I think the term "pretty pictures" always sounds condecending and suggests what we astroimagers do is somehow trivial and of no value so why do it
...where as, looking for supernovae in other galaxies is somehow much more legitimate..? Now if we described the latter activity as "looking for faint dots while you sleep" it might sound equally condecending and very boring
Of course both activities are valid worthwhile persuits
I do all sorts of things with my images, hang'em, sell'em, enter'em in competitions or just enjoy look'in at'em...oh and I nearly forgot the funnest thing...
reprocessing them!!
Mike