Colors of the wind
Happy children's faces worth infinity. I colored and improved the quality of one of the old photos using the power of AI.
For 2.5 years I am living with my family in the Netherlands. We love this country, and we are going to stay here as long, as possible.
5th of May is a Liberation Day here, in the country. In the memory of the past, I did this small AI-based transformation of the photo. I found it here at Rina May Acosta’s beautiful post about children, celebrating their freedom from WWII.
As a computer vision specialist, I am passionate about how neural networks can help to reforge the photos of the past. I used a couple of algorithms to (1) improve the quality of the photo, and (2) colorize it.
Note: it is necessary to mention, that algorithms are not perfect, and in this case, the red line in the flag of the Netherlands was colored blue - I changed it manually, so it wouldn’t strike the eye.
A full-size improved photo is here.
A full-size comparison collage is here.
P.S. I recommend everyone to read the book called War's Unwomanly Face by Svetlana Alexievich. The book shows you the war from a different perspective, breaks your heart, and dives you into the women's shocking and untold experience in WWII.
P.P.S. As a father myself, can’t resist quoting Rina May Acosta:
As a mother, I’m particularly drawn to historical images of women and children. Children, after all, have the innate gift of wearing their hearts in their sleeves. Women - mothers, sisters, grandmothers, nieces and daughters- carry the (untold) stories of their lives and the weight of the world on their shoulders in their eyes.