The Call of Roads and Midjourney: A Journey Through Metaphor, Symbolism, and Aesthetics

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Plus 20 prompts and 5 personalization codes

Aivaras A Grauzinis

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Let There Be Prompt

9 min read

Aug 23, 2024

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Image created by the author with Midjourney AI

I was born to travel. Show me the road, and I can’t resist taking it. Like a donkey, I don’t like to backtrack either and would rather go the extra distance than return back on the same road.

I just love roads. I would ride, bike, walk, and even (in the good old days) hitchhike on them at every opportunity. And, of course, make pictures of them. Pictures of the roads preserve that call to travel, to go the distance, to see what’s at the end.

With a bit of effort and skill, it is possible to create amazing images of roads with Midjourney too. The images that could lead the eyes and minds of viewers to, well, a new journey.

A coastal road along a Mediterranean shoreline, with beautiful clouds over the sea, the road shimmering with heat, captured in an asymmetrical composition with dramatic lighting — ar 2:1 — personalize riwibgh yucz4zr bi5hryd — stylize 400 — v 6.1

The Metaphorical and Symbolic Power of Roads

Roads represent journeys — both literal and metaphorical. They are the conduits of human movement, connecting places, people, and ideas. This inherent symbolism makes roads a powerful subject for art.

A straight road might symbolize clarity, purpose, or inevitability, while a winding road could represent life’s uncertainties, challenges, and the unknown future. The imagery of a road disappearing into the horizon invokes feelings of hope, adventure, or the inexorable passage of time.

A lone desert road stretching endlessly into the horizon under a vast, clear blue sky, minimalist composition with a focus on leading lines, fine art photography — ar 2:1 — personalize 1c7l6wb — stylize 400 — v 6.1

In photography, capturing a road can be an exploration of these themes. A lonely road stretching into the distance can evoke solitude or the sense of embarking on a personal journey.

A busy, multi-lane highway might symbolize modernity, progress, or the chaotic pace of contemporary life. By choosing how to present a road — whether empty or crowded, straight or winding, well-paved or rugged — a Midjourney creator can convey a multitude of narratives and emotions.

An aerial view of a complex highway interchange at night, the roads forming abstract patterns, illuminated by streetlights and car headlights, symmetrical composition highlighting the geometric shapes — ar 2:1 — personalize riwibgh yucz4zr bi5hryd — stylize 400 — v 6.1

I traveled many roads, from desert roads in the Emirates to serpentine mountain roads in Bali and New Zealand. And collected unforgettable experiences on those rods.

I remember standing on the most beautiful, rollercoaster-like mountain road in Bali, sharing a cigarette with a driver and discussing the view with him while waiting for other passengers to finish throwing up through the open windows of the car. Unforgettable experience.

I remember driving at night on Highway 6 in New Zealand. The “highway” was barely wider than my SUV, was twisting closely around near vertical rock, and was supposed to accommodate not only incoming traffic but trains as well. The tracks were embedded in the road.

Aa road twisting around very steep mountain slope like a narrow ledge, beautiful landscape below — ar 2:1 — personalize 7on5ynl — stylize 600 — v 6.1

Now, living in the mountains of Andalusia, south of Spain, I got used to roads that are barely as wide as my Land Rover, bordered with ravines and rocks, and I love them. Can’t get enough of them.

And I suppose all those experiences taught me to see metaphors and symbolism in roads more clearly. They taught me to read the stories of the roads and tell them in my images too.

a road twisting around a very steep mountain slope like a narrow ledge, a beautiful landscape below — ar 2:1 — personalize 7on5ynl — stylize 600 — v 6.1

The Physical Qualities of Roads in Image Composition

Metaphorical qualities are great, but roads offer physical qualities that enhance image composition as well. The linear nature of roads naturally draws the viewer’s eye through the frame, creating a sense of depth and perspective.

This leading line effect could guide the viewer’s gaze toward a particular focal point, whether it’s the vanishing point on the horizon, a dramatic landscape, or a solitary figure.

Roads allow to divide images into visual areas and enhance composition. They can also create geometric patterns of their own and stand in contrast with organic lines and forms of nature.

A coastal road along a rugged shoreline, with dark storm clouds gathering over the ocean, the road glistening with rain, captured in an asymmetrical composition with dramatic lighting — ar 2:1 — personalize riwibgh bi5hryd yucz4zr — stylize 400 — v 6.1

Road markings, road signs, crossroads, and even traffic lights can become powerful tools in building image composition and telling stories.

The texture of a road — the smooth surface of a modern highway, the worn cobblestones of an old street, or the dirt path of a country lane — adds another layer of visual interest. This texture can create contrast, highlight the play of light and shadow, and contribute to the overall mood of the image.

A cobblestone street in a historic town covered with a light dusting of snow, captured at dusk with warm lights glowing in the windows, leading lines composition emphasizing the charm of the old buildings — ar 2:1 — personalize riwibgh bi5hryd yucz4zr — stylize 400 — v 6.1

The rough, cracked surface of an abandoned road might evoke feelings of time gone by or nostalgia, while the reflecting, rain-soaked pavement of a city street could be reflective of loneliness, isolation, and duplicity of city life.

Mountain Pass Roads

Visual Appeal: These roads often feature dramatic curves, steep inclines, and breathtaking views of towering mountains and deep valleys.

Example: Transfăgărășan Road in Romania.

A serpentine road winding through towering snow-capped mountains under a golden hour sky, leading lines composition guiding the eye toward the distant Dolomite peaks, high altitude shot — ar 2:1 — personalize riwibgh — stylize 400 — v 6.1

Coastal Roads

Visual Appeal: Running parallel to the coastline, these roads offer stunning views of the ocean, cliffs, and beaches, often with the sun casting beautiful reflections on the water.

Example: Pacific Coast Highway in California, USA.

Desert Roads

Visual Appeal: Stretching across vast, barren landscapes, these roads highlight the stark beauty of deserts, with endless horizons, dramatic skies, and minimalistic compositions.

Example: Road to Monument Valley in Arizona/Utah, USA.

A lone desert road stretching endlessly into the horizon under a vast, clear blue sky, minimalist composition with a focus on leading lines, the sun casting long shadows during the golden hour — ar 2:1 — personalize riwibgh yucz4zr — stylize 400 — v 6.1

Forest Roads

Visual Appeal: Winding through dense woods, these roads are often enveloped by trees, creating tunnel-like views with changing colors through the seasons.

Example: Avenue of the Giants in California, USA.

Urban Roads

Visual Appeal: Capturing the energy of cities, these roads are often lined with skyscrapers, neon lights, and bustling traffic, making for dynamic and vibrant compositions.

Example: Times Square in New York City, USA.

Cobblestone Streets

Visual Appeal: Old-world charm is encapsulated in these roads, often found in historic cities, with their uneven surfaces, narrow passageways, and picturesque surroundings.

Example: Rue de Monttessuy in Paris, France.

A cobblestone street in a historic town, captured at dusk with warm lights glowing in the windows, leading lines composition emphasizing the charm of the old buildings — ar 2:1 — personalize riwibgh — stylize 400 — v 6.1

Bridge Roads

Visual Appeal: Roads that cross iconic bridges can offer sweeping views of rivers or cityscapes, with the bridge’s architecture adding to the visual interest.

Example: Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, USA.

Alleyways

Visual Appeal: Narrow, winding roads often found in historic or densely packed urban areas, offering intimate, enclosed views with a strong sense of place.

Example: The Shambles in York, England.

Highway Interchanges

Visual Appeal: The complex, looping patterns of highway interchanges create abstract, almost surreal compositions when viewed from above.

Example: spaghetti junction in Birmingham, England.

Tree-Lined Avenues

Visual Appeal: Roads bordered by trees, especially those with overhanging branches, create natural canopies that change with the seasons, offering beautiful, symmetrical compositions.

Example: Tunnel of Love in Klevan, Ukraine.

Frozen Roads

Visual Appeal: Roads covered in snow or ice, often found in polar regions, create stark, minimalist scenes that emphasize the desolation and beauty of winter landscapes.

Example: Icefields Parkway in Alberta, Canada.

Countryside Lanes

Visual Appeal: Meandering through rolling hills and pastoral landscapes, these roads often have charming fences, wildflowers, and scenic views of farmland.

Example: The Cotswolds in England.

A quaint countryside lane winding through rolling green hills, bordered by wooden fences and wildflowers, captured during the golden hour with soft light enhancing the pastoral scene, rule of thirds composition — ar 2:1 — personalize riwibgh bi5hryd yucz4zr — stylize 400 — v 6.1

Building the Prompt

I prepared 20 examples of the prompts that could be used with Midjourney to create some exciting images. They are just starting points; add your own elements, storytelling parts, and instructions to these prompts to make something better.

A drone shot of a serpentine road crossing the river, vivid autumn-colored trees, mist — ar 2:1 — personalize pqyxvne vdqma4p — stylize 200 — v 6.1

“A serpentine road winding through towering snow-capped mountains under a golden hour sky, leading lines composition guiding the eye toward the distant horizon.”

“A coastal road running parallel to the ocean, with crashing waves and steep cliffs, captured at sunset in an asymmetrical composition, illuminated by the warm golden hour light.”

“A lone desert road stretching endlessly into the horizon under a vast, clear blue sky, minimalist composition with a focus on leading lines, the sun casting long shadows during the golden hour.”

“A winding road through a dense forest, the trees forming a natural tunnel, captured at dawn with soft, diffuse misty light filtering through the leaves, rule of thirds composition.”

“A bustling urban road filled with traffic and neon signs, skyscrapers towering above, captured during the blue hour, dynamic asymmetrical composition with a focus on city energy.”

“A narrow cobblestone street in an old European town, illuminated by warm, golden streetlights at twilight, leading lines composition drawing the eye toward an ancient cathedral.”

“A majestic bridge road spanning a wide river, with the city skyline in the background, captured at sunrise with the soft light reflecting off the water, symmetrical composition highlighting the bridge’s architecture.”

“A narrow, winding alleyway in a historic district, lined with old brick buildings, captured during the blue hour with a few warm lights glowing in windows, asymmetrical composition creating a sense of depth.”

“An aerial view of a complex highway interchange at night, the roads forming abstract patterns, illuminated by streetlights and car headlights, symmetrical composition highlighting the geometric shapes.”

“A beautiful tree-lined avenue in autumn, the trees forming a colorful canopy of red and gold leaves, captured in a leading lines composition with golden hour light filtering through the branches.”

“A snow-covered road cutting through a frozen landscape, with distant mountains barely visible in the diffuse misty light of dawn, minimalist composition emphasizing the desolation.”

“A quaint countryside lane winding through rolling green hills, bordered by wooden fences and wildflowers, captured during the golden hour with soft light enhancing the pastoral scene, rule of thirds composition.”

“A mountain pass road under a starry night sky, the curves of the road illuminated by car headlights, leading line composition drawing the eye toward a distant peak.”

“A coastal road along a rugged shoreline, with dark storm clouds gathering over the ocean, the road glistening with rain, captured in an asymmetrical composition with dramatic lighting.”

“A desert road at sunrise, the sky painted with soft pastels, leading line composition highlighting the road as it stretches toward a distant mountain range.”

“A forest road in autumn, the trees ablaze with red and orange leaves, captured in the golden hour with warm light filtering through the branches, rule of thirds composition.”

“An urban road lined with towering skyscrapers, captured during the blue hour with reflections of the city lights on the wet pavement, dynamic asymmetrical composition highlighting the energy of the city.”

“A cobblestone street in a historic town covered with a light dusting of snow, captured at dusk with warm lights glowing in the windows, leading lines composition emphasizing the charm of the old buildings.”

“A bridge road at golden hour, the sun low in the sky casting long shadows, with the city skyline in the distance, symmetrical composition emphasizing the bridge’s structure.”

“A tree-lined avenue shrouded in the morning mist, the trees barely visible in the diffuse light, leading lines composition creating a mysterious and ethereal atmosphere.”

For most of the images in this article, I used these 5 personalization codes and indeed a mixture of them:

7on5ynl

bi5hryd

yucz4zr

1c7l6wb

5n9fo48

I recommend using stylized values of 200 for more complex prompts for better adherence to instructions. Otherwise, you can go as high as 600 for those pretty images and vibrant colors.

A serpentine road winding through towering snow-capped mountains under a golden hour sky, leading lines composition guiding the eye toward the distant Dolomite peaks — ar 2:1 — personalize riwibgh — stylize 400 — v 6.1

Conclusion: The Road as an Endless Source of Inspiration

Roads are great subjects for Midjourney images. They are symbolic, tell stories, good for composition building, and are just fun to visualize.

So use those prompts and personalization codes, color them in with your own perceptions and ideas, and create marvelous Midjourney images.

Aivaras Grauzinis

The Power of Silhouette and Midjourney --------------------------------------

Plus 20 prompts and 5 personalization codes

The Metaphorical and Symbolic Power of Roads

The Physical Qualities of Roads in Image Composition

Building the Prompt

Conclusion: The Road as an Endless Source of Inspiration

Plus 20 prompt ideas and 5 hand-picked personalization codes

Plus 20 prompts and 10 personalization codes

And 20 prompts to go

Generative AI like Midjourney is supposed to democratize image creation — anyone, without any skills, can create images…

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