Portrait of two girls holding a cat
The model crystallized the intention; turning a personal moment into a meditation on composition and the chosen connection.
The Chessboard of Human Motion
Life is a game
The image analysis explored how the rigid geometric grid contrasted with organic human movement, creating a study on order versus chaos, anonymity in public spaces, and how we all navigate patterns we didn’t design.
Each review wasn’t just technical analysis, it was interpretation. Claude engaged with the work as art, not just as data.
The Partnership Dynamic
Here’s what surprised me: this wasn’t just asking an AI to perform tasks. It became a creative dialogue:
- Me: Make this diagram more retro comic-style
- Claude: Rewrites entire canvas rendering with halftone dots and vintage effects
- Me: Add a paragraph about Leonardo da Vinci
- Claude: Seamlessly integrates Renaissance art history into existing text
The AI remembered context across the entire conversation. It understood that 64D wasn’t just a number, it was a philosophical framework. It picked up on my tone and matched it. When I wanted humor, it was funny. When I wanted serious analysis, it delivered depth.
The Meta-Lesson:
Constraint as Superpower
Here’s the thing about my 64D project: choosing to shoot everything with one lens (35mm) sounds limiting. In reality, constraint forced creativity. I couldn’t zoom in or out, I had to move, think, compose more carefully.
Working with AI is similar. Yes, it has limitations. No, it can’t make all decisions. But those constraints force you to think clearly about what you want, and to articulate your vision precisely.
The best results come from treating AI as a creative partner rather than a magic solution dispenser. When I asked Claude to analyze my photos, I wasn’t looking for “correct answers”, I was looking for perspective, interpretation, ideas I hadn’t considered.
Just remember:
AI is only as good as the conversation you have with it. Ask better questions, get better answers. Define your constraints, then push against them.