You've gotta see this - APOD of orion

[Bolts_Tweed]

I didnt know where to post this but here is as good as anywhere I think. It definately starts a discussion on imaging equipment I think

After playing with the Horesehad and M42 and regions for years I realise the insignifigance of my attempts.

Be warned its 1.4 meg or so but I cant believe it

http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/image/0909/oriondeep_andreo_big.jpg

[Octane]

Whilst it's a beautiful rendition, I can't help but think the colours are a bit washed out, and the processing is quite evident. To get a better idea of what I'm on about, have a look at the Pleiades shot in his star clusters gallery.

Regards,
Humayun

[pgc hunter]

That's a fantastic shot! The colours do seem a bit washed out but the detail and clarity is the best I've seen of that region, probably also one of the deepest images in existance of that region.

[multiweb]

I'm not sure it's washed out. I think it's radically different from standard colours. The person who processed it worked on bringing up all the brown very faint dust. Definitely different and interesting. I like it a lot.

[matt]

I like it. The colours are subdued, but that's OK by me. I see too many images of this area which look a little too saturated for my taste.

He's done well with the detail in the brown dust:thumbsup:

[MrB]

Not sure about the colours either, but still impressive.

[dpastern]

I don't mind the subtle colours either. Tonnes of detail here, and not the sort of thing you see everyday.

Dave

[troypiggo]

Talk about sensor dust...

[DavidU]

I don't mind it at all. I think this imager has developed his ideas of bringing out the dust features & backgrounds.
This is his tilt on imaging. Others may go for Hubble palates, Ha or maximum dark back grounds etc.

[dpastern]

Exactly. We aren't sheep - innovation and variation is nice.

Dave

[dugnsuz]

To me it's a work of art - a standard to which I would love to aspire to.
The FOV is very nice.
DavidU sums it up...
"This is his tilt on imaging. Others may go for Hubble palates, Ha or maximum dark back grounds etc."
For me, the goal is the aesthetic without an excessive unnatural appearance.
I see your point too H - but on this occasion I think the imager has pulled it off!
Doug

[Bolts_Tweed]

Yeah Humayun I know what you mean but I agree with the other guys as well. I started noticing images like this about 12 months ago - someone published an image of the cone neb (?) with the Fox Fur (?) nebula beside it. I forget what it was actually but it was processed to show this brown dust lane detail. I agree with you guys thast this is just another direction astrophotography is heading. Who would have thought I would like Tom Davis's nb composite palletes a few years ago when I was using Fuji 800 - I wouldnt have understood them - now I know & understand how good they are.

I just checked out his home page and his improvements from 2 years ago to today are unbelievable. Yeah he has some good gear (FSQ & STL1000) but it really isnt anything that a lot of other people are using (or similar). Makes me want to push the TVnp101is & STX10 out to 20 minute subs on Lums (or try to anyway)

A bit more colour (or sat.) may be nice but I think he is definately breaking new ground. Good to see someone sticking his neck out a little bit (or a lot)

[Octane]

I think people may have got the wrong impression from my post -- I do think it is a fantastic rendition. I, too, can only hope to produce images this good one day. :)

Regards,
Humayun

[matt]

It's all good, mate.... people are just offering thoughts and opinions, even if they differ. I don't see any misunderstanding:)

[telecasterguru]

It really is a most extraordinary image that I have not seen the likes of before. Absolutely beautiful.

Frank

[allan gould]

Just to the left and up a bit of the horsehead you can see another small horse standing there in this great photo

[TheDecepticon]

It is an awesome image. I have seen this whole area done like this before, but using a DSLR and a refractor in a mosaic format. I'm not sure how many people realize how much dust is in this whole region.
As for the colours, it is very subjective and open to interpretation. Each imager has his or her own idea of how they want to present the final product, and , after all, so many of us are actually visual artists, not scientists, leading to a huge variation in end result.
Top job.:thumbsup:

[toryglen-boy]

its a great image, no mistake ... but am i the only person who thinks it looks a bit anaemic?



:question:

[RB]

Awesome image.
I know the colours look 'different' but I think they emphasise and bring out the dust areas beautifully in these tones, not too overpowering imo.

:thumbsup:

[PeterM]

Absolutely mindblowing images. A sign of things to come.
PeterM.

[pmrid]

Who cares what colour the artist has used? His imaging skills are right up there. His choice of subject is dramatic and powerful and by the devices and techniques he has used, he has populated this region with a level of texture and detail that few can achieve. I think it's a terrific piece of work and would love to do anywhere near as well in widefield imaging.
Peter

[Rhino1980]

What's his name H? Got a link? I think the shot is stunning and would like to see what else he's got :thumbsup:

[Iceaxe]

:eyepop:top stuff

[AlexN]

Thanks for posting this Mark, looks fantastic... I wish I could do mosaics well enough to do something like this... Alas, I'm not there yet!

Whilst this is a very nice rendition of the area, I much prefer Rob Gendlers version... Although he shows the dusty surrounds in a deep red rather than brown...

The only 2 things I don't like about this are the brighter stars look a little odd, and the blueish hue in the dust surrounding M42.. The dust around M42 and the running man should essentially be the same colour as the rest of the dust. I imagine it would be very hard to render colours perfectly across such a wide field...