20D - First cab off the rank - M8 & M20 of course.

[[1ponders] (Paul)]

Taken last night with modded 20D through ED80 and WOII FR. 2x5min@ISO800 ICNR. Looking for hints on how to get the colour balance happening with the modded camera. It's pretty rough how I'm doing it (Using PS Image>adjustment>colour balance, until it looks right and the info panel show the red somewhere near the others) so I'd be interested in any secrets.

This was the last of the night (1:30 ) after a very long drought of very little imaging. Thoughts and comments for improvement welcome.

Oh yes I know.......More subs. Wait til you see my Lambda Centauri Neb.

[EzyStyles (Eric)]

stunninggg.. thats one heck of an image Paul. To get my colour balance right, i simply use the method click on the background see here:

4th image http://www.ezystyles.com.au/photoshop.html

I think you've got your colours right on that image though so no need to adjust it. A slight improvement you can do is layered mask the bright areas with the body of the lagoon neb. This area often gets over-exposed loosing alot of the fainter details. Overall, for such a short sub, this is definitely an excellent image up there with the CCD's

[iceman (Mike)]

Really, really nice Paul. Welcome back! It's been too long.

Colour balance looks good to me, and that's how I adjust it too.. a mix of levels of colour balance.

[Dennis]

Hi Paul

Great news to see you getting out once more – your skies must be soooo dark!

That is a top shot and looks very natural; almost like a film photo the processing is so smooth. Well done champ!

Cheers

Dennis

[Lester]

Very nice Paul.

[jase (Jason)]

A lovely rendition of this celestial pair Paul. Well done.

[Zuts]

Hi,

Very nice image, I especially like the composition with the glob and M20 balancing M8. Maybe the center is a bit bright, but with more data you may not have to do this to get the outer detail.

Paul

[drmorbius (Randall)]

Wow... good one Paul!

[[1ponders] (Paul)]

Thanks everyone for the positive comments. I felt very rusty processing this last night.

Eric, I'll give the masking a go, it's one area I've been really slack at applying. I tend to use multiple layers and blending option, but you're right, masking is definately the way to go.

It seems like its been forever since I've had a night like this. If I wasn't so out of practice staying up late (oh and the moon rise ) I would have stayed up alnight. It was a beautiful night.

Dennis on a nice clear moonless night, easy mag 5.5 - 6 from east of the zenith to the west .

[Hagar (Doug)]

Lovely image Paul. Colour balance looks good to me. Whatever you are doing, you are obviously doing it right.

[Alchemy (Clive)]

pretty good for 2 exposures , nice to see an image..... off to check your other one..... cheers

[Ric]

Very nice as well Paul, lovely star fields, colours and details.

The little ED80 got a decent work out by the looks of it.

Cheers

[[1ponders] (Paul)]

Thanks again folks. Its nice to be out under it again after so long with dodgy weather.

And more tonight Ric

[Matty P (Matt)]

Stunning image Paul and welcome back!

Looking forward for more.

[alan meehan (Alan)]

hi paul my favorite qld shot nicely done,don,t worry about your colour balance its just perfect.
cheers alan

[leon]

Top Image Paul beautiful colour and detail, now send it back please.

Leon

[h0ughy (David)]

nice one mr ponders

[acropolite (Phil)]

Not as pink as some, I really like the colour and the processing is not overdone, excellent result Paul.

[Tamtarn]

For just 2 x 5min subs Paul that's a great image. Looking forward to more to come.

How about sending some clear skies down this way

[[1ponders] (Paul)]

How about sending some clear skies down this way

Are you kidding, it's been so lousy up here I was starting to think you Southerners has bribed someone to send all your cloud up here permanently It's been a long time between serious, long night, astrophotography drinks.


But I'll see what I can do.