Explore Time, Space, and Imagination: MidJourney Style Reference Tips for Beginners Showcasing Artistic and Technological Fusion

Midjourney Prompt

Color Palette

Dominant Colors

Collection Description

In a captivating blend of artistic mastery and technological prowess, examples of –sref commands in MidJourney bring to life scenes that traverse time, space, and imagination. From the rustic charm of an artist’s studio, where a figure in red crafts an opulent medieval cityscape, to the boundless cosmos where an astronaut connects with a space station reminiscent of retro sci-fi classics, the detailed use of style references enhances each composition. An urban explorer rides through rain-soaked, neon-lit streets, his journey rendered in high-definition thanks to advanced AI techniques, while the formidable Sauron from The Lord of the Rings casts spells amid ruins, his sinister presence intensified by atmospheric effects akin to dark fantasy films. Each narrative, whether showcasing a frozen waterfall’s eerie beauty, a bustling alien spaceport in a snow-covered forest, or the haunting decay of an old Victorian mansion, exemplifies how style references can transform ordinary elements into extraordinary visual stories, proving that MidJourney’s capabilities are not just about creating art but about storytelling that bridges past and future.

Image Descriptions and Image Prompts

Midjourney Prompt

A Renaissance painter working on a masterpiece in a dimly lit studio

In a charmingly antiquated artist’s studio, a figure clad in vivid red channels the essence of Renaissance creativity while crafting an opulent medieval cityscape. Each stroke on the canvas meticulously captures the towering walls and regal architecture of the imagined city of Bimbo, with Velcchre Castle standing proudly in the backdrop. The studio itself, surrounded by weathered brick walls that echo the rustic feel of historical erudition, serves as a sanctuary where history and art fuse seamlessly. Wooden shelves brimming with vintage books and diverse art supplies add layers of authenticity to the setting, enhancing the overall atmosphere of traditional artistry. This scene, ideal for capturing the intersection of artistic precision and historical realism, subtly explores how –sref impacts MidJourney outputs, binding the past with present artistic endeavors and inviting viewers into a world where classical techniques enrich modern expressions.

Midjourney Prompt

A vibrant flamingo standing in a calm lake at sunrise, its reflection perfectly mirrored in the water

Captured in the style of a 1980s Kodachrome film, this photograph portrays an American flamingo standing elegantly in the shallow waters of an African lake, surrounded by the lush, verdant rainforest. The vintage qualities of the image are enhanced by the vibrant, natural colors and grainy texture, typical of photographs featured in National Geographic during that era. The rain gently falls around the flamingo, creating glossy reflections on the water that accentuate the flamingo’s glossy, orange plumage, long neck, and contrasting white beak. This photorealistic image not only captures the flamingo in its natural habitat but also evokes a sense of stillness as it gazes directly at the viewer, framed by a subtle silhouette of trees. Employing such style references in AI art not only enhances the authenticity of the scene but also magnifies the inherent beauty of the subject, illustrating the benefits of using style references in AI art to replicate and innovate on traditional photography techniques.

Midjourney Prompt

A frozen waterfall with jagged icicles and mist rising from the base

In this compelling depiction, an enormous frozen waterfall cascades off a sheer cliff into a mysterious abyss, surrounded by a landscape thickly coated in ice and snow, invoking a sense of dark, frozen fantasy. The image borrows heavily from the artistic influences of Ralph McQuarrie, H.R. Giger, Jim Woodring, John Lurie, Thomas W. Schaller, Edward Robert Hughes, Enki Bilal, and Frank Frazetta, blending elements of retrofuturism with 70s sci-fi fantasy. This hyper-realistic vintage photograph, potentially captured in Iceland, is reminiscent of an early era movie shot with a wide-angle lens, meticulously detailed to enhance its cinematic quality. This style of artwork not only captures the eerie elegance of the icy structures but also showcases the intriguing possibilities when creating professional AI art with MidJourney, where classic vintage photography meets modern artistic innovation.

Midjourney Prompt

An abandoned Victorian mansion with ivy creeping up its cracked walls

Capturing the haunting beauty of decay, this vintage color photograph showcases an old Victorian mansion, its striking red and black facade contrasted sharply against the lush greenery of its surroundings. The house, reminiscent of a scene from a 1970s-era YouTube movie, stands abandoned, its large front porch and tall roof spires covered in ivy and moss, evoking the art styles of Slim Aarons, Edward Hopper, and Michael Hardbill as seen in various artistic narratives like Cloak-and-Trash/Storybook Magazine. Broken windows and an open door lend an air of mystery, while the overgrown yard, patchwork grass, and the dense forest background play into the eerie atmosphere of neglect and nature reclaiming its space. This image perfectly highlights the unique art styles accessible through MidJourney, showcasing how to use MidJourney for unique art styles that effectively bridge historical architecture with the natural world, offering a glimpse into a time forgotten by the modern hustle.

Midjourney Prompt

A ghostly knight in shimmering spectral armor, wielding a glowing ethereal sword, standing on the ruins of an ancient battlefield under a full moon

In a vivid display of dark magic and cinematic artistry, Sauron, the formidable antagonist from The Lord of the Rings, asserts his power through a series of compelling visuals. Cloaked in a sinister red robe that contrasts starkly with his black metal helmet and menacing crown, he stands amidst the desolate ruins of an ancient city. In one iconic scene, reminiscent of a 1970s fantasy movie with a grainy film texture, he casts an ice spell, holding aloft a magic staff under the eerie glow of a full moon, surrounded by swirling smoke. Another portrayal dips into the atmospheric depth akin to the Dark Souls universe, with Sauron’s crown featuring two stark horns, enhancing his threatening aura under a misty grey sky. His staff glows ominously as it points skyward, casting shadows over the broken cityscape. Capturing the haunting vibe of a Zdzisław Beksiński painting, another image shows him wielding a brightly glowing staff against a dramatic backdrop marked by a visible moon, encapsulating the essence of a cinematic movie still. This amalgamation of styles resonates well with those exploring how to create high-end AI Art, blending fantasy elements with dramatic, themed artistry to craft scenes that are both menacing and mesmerizing.

Midjourney Prompt

A futuristic motorcycle speeding down a rain-soaked neon-lit street at night

Capturing the essence of a dynamic urban landscape, the image portrays a man clad in a leather jacket and helmet, deftly navigating an electric motorcycle through the rain-drenched streets of New York City at night. This evocative scene is steeped in a retrofuturistic cyberpunk ambiance, complete with neon lights that cast a vivid glow against the wet pavement and imposing brutalist architecture. The setting evokes the gritty aesthetic of Frank Miller’s graphic novels, complemented by the cinematic flair reminiscent of a Michael Bay film. The motorcycle’s sleek design and the rider’s focused demeanor add an element of drama and urgency to the visual narrative. Using –sref for realistic AI art in MidJourney enhances the overall impact, rendering each detail with high definition and creating a vivid, immersive tableau that transcends the ordinary into a specter of future-past storytelling.

Midjourney Prompt

A colossal space station orbiting a gas giant, with tiny spacecraft docking

Envision a vibrant scene pulled straight from a 70s sci-fi movie, brilliantly merging the nostalgic allure of retrofuturistic design and a snowy, alien landscape. The image captures a sprawling circular city characterized by towering spires and expansive dome structures reminiscent of Ralph McQuarrie’s iconic style. Amidst the snow-covered forests, the city glows ominously with red lights, lending an otherworldly aura to the setting. The foreground highlights an active alien spaceport where starships dock and take flight against a backdrop of both a dark, towering structure and a star-filled sky, enhancing the stark contrast of technology against nature. This merging of elements from Frank Frazetta’s steampunk sensibilities with McQuarrie’s visionary concepts creates a unique artistic tableau, complete with flying vehicles buzzing through a snowy storm and a retro sci-fi vibe. For artists looking to explore such unique art styles, learning how to use MidJourney effectively can help in transforming these imaginative visions into tangible artworks.

Midjourney Prompt

A majestic griffin with piercing eyes, perched on a rocky cliffside at sunrise

Captured in a stunning DVD screengrab from a 20th-century fantasy movie, this image beautifully juxtaposes natural and architectural grandeur through the dramatic scene of an eagle perched atop a spectacular building at the edge of a cliff. The building, massive and seemingly carved from brown wood or stone, exudes a brutalist aesthetic reminiscent of Giger’s iconic designs, blending seamlessly into a medieval setting. Below, a verdant river valley stretches out, bordered by imposing castles with towering spires. The eagle, positioned centrally and standing majestically on its hind legs, gazes intently at the viewer, adding a regal and somewhat mystical aura to the scene. The realistic rendering of medieval architecture, combined with a lush green landscape and the strategic placement of natural and man-made elements, provides an excellent study for best style reference techniques in MidJourney, offering both inspiration and awe.

Midjourney Prompt

A stack of fluffy pancakes drizzled with syrup, topped with fresh berries and powdered sugar

In a charming fusion of worlds both fictional and real, a tantalizing stack of fluffy pancakes tempts the viewer from a variety of picturesque settings. Each pancake is generously dusted with powdered sugar and crowned with vibrant, fresh strawberries, creating an almost whimsical appeal. The depiction ranges from an American town square during World War II as seen in Robert Trencher’s “The Loft,” to a fanciful scene at the Shire from the Lord of the Rings movie, complete with a backdrop of rainfall and a distant water tower. Continuing through to “Pleasant’s Hotspot,” the pancakes are presented in a rustic train station setting bathed in gentle sunlight that casts elongated shadows, accentuated with a full glass jar of maple syrup. The journey concludes at the Hogsmeade Wand Festival where the stack, now drizzled in maple syrup, sits near an imposing water tower surrounded by historical buildings and a lush forest, capturing the essence through the lens of an iPhone 8. Each image, whether captured with a Fujifilm X-T4 or an iPhone, reflects a mastery of context and ambiance, demonstrating how advanced AI art techniques with MidJourney can elevate everyday subjects into iconic visual narratives.

Midjourney Prompt

An elderly woman with deep wrinkles, wearing a traditional embroidered shawl, looking out a window

In a masterful blend of detail and artistry reminiscent of some of the best style reference techniques in MidJourney, the image captures an older woman garbed in traditional attire from diverse cultures, serving as a muse that merges various stylistic film directions into one cohesive vision. The portrayal features her standing by a window, overlooking a picturesque mountain city encircled by snow-capped peaks, a scene beautifully rendered in sharp, high-resolution photography that channels the distinct cinematic touches of Wes Anderson, Yorgos Lanthimos, and James Cameron. Her outfit, a melange of red, brown, and silver, is richly patterned, complemented by intricate embroidery, and her dark brown headscarf frames a face marked by light freckles, piercing eyes, and a soft, contemplative smile. This compelling visual narrative not only celebrates the majestic simplicity of the natural world but also honors the depth of her cultural heritage, captured on 35mm film grain and Panavision CineStill 50D film stock, projecting a hyper-realistic image that feels suspended in the aura of an era around 2036.

Midjourney Prompt

A ladybug crawling on the edge of a vibrant green leaf with tiny water droplets

Capturing the delicate interplay of nature and wildlife, the image portrays a ladybug resting gracefully on the verdant leaf of an ivy plant, adorned with sparkling raindrops beading across its vibrant red and black shell accented by yellow dots. This high-resolution image evokes the rich, immersive style reminiscent of a National Geographic photograph, reflecting a caliber comparable to a shot taken with a Hasselblad H2D camera using Kodak Portra film. The detailed texture of the leaf and the natural, soft shadows cast upon the ladybug underscore the meticulous attention to color grading and focus that one might see in works by photographers like Slim Aarons or David Yarrow. The use of Leica M6 adds a classic touch, enhancing the hyperrealistic portrayal of this serene moment, making it a splendid addition to the examples of –sref commands in MidJourney, highlighting both the beauty of the natural world and the precision of advanced photography techniques.

Midjourney Prompt

A lone astronaut floating in deep space, tethered to a spacecraft with Earth glowing in the distance

In a visually striking scene set against the infinite backdrop of space, an astronaut performs maintenance on a colossal space station that orbits Earth. The space station, reminiscent of those seen in Star Wars, manifests a retro-futuristic design from the 70s with its grainy, vintage photographic quality. It features a plethora of small windows peppering its metallic exterior, enhancing its sci-fi aura. Next to the astronaut, the iconic Millennium Falcon is depicted, attached to the space station via cables as if being pulled into docking position. The contrast of the sleek, white spaceship marked with black stripes against the vast blue of Earth below and the dark void above creates a powerful image. This setup would be a perfect addition to any collection of MidJourney style reference tutorials and tricks, offering a creative blueprint for blending classic cinematic influences with modern visual storytelling.