Animated Ancestors

 In a recent post (herqe), I mentioned that I was not entirely convinced with the application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to colourising monochrome photographs. My main reservation were that, despite being beguilingly real, the colours were completely artificial and probably did not bear any relationship to the way it was when the photograph was taken. But, then again, perhaps some of them do. Who knows. The pedantic purist would dismiss such embellishments as fripperies. Me? I take a more pragmatic view. For some photographs, colourisation just does not add anything. For others, it definitely adds something and quite often that something is 'life'. For these, the addition of colour lifts the subject matter and gives it more depth. 

Recently, the My Heritage website has added another gizmo to enrage the purists - the ability to take a photograph and add some animation to the features of those depicted. Again, it's artificial and, at best, can be described at 'augmented reality'. I've tried it on a few old photographs and, like colourisation, it adds something to some and not a lot to others. Here are a few examples for your entertainment. 

These are my great grandparents, George and Emma Parsons. I think this photograph was taken in the garden of their home in Hove, around 1920.

The same photograph after processing it with the My Heritage colourisation gizmo. I think this is a good example of where the addition of colour works - for me, at least. The above photograph acts as input into the animation process. This only animates the heads of the subjects, and with a limited range of movements and gestures, but does allow them to be saved and displayed separately. Below are the individual files for George and Emma.

My verdict? For George and Emma, the animation works and gives them another dimension. Not quite completely life like but good enough to make them human. I think it makes them look very pleasant and that's the way they were described to me by my father, who had very few memories of them. Just imagine what they would have made of all this.

The software raises all sort of issues with regards to privacy and its possible use to manipulate images for malacious purposes, particularly to produce the so-called 'deep fake' animations that can be used to deceive and misinform. In recognition of this, My Heritage does not allow any 'voice overs'. But, if you want, these can be added without too many problems.

Personally, I draw the line at animating anyone living, without their express permission, or anyone in my immediate family. But, I exclude myself..

The original untouched photograph of the 'Bryn Fedw Gang' taken in Bedwas around 1956. I was 8 or 9 at the time and I'm the one in the middle.

The same photograph after a little cleaning up in Photoshop followed by colourisation. I like it and it brings my old friends back to life, albeit a little pinker than we all were. I suspect the colours are probably not too far out as I don't remember our clothes as being highly coloured.

I've run the Bryn Fedw Gang through the animation programme and just saved what it's made out of my image. I wonder what my mother would have thought of the likeness? It looks reasonable to me.

Sunday afternoon stroll through the Cotehele Estate

Well, well, well, the afternoon was drier than expected so we took ourselves off for a constitutional around parts of the Cotehele Estate. Starting at the quay, we followed the Morden Stream up past the Mill to what used to be the weir (washed away around Xmas last), thence to the house and garden and back down via the riverside path. it's one we've done many, many times and one that we've enjoyed through all the seasons. This time around, we were surprised by the number of small streams that had appeared as a result of the recent rains. For most of the walk, we were accompanied by the sounds of running water. Very pleasant. And we'll start off with a video clip of the Morden Stream up by the site of the weir.

Cotehele House from the front. Funnily enough, we only seem to go into the house when we've got visitors.

Drifts of crocuses everywhere, pretty much at their best. OK, this is a trio rather than a drift. Trio? Drift? Whatever. They still look attractive.

The snowdrops were passed their best but I did get a couple of decent shots. If I were pushed to name my favourite flower, it could very well be the snowdrop,

Some more snowdrops. That's almost it until this time next year.

The courtyard. Nice and quiet as the Covid restrictions mean that entrance to the gardens is restricted to locals walking. Suits us but then when we normally walk - late afternoon, early evening - there are relatively few people around anyway.

The island in the pond at the Upper Garden. At this time of year, the coloured stems of the dogwood really stand out. Not too sure about the black Ophiopogon, though. I guess it's there as a contrast to the snowdrops. In theory, it should work: in practice, nah.

The house from the rear. The daffodils are not out yet but the flowerless clumps give a good idea of how many there will be when they do. A little part of me would like the lockdown to last long enough for us to seem them at their best without the hassle of the usual crowds when this happens.

We never tire of this view of the Calstock Viaduct. And the sky is almost, but not quite, blue.

The riverside chapel with a glimpse of the viaduct to the right.

And we finish with more water, the cascade down through the Himalayan Glade in the bottom garden. For most of the year, this is obscured by the Gunnera that grows in profusion. With this tinkling in our ears, we reach the end of another delightful stroll. Boo hoo, we couldn't finish with a drink as the refreshment kiosk down on the quay was 'card only'. Quelle domage.