Found Deceased Spain - Esther Dingley, from UK, missing in the Pyrenees, November 2020

[ZaZara]

I believe the photo was taken on Esther’s phone (or camera) by another person.

on her blog / FB Esther writes:

At the top it was like looking at two different seasons on different sides of the peak ..
Down the valley into spain... Sunshine... Coming across the border from France... Rain.

It was the first time I'd seen anyone else for almost 2 days and as this kind fellow hiker took some photos the weather blew in and it's was time for a sharp descent...

She had at least two pictures made, one with sunshine and the other with the approaching rain.

The sunny side (with a bit of rain on top);

https://www.facebook.com/estheranddan/photos/pcb.1475330215997689/1475328992664478/?type=3&theater

The white lines are visible or appear to be visible in many of their pictures, also in those from years ago. This could be partly due to the camera, the light in the mountains and general optic illusions.

 

[CoverMeCagney]

on her blog / FB Esther writes:



She had at least two pictures made, one with sunshine and the other with the approaching rain.

The sunny side (with a bit of rain on top);

https://www.facebook.com/estheranddan/photos/pcb.1475330215997689/1475328992664478/?type=3&theater

The white lines are visible or appear to be visible in many of their pictures, also in those from years ago. This could be partly due to the camera, the light in the mountains and general optic illusions.

There was a similarly affected photo on another case ages ago (no, I will never remember which one!) and one of our members who was a digital photographer confirmed it was something to do with pixels and depth/light of background.

I really don't know why Esther would photoshop this, or any photo. I think it's possibly been zoomed in and maybe auto-brightened a bit or something like that, both of which can change the composition of a photo, especially if taken on a phone.

 

[Grouse]

I agree. It looks like she is photoshopped into place. The jagged edge around her suggests using selection tools to roughly eliminate a background. She should have a dark crisp shadow to match the rocks. There's something "off" with the photo.

Interesting, I too thought this picture looked a bit different. Not so much that she had been photoshopped in place (though I can see what you mean regarding that) but just the general appearance of the image, particularly the foreground.

It looks like it has been digitally enhanced in the way that people sometimes do on photography enthusiast websites, where they alter things like the colour saturation levels. In this one it looks a bit like images I've seen where a technique called HDR has been applied High-dynamic-range imaging - Wikipedia . This used to be quite an advanced technique where you took 3 separate images at different exposure levels and then combined them in software such as Adobe Photoshop to make one image, often with striking effects. I think nowadays though a lot of cameras (not sure about phones) have a setting you can choose to do this automatically. Maybe the person who took it knew a bit about photography and chose a different setting to get a better picture.

TL;DR - it looks like this picture has been enhanced in a way I've not noticed on other pictures that Esther posted.

 

[BoraBora]

There was a similarly affected photo on another case ages ago (no, I will never remember which one!) and one of our members who was a digital photographer confirmed it was something to do with pixels and depth/light of background.

I really don't know why Esther would photoshop this, or any photo. I think it's possibly been zoomed in and maybe auto-brightened a bit or something like that, both of which can change the composition of a photo, especially if taken on a phone.

Thank you for explaining, that makes sense about the photos.

 

[CoverMeCagney]

Interesting, I too thought this picture looked a bit different. Not so much that she had been photoshopped in place (though I can see what you mean regarding that) but just the general appearance of the image.

It looks like it has been digitally enhanced in the way that people sometimes do on photography enthusiast websites, where they alter things like the colour saturation levels. In this one it looks a bit like images I've seen where a technique called HDR has been applied High-dynamic-range imaging - Wikipedia . This used to be quite an advanced technique where you took 3 separate images at different exposure levels and then combined them in software such as Adobe Photoshop to make one image, often with striking effects. I think nowadays though a lot of cameras (not sure about phones) have a setting you can choose to do this automatically.

TL;DR - it looks like this picture has been enhanced in a way I've not noticed on other pictures that Esther posted.

Yes, upping saturation levels does that.

Find a photo in your phone (not you specifically, Grouse!) and mess about with the saturation, black points, highlights, shadows etc. You will soon notice strange bits on your pics that weren't there before, eg blurry lines or weirdly pixellated areas.

I think it's quite likely Esther handed her phone over, ran ahead and posed, and when she looked back at the photo later she was barely a silhouette, and she's brightened it / reduced shadows or whatever.

We need to be careful not to turn this photoshopping speculation into fact.

 

[Grouse]

Yes, upping saturation levels does that.

Find a photo in your phone (not you specifically, Grouse!) and mess about with the saturation, black points, highlights, shadows etc. You will soon notice strange bits on your pics that weren't there before, eg blurry lines or weirdly pixellated areas.

I think it's quite likely Esther handed her phone over, ran ahead and posed, and when she looked back at the photo later she was barely a silhouette, and she's brightened it / reduced shadows or whatever.

We need to be careful not to turn this photoshopping speculation into fact.

Yes you may have a point there CoverMeCagney, she may have just tweaked it herself before posting.

 

[CoverMeCagney]

Yes you may have a point there CoverMeCagney, she may have just tweaked it herself before posting.

I've done it before on my iPhone, adjusted the light or colour slightly and then zoomed in and realised it looked 'wrong'. Seems to happen particularly with sky photos, the clouds end up looking blotchy.

I'm no photography expert so I've no idea if she tweaked the photo or not, but the only reason I can see for someone photoshopping Esther that way would be to forge an impression she was somewhere she wasn't, because, for example, she was already deceased. And we have zero reason to believe she wasn't alive and up that hill on Saturday, as she spoke to her dad on Sunday.

 

[otto]

Is this photo also photoshopped? I've blown it up and there's a white line all around her, especially noticeable around her walking sticks. But I don't know if that's how photos like this would normally present. Does anyone know?
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I know for a fact that when photoshop is used to create a new image using 2 or more other images, that ragged edge occurs when it's done quickly or when one of the images is scaled/enlarged.

Here's a tutorial on cleaning up the edges that illustrates the artifacts that are left behind with the first rough edit, as well as the more professional finish.

It could also be an artifact from the camera.

 

[ZaZara]

Totally Off Topic (though not quite): this is weird. My dogs have black ears and I looked at them closely while they were standing in front of a lamp. And around those ears, I saw the same ( or a similar) white light that we are discussing here.

Now my dogs are very real, and not photoshopped or teleported. Since they are saints, I suppose this must be the beginning of a halo.

 

[nao]

Phones have AI now and hdr. The phone asks me if I want it to fix lighting. And mine is $300 budget phone. The photos are amazing.

 

[Seni]

Refuge Venasque has been closed since October 3rd though, so what other refuge could she have been planning to spend the night in? I agree, I think it's highly likely she could have fallen into water.

No, it looks as if it hasnt been closed as it is accepting reservations as per previous post.

I have no idea if skiing will be allowed over the next months but the refuge lies in the middle of various ski stations.

These are not touristy ski places. Mainly for day trips.

 

[Seni]

I just thought I'd chip in on the subject of refuges for thise not familiar with them.
They vary in size and facilities, some are just cabins much like the bothies in Scotland with just a sleeping platform.
Some are quite elaborate with bunkrooms and mattresses, provide meals and sell food. The popular ones need to be booked in advance during the summer season because the get very busy.
However, even the bigger ones will have a season that they are fully open. In France this can generally operate from mid June to mid September which coincides with the 'transhumance' or seasonal movement of livestock to summer grazing in the mountains.
When they close for the season there tends to be a smaller cabin or bunkroom left open and unattended for the winter.
If there is no guardian at a refuge and no other walkers, then the only other way of knowing someone may have stayed there is an entry in the log or visitors book which is often present but not eveyone is in the habit of signing it.

Many thanks for posting this!

What we know about the Réfuge de Benasque where Esther was headed is this :

Esther posted that there were mattresses and that was a factor in deciding or not to accept the lift, that is true, according to website there are mattresses, you bring sleeping bags, there is water but only cold, washbasins, no showers, only outside toilets, no WiFi or power points.

The main cabin has a capacity for about 20 people, there is a second cabin with less capacity and also possibility for putting up tents.

I think this has been open although with limited capacity. I don´t know what measures are in place suring Ski season. Will check.

 

[Seni]

Totally Off Topic (though not quite): this is weird. My dogs have black ears and I looked at them closely while they were standing in front of a lamp. And around those ears, I saw the same ( or a similar) white light that we are discussing here.

Now my dogs are very real, and not photoshopped or teleported. Since they are saints, I suppose this must be the beginning of a halo.

Leuk!!

 

[Seni]

Esther was ending a month long trek, those of you who can follow on FB or Instagram, what detail does she give of the places she stayed in or whether in her van in the previous days? Is there a record from 1st November consistently?

 

[otto]

Esther was ending a month long trek, those of you who can follow on FB or Instagram, what detail does she give of the places she stayed in or whether in her van in the previous days? Is there a record from 1st November consistently?

I think it was 3 days that she intended to be away from her partner.

"Esther Dingley, who had written extensively about traveling through Europe for the past six years with her partner, was last seen on Nov. 22.

A British woman who documented her travel around Europe with her partner for the past six years on a popular blog has gone missing while hiking alone in the Pyrenees mountains, the authorities said.

Search crews were looking for Esther Dingley, 37, who was last seen on Nov. 22 in the mountains in Luchonnais, an area in southwestern France near the border with Spain, and had planned to return three days later."
​

British Hiker Goes Missing in the Pyrenees

 

[Sjm_qc]

Esther was ending a month long trek, those of you who can follow on FB or Instagram, what detail does she give of the places she stayed in or whether in her van in the previous days? Is there a record from 1st November consistently?

She was posting every day from the 7th November, which is when she says she got away to Spain on a solo trip just before 2nd lockdown (which started October 30th in France). The only day she didn’t post was the 20th. Last post was 21st

She doesn’t always say where she stayed, but mentions camping a couple of times and an other refuge (Anges?) she stayed at.

Edited because I double checked details.

 

[Sjm_qc]

I think it was 3 days that she intended to be away from her partner.

"Esther Dingley, who had written extensively about traveling through Europe for the past six years with her partner, was last seen on Nov. 22.

A British woman who documented her travel around Europe with her partner for the past six years on a popular blog has gone missing while hiking alone in the Pyrenees mountains, the authorities said.

Search crews were looking for Esther Dingley, 37, who was last seen on Nov. 22 in the mountains in Luchonnais, an area in southwestern France near the border with Spain, and had planned to return three days later."
​

British Hiker Goes Missing in the Pyrenees

She’d been away nearly a month (she mentions it on SM) and was due back where husband is staying in France on the 25th.

 

[Liz40]

I am not sure it is her. haven't seen her in earrings like that before.

 

[ElementalLaura]

Totally Off Topic (though not quite): this is weird. My dogs have black ears and I looked at them closely while they were standing in front of a lamp. And around those ears, I saw the same ( or a similar) white light that we are discussing here.

Now my dogs are very real, and not photoshopped or teleported. Since they are saints, I suppose this must be the beginning of a halo.

Let us know if they start sprouting wings!

Is it confirmed where their dogs are now?

 

[otto]

She’d been away nearly a month (she mentions it on SM) and was due back where husband is staying in France on the 25th.

Thanks! I misunderstood, thinking that the planned trip was 3 days. So she was 3 days away from re-connecting with her partner after a month apart when she vanished ... and there was some question on both behalves about whether they still loved each other after living so close together during covid?

I hope the nice young man she met on Nov 19 or so comes forward.