Wide Field View of ETA Carinae (LP Backyard)

[Visionoz (Bill)]

Hi All

Being a newbie, I was testing my new Vixen FR (6.4) and Baader SkyGlow/IR 2" filter in my LP backyard just a few nights after full moon and was surprised to get this shot of Eta Carinae - Vixen VC200L, EQ6Pro, EOS 40D unmodden, 6 subs x 4mins unguided, no flats/darks processed in DSS and CS2

I am not to sure if the colors are what they are supposed to be - as this is my initial attempt at AP and would appreciate any guidance and tips

Regards
Bill

[mexhunter (César)]

Hello Bill:
It is a great nebula, unfortunately in my latitude, does not rise but of 15° on the horizon.
It is seen very well.
Many greetings
Cesar

[dugnsuz (Doug)]

Very nice bill - I like it!
Focus and tracking are both spot on - great for such lengthy unguided exposures.
Colour is subjective innit!? My recent effort is way redder, but my 40D is modded and I'm a Red junkie - all personal taste.
Well done - nice rig too
Doug

[dugnsuz (Doug)]

Just had a 2nd look - there's shockwaves above the keyhole nebula in your pic...WOW, very nice resolution.

[gregbradley]

Fabulous image for a newbie.

Your image has the colour washed out a bit because the highlights are pushed too hard.

Wodaski's book the zone system for astrophotography is a good book to follow for how to process images.

Levels/curves are the basic Photoshop tools. You need to pull back the curves in the middle of the curve to pull back the highlights.

Perhaps a bit of hue/saturation to bring up the colours which should be fairly rich for Eta Carina. See Dougs Eta C with a 40D. This to me is the correct colour and I have gotten the same results with CCD cameras as he did.

Greg.

[Visionoz (Bill)]

Hi Guys

Thanks for the feedback and encouragement

gregbradley:
Thanks - Yes I have actually another version which is more saturated and probably uploaded the wrong one though I see what you mean about the washout - it looked pretty OK on my other workflow laptop but then I should have been more careful shouldn't I? - Thanks for the tip about zone system for astrophotography, reminds me of the Zone V system (by the master, Ansel Adams) I used when involved in B/W photography - will look it up for sure!
I am pleased that the colors were quite right - I wasn't too sure as I have seen others on the web that were a range from red to claret pinky!

dugnsuz:
Thanks Doug for your kind comments; always admired your work, liked your gallery of astropixs! I shot the subs @ ISO640 or thereabouts, being that it was a pretty light-polluted sky that night what with the moon and the street lamps etc I had thought that any higher ISO would be too much and I was just testing my setup with the FR and filter - I am happy with the results and got a pretty good shot of M42 as well with my EOS 5D which I will post in a new thread just to get some critique so that I can improve my technique

mexhunter:
Greetings Cesar; but you have views of others that we in the Southern hemisphere cannot view too! Thanks and hope to catch you again

I have posted another image that was the one which should have been posted in the first place!

Regards
Bill

[Garyh]

Hi Bill, Nice Eta.
Well focused and unguided! that`s sweet!
I actually like your first result much better than your second repro.
Like Greg mentions if you can pull the highlights back a little and maybe the brightness and adjust the red curves it shall be even better.
Well done as it is but!

[Visionoz (Bill)]

Thanks Garyh

The second one is actually the first one - I posted the "wrong" one first!

But I am on a learning curve here and now that it has been pointed out to me about the shortcomings of the pix I will endeavour to learn more techniques to improve - once again thanks for your tips

Bill

[leon]

Looks pretty good to me Bill, you have captured some nice detail.

Leon

[Visionoz (Bill)]

Thanks Leon - I am waiting for your first light shots with the new GSO R/C!!
Good luck mate

Regards
Bill