Dos Helicopter-Os

This particular exercise was filled with fun and whimsy. Let me show you the two generative images first. Then I’ll try to explain the backstory of what is called Dos Helicopter-Os.

Yes, that is two dinosaur helicopters in the sky in the first picture. Something about the absurdity of that image makes me laugh every single time I see it. I wish I could tell you it was an easy piece to make using Midjourney, but it actually took a lot of playing around with prompts and varying things. There were also probably a hundred images that just didn’t work. As advanced as the technology may be, it was constantly putting propellors where they shouldn’t be. It was also getting the dinosaurs wrong, or some other detail just made it a fail. If you were to scrutinize the picture above, there are still a few things that are off. Even so, I really like it as is.

Heading In A Different Direction

Below is a different take. No dinosaurs, but some Día De Los Muertos inspired street art adorns the helicopters. I love the colors, and how the skulls turned out on the exteriors of the helicopters.

The backstory involves the band U2. One of their hits is a song called Vertigo, which begins with the preposterous count-in “Unos dos tres catorce!” It translates as “some, two, three, fourteen!” (U2’s singer Bono has admitted that some alcohol may have been involved in writing the line). It’s a playful bit at the beginning of a fun song. This has become a staple of the band’s live shows, including their 2023-2024 shows at Sphere in Las Vegas.

The stunning visuals of the show put the band out in the open desert. As the song begins two helicopters approach and fly directly overhead while shining lights onto the stage. During the course of the 40 show residency, Bono changed up the count-in to “Unos dos helicopter-os!” You can see that part of the show in this Youtube clip.

Members of the online U2 community who were following along the Las Vegas performances from around the world on the band’s message boards (and other sites) picked up on the change, and turned it into a running joke. They pulled together memes and other silly images. I saw that was happening, and tinkered around to create those two helicopter images.