Last light at the meadows

[Ben Egbert]

I recently had a new HD installed and reimaged (I was hacked). I re-installed Photoshop and Topaz. Of course, I lost all my presets including legacy preset from older version of topaz which are no longer available. So I had to recreate as best as possible some new presets. I really miss one called "exposures and another called warm bright".

Anyway, here is one processed with some new presets I created. It was on the list for rework anyway. I am pleased with how this really dark exposure worked.

 

[Jameel Hyder]

Looks really nice Ben. You should look into a backup solution to protect against such things in the future. I use Acronis and it auto backs my pc to the NAS at a set schedule.

 

[AlanLichty]

Good starting point for rebuilding your presets. I second Jameel's suggestion for a backup plan. All disks have the common feature that they are going to fail or become compromised and the only real question is when.

 

[JimFox]

Awesome work Ben! I like the way this looks, so good job on it.

That's too bad your computer was hacked, it's just sad there are so many people in the world today that just want to hurt and destroy other peoples property. It's very sick.

This is Christmas Meadows? I have got to get up there one of these trips with you. It's a very enticing location for sure. Is there camping available up there?

 

[Ben Egbert]

Looks really nice Ben. You should look into a backup solution to protect against such things in the future. I use Acronis and it auto backs my pc to the NAS at a set schedule.

Thanks I used true image once, and am now using I-drive. They encrypt the files and restoration requires a PHD in computer science.

Good starting point for rebuilding your presets. I second Jameel's suggestion for a backup plan. All disks have the common feature that they are going to fail or become compromised and the only real question is when.

Right, I did not lose data, just op system stuff. I am not sure I could have gotten Topaz back as I had it anyway. My registry was currupt and many files could not be found

Awesome work Ben! I like the way this looks, so good job on it.

That's too bad your computer was hacked, it's just sad there are so many people in the world today that just want to hurt and destroy other peoples property. It's very sick.

This is Christmas Meadows? I have got to get up there one of these trips with you. It's a very enticing location for sure. Is there camping available up there?

Thanks Jim, I am out about $3000 so far. This is a place called Squaw Peak and only 20 miles from home. It does have camping and so does Christmas Meadows which is more like 100 miles. Be glad to show you either place. Both are closed now by snow.

 

[Amy Earl]

Gorgeous shot, Ben. This is such an idyllic scene and lighting.

Sorry to hear you got hacked. How did they get onto your disk?

 

[Ben Egbert]

Gorgeous shot, Ben. This is such an idyllic scene and lighting.

Sorry to hear you got hacked. How did they get onto your disk?

I was stupid enough to fall for the Microsoft Service scam. I was sure I was at Microsoft and let them in.

 

[Amy Earl]

I was stupid enough to fall for the Microsoft Service scam. I was sure I was at Microsoft and let them in.

I'm sorry, it's an awful feeling to get scammed I'm unfamiliar with that scam. But you didn't lose your photos, I take it?

 

[Ben Egbert]

Thanks Amy, you get a message that you have had too many intrusions and that your system is locked by Microsoft. They provide a phone number to call and get into what sounds like a legitimate Microsoft service center. They ask for permission to connect to your computer and then they run a scan. Of course they find stuff and offer to clean it up and install a stronger firewall.

 

[Kurt Harrigan]

Very nice, Ben. I like how you managed the light in the sky as well as the foreground sharpness in the grass.

 

[Ben Egbert]

Very nice, Ben. I like how you managed the light in the sky as well as the foreground sharpness in the grass.

Thanks Kurt, this was originally the dark image from a two image set, the other was exposed for the foreground. But I found I could bring up the shadows in the dark image with the newest software (Photoshop and Topaz) making blending unnecessary. This produced a more even and natural looking image.