It has been ages since the first camera was invented in the early 1800s but ever since then, mankind has been fascinated with capturing essential moments in their lives through the lens. It’s good because it helps us to travel back in time and see how the generations before us lived. When we take a look at the old footage from early photographic cameras, most of the old footage is grainy, in black and white, or in sepia tone due to the aging of the film rolls. But with the help of modern technology, editing software and artificial intelligence, restoring footage from history has become a lot easier.
NASS is a YouTube channel that dedicates its entire page to restoring clips from the bygone eras. As described in the “about” section of the channel, NASS “loves to restore and upscale old videos with neural networks, enhance with modern software tools, stabilization, speed correction, contrast, sharpness enhancement, noise removal, dust and scratches removal, add colors with A.I. and sound for the ambiance.” In one of their many restoration projects, they have taken a bunch of black and white clips from Prelinger Archives which documents the lifestyle of people and the cafe societies in 1920s Paris.
The digitally colorized and enhanced clip takes viewers back in time to give them glimpses of iconic structures such as Notre Dame and the Palais Garnier. The Parisian upperclassmen, along with elegantly dressed ladies, appear shy yet fascinated when the camera is pointed at them. The cafe society appears to be buzzing with people who indulge in smoking, chatting and drinking in outdoor dining spaces. We get a shot from the high-end restaurant called Au Caneton, as well. The waiters zoom past the patrons who are all decked up in suits and hats as they do their job in afternoon.
Upon taking a closer look we can also spot a bunch of early Ford’s Model T cars on the Parisian streets. NASS remarks in the description of the video that restoring the motion and stabilizing the old footage might have done most of the trick but the coloring may not be accurate. However, it is enough to give us a look back in time and how it would have been to film the surroundings with DSLRs or smartphones which could have given us accurate colors.
In another video of a remastered clip from 1920s Paris, carts and rides are being pulled by horses. There is a gigantic liquor store selling one of the most expensive cognacs (Grand Marnier) and the beautiful Arc de Triomphe which was built to commemorate the success of the French at the Battle of the Three Emperors. The cloudy footage is packed with people who seem extremely busy while heading for their respective destinations.
Viewers noted a few things they have observed in these videos as well. @LOL-cringe wrote: “I love the curiosity in their eyes when they see they’re being filmed. To know that these images have survived 100 years when these people have not is so touching!” @TheOrnithorhynchidae noted: “I’m from Paris and it’s mind-blowing to see that, a hundred years later, not one of these spots/streets/places has changed. Le Dôme and Le Café de la Paix are still there, even and look almost the same. The only difference is they added a forecourt in front of Notre Dame.” @Gravityworks added: “As a French person, I am profoundly touched by this colorful video. Thank you very much.”