Daniel von Appen

Hi, I’m Daniel von Appen

I’m a print and screen media designer from Cologne, Germany with a knack for photography. I’m a film lover and music enthusiast and I have a weakness for philosphy, psychology and architecture.

I began dabbling with music creation utilizing Presonus Studio One and Native Instruments Kontakt Sampler throughout the „Corona years“ and releasing it under the moniker „Noisy Squirrel“ on bandcamp.

Lately I’ve been diving into the world of AI image / animation generation with Stable Diffusion which ultimately set off the idea, in collaboration with friend and writer Stefan Golsch, for the „Key of Solomon“ online novel.

The „Key of Solomon“ online novel is now available!

Free for everyone to read and enjoy at www.key-of-solomon.org.

Available in german and english

Evolving story, new chapters added regularly

Official soundtrack to set the mood while reading

AI generated images to bring key moments and characters to life

Scattered soundeffects for an additional atmospheric touch

Official Discord Server available with an Patreon exclusive forum which also includes media downloads and hi-resolution artworks

Read it now at key-of-solomon.org

My Portfolio

  • All
  • Music
  • Photography
  • Stable Diffusion
Trapped in a brittle thought
Stable Diffusion

Made with Stable Diffusion XL.

Potraits
Stable Diffusion

Some recently created Portraits.

Made with Stable Diffusion XL.

Constellation of Unity – Part I
Music album

„Experience the essence of space exploration through this interstellar album, drawing inspiration from Bethesda’s acclaimed game, Starfield. Grounded in a fusion of ambient soundscapes and evocative melodies, each track invites listeners on a journey through space. A mirror of the vastness and wonder of space exploration and the mysteries of the cosmos.“

Initially planned as a „1 track per day for 100 days“ challenge, starting with the release of the game, I kind of failed the challenge somewhere around track 20. Now this release is the first of a series of 3 albums spanning 100 songs in total – one track for each star system in the game. Each individual track cover made with Stable Diffusion.

This player is an embbedded feature from Bandcamp LLC. You need to read and accept the bandcamp privacy policy in order to use it.

Exploring light and shadow
Stable Diffusion

Playing around with the possibilities of atmospheric lighting in portraits.

Made with Stable Difussion XL

Fine Arts / Boudoir
Stable Diffusion

Attempt at some fine arts images with a focus on legs and thighs. Made with Stable Diffusion XL.

Ghost town
Stable Diffusion

Nestled deep within the heart of rural America, there exists a once-thriving town, now shrouded in an eerie and inexplicable mystery. This forgotten hamlet, seemingly frozen in time, bears the scars of an enigmatic exodus. In the dead of night, the townspeople vanished without a trace, leaving behind houses with curtains still swaying in the breeze, plates half-eaten on dining tables, and abandoned cars slowly rusting on the streets.

Years have passed, but the town’s secrets remain locked within its empty homes and overgrown gardens. The desolation is pervasive, with nature’s reclamation evident in the relentless encroachment of vines and weeds. The hushed wind carries whispers of the past, and ghostly echoes seem to reverberate through the deserted streets.

Made with Stable Diffusion XL.

Elegantly Expressed Depression
Stable Diffusion

I swear I saw death standin‘ in my hall,
casting her black shadow on my white wall.
I reek of death from inside my soul,
I’d never thought I’d lose you on a whim.
It’s so hard to be in love with you.
It seems I’m not the only one who failed, no.

 

Lady in the water
Stable Diffusion

A quiet lake, she rests below,
in waters deep, her sorrows flow.
A soul adrift and lost in pain,
her laughter silenced, lost in vain.

The ripples whisper tales untold,
A heart once warm, now turned to cold.
The lake a mirror, her fading grace,
reflects the sadness, upon her face.

Made with Stable Diffusion XL

Cars
Stable Diffusion

Here in my car,
I feel safest of all.
I can lock all my doors,
it’s the only way to live.
In cars.

Made with Stable Diffusion XL.

Fine Arts
Stable Diffusion

Some more results of me dabbling in the fields of fine arts / partial nudity with Stable Diffusion XL.

Fine Arts
Stable Diffusion

Trying to venture into the fields of „finearts and candid photography“ with Stable Diffusion XL. Analog / filmic look added in post production with Photoshop.

Emotional Portraits
Stable Diffusion

Trying to get different kinds of facial expressions / emotions with Stable Diffusion XL. Analog / filmic look added in post production with Photoshop.

Oldtimer 2023
Photography
Urban
Photography
Key of Solomon
Music album
Key of Solomon

About the online novel:

New Orleans, early 1920s: down-and-out private detective Blake Solomon searches for two children who have disappeared without a trace from an orphanage. In the course of his investigation, he penetrates deeper and deeper into the occult nightlife of „The Crescent City“. Between black magic, voodoo, brutal gangs and bloodsuckers, he gets caught between the fronts of an ancient conflict between darkness and obscurity. What do his past and the mysterious key that lies in his hand one morning mean for his fate and that of those who need his help?

This player is an embbedded feature from Bandcamp LLC. You need to read and accept the bandcamp privacy policy in order to use it.

Lost Places
Stable Diffusion

I’ve always been a fan of lost and forgotten places, derelict spaces and the atmosphere they deliver. Sadly I never got the chance to take photos of them myself, so here’s my attempt  at recreating them with Stable Diffusion XL.

Urban
Photography
Lost Faces
Stable Diffusion

Lost Faces is just lost places – but with a spooky twist! Made with Stable Diffusion XL.

Emotional Portraits
Stable Diffusion

Trying to get different kinds of facial expressions / emotions with Stable Diffusion XL. Analog / filmic look added in post production with Photoshop.

Urban
Photography
Grianstad
Music album
Grianstad

Grianstad – A solstice album.

„Grianstad“ is a musical journey that encapsulates the essence of the summer and winter solstices. This album presents twelve renditions of folk and traditional music.

The first six songs, bathed in the gentle glow of summer’s embrace, evoke a sense of hazy tranquility. Acoustic melodies dance like dappled sunlight through leaves, enveloping listeners in a cocoon of warmth and comfort. Each note resonates with the languid hum of lazy afternoons and the scent of blooming wildflowers. The songs in this rendition whisper secrets of long days, where time seems to stretch and linger.

In contrast, the second set of songs bursts forth with the vibrant energy of a traditional band, painting a vivid portrait of the winter solstice. Here, the music becomes a celebration, a lively dance of violins, hurdy-gurdys, and accordions.

This player is an embbedded feature from Bandcamp LLC. You need to read and accept the bandcamp privacy policy in order to use it.

Monschau – Part 2
Photography

Nestled in the picturesque Eifel region of Germany, Monschau is a charming town that seems to have sprung from the pages of a fairytale. Its cobblestone streets wind through a medley of half-timbered houses, their peaked roofs and colorful facades standing in perfect harmony with the lush surrounding hills. The Rur River meanders gently through the town, adding a soothing soundtrack to the ambiance. Monschau’s rich history is palpable in its well-preserved architecture, with structures dating back centuries. The town exudes a warm, inviting atmosphere, drawing visitors into its embrace with a blend of old-world charm and natural beauty. As the seasons change, Monschau dons different mantles of splendor, from the vibrant hues of spring to the cozy, snow-covered winters. With its idyllic setting and enchanting ambiance, Monschau is a gem that captures the heart of anyone fortunate enough to wander its timeless streets.

Monschau – Part 1
Photography

Nestled in the picturesque Eifel region of Germany, Monschau is a charming town that seems to have sprung from the pages of a fairytale. Its cobblestone streets wind through a medley of half-timbered houses, their peaked roofs and colorful facades standing in perfect harmony with the lush surrounding hills. The Rur River meanders gently through the town, adding a soothing soundtrack to the ambiance. Monschau’s rich history is palpable in its well-preserved architecture, with structures dating back centuries. The town exudes a warm, inviting atmosphere, drawing visitors into its embrace with a blend of old-world charm and natural beauty. As the seasons change, Monschau dons different mantles of splendor, from the vibrant hues of spring to the cozy, snow-covered winters. With its idyllic setting and enchanting ambiance, Monschau is a gem that captures the heart of anyone fortunate enough to wander its timeless streets.

Facades
Photography
The atmosphere of an epilogue
Music album
The atmosphere of an epilogue

„The Atmosphere of an Epilogue“ is a hauntingly beautiful piano album that speaks to the depths of introspection and farewell. Its melancholic melodies resonate with the weight of realization, carrying the listener through moments of poignant reflection. Each note is a sigh of resignation, a tender acknowledgment of the inevitability of moving forward. The music weaves a delicate tapestry of emotions, inviting us to confront the bittersweet truth of leaving things behind. In its lonesome refrain, this album captures the essence of farewell, allowing us to find solace in the act of letting go.

This player is an embbedded feature from Bandcamp LLC. You need to read and accept the bandcamp privacy policy in order to use it.

Facades
Photography
Oldtimer 2022 – Part 3
Photography
Oldtimer 2022 – Part 2
Photography
Oldtimer 2022 – Part 1
Photography
Facades
Photography
Urban
Photography
Facades
Photography
Threnody for a New World
Music album
Threnody for a New World

This fan-made soundtrack is a „New World“ inspired creation, weaving lugubrious orchestral arrangements and emotive choirs into a tapestry of musical storytelling. With each note, it plunges the listener into a world of profound melancholy, evoking a sense of somber reflection and contemplation. The orchestral arrangements carry a weighty resonance, echoing the trials and tribulations of the game’s universe. The emotional choirs add a haunting layer, their voices rising and falling like distant echoes of forgotten tales. This soundtrack  lingers and evolves its mournful beauty.

This player is an embbedded feature from Bandcamp LLC. You need to read and accept the bandcamp privacy policy in order to use it.

Graveyard Session – Part 2
Photography
Graveyard Session – Part I
Photography
Facades
Photography
The atmosphere of Dysmantle
Music album
The atmosphere of Dysmantle

The Atmosphere of Dysmantle is a haunting treatment to the forlorn world of the open-world survival „Dysmantle“ from 10Tons Games. This fan-made underscore soundtrack delves into the depths of dystopia with deliberate, melancholic pacing. The piano takes center stage, its mournful notes echoing through the barren landscape, accompanied by the plaintive wails of strings that seem to resonate with the pain of a desolate world. Interspersed with binaural field recordings and ambiances, the music weaves a tapestry of loneliness and despair, trying to immerse the listener.

This player is an embbedded feature from Bandcamp LLC. You need to read and accept the bandcamp privacy policy in order to use it.

Urban
Photography
Facades
Photography
The atmosphere of dreaming
Music album
The atmosphere of dreaming

„The Atmosphere of Dreaming“ is a mesmerizing auditory journey, an ongoing progression of haziness that guides the listener into the gentle embrace of slumber. Through ambient and electronic melodies, it weaves a tapestry of ethereal sounds, blurring the lines between wakefulness and the realm of dreams. The music unfolds like wisps of mist, soft and enveloping, carrying the listener on a tranquil voyage.

This player is an embbedded feature from Bandcamp LLC. You need to read and accept the bandcamp privacy policy in order to use it.

Oldtimer 2021 – Part 2
Photography
Oldtimer 2021 – Part 1
Photography
Facades
Photography