M8/M20 Widefield

[Rex]

G'day everyone,
This was taken on the 11.06.12 from my backyard. Polar alignment was slightly out as you can see by the slightly elongated stars. I'm struggling to know when to stop with the processing and I think I have taken this one too far. Image details below, comments, critique and advice on how to improve would be appreciated.
Thanks for looking.

M8/M20 widefield
Camera: Olympus E-410 DSLR
Lense: Zuicho 70-300mm @ 300mm
ISO: 1600
Exposure: 4x5minLights_2darks_10_flats_10bias Stacked using DSS
Post Processing: Paint Shop Pro

[stardust steve]

Nice Rex. I can see some beaut detail in there. Long exp AP is something i really want to try so i can't give any tips.
Such a great area of the sky:thumbsup:

[Rex]

Thanks Steve.

[Forgey]

Nice Rex, can see a lot of detail in there. I can't help you with you the processing as i'm still trying to figure that out myself!

[rmuhlack]

I think you've got some nice detail there Rex, and without having excessively blown out the central brigher parts of the Lagoon Neb :thumbsup:

Seems to have a red/pink colour cast however, but maybe you found that necessary to bring out the fainter nebulosity. I always find it helpful to refer to other similar shots when i'm working on the processing, so this (http://astrobin.com/11146/) is my take on M8/M20 that I took back in May with a 200mm lens - has a slightly different colour balance (but maybe mine is too yellow...?) Jeanette's version (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=92592&highlight=m20)is probably what we should be aiming for.

[Rex]

Thanks Paula.

Thanks Richard, both yours and Jeanette's are much better than mine, and I can see what you mean about the pink cast. And your right I did push it as far as I did to bring out the fainter neb. One thing I noticed with both yours and Jeanette's is the total exposure time. I believe I need much more data, and then I won't have to push it so hard. Thanks for your help.

[Gem]

Lots of details for the amount of data, get a few more exposures in and you will have more to play with. Heaps of stars though! Amazing patch of sky. :)