NO TWO MOMENTS ARE EXACTLY ALIKE

Artificial intelligence portraits have officially invaded our planet. Simply upload 10-20 digital shots of yourself onto an app and less than half an hour later you will feel like your daydreams (and some other dreams you’d rather not remember) turned into real life and appeared in the palm of your hand.

You could be a chiseled model in one shot, a fantasy world viking in another and a regal astronaut in the next. It is the ultimate, “What if?” that takes the idea of expanding your imagination to a whole new level.

Personally, I find it fascinating, and I’ll admit I’ve had some laughs and cringes as I’ve seen my friends’ automated creations, but at the end of the day nothing beats real life.

Putting together this issue I must have looked at 30 photos of the iconic Southgate signage along South Florida Ave., and no two are exactly alike. The passage of time is evident through technology upgrades, the lights hit in a striking way when the pavement is wet and much of the personality of each shot is based on the perspective of the photographer.

It’s all about perspective—from the places we have been to where we are headed—and far too often, virtual reality and social media are filled with deceptively fake authenticity.

The way we feel about real photos of real people, places and experiences are related to joy, pain and everything in between that is remembered, retold and re-lived. Putting together this photo book issue was evocative because it brought new angles and attributes to things I hold sacred or have experienced in my own unique ways as a Lakelander. I think you will experience some of the same, whether you have lived here a year or half a century.

It was also a lot of fun because it married the digital world we live in and the physical world by tapping into some of the greatest digital photos we could find of our community and getting permission to bring them to life in print.

What you will find, I hope, is an experience that is lively and satisfying, and a little bit different than what any algorithm can spit out on command.

This is Lakeland.

RJ Walters EDITOR

second home using Brian again. This

But Brian treats us and I am sure anyone as the most important client. Him and his team are super efficient, always super kind, and make what could be a stressful and chaotic experience feel like floating down the river on a tube. I will always be grateful to Brian, I see him as a friend now and will recommend him to anyone I know. As a bonus we get to see his smiling face on a bench while driving down Florida Ave. Whether you’re selling or buying, you should definitely call Brian. Thanks again Brian.”

Friends

Brian was great to work with!!! He helped us every step of the way to sell our house of 27 years. He rejoiced with us when it sold !

311 Easton Dr, Lakeland, FL 33803

• 3 bedroom, 3 bath

• 2,372 heated sq ft

• Located in Central Lakeland

1459 Wyngate Ln, Lakeland, FL 33809

• 3 bedroom 2 bath

• 1,591 ht sq ft

• Fenced Backyard

• Hidden bonus room 863.647.8600 www.brianstephens.org

• 1/3 of an acre!

"The Lakelander featured Josh Bump Galletta on the cover of its Made Edition! �� The magazine also highlights Catapult Members, Taylor Ard of East Of These, Diana Cortes of DOU Bakehouse, Noel Rosa of New Sound Acoustics, and launched Catapult Business Krazy Kombucha