New setup - Beginners First light - M8 Lagoon

[En1gma]

Hi all,

After recently finalizing my new AP setup - I had the opportunity to give it a whirl - Mainly to ensure the optics are in good order and to measure the mounts tracking ability.

Now, I am not ready for the big guns yet, but I would like to get some critique on technique and post processing - One thing I do need to be guided on, is how to retain star colour in my final image. Please help!! :hi:

So, without further ado, I would like to share my first light experience / AP details

Larger JPG - http://members.iinet.net.au/~en1gma83/Images/Astro/M8-Crop-Large.jpg (http://members.iinet.net.au/%7Een1gma83/Images/Astro/M8-Crop-Large.jpg)

Camera: Nikon D5000 (unmodified) Filters: Ba'adar UHC-S
Scope: SW BD ED80
Guide camera/scope: QHY5/Meade 50mm Finder
Mount: HEQ5
Subs: 16x6min (total 1h36m) + 6x6min Darks
Location: Light pollution central :lol:

Stacked with DSS, RGB calibrated in DSS. Image then adjusted in PS (levels, B/C and finally colour balanced, Filtered with Unsharp Masking and Noise reduction)

Thanks all and look forward to the critiques

P.S For my own comments, I definitely need to try stretching out the subs to +8 mins due to the IR cutoff filter in the D5000 and light pollution. Can anyone suggest any other filters I should purchase along side my UHC-S? - Since the wife is away, maybe I can accidently buy a modified camera or QHY8 :P

Regards,
Robert

[p1taylor]

Hi Robert, Hop you don't mind I did a bit in PH levels and curves, you got a good bit of detail to play with.

peter

[En1gma]

Hi Peter,

Dont mind whatsoever! Thanks

Please tell me how you played with the Levels/curves so I can play with it in the TIFF.

[En1gma]

I also now think it comes down to my monitor not being properly calibrated as well..

But that was one thing I forgot - to b/w clip. *smack head*

[DavidTrap]

Hi Robert,

The results you are getting with the lagoon are very similar in colour to what I achieved with an unmodified Nikon DSLR on Eta Carina. There is a massive difference between that and what is achievable with a modified Canon DSLR. Nonetheless, it's a great first effort.

I've sent you a PM regarding a processing tutorial that I've written for some friends - it's a summary of a whole stack of tutorials I've read from the web.

Cheers
DT

[En1gma]

Thanks for the PM David,

here is my second round of processing - Playing around with the more individual RGB channels. - Never realized there was that much Data.

What do you all think.

Rob

Rob

[DavidTrap]

Now you're cooking with gas.

Try using shaddow-highlights to bring back the core a bit more - I think it's a bit blown out.

DT

[RobF]

Congrats Robert! That's an outstanding first effort really! Plenty of people would kill to get an M8 that good after a year's experience, let alone first effort with Sydney light pollution. Just so you realise all the things you've pulled off really well (which very rarely happens when you're first starting out....):

- Tracking - miles ahead of most newbie efforts - fantastic tight stars
- Background - the light pollution filter has done its job very well
- Calibration - good you've had a go with darks
- Exposure - decent amount of great quality data

Processing is a never ending learning experience, and I think you'll find yourself coming back to tweak this one regularly. That recent repro shows just how good your data is.

Congrats again! :thumbsup:

[En1gma]

Thanks for you kind words Rob.

I pretty much read into the theory of everything - And made sure I put everything I learnt into action. Not to mention the motivation of alot of the talented veterans, including yourself, who lurk in this playground we call IIS

I have done the odd photos with my last setup, but it never really got off the ground. This was my chance to do it right, and as perfect as I can.

Tonight I'll try to push some 8-10 min subs to TRY get some more nebulosity. But you are right, I would no doubt keep on tweaking this image.

Next on my list tonight - A galaxy / Probably NGC 253 or M31 (if ANZ stadium turns off their lights :P)

Rob

[DavidU]

The repro (Sindonio) came up very well. Keep it up.

[multiweb]

Gorgeous shot. Very sharp. The repro's on the money. Very nice work indeed. Definitely not beginner's stuff. :thumbsup:
oh..and go the ED80!

[En1gma]

Heh - so they say, Beginners luck aye :)

I just need to learn more on processing, but isn't that just a part of life.. Learning?

Rob

[p1taylor]

Hi Rob, was going to point you to tutorial on cloudy nights {4039374} , and video tutorial on this site but you seam to have started very well.

peter

[En1gma]

Ok, so we had a bout of cloud the past couple of weeks, but last night, I had a window of opportunity to obtain further subs.

I have added 3x3min subs and 3x10 min subs - during these cloudy days, I have read up on PS processing and even managed to read a whole book on DSLR imaging!!

Here we go, try three - what do you think??

[Chi Sao]

Very nice.

[rcheshire]

Hi Robert, you may have overdone the saturation on your last.

Did you combine the subs from your first attempt with the second?

Here is a close up of the centre of M8. I found this helpful.

http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap100805.html

[En1gma]

Hey,

Stacking was done from the start to weed out any potential Dss preprocessing mishaps.

I might try it once again as I remember playing with the saturation in dss but not ps

Will give it a 4th try

Rob