Artist's Comments
Hi all,
The last time I posted a deviation was in September 2003. It was an image I threw up in Photoshop. Here, today, 2.5 years later, I'm posting the real thing. This is a composite of approximately 100 images stacked manually in Photoshop CS2. I could have used IRIS, Registax, or the other usual suspects, but decided to become a glutton for punishment. As I didn't have an equatorial wedge for my Meade 8" LX90 LNT (F/10) at the time, I ended up with quite a lot of field rotation as the images were 15 second exposures with a five second gap until the next exposure (thank you DSLR Focus). You can imagine, that after 100 x 20 seconds, I had quite a lot of field rotation. So, the glutton for punishment part here was manually de-rotating each and every image in Photoshop. It took a lot of time, but was worth it. The featured image has been processed in varying stages. Firstly, each image was dark frame calibrated via subtraction of a master dark. They were then stacked in Photoshop; the first image remains at 100% opacity, the next image is stacked at 50% opacity, the next at 33% opacity and so on (inverse relationship). The aim of this, of course, is to increase the signal-to-noise ratio and as a result, lower the noise. Photoshop functions of particular use were exposure, brightness and contrast, hue and saturation, levels, curves and channel mixing. Various layer masks were utilised in order to bring out the detail in the central Trapezium area. Most times you see photographs of this nebula with the Trapezium area saturated and as a result washing out any detail in the central area. No noise reduction was carried out in this image; it would be rather pointless as I shot these images in the smallest resolution mode of my Canon EOS-350D (Digital Rebel XT). Next time I attempt this beauty, I shall shoot in large RAW mode. So, finally, the particular details once again: Telescope: Meade 8" LX90 LNT (F/10) Schmidt-Cassegrain astronomical telescope Mount: Altitude/Azimuth Camera: Canon EOS-350D (Digital Rebel XT) at prime focus (F/10) Exposures: unguided, 15 seconds each with five second gaps until next exposure Location: my backyard in western Sydney Date: 10th January, 2006 Software: DSLR Focus (for focusing metrics and image capture) and Adobe Photoshop (processing/post-processing) Regards, H |
Details
January 19, 2006
2.2 MB 1728×1152 StatisticsCamera Data
Canon
Canon EOS 350D DIGITAL 15/1 second F/inf 0 mm 100 Jan 10, 2006, 9:40:42 PM Share |
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Comments
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~I'm not flying...(right now)~
Thank you for your comments and compliment!
The reason why I didn't bother with software noise reduction on this particular resolution was that once applied, it was distracting and basically affecting the image in a negative manner. The noise reduction was acting like JPG artifacts.
Perhaps if I had shot in RAW in a larger resolution and had the on-camera noise reduction turned on, there may have been a more favourable result.
Still, I'm just starting out in this field of photography, and as time progresses (and if the clouds ever clear from Sydney!), I'll give it another shot.
I'm considering having my EOS-350D modified, but something tells me not to do it. I may just save up and purchase a second-hand 350D or a new 20Da/5D and use them for astrophotography and leave the 350D for terrestrial shooting.
Regards,
H
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"For everyone must see that astronomy compels the soul to look upwards and leads us from this world to another." -Plato
The Black Art of Astrophotography
Buy my prints!
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~I'm not flying...(right now)~
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~Chrissyo [link]
That is correct; dark frames are typically captured with either the lens cap on the lens of the camera, the body cap on the camera, or if the telescope is T-mounted to a telescope, then the telescope's lens cap on.
I believe you are correct in stating that because there is minute imperfections in rotation, the noise has been amplified. This is easily noticed in the lower half of the image whereby noise is repeating in a uniformly curved pattern.
I will be a lot more careful next time, and use a proper alignment and registration tool.
Cheers for the heads up.
Regards,
H
--
"For everyone must see that astronomy compels the soul to look upwards and leads us from this world to another." -Plato
The Black Art of Astrophotography
Buy my prints!
Good to see another IIS member on here!
Cheers,
H
--
"For everyone must see that astronomy compels the soul to look upwards and leads us from this world to another." -Plato
The Black Art of Astrophotography
Buy my prints!
--
~I'm not flying...(right now)~
--
My latest photo
great work
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