MilkyWay from Crete, a first.

[JB80]

Hi all,
Just thought I would share with you my first Milky Way photo taken on recent holidays. It was the first time I have managed tyo capture the MW so I am happy with that, I have seen it a number of times before and to be honest I had to double take to make sure it was not a thin whisp of cloud, it certainly wasn't as prominent as the last time I has seen it from Port Campbell, Vic.

Anyway as it's my first go at processing a pic like this any comments are welcome about the colour(I'm going to try and do it again with less copper colour), settings or processing. Infact any comments would be helpful. :)

I know there is loads of noise in it as I was so excited at the time I forgot to take any darks.:stupid:
I'm going to try and take some darks at about the same temp and see if that makes any difference although I'm not holding my breath.

This is a stack of 11, 130 second exposures, @ 18mm, f/3.5, ISO 1600
taken with my 450D mounted on the Vixen Polarie.
I could of easily gone longer exposures but there was some olive oil farms lighting ruining my serenity.

Thanks for looking.

Jarrod.
:)

[NCC-2893]

Well you've shown me how good the polarie is. Seems to track pretty good. Been thinking about getting one for a while. Thats a pretty good pic I reckon Tho someone else would be better qualified to recommend settings. Nice part of the world to be as well.

[JB80]

Yeah I think it was much improved on my first attempts largely due to the location and dark skies I think. I still want to get better results with my LP filter at home but there is no substitute for good seeing.
It's certainly worth getting if you think you want it, I stewed on the idea for a while and just couldn't help myself. :D

Also yesterday I got the polar scope for my b'day so I need to test that out too.

Here is another edit of the pic with a bit more subtlety in the colours, I think it's better but could probably do more to it.

[NCC-2893]

Yea,dunno,, I think you're being a bit hard on yourself. That first one for me. You want it to pop, i reckon . Nice pics.

[JB80]

Thanks, you are probably right as I do like the first one too. As you say it kind of pops.
Sometimes you can spend too much time over analysing a picture when first instincs are usually pretty good. And it can all be subjective anyway, whatever you like is just that and it may differ from anothers point of view.

I really can't wait to head to darker skies again but we have run out of astronomical twighlight here until late July.

[JB80]

Here are a couple of the same set that I have just re-stacked according to Baz's tutourial that he has just posted.
Some settings in DSS are different to my original ones.

The first one is a stack of RAWs and the second are JPEGs.
I'm happier with the colour in these and have probably done less in PS too, also they may be less noisy. I'd like to be better at processing though.

[silv]

wow, I can see the difference, too!


could you maybe post a link?

[JB80]

There you go...
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=92572

Sorry, I should of linked it earlier.

[Liz]

Lovely images Jarrod, and well done on the processing. :thumbsup:

[JB80]

Thank you Liz.

Here are a couple more from the same night and pretty much the same area of sky with just a few minor changes in exposure and length. Plus they have the benefit of not having the LP in the bottom of the pic.

The first on is 8 min 12 sec and the second 4 min 42.

[NCC-2893]

450D canon took these? Nice. I'm looking to get a 550D shortly, as I want to get a dslr without breaking the bank. It's surprising how well my old point and shoot has done stacking a few up at 60 sec exposures, but theres no substitute for sensor size etc. so am taking the plunge. I have to say I am impressed with that jpeg image from a couple days ago. Almost prefer it from the raw one. The milky way gives a lot of satisfaction when you get it right eh.

[JB80]

Yep, I quite happy with the camera. I picked it up off ebay cheapish when I put a scratch in my 20Ds sensor cover.
That was the first time I have been able to use it under dark skies, like you said it definitely gives a good feeling even if I should of been more methodical in my setup, take darks, etc...
I guess the jpeg thing just shows the camera is better than processing than I am.:P

I think you'll be real happy with the 550D