5 min read
About Vallesia Obscura
Although I am naturally reserved when it comes to myself, if you would like to know a few things about the person behind Vallesia Obscura, you are in the right place.
My name is Sven, born in 1985, and I live in Switzerland. My interests are, to put it mildly, diverse. I am interested in art, especially the abstract variant, and I work with various media in my spare time, both digital and analog. Writing, filming/editing, reading, illustrating, and even artistic microscopy are just some of my interests.
I first came into contact with AI (Artificial Intelligence) in the summer of 2022. I have my Covid-19 infection to thank for my more intensive engagement with the subject. Even months after the acute symptoms had subsided, I still noticed a permanent restriction in my cognitive perception and struggled with regular concentration difficulties (brain fog).
Out of necessity, I saw the mechanism of feeding a creative input to AI as a possible "self-therapy" to get my thinking center back on track and to be able to pick up where I left off before the Covid-19 infection.
The Vallesia Obscura project was born. The original idea was to illustrate legends and myths from my home region using AI, hence the name Vallesia, which refers to my home.
Fun fact: I was always perceived as female in social media and addressed as such. Visitors to my Instagram account come from all over the world, but no one from my own region, which was originally the focus(!)
From the place Vallesia Obscura, Vallesia Obscura became a fictional person in the role of the hostess of my brand.
My inclination towards the dark and the unknown
As a child, I was always more drawn to the dark side, and my interest was always in things that frightened my peers. If Fabian bought a Superman figurine, Sven had to have a scary vampire...
This has continued to this day. I think it's something I can't let go of; it's too deep-seated. The constant search for beauty in the dark and things that appear horrible at first glance also repeatedly brings a familiar and cozy realization that the world out there may be beautiful to look at, but what is happening on it is often beyond our human ideal of beauty.
My interest in the dark inevitably led me to the concept behind Vallesia Obscura, which I try to describe with the slogan "Artificial Darkness."
My goal is to create my own worlds and creations that begin to tell a story to the viewer's eye. I consciously refrain from extensive captions; I do not want to impose my vision on the viewer; they should perceive their own story.
It was Stephen King who once said, "If you want to scare people, show them things they can identify with." This statement became my guiding principle.
Some thoughts on Artificial Intelligence
For me personally, the most exciting topic I have had the pleasure of discovering in recent years. The possibility of realizing one's ideas through text input fascinates me day by day.
I am aware that it is also a controversial topic that needs to be discussed. A new technology with unprecedented potential also brings dangers that will undoubtedly require a rethink.
My personal goal in working with AI is not to copy a style; rather, it is to visualize my own ideas and views. At Vallesia Obscura, it is not the brushstroke or the perfect lighting on set that counts; it is solely the image that I have in mind, to reproduce it as closely as possible. (I know that sounds selfish)
This requires constant refinement of the prompts (inputs for the AI), testing, combining, creating, discarding, drinking coffee, letting it sit, and further refining.
Prompts can come into existence in minutes - they can be a bullseye or they can take days if the inner monk desires it.
I hope I was able to tell a little bit about the person behind Vallesia Obscura to the interested one.
Thank you for taking the time to learn a little bit about me and my work.
Imprint and legal
Shop owner
vallesia.obscura
Kiesweg 10
3904 Naters
Disclaimer
The author reserves the right not to be responsible for the topicality, correctness, completeness or quality of the information provided.
Liability claims regarding damage caused by the use of any information provided, including any kind of information which is incomplete or incorrect, will therefore be rejected.
All offers are non-binding. Parts of the pages or the complete publication including all offers and information might be extended, changed or partly or completely deleted by the author without separate announcement.
Liability for links
References and links to third party websites are beyond our responsibility. Any responsibility for such websites is declined. Access and use of such websites is at the user's own risk.
Data privacy
vallesia.obscura
Bahnhofstrasse 4a
3904 Naters
General information
The following notes provide a simple overview of what happens to your personal data when you visit our website. Personal data is any data by which you can be personally identified. For detailed information on data protection, please refer to our privacy policy listed below this text.
We process data in accordance with the Swiss Federal Law on Data Protection (DSG) and the European General Data Protection Regulation (DSGVO).
Data collection on our website
Who is responsible for data collection on this website? Data processing on this website is carried out by the website operator. You can find his contact details in the imprint of this website.
How do we collect your data?
On the one hand, your data is collected by you providing it to us. This can be, for example, data that you enter in a contact form. Other data is collected automatically by our IT systems when you visit the website. This is mainly technical data (e.g. Internet browser, operating system or time of page view). This data is collected automatically as soon as you enter our website.
What do we use your data for?
Some of the data is collected to ensure error-free provision of the website. Other data may be used to analyze your user behavior.
What rights do you have regarding your data?
You have the right to receive information free of charge at any time about the origin, recipient and purpose of your stored personal data. You also have the right to request the deletion of this data. You can contact us at any time with regard to this and other questions on the subject of data protection. Furthermore, you have the right to lodge a complaint with the competent authorities.
Analysis tools and third-party tools
When visiting our website, your surfing behavior may be statistically analyzed. This is done primarily with cookies and with so-called analysis programs. The analysis of your surfing behavior is usually anonymous; the surfing behavior cannot be traced back to you. You can object to this analysis or prevent it by not using certain tools. Detailed information on this can be found in this privacy policy.
General notes and mandatory information
Data protection
We take the protection of your personal data very seriously. We treat your personal data strictly confidential and according to the legal data protection regulations as well as this privacy policy. When you use our website, various personal data are collected. Personal data is data with which you can be personally identified. This privacy policy explains what data we collect and what we use it for. It also explains how and for what purpose this is done. We would like to point out that data transmission on the Internet (e.g. when communicating by e-mail) can have security gaps. Complete protection of data against access by third parties is not possible.
Note on the responsible office
The responsible party for data processing on this website is:
vallesia.obscura
Bahnhofstrasse 4a
3904 Naters
The controller is the natural or legal person who alone or jointly with others determines the purposes and means of the processing of personal data (e.g. names, e-mail addresses or similar).
Revocation of your consent to data processing
Many data processing operations are only possible with your express consent. You can revoke consent you have already given at any time. For this purpose, an informal communication by e-mail to us is sufficient. The legality of the data processing carried out until the revocation remains unaffected by the revocation.
Right to data portability
You have the right to have data that we process automatically on the basis of your consent or in fulfillment of a contract handed over to you or to a third party in a common, machine-readable format. If you request the direct transfer of the data to another responsible party, this will only be done insofar as it is technically feasible.
SSL or TLS encryption
For security reasons and to protect the transmission of confidential content, such as orders or requests that you send to us as the site operator, this site uses SSL or TLS encryption. You can recognize an encrypted connection by the fact that the address line of the browser changes from "http://" to "https://" and by the lock symbol in your browser line. If SSL or TLS encryption is activated, the data you transmit to us cannot be read by third parties.
Encrypted payment transactions on this website
If, after the conclusion of a contract with costs, there is an obligation to transmit your payment data to us (e.g. account number in the case of direct debit authorization), this data is required for payment processing. Payment transactions via the common means of payment (Visa/MasterCard, direct debit) are made exclusively via an encrypted SSL or TLS connection. You can recognize an encrypted connection by the fact that the address line of the browser changes from "http://" to "https://" and by the lock symbol in your browser line. With encrypted communication, your payment data that you transmit to us cannot be read by third parties.
Information, blocking, deletion
Within the framework of the applicable legal provisions, you have the right at any time to free information about your stored personal data, their origin and recipient and the purpose of data processing and, if necessary, a right to correction, blocking or deletion of this data. For this purpose, as well as for further questions on the subject of personal data, you can contact us at any time at the address given in the imprint.
Objection to advertising e-mails
We hereby object to the use of contact data published within the framework of the imprint obligation to send advertising and information material that has not been expressly requested. The operators of the pages expressly reserve the right to take legal action in the event of the unsolicited sending of advertising information, such as spam e-mails.
Data collection on our website
Cookies
The internet pages partly use so-called cookies. Cookies do not cause any damage to your computer and do not contain viruses. Cookies serve to make our offer more user-friendly, more effective and safer. Cookies are small text files that are stored on your computer and saved by your browser.
Most of the cookies we use are so-called "session cookies". They are automatically deleted after the end of your visit. Other cookies remain stored on your terminal device until you delete them. These cookies allow us to recognize your browser on your next visit.
You can set your browser so that you are informed about the setting of cookies and only allow cookies in individual cases, exclude the acceptance of cookies for certain cases or in general and activate the automatic deletion of cookies when closing the browser. If cookies are deactivated, the functionality of this website may be limited.
Cookies that are required to carry out the electronic communication process or to provide certain functions that you have requested (e.g. shopping cart function) are stored on the basis of Art. 6 (1) lit. f DSGVO. The website operator has a legitimate interest in storing cookies for the technically error-free and optimized provision of its services. Insofar as other cookies (e.g. cookies for analyzing your surfing behavior) are stored, these are treated separately in this data protection declaration.
Server log files
The provider of the pages automatically collects and stores information in so-called server log files, which your browser automatically transmits to us.
These are:
browser type and browser version
Operating system used
referrer URL
Host name of the accessing computer
Time of the server request
IP address
This data is not merged with other data sources. The basis for data processing is Art. 6 (1) lit. b DSGVO, which permits the processing of data for the fulfillment of a contract or pre-contractual measures.
Contact form
If you send us inquiries via contact form, your data from the inquiry form, including the contact data you provided there, will be stored by us for the purpose of processing the inquiry and in case of follow-up questions. We do not pass on this data without your consent.
The processing of the data entered in the contact form is therefore based exclusively on your consent (Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a DSGVO). You can revoke this consent at any time. For this purpose, an informal communication by e-mail to us is sufficient. The legality of the data processing operations carried out until the revocation remains unaffected by the revocation.
The data you entered in the contact form will remain with us until you request us to delete it, revoke your consent to store it, or the purpose for storing the data no longer applies (e.g. after we have completed processing your request). Mandatory legal provisions - in particular retention periods - remain unaffected.
Processing of data (customer and contract data)
We collect, process and use personal data only to the extent necessary for the establishment, content or modification of the legal relationship (inventory data). This is done on the basis of Art. 6 (1) lit. b DSGVO, which permits the processing of data for the fulfillment of a contract or pre-contractual measures. We collect, process and use personal data about the use of our Internet pages (usage data) only insofar as this is necessary to enable the user to use the service or to bill the user. The collected customer data will be deleted after completion of the order or termination of the business relationship. Legal retention periods remain unaffected.
Data transmission upon conclusion of the contract
We transmit personal data to third parties only if this is necessary in the context of the contract. A further transmission of the data does not take place. Your data will not be passed on to third parties without your express consent. The basis for data processing is Art. 6 (1) lit. b DSGVO, which permits the processing of data for the fulfillment of a contract or pre-contractual measures.
Social media plugins
We have integrated the social media buttons of the following companies on our website, You can recognize the plugins by the fact that they are marked with the corresponding logo.
Facebook Inc. (1601 S. California Ave - Palo Alto - CA 94304 - USA)
Twitter Inc. (795 Folsom St. - Suite 600 - San Francisco - CA 94107 - USA)
Google Plus/Google Inc. (1600 Amphitheatre Parkway - Mountain View - CA 94043 - USA)
Pinterest Inc. (635 High Street, Palo Alto, CA, 94301, USA)
Instagram Inc. (1601 Willow Road, Menlo Park, CA, 94025, USA)
XING AG (Gänsemarkt 43 - 20354 Hamburg - Germany)
LinkedIn Corporation (2029 Stierlin Court, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA)
TripAdvisor Inc. (400 1st Avenue, Needham, MA 02494 USA)
TrustYou (Agnes-Pockels-Bogen 1, 80992 Munich, Germany)
HolidayCheck Group AG (Neumarkter Str. 61, 80796 Munich DE)
Use and application of "AddThis" bookmarking service
This website contains "Addthis" plugins (Addthis), which allow you to bookmark or share interesting website content. When using Addthis, cookies are used. The data generated in the process (such as time of use or browser language) is transmitted to Add This LLC in the USA and processed there. More information on data processing by Add This LLC and the data protection maintained by Add This LLC can be found at www.addthis.com/privacy. In particular, this website contains information on the type of data processed and its purpose. We do not process the data concerned. By using the Addthis field, you consent to the processing of data by Add This LLC to the extent disclosed in the website www.addthis.com. You can object to the use of your data at any time by using an "Opt Out Cookie". More details on this can also be found on the aforementioned Add This LLC website.
Instagram
On our pages, functions of the service Instagram are integrated. These functions are offered by Instagram Inc., 1601 Willow Road, Menlo Park, CA, 94025, USA. If you are logged into your Instagram account, you can link the content of our pages to your Instagram profile by clicking on the Instagram button. This allows Instagram to associate the visit to our pages with your user account. We would like to point out that we, as the provider of the pages, have no knowledge of the content of the transmitted data or its use by Instagram. For more information, please see Instagram's privacy policy: http://instagram.com/about/legal/privacy/
Facebook Pixel, Custom Audiences and Facebook Conversion.
Within our online offer, the so-called "Facebook pixel" of the social network Facebook, which is operated by Facebook Inc, 1 Hacker Way, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA, or if you are a resident of the EU, Facebook Ireland Ltd, 4 Grand Canal Square, Grand Canal Harbour, Dublin 2, Ireland ("Facebook"), is used due to our legitimate interests in the analysis, optimization and economic operation of our online offer and for these purposes.
Facebook is certified under the Privacy Shield agreement and thereby offers a guarantee of compliance with European data protection law (https://www.privacyshield.gov/participant?id=a2zt0000000GnywAAC&status=Active).
With the help of the Facebook pixel, it is possible for Facebook, on the one hand, to determine the visitors to our online offer as a target group for the display of advertisements (so-called "Facebook ads"). Accordingly, we use the Facebook pixel to display the Facebook ads placed by us only to those Facebook users who have also shown an interest in our online offer or who have certain characteristics (e.g. interests in certain topics or products determined on the basis of the websites visited) that we transmit to Facebook (so-called "Custom Audiences"). With the help of the Facebook pixel, we also want to ensure that our Facebook ads correspond to the potential interest of users and do not have a harassing effect. With the help of the Facebook pixel, we can also track the effectiveness of the Facebook ads for statistical and market research purposes by seeing whether users were redirected to our website after clicking on a Facebook ad (so-called "conversion").
The processing of data by Facebook takes place within the framework of Facebook's data usage policy. Accordingly, general information on the display of Facebook ads, in Facebook's data usage policy: https://www.facebook.com/policy.php. Specific information and details about the Facebook Pixel and how it works can be found in Facebook's help section: https://www.facebook.com/business/help/651294705016616.
You can opt-out of the Facebook Pixel's collection and use of your data to display Facebook Ads. To set which types of ads are displayed to you within Facebook, you can visit the page set up by Facebook and follow the instructions there on the settings for usage-based advertising: https://www.facebook.com/settings?tab=ads. The settings are done in a platform-independent manner, which means that they are applied to all devices, such as desktop computers or mobile devices.
You can further object to the use of cookies used for reach measurement and advertising purposes via the Network Advertising Initiative opt-out page (http://optout.networkadvertising.org/) and additionally the US website (http://www.aboutads.info/choices) or the European website (http://www.youronlinechoices.com/uk/your-ad-choices/).
Analysis tools and advertising
Google Analytics
This website uses functions of the web analysis service Google Analytics. The provider is Google Inc, 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA. Google Analytics uses so-called "cookies". These are text files that are stored on your computer and enable an analysis of your use of the website. The information generated by the cookie about your use of this website is usually transmitted to a Google server in the USA and stored there. The storage of Google Analytics cookies is based on Art. 6 (1) lit. f DSGVO. The website operator has a legitimate interest in analyzing user behavior in order to optimize both its web offering and its advertising.
IP anonymization
We have activated the IP anonymization function on this website. This means that your IP address will be shortened by Google within member states of the European Union or in other states party to the Agreement on the European Economic Area before being transmitted to the USA. Only in exceptional cases will the full IP address be transmitted to a Google server in the USA and shortened there. On behalf of the operator of this website, Google will use this information for the purpose of evaluating your use of the website, compiling reports on website activity and providing other services relating to website activity and internet usage to the website operator. The IP address transmitted by your browser as part of Google Analytics will not be merged with any other data held by Google.
Browser Plugin
You may refuse the use of cookies by selecting the appropriate settings on your browser, however please note that if you do this you may not be able to use the full functionality of this website. You can also prevent the collection of data generated by the cookie and related to your use of the website (including your IP address) to Google and the processing of this data by Google by downloading and installing the browser plugin available at the following link: https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout?hl=de.
Objection to data collection
You can prevent the collection of your data by Google Analytics by clicking on the following link. An opt-out cookie will be set, which will prevent the collection of your data during future visits to this website: Google Analytics opt-out. More information on how Google Analytics handles user data can be found in Google's privacy policy: https://support.google.com/analytics/answer/6004245?hl=de.
Order data processing
We have concluded an order data processing agreement with Google and fully implement the strict requirements of the Swiss and European data protection authorities when using Google Analytics.
Demographic characteristics in Google Analytics
This website uses the "demographic characteristics" function of Google Analytics. This allows reports to be generated that contain statements about the age, gender and interests of site visitors. This data comes from interest-based advertising from Google as well as visitor data from third-party providers. This data cannot be assigned to a specific person. You can deactivate this function at any time via the ad settings in your Google account or generally prohibit the collection of your data by Google Analytics as shown in the item "Objection to data collection".
Plugins and tools
Google Web Fonts
This site uses so-called web fonts provided by Google for the uniform display of fonts. When you call up a page, your browser loads the required web fonts into its browser cache in order to display texts and fonts correctly.
For this purpose, the browser you are using must connect to Google's servers. This enables Google to know that our website has been accessed via your IP address. Google Web Fonts are used in the interest of a uniform and appealing presentation of our online offers. This represents a legitimate interest within the meaning of Art. 6 (1) lit. f DSGVO. If your browser does not support web fonts, a standard font will be used by your computer. You can find more information about Google Web Fonts at https://developers.google.com/fonts/faq and in Google's privacy policy: https://www.google.com/policies/privacy/.