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Bolts_Tweed
24-10-2010, 03:09 PM
As discussed in the other thread I am lucky enough to be in Santa Clara at the AIC 2010 at the moment. I have an motive for attending apart from the great conference but will discuss it below.

This is amazing - I mean I walk past Don Goldman or Tony Hallas and THEY say hello - this is an astrophotographers dream. I attended the workshops by Neil Fleming on NB imaging, Don Goldman on RGB imaging and adnvanced image processing by Tony Hallas - absolutely fantastic - the information dissemination is incredible - this is what we need - an Australian Imaging Conference - smile - see below ;)

I will post a more thorough report with the photos probably tommorrow when I can get a download cable but it is astrophotgraphy heaven as I said.

Houghy - Rogelio (pronounced like Ro - Hay - Leo I found out today) gave his talk a lot like his processing workflow he has on his webpage for the IFN nebula image with a few extras. I don't have the presentation available yet but I should get it tommorrow. I am pretty sure this is now publich information and will forward a copy if you like. The second half of his presentation was more on image composition and framing.

There was another presentation on FFT transformations and their use in noise reduction and processing (a lot like wavelet tranformations) by Kevin Nelson which was also interesting for PI users but a bit mathematical.

Mike - I know i've been discussing it for a while but bugger it - the conference is on. After coming here I found that we just have to start an annual astrophotography conference in Australia. It will be held at Griffith University on the Gold Coast in July next year (probably the week before the new moon if it ties in with the mid year uni break - this allows the visitors to do some dark sky southern hemisphere tourism after the conference) - I can get the lecture theatres at the right price ;) and catering etc can also be done reasonably. If I dont have it at my uni then I have outlay a substantial amount of money to hold it somewhere else so to outlay nothing until after the conference sounds like a much better option.

Ken Crawford, Don Goldman and Tony and Daphne Hallas have given tenative agreement ( actually they were all as keen as mustard) to come down for a series of workshops with the conference. Unfortunately I found out Rogelio is also keen to come down but I already asked these 3 - I can cover their airfares but stretching to another airfare would probably cuase my divorce. Unless anyone out there wants to sign on as a major sponsor for the conference (dont worry I'll be hitting all the suppliers up - Bintel - you cant hide - smile). Probably one of the most impressive parts of the AIC is the technology (supplier) display area but more on that later with photos. Planewave are keen to attend as a supplier (Greg you've started something - apparently theyve sold another 2 to Aussies just recently and one of those is another 0.7m to a private buyer). Don will do a Astrodon display I imagine and another general supplier is very keen.

Anyway thats a quick summary of my ulterior motives for coming over here but after this one I doubt if i'll miss another.

BTW Brad Moore is here as well

Will post more info later

Mark Bolton

Bolts_Tweed
25-10-2010, 08:27 AM
Here are a few images from the conference - I apologise for quality but I only had the Iphone in dim light - I had to delete a lot.

1. A big Planewave on an AstroPhysics El Capitan - Size does matter
2. The same scope for imaging legs maybe?
3. Planewaves display - very impressive
4. This 0.7m scope is bound for the USQ observatory at Mount Kent near Toowoomba (abut 50klm from Leyburn) - I wonder if? maybe if I was nice to em ------ nah.
5. An Officina Stellare 300 (I think) RC
6. An Officina Stellare Veloce 200 f3 from memory
7. I had the maufacturers name written down but cant put my finger on it now.
8. This guy Terry seems to be wondering how much extra it is for the rest of mount (counterweights and shafts)
9. Just for Mike and Greg - The FLI stand (Greg Terrance at right says to say hi to you both)
10. I go 13000 klms and what do you know I find
11. Ken Crawford in full swing - A very professionally run and informative conference.

Great talks today by Al Kelly on G2V calibration and Martin Pugh on High res imaging

Mark Bolton

Bolts_Tweed
25-10-2010, 08:29 AM
Heres the rest

Octane
25-10-2010, 08:34 AM
Mark,

This is fantastic news! I'll come visit! :D

H

h0ughy
25-10-2010, 08:55 AM
what a conference to go to!! take you up on that offer mark;)

Bolts_Tweed
25-10-2010, 08:57 AM
Thx H

I am doing it on a field of dreams theory - If you build it they will come - smile

Hopefully people will realise what an opportuiny this is to attend workshops by some of the best in the world as well as a chance for us to present what we are working on. I think an annual gathering could only benefit the astrophotography community.

Probably the best part is meeting and chatting with these guys informally.

MB

Bolts_Tweed
25-10-2010, 09:04 AM
Thx Houghy

More info when i get back - I'll put out a call for papers from local people and hound the hell out of local suppliers for sponsorship over the coming month. Hopefully with enough sponsorship we can keep the costs way down. It also provides an opportunity for suppliers to get a heap of astrophotographers in place to sell their products.

I have 2 internationals pretty well sure of attending (Planewave and FLI). This is just between you and me ok :whistle: One of them is keen to find a local supplier so I am pretty sure they will come. Another big general supplier is really keen to attend. More later.

Depends how much sposorship we can raise but I spoke to Rogelio again this morning and he is super keen to come down - see what happens.

M

strongmanmike
25-10-2010, 09:14 AM
Nice one Mark... he he you can't escape my incessant repros regardless of where you try and hide :evil:

All sounds pretty exciting :thumbsup:

Mike

h0ughy
25-10-2010, 09:22 AM
could you time it with Qld astrofest?

Bolts_Tweed
25-10-2010, 11:40 AM
I'll try Houghy. My biggest drama is tying it in with the period all those pesky undergrads arent on campus. If I dont go this way we will have to distribute hotel costs at a decent sort of hotel. Big money with meals.

I have negotiated with uni to take a percentage at the end after costs making it feasible - four fifths of nothing is nothing right?

Pat Pearl is on the Astrofest committe and he comes out to my property at leyburn. I'll have a talk with him.

If by some miracle I get the type of support they get over here from industry then a hotel becomes feasible making a time shift to maybe the week before Astrofest possible. It would be perfect as I am sure our visitors would prefer a visit to one of our biggest star parties as well.

OK i'll partially spill the beans - I prefer to have it sposnsored by Aussie companies if I can - I have many friends in the businesses in Sydney and Brisbane and wouldnt dream of bringing in anyone else if I didnt have to. Dont read too much into this but i think an Aussie conference sponsored by Aussie businesses is the way to go. You would not believe the support they get over here. I know we cant compete on their scale but apart from fees from the technical displays and sponsorships - I just saw them give away an Apogee CCD worth $4k, an ST8300, An FLI filter wheel, Planewave discounts worth several grand, full copies of the CCDWare suite, copies of the Sky 6, 2 copies of CS5 etc etc as door prizes !!!! BTW I didnt even win a free coffee:)

I've been working on this for about 18 months as some will tell you but the key things in getting it to work were the guest speakers (done)so now onto organisaion.

M

Tom Davis
26-10-2010, 10:59 AM
Nice summary, Mark. I wasn't able to go this year. I presented at AIC last year but because I am presenting an NEAIC (http://www.rocklandastronomy.com/neaic/) in April I had to consolidate my trips. I have gone to all the previous AICs and they were all excellent. Sounds like this one was no exception. Thanks for the pictures as well. I knew most of the people in each picture; it was nice to see them!

-Tom

Bolts_Tweed
26-10-2010, 04:48 PM
Thx Tom

I intend to give more of a breakdown of the topics covered when i get more time - Im on my brother in laws computer at the moment in Utah (should it be this cold so early over here? - It was shorts a T-Shirts in Santa Clara this morning). Its a bit hard finding the time when you are rushing around on holidays.

I asked around if you were there but alas no.

After experiencing it once and with the very cheap airfares available between Australia and the US at the moment - I am sure I will be there again next.

When it gets closer i'll start a thread to see if we can get a delegation together from down under. I think a lot of you Aussies would be surprised how many of the Americans at the conference knew your work. Guys I have never met before were asking me about particular Australians and I had to admit I only knew a lot of you from the forum - A situation I hope we can soon remedy.

Mark

Tom Davis
27-10-2010, 01:52 AM
I live in Idaho, just north of Utah, and yes this is a typical October. We think of Utah as the "Banana Belt" however -- quite a bit warmer than us!

If you are going to try to be a AIC next year then we will have to meet.

-Tom