M61 Re-visited

[Martin Pugh]

Hello all

So, back on the re-visit old data train, this is M61.

http://www.martinpughastrophotography.id.a u/images/M61-Final-v5.jpg

To the lower right of M61 are NGC 4301 and 4303 (mag 12.9 and 13.7 respectively). It looks like one galaxy to me, but there are apparently two.

To the left of M61 are NGC 4292 and below that PGC 213977. There are a few others dotted around also.

This is data taken in Jun 2008 with the RC and STL11K.

The original is attached below for comparison.

cheers, and I would like to hear which version you like.

cheers
Martin

[gregbradley]

That's a nice improvement. I like it. More colourful. Any chance you can bump up the colour in the stars? Sometimes its not there to bump up though.

Greg.

[strongmanmike]

Nice improvement Martin :thumbsup:.

Don't take this toooo personally mate but I notice you quite often post your wonderful images here looking for feedback, which is great and you certainly get it... buuuuut I have to say :whistle: and I know you are busy...I have also noticed that you seem to give very little feedback to others here :poke: ...you are considered one of the best imagers in the World and your suggestions, comments and even genuine praise (where due) would be well received I am sure.

Said with the best intentions :)

Mike

[multiweb]

Ouch! I always like the old versions. :question: Honest. Maybe it's my screen or personal taste but I like them smoother and yellowish?

[Hagar]

Great improvement Martin. You've been spending a lot of time Sidonio'ing your older data, Must be nice to have so much great data to play with.
Keep em coming.

[TrevorW]

Original much better, more natural look the repro colour saturation is a little over the top IMHO but everyone has their taste preferences

[Martin Pugh]

Thanks everyone....yes Greg...those stars were a little muted, so I nudged up the saturation a little.

Mike, I actually comment on several images, and this is the second time you have seen fit to publicly chastise me, rather than send me a PM, which would be the polite thing to do. A poke in the chest, regardless how light it is intended, is a poke in the chest. Don't concern yourself with it mate. People will comment, or not, in the negative or the positive. I don't keep track, whereas for some, the number of comments and 'views' is all that counts. That is okay too.

Meanwhile, I receive and send many PMs regarding images which you simply cannot have visibility of right? By example, I spent a great deal of time on Allan Gould's NB M20 recently.

Said with the best intentions.

cheers
Martin

[strongmanmike]

Sorry, was probably never going to sound as it was intended, yeh, probably should have sent a PM :rolleyes:, I just see this group too much like a family of mates - you know can say nearly anything to each other :P.. any way please accept my public apology for upsetting you.

Ok fair enough..hmm?.. have I chastised you before? :shrug:...was it about the same thing?

No hard feelings..just recon people would welcome more genuine public comments on their images from you - t'was a compliment mate :D

Mike

[atalas]

Hi Martin,great work indeed....just a couple of notes,color bias in the revised version to what looks to me to be slightly red cast and bias to the blue in the previous version(no doubt you had noise to deal with)otherwise splendid detail!

[Martin Pugh]

Thanks Louie - I will check that colour bias out, and I dunno why, but I seem to be heavy handed on the saturation lately.

Hey Mike - no problem at all mate, really...and yes, it was about the same thing.

clear skies!

Martin

[h0ughy]

such a colourful galaxy, love the detail

[atalas]

Hi Martin,strong color I love mate and a master like you will get on top of It before you can say "this usb cable is stuffed" much looking forward to more of your work:thumbsup:

[Martin Pugh]

Thanks Dave

Louie -you were right, and it was very slight, but the red bias was there.

Good spot, now fixed.

cheers
Martin

[allan gould]

I have to come to Martin's defense here as he has been extremely helpful and generous with his time and techniques with some data that I was too clumsy to extract properly. He spent a great deal of time and generously showed me how he processed the data for far, far better results than I could have achieved. All I had to do was ask and he lent over backwards to accomodate me.
That aside I love your M61, Martin. Even my wife said "Thats really beautiful, why dont you do that?"
Tried to tell her it had something to do with ability.
Great shot and of course, well processed.

[strongmanmike]

No probs Allan, all sorted, I was only nudging Martin in the ribs lightly :poke: ..see, he is just such a celebrity he needs to make more appearences - I was doing it for everyones gain :P.

Have you posted the image in question that Marti helped you with?

Mike

[allan gould]

Yes mike it was posted here
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=62841&highlight=M20
You can see the marked difference in processing the same data. Someone knew how to do it while the other just read about it.
Mike your comments on my shots have always been accurate so I've no problems and Martin has likewise been accuate and very helpfully. It's a great community here in IIS.

[jase]

Stunning result Martin. No qualms regarding the saturation - looks good to me. The background galaxies set this scene on a new scale. Inspirational repro. Keep them coming.

[bert]

Hi Martin,

To my untrained eye: I like the star control and colour in the repro, especially the absence of the haloes from the the first edition. I much prefer the detail in the lower left galaxy in the original that has been smoothed and lost structure out in the repro.

I think you have the saturation in the repro spot on.

Mind you I would be happy with either.

Brett

[Martin Pugh]

Thanks very much for commenting.

I know what you mean about that galaxy in the lower left, but it was so featureless to me really, that I chose to smooth out the noise instead.

I am a bit finnicky about noise actually, and would prefer not to stretch my images to reveal faint structures at the risk of generating more noise; a product of non-linear stretching for sure.

Appreciate the comments though.

cheers
Martin

[Paul Haese]

I have a personal preference for the first image Martin. NOt sure about the second one. Colour saturation is good but it just does not look right. Maybe that time of the day Martin.