Milkyway widefeild, Crux widefeild & startrail

[nmo]

Last weekend I was in Mansfield Vic and took advantage of some dark skies.

All photo's taken with Cannon 1000D at 18mm. F3.5 35 seconds, ISO1600, 40 - 60 frames stacked in DSS and processed in gimp, startrail done in startrails.de.

I still have much to learn about processing and I realise I need to start using RAW files for beter qualiy also DSS doesn't appear to be able to subtract darks or use flats with Jpg's,

Comments & tips welcome.

[jjjnettie (Jeanette)]

Your star trail are awesome!!
Of your wide fields, number 3 is my favourite.

[toryglen-boy (Duncan)]

nice work !!

only real gripe i would have is that maybe the focus is a bit out, but thats it

[telecasterguru (Frank)]

I think the widefields are fabulous and the colours are great.

Frank

[Alchemy (Clive)]

cracking effort there, i rember taking my first such images many years ago, out the back of healesville, we only had film then, nothing like the digital cameras of today.

this could be the start of a long ( and expensive) hobby.

clive

[Hagar (Doug)]

Have to agree with Clive on this one but it looks like you are hooked well with this collection.
Very nice and look forward to seeing more.

[lacad01 (Adam)]

Great shots, No.3 is a beauty!

[Matty P (Matt)]

I love the star trail image. The widefields are very nice as well.

Keep it up.

[duncan]

Brilliant. They are absolutely stunning. Give yourself a pat on the back.
Cheers.


Ps Hope you've got a big bank account.
Cause you are HOOKED!!!

[nmo]

Thanks all for the encouragement.

I have promised myself NOT to purchase a HEQ5 or similar, I have 2 many hobbies. I think I'll plan to get the most out of a eq2 I have sitting around here and continue to take tripod shots. Of course I've said all of this before and before I know it I've spent lots of money.

Thanks again.

[lesbehrens (Les)]

i think these image are stunning. wow

[keppar (Graham)]

Terrific widefields

[bloodhound31]

LOOK at that coal sack standing out! Great work mate!

Just work on refining that focus, but wow, off and racing.

Baz.

[nmo]

OK I finally got back to imaging when the clouds cleared tonight.

I've tried some new things tonight.
-1- I used the RAW settings on the camera
-2- I used the eq2 mount
-3- I used flat and bias feilds and that is where my problems start.

I beleive from the first shot that I need to be using flat feilds to fix the brightness however when I applied a flat feild it instantly overexposes the bottom courners of my image.
I can't seam to fix it with image editing and need some tips on making flat's or I was wondering if anyone has a Flat for a canon1000d with a 18 - 50mm lens set at 18mm?

ISO1600
30 second exposures
F3.5
RAW
18mm - 50mm canon lense at 18mm


20 lights
5 darks
6 flats
17 Bias frames

Stacked in DSS and edited in GIMP.

Any help appreciated.