Best way to get colour (blue) back to eta carina

[pkinchington]

I've had another try at eta carina. This time I used a modified dslr camera to show more of Halpha . This image is stretched but not colour balanced etc. Fogged lens caused problems with haloes around stars - my next purchase is a dew heater. What is the best way to get blue back into the image that I see when using an unmodified dslr? I used a moon and skylight filter.
Cheers Kanga

[multiweb]

You have plenty of blue already in your picture. I think you'd benefit from doing flat fielding. It will make processing much easier for you.

[Imme]

I agree with Marc....you appear to have the blue channel pushed pretty hard already.
....and agree re flats, will change the balance across the image significantly from the looks of it

[pkinchington]

Hi Marc, the blue I am referring to was very pronounced and was located towards the centre of eta carina.
At the moment I can't afford a telescope so I am using my 300mm f2.8 camera lens (set at f3.5). Can I use a flattener with a camera lens?
Cheers Kanga (Peter).

[Imme]

Research ‘flats’ for Astrophotography.

Basically taken of a lighted background....not a flattener to be placed in image train. You can do them on your computer screen. It evens out the field

[pkinchington]

Hi Imme,
I did not do any flats this time I generally do. Please see attached cropped image where I tried to reduce vignetting.
Cheers Kanga

[Atmos]

You’re always going to get a bluer image out of an unmodded DSLR because you’re not capturing as much of the Ha. What it does come down to is getting the colour balance right. Below are two renditions both taken with the same camera, with a different telescope under dark skies.

Redder ( https://www.astrobin.com/full/egjo3d/0/)
Bluer ( https://www.astrobin.com/full/401496/0/)

These are both effectively taken with a Nikon D810A (ZWO ASI094). The difference between them is the telescope and the colour balance.

[pkinchington]

Thanks Colin - Your shots are very nice! I think I'll have to go to narrowband and do hubble or a creative palette to achieve the look I am after.
Cheers Kanga