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Self - Portraits: Hybrid Workflow
Process: 2-3 raw base photos > AI generates 4K+ multi-look setups > rigorous manual retouching & color-grading. Tools: AI generation, Photoshop.
Check the full project here: https://issamaaz.com/issa-self-portraits
issamaaz.com
Issa Maaz | Photographer & Graphic Designer, Beirut - Issa - Self Portraits
Photographer and graphic designer in Beirut. I shoot on real optics and build with generative AI — commercial campaigns, brand identity, and personal series.
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I asked myself a simple question:
"When is human, human enough?"
And believe it or not, this challenge completely changed the way I think about creative thinking and AI assisted workflows.
Over the past few days, I have been sharing my journey here on @Contra and on X, asking people to contribute their thoughts on ideation, visual direction, and refinement. From classic pen and paper brainstorming to a fully realized product, every step happened within the limited timeline of the @Envato Challenge.
'Pause' is the brand I created for this challenge, it is the result of human creativity steering AI capabilities and the outcome goes far beyond simply generating visuals, it demonstrates what happens when intentional thinking guides powerful tools.
Using Envato's AI Suite, I built an entire brand from the logo and visual assets to the product campaign and even a motion design video. The experience exceeded every expectation I had.
The tagline, "PAUSE THE NOISE," was written by me. It does not just define the brand. It also reflects what I believe is the real message behind this challenge: pausing the noise around the idea that AI is here to replace creatives.
The human contribution was never just writing prompts. It was constantly questioning assumptions, pivoting from one idea to another, exploring different visual languages, selecting the strongest assets, directing the product campaign, shaping the motion design, and refining every output until it aligned with the vision. AI generated the assets. Human creativity gave them purpose.
I am so proud of the final result that I am now turning Pause into a detailed Contra case study.
My two cents:
AI is a tool. Like a sword, it is only as powerful as the person wielding it. In the hands of someone without vision, it loses its edge. In the hands of a creative thinker, it becomes a force multiplier. The future does not belong to AI alone. It belongs to people who know how to think, direct, and create with it.
Sound on 🔊
Scroll through the comments to explore all the visuals and the complete motion design videos.
Tools Used -
Envato
My own Vibe coded text behind video & Video editing apps
envatochallengebranddesigncreativeaiflowAI Video ProductionAI ArtAI VIsual DesignerProduct DesignEnvato
There is no better feeling than getting the details just right on fully custom logotypes ✒️
very well polished wordmark!
My entry for the Envato & Contra Challenge! ✨
For this project, I imagined a visual identity for a national park dedicated to protecting the snow leopard or irbis, the traditional name for this rare mountain cat. It’s a species deeply connected to Central Asian culture and the place where I grew up.
I used Envato as an all-in-one creative toolkit to explore and bring the concept to life, including ImageGen, GraphicsGen, VideoGen, MusicGen, and Stock assets such as photos, videos, and graphics.
I've wanted to create something like this for a while, and this challenge gave me the perfect opportunity to finally explore the idea and tell an important story through design. 💜
#envatochallenge
Beautiful! 🤍