M42 - my best core to date

Omaroo (Chris Malikoff) · #1 03-12-2008, 08:45 AM

Hey all

I've not really concentrated on this image other than trying to bring out the core without having to resort to masking. After following Bert's efforts in HDR, and sometimes not really understanding why he employed HDR for some shots, I've used it here to bring out the core. Thanks Bert - HDR really does help in the case of M42's easy to blow out main feature.

This is a result of only 14 images - 4 at 360 secs and 10 at 15 secs -merged in HDR via PSCS4. No stacking. Noise is still a problem so what I'll do next time is try stacking several HDR images which in turn have been derived from groups of different exposures. Alternatively, it's time to cool the 350D....

Anyway - I'm pretty happy with this core, but more exposure time is needed to do the rest justice. It's pretty pale - but I kinda like that look rather than "oomphy" shots.

iceman (Mike) · #2 03-12-2008, 08:57 AM

Wow the 4 individual stars, nice work Chris. Lovely.

Dennis · #3 03-12-2008, 10:07 AM

Nice job Chris. You have captured some very nice texture in the central greenish area behind the trapezium stars along with some lovely detailed tendrils and filament structures in the darker regions too.

I’m surprised you didn’t get more blow out with the 6 minute subs! Was this taken through the Tak 102?

Cheers

Dennis

Omaroo (Chris Malikoff) · #4 03-12-2008, 10:11 AM

Thanks Mike and Dennis.

Dennis - yes, this was taken with the FS102, onto an unmodded 350D via the G11 guided with the FS60-C. I guess that the HDR process used the 10x15-sec subs to truly average out the 4x360-sec exposures. In any case, most of the magic was seen right after the HDR combination was performed, the white point set and then gamma on conversion to 8-bit.

wysiwyg (Mark) · #5 03-12-2008, 10:27 AM

Great job Mike!

Sounds much easier than masking, I hate masking..............

Garyh · #6 03-12-2008, 11:51 AM

You have done a excellent job on the core Chris!
Still yet to play with HDR processing.
cheers Gary

Hagar (Doug) · #7 03-12-2008, 11:55 AM

Very nice work Chris. Separated the stars in the trap very nicely.

Omaroo (Chris Malikoff) · #8 03-12-2008, 11:57 AM

Thanks Mark, Gary & Doug - your comments are certainly appreciated.

h0ughy (David) · #9 03-12-2008, 01:00 PM

wow thats excellent - Bert has heaps to teach us, I must have a read of his HDR methods

leon · #10 03-12-2008, 01:03 PM

Yep Chris that is good, I have tried this one so many times, just can't get it right, nice work indeed

Leon

Omaroo (Chris Malikoff) · #11 03-12-2008, 03:21 PM

Thanks David Leon

HDR has its uses - I'm not sure that it's relevant to just any image - just those that have a highly dynamic range of tonal values. That's a lot, mind you...

gregbradley · #12 03-12-2008, 03:57 PM

Cool, you got the Trap. I have found that even a 15 sec CCD image blows out the Trap so that is well done.

Greg.

Omaroo (Chris Malikoff) · #13 03-12-2008, 04:49 PM

Thanks Greg. Mucho appreciated

jase (Jason) · #14 03-12-2008, 05:17 PM

Chris, your image provides an interesting perspective. Many go for the long focal length to show the trap in this manner, but it is not often seen on wide field work. Something different - good stuff. Thanks for sharing.

Miaplacidus (Brian) · #15 03-12-2008, 05:21 PM

Quads in a cradle. Very nice. You don't see that every day.

Excellent work!

Brian.

spearo (Frank) · #16 03-12-2008, 07:13 PM

well done
nice clear stars
frank

strongmanmike (Michael) · #17 03-12-2008, 07:49 PM

Coooooore that's a good image

Ok sorry that was a bit coooooooorney

On ya Chris, nice job

your imaging seems to have turned a cooor...ok ok

Mike

Omaroo (Chris Malikoff) · #18 03-12-2008, 08:23 PM

Thanks Jase, Brian & Frank

Mike - coooooooorect me if I'm wrong, but if I coooooooorectly cooooooorellate a coooooorllection (OK - license taken) of coooooooresponding images I get a decent image for once?

Thanks for the alliterative exercises...