By Raffy Paredes
Our recent column (Colorize your B&W photos using these AI apps) drew the attention of Shane Steven who introduced your columnist to his online AI tool for adding color to black-and-white photos. The website shared is https://imagecolorizer.com. Similar to the apps previously featured here, you upload black-and-white photos to the website and download the colored version after a short processing time. But unlike last column's apps, the Image Colorizer software can be downloaded and installed on a Windows computer. Available also are versions for Android and iOS phones on Google Play and the iOS App Store. In addition to putting color on your photos, the app for Windows PC comes with some basic photo-editing tools. For the mobile apps, there are filters available if you upgrade from basic to pro. The app is free to use online and free to download. The pro version provides more tools to improve your colorized photo.
If you’re fond of uploading your photo online but wish to avoid facial recognition by third-party apps, you can try processing your images through Fawkes, an image “cloaking” app for personal privacy. Fawkes is an algorithm and software tool you can run on your PC that makes tiny, pixel level changes on your photo which are invisible to the human eye. These prevent facial recognition algorithms from categorizing you correctly. Your photo cannot be used to build an accurate database that will make you trackable. The algorithm was created by researchers in the SAND (Security, Algorithms, Networking and Data) Lab at the University of Chicago, and the open-source software tool that they built is free to download and use on your computer at home. Download from http://sandlab.cs.uchicago.edu/fawkes/. The app is named after the Guy Fawkes mask in the movie V for Vendetta (source: Peta Pixel).
Here are today’s featured readers and their photos.
Allan Velasco Carandang shares “The Beauty of Callao Cave” taken in the Municipality of Peñablanca, Cagayan province.
From Andrew Semilla is “Manmade Dubai Lake in Downtown Dubai.” He writes: “The city may not have as many natural wonders but it has a lot to offer in terms of man-made wonders. From the tallest building in the world to artificial islands that form the map of the world, Dubai truly is a city borne of the creativity of the best minds in the world.”
Glaiza Lynn G. Sarmiento sent in the photo, “A Bright Future” taken at DLSU, Manila last March while on a visit to the university library.
A Love From a Grandfather (Jeffrey Galano)
Jeffrey Galano, a mobile photographer hobbyist from Aringay, La Union contributed the black-and-white photo, “A Love From a Grandfather.” His photo description reads: “A little boy is trying to go down using his bike on his own. But it seems it's difficult to do. And his grandpa is trying to help him. It shows to me that our grandfathers may get old but their love for their children and grandchildren remain forever.”
John Dimain shares the photo that won him second prize in the 2019 UNESCO Youth Eyes on the Silk Road International Photography Contest held in Paris, France. John bested 3,500 entries winning in the 18-25 years old category. He is the only Filipino to be awarded in the photography contest.
The photo “Waiting” comes from Marvin Bersabe. His photo description: “In the frame are two kiddos standing and waiting for their parents' arrival - hoping that they've got enough fish from the sea.”
Rad Corpuz, a frontliner in Mindanao submitted the sunset photo titled “Kobid Hapon.” He writes: This photo was taken in the COVID-19 era. In every ending, there is a new beginning and new hope.”
From Rocajane Salac, a student photojournalist at the Eastern Samar State University - Catalyst, Borongan City campus is an untitled photo of a farmer carrying folded canvas on his head. Her photo description: “Newly harvested rice grains were soaked by the flood because of typhoon Ambo. ‘Itay’ has just dried them in the heat of the sun.”
Spreawell Palacio sent in the photo of colorful love padlocks titled “Kapit Lang Mahal” taken in N Seoul Tower, South Korea.
And from Bryan Dave Casundo is a black-and-white photo of children in the playground titled “Street Photography.”
For comments, suggestions or just to share an image or idea, email [email protected] or [email protected].