Mix and Match Lagoon

[Atmos]

In my quest for learning how to nicely add Ha to RGB data (usually from a DSLR) I've been playing with three sets of data.

1. 16x900s Ha QHY22
2. 36x180s Nikon D7200
3. 22x120s QHY163M

To make some processing quicker I've worked on a smaller crop of the larger region just as a way of seeing how it could turn out before I start on the larger area. Pretty happy with the result for the most part but I would like to get better stars in the final version.

[Atmos]

Threw it into Lightroom to see what could be done to give more enhancements :)

Higher Resolution on Astrobin (http://www.astrobin.com/full/410569/B/)

Not sure if I’ve pushed it too far or not but it’s quite in ya face!

[strongmanmike]

Nice work Col, you and your star blending, been your bane for a long time huh? ..you're getting there :)

I think the first one :thumbsup:

Mike

[Atmos]

Thanks Mike, it is a bit of a pain doing the blending! Adding Ha to RGB is easy if I don’t add it as a luminance layer as it doesn’t affect the stars.

[multiweb]

Nice close up Col. Like the latest repro. :thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

[Benjamin]

Love the colour and the framing: makes the core look like a raised area in a sunken lagoon. I keep getting the feeling you’ve somehow moved a few thousand light years sideways and captured a different angle!

[strongmanmike]

Parallax error, due to Col's dark sky location :D

[Atmos]

Thanks Marc, think you should turn your C11 at the area ;)



Thanks Ben, cropping helps a lot with framing. Need a fair bit more exposure to help with that real 3D feel though.



My dark sky site is out at *select your Kepler planet* :lol:

[Paul Haese]

I think I prefer the first image Colin. Lovely detail and processing looks good. It is a real perennial favourite and really tough to get done to perfection.

[Slawomir]

I also prefer the first version Colin - a very pleasing shot that reminded me that I must try implementing RGB stars into my attempt at this fascinating DSO.

[Atmos]

Would love to see what you're newly up and running AG12 could do to this area :)



Or just go straight for a HaRGB :P

I agree with both of you, I prefer the understatedness of the first one :)

[gregbradley]

Nice rich colours perhaps a tad too much but I can hardly talk.

The dark rings around the brighter stars are from your mask and the holes for the RGB stars are too large. Contract them a tad and they should go away.

You are using lighten mode for the layer blending right? The dark parts should not show through if you do.

Greg.

[willik]

Strong colours Colin but still looks a very good Lagoon.
Martin