Trifid Nebula - 1st IIS photo posting

[Cimitar]

Hi everyone :hi:

I've been an in-active IIS member for quite a few years now, and have been learning stacks whilst reading the posts and enjoying the photos!

So... after much trial and error over the past 6 months I figured I'd finally upload one of my better images thus far. The biggest thing I've learnt with astrophotography to date - that image processing is just as important as taking the actual photos! If you put the effort in it's well worth the results :)

Details:
Trifid Nebula
8 inch LX200 ACF
Canon 600D
ISO 6400
12 x 45 sec exposures (guided)
Processed in Nebulosity & Photoshop.

Apologies if the pic is lossy, I converted to jpg. All comments welcome :)
Cheers
Evan

[raymo]

Great first posted image Evan. It is interesting that although your blue is quite strong, it doesn't extend into the area which is grey/brown in your image, but pale blue in most other images I have seen of M20. M20 is quite bright, so you could have used a lower ISO, say 1600,
resulting in less noise to deal with.
raymo

[cometcatcher]

That's a nice one Evan, the colours are great. :thumbsup:

The only advice I could offer is go a little less heavy on the noise reduction as the image looks a bit mottled. Keep an eye on the black point too. Otherwise a great image.

[Somnium]

Great shot, a lot better than the first image I posted on iis! :thumbsup:

[Rod771]

Nice one, Evan!

You've picked up a fair bit of faint dust for 45 sec subs. Must be great to have lovely dark skies right on your door step. Did you shoot this from in town or out?

Cheers

Rod

[aarong]

Great first post! I really like how you have managed to keep some colour in the stars. I find that hard.

I'm looking forward to more posts!
Cheers,
Aaron

[rustigsmed]

yep nice one evan,

great first light indeed!
i'd also go a bit easier on the noise reduction. I have the same camera and when doing shorter exposures I found it was best not to push it past iso 3200.

cheers

Rusty

[Cimitar]

Hi Rod, yeah the skies are pretty great out here! :thumbsup: This one was taken just on the outskirts of Gunnedah at a friends place, takes the edge off the street lights. My backyards pretty good though.

My folks have have a farm over in Coonabarabran so once it warms up a little I'm keen to take the scope over there for a few days.

[Cimitar]

Hi Aaron, thanks mate! :)
When I first started taking pictures I was a bit disappointed with the quality of my images. I researched it and found an awesome aid in Scott Rosens DSLR-LLRGB workflow (it's a video that you can watch/download). I then replicated much of his work and use carboni astronomy tools (actions for PS) to help improve star colour.

I'm finding it's a fine line between too much noise reduction and ending up with a doctored image vs. natural effects.

[Cimitar]

Thanks Raymo, Comet, Kevin & Rusty :)

Yeah, I think I opened the throttle a bit on the noise reduction, I got to the point where I was reducing the noise that I was introducing (hence the mottling).

When I first started I struggled to see the objects, so I increased the ISO. Now I'm slowly winding this back again, and hoping to focus more on ISO 1600-800 as I get better at auto-guiding and longer images. I recently got some great advice over in the beginner's equipment section about how to improve my polar alignment & go-to's so this should also help :)

[Rod771]

Well, that's just Heaven! You lucky so and so. :)

Look forward to more images from AP journey. :thumbsup:

My Parents live in Gunnedah, here's some nightscapes form a couple of visits last year.

From Porcupine lookout (http://astrob.in/full/99424/0/)

Wean Rd (http://astrob.in/full/127549/0/)

[Cimitar]

Your Wean Rd. photo is awesome! It's great to be able to see some familiar places! :thumbsup:

Cheers
Evan