Non of you can be called "Amateurs"

[Sausageman]

I have been perusing this "Deep space" section of the forum.
I am astounded at the quality of the photographs taken by you "Amateurs", using small telescopes.
Nearly all of these photo's are of a Professional quality, and compare equally to photo's taken by Professional Astronomers using the biggest and latest technological equipment, given to them by us, the taxpayer of course.

Although I don't yet have the capability to take photographs, your posts keep me enthralled.
Maybe one day, I will be able to take photographs of such quality and beauty.

I salute you all.

I am proud to be just a small part of such excellant and dedicated people as yourselves.

Keep up the fantastic work.

Long live the home made sausages.

Mike

[h0ughy]

Mike,

I agree with you, as to the quality, guys like Scott alder, Mike Sidonio, Dennis, Paul Mayo, Bert, Striker, Robby and a who swathe of others make beautiful eye candy for us indeed.:D After your comments I think they are blushing!:)

[ving]

we must have some of the worlds best astrophotographers here!
really we have all the ppl mentioned by houghy PLUS some of the best damn plaretary photographers i have ever seen. :) PLUS a huge knowledge database on telescopes, eyepieces and just about everything else!
this place is certainly something to be proud of :)

[h0ughy]

Luckly in true aussie spirit we have wellington boots then Eh!:thumbsup: You know we are wading in it:lol:

[ving]

thats wellington NSW and not wellington NZ isnt it sir? ;)

[fringe_dweller]

Yep, All powerhouses of imaging one and all (a few not mentioned there!?) - and the rest of us get to just sit back and enjoy it all for free!! :) - It brings a tear to the eye, lump to the throat and a great deal of pride in the southerners (hemisphere) for me to think about it!

[h0ughy]

I have not got the best mind for remembering stuff Fringy, please fill in the gaps for me:)

[ballaratdragons]

and the great thing is the sharing of knowledge and equipment to help others achieve these great results. Well done guys and gals, not so much for the pics (which ARE outstanding) but for the willingness to help each other improve. I know I wouldn't be where I am without Berts generosity with the EQ mount and Toucam,
Davo P's patience trying to teach me Registax, etc etc etc :thumbsup:

[Sausageman]

Iceman,
How about an "Astrophotographer of the year" award at the next IIS get together ?
With the member's voting for the best photo.
First prize could be a couple of Kilo's of home made snags...LOL

Only joking about the snags, they don't travel well in the post.
But serious about the award.
What do the member's think ?

Mike

[ving]

or member of the year....

whythe hell not :)

[Striker]

It sounds great Mike....BUT.

It does come with issues.

How can you determine how good an image is in a fair way to allow everyone to have a fair chance...otherwise my pick would be Brad Moore but I would also like to have his equipment of around $75,000 worth.

I think the results will entirely depend on who's got the best equipment and best processing methods.

Tony

[5ash]

I agree with tonys comments . I personally feel less people will dare to place pics in this forum if it becomes too elitist. There are some fantastic photos being posted by people using very upmarket expensive and sophisticated equipment , and also similar great photos being taken by people with the true amateur spirit of a "budget on a shoestring"/ " Heath robinson setups" ( if your old enough to know that expression). What I've liked about the forums has been the encouragement given to people who submit pics that are less than perfect. I have submitted pics in this forum but do not have the skills or software to get the best out of them. However every time i do submit a picture i do get feed back and advice from other members which is very encouraging.
philip
:thumbsup:

[davidpretorius]

I still remember ezystyles foray into imaging every known messier object known to man in three nights. :D

It would be hard, Brads stuff and Eddies and scotts's and Hummy's etc

But just as exciting was ezystyles leaps and bounds and ken's "trap" video.

I get a buzz out of them all!

[Roger Davis]

Count the Eta Carinae photos!

[h0ughy]

well after another think:) we are Amateurs because we don't get paid for it:innocent: , it is only a hobby:lol: (all be it a compulsive observing or imaging habit;) , can't live without it:screwy: ) we do it only on occasions :whistle: (some more than others), there is no funding source for it (except for :poke: striker:P ) and we do it for LOVE :love2:

[avandonk]

Why not an award for he or she that pushes their equipment to the limit with their sheer skill. I for one would nominate Ezy for just an example of one. Another that comes to mind is Scott and all those planetary imagers who are only as good as their last seeing!

I would not like to be the judge.

Bert

[h0ughy]

QUite true Bert, and I fully agree about Ezy and Scott

[strongmanmike]

I don't think the "Imager of the year" suggestion is a good idea at all

Firstly, how would such a person be chosen and on what criteria?

And secondly, what purpose does it serve?

A "Person of the year" type acolade IMO might perhaps be presented to somebody who has made outstanding and charitable "contributions" to our hobby, but not for someone who has simply produced "the best...?" image/s :shrug: ?

If it is awards we are after there are real imaging competitions that we can enter our work in for recognition but as far as this forum goes, I think we should just keep on just posting our work and sharing this great and rewarding hobby with no strings attached...?

Mike

[Sausageman]

Strongmanmike,

I have posted a reply in the general chat area.

I think you are reading too much into my thoughts.
No criteria was suggested,
The purpose would be to recognise the photographer of the most astounding Photograph of the year.
We praise people on the photo's that are posted on this Forum, so why not have an award for thier dedication and skill ?

Aussies have a great tradition of rewarding the "Best in thier field".
I am not talking about a competition, just a simple vote on which photo was the most outstanding during the year.

I don't do Astro-photography yet, but I can certainly determine my favourite photo.

Some of our members have already had photo's published, both on line and in magazines, and good luck to them. None of them, I believe have made any money from them.
This idea is just my way of giving credit where it is due, and thanking them for giving me pleasure in looking at thier photo's.

Mike

[strongmanmike]

Heya, Ia noa cara whata ya doa

Justa mya opiniona. Nowa, backa toa somethina like a doina..... :drink:

Love these smilies!...I'm new to this group...do you get sick of'em after a while?

Mike

[ballaratdragons]

What? the smilies or the Group? :D

[h0ughy]

:)

Mike
you wear the hat with the pointy bit and sit in the corner like a good boy with your gear and take nice images for us to look at:P :D :thumbsup: :lol: :P :D :welcome: :sadeyes: :shrug: :rolleyes: :scared: :doh: :help: :( :hi: :whistle: :2thumbs: :ashamed: :nerd: :sad: :cool: :innocent: :poke: :driving: :rockband: :anaut: :cool2: :xmas: :atom: :astron: :rain: :love2: :wink2: :face: :work: :einstein: :help3: :ship2: :love: :prey2: :stargaze: :help2: :help2: :help2: :lol2: :scared2: :love: :ship2: :help3: :einstein: :earth: :fishing: :confuse2: :party2: :party2: :violin: :campfire: :campfire: :thanks: :thanks: :fight: :jump2: :party: :argue: :jump: :evil2: :rover2: :rover2: :google: :camera: :cold: :rundog::stupid: :gday: :bashcomp:

[strongmanmike]

Your a funny man Mr Houghy

Cracked me up big time!...sheesh, well, no smiley to top that I guess but this one looks pretty similar to me as I read you reply:rofl:

Mike

[h0ughy]

As i said Mike we look forward to seeing a lot of your images here (no not the ones in the kilt:doh: ) Whether amateur or professional, this is still a great site to share ideas, methods and results. :thumbsup: