My View is a personal site by Rich Horner, focused on photography, nature, birding, and thoughtful reflection.
Mission Statement
Our website is dedicated to documenting and sharing the natural beauty of Southern Mississippi and the Gulf Coast through personal photography, trip journals, and stories—with a special focus on birding and the wonders of Mother Nature. Created for the enjoyment of friends, family, and fellow nature lovers, this site offers a glimpse into our explorations and encourages a deeper appreciation of the region’s unique environments.
Rich – photographer
For as long as I can remember, I’ve loved the outdoors, animals, and every form of nature. My photography grew out of that love—a way to express myself and share the beauty I find in wild places. I favor candid shots that capture movement and the quiet ways nature connects and overlaps. The more I learn, the more I discover how much there is still to learn—that mystery keeps me excited.
Patty, who I hope will add her own short bio, is an extraordinary birder. She hears and identifies birds almost instantly, often asking, “Did you hear the ___ or the ___?” we all know I am practically deaf and hear nothing! Patty has birded around the world with her friend Hap and many others, building an amazing life list. Her birding and my photography fit perfectly together. I’m even starting to recognize a few birds myself; just the other day, I proudly identified a chicken.
About the Caricature
As many of you know, I work extensively with AI, particularly ChatGPT, Claude & Gemini. They have become a regular partner in the continuing development of MY VIEW—helping me research and develop essays, explore books and ideas, edit my writing, work through technical problems, and pursue my interests in photography, birding, technology, energy, and much more.
While creating a caricature for one of my grandson’s birthday cards, I became curious about something: What would ChatGPT’s caricature of me look like, based not simply on a photograph, but on everything it had learned about me through our work together?
I provided a photograph for my physical likeness and asked ChatGPT to take it from there.
The caricature above is what it created. The camera, birds, books, MY VIEW, computer, coffee, notes, and assorted bits of my life weren’t instructions from me—they were ChatGPT’s interpretation of the person it had come to know through our many conversations and projects.
That is what makes the image particularly interesting to me. It isn’t simply a caricature of what I look like. In a small way, it’s an AI’s caricature of who it thinks I am.
Someone asked me recently how I go about putting these essays together. I thought it was worth sharing, because the process itself is part of the story.
It starts with a conversation — usually with Gemini. The reason I landed on Gemini first is simple: I use Google almost exclusively on my PC, so it felt natural….Click to read more
My Journey With Cancer
Patty – Birder
Coming Soon!