Reprocessed Lagoon Nebula masked.

[tornado33]

Hi all
I wasnt fully happy with my previous Lagoon shot, not being able to capture the full dynamic range, so I tried the masking method, processing the original image in Photoshop as a dark image, showing only the brighter parts and Hourglass nebula , and also a bright image showing all the outer parts while burning out the brighter parts, then masking them together in Photoshop to a single image.
2x5 mins ISO 1600, with UHCS and UV/IR filter, 10 inch F5.6 newtonian
Scott

[Lester]

Well done, that will take a bit of beating.

[Orion]

That is absolutely beautiful Scott.

[h0ughy (David)]

Looks like a beautiful rose, top one Scott

[tornado33]

Thanks all. Since getting into digital imaging Ive come to find only 1/2 the job is at the telescope, the other is in the processing, unlike the old film days of just putting film into the local photolab and hoping for the best.
Scott

[iceman (Mike)]

Very pretty Scott, I like it a lot. Looks nothing like that through the eyepiece

[leon]

Stunning shot Scott, now i'm really drooling.....

[strongmanmike (Michael)]

Very interesting and different from the original.

Personally I'm not sure I like it as much though..? Only becasue it has lost a lot of the originals more natural look.

Still, I enjoyed looking at it very much, thanks

Mike

[Striker (Tony)]

I love your Work Scott.

I will have to learn how to do this masking some day

[tornado33]

Thanks all for your comments
Here is the method I used
http://www.astropix.com/PFA/SAMPLE4A/SAMPLE4A.HTM
Scott