M42 - Different Exposures Blended (added new trap repro)

[Tamtarn]

This is a combination of four different single exposures blended together in PS.

Having a few guiding problems for some strange reason ATM hope to sort it out and get back to longer exposures again ASAP

Details

1x8min 1x4min 1x2min 1x25sec ISO 800

Canon 40D unmodded

Celestron C9.25 using 6.3 Focal reducer

Larger image http://www.pbase.com/rangeviewobserv...73522/original




An added repro with the dark trap area revealed as suggested by Mr Sidonio

Thanks Mike



A larger size of both images can be compared here http://www.pbase.com/rangeviewobservatory/nebulae

[AlexN]

Considering its only 1 exposure of each different duration, that is exceptionally impressive.. fantastic sharpness and tons of detail..

well done guys!

[Tamtarn]

Originally Posted by AlexN

Considering its only 1 exposure of each different duration, that is exceptionally impressive.. fantastic sharpness and tons of detail..

well done guys!

Appreciate your comments Alex.

By the way congrats on your new camera. Looks a beauty Look forward to your first light image

B & D

[Matty P (Matt)]

Very nice indeed guys. An exceptional amount of detail for such a small amount of data.

Hopefully you guys will tackle M42 again collecting more data.

[Ric]

Lovely image, lots of detail and natural looking colour.

[Jeffkop (Jeff)]

Theres a lot to like with this effort Barb & Dave. I really like the greys that appear. It looks like non astro cameras are more sensitive to it, my 40D does the same. Many of the other M42's around taken with astro cameras show some light grey but it seems nothing like their counterparts.
Lots of detail for such little exposure time too, it sure is a bright object.
Thanks for showing us.

[Tamtarn]

Originally Posted by Matty P

Very nice indeed guys. An exceptional amount of detail for such a small amount of data.
Hopefully you guys will tackle M42 again collecting more data.

Thanks Matt. We were surprised at the detail with minimal data. Had our session cut short that night hence the small amount of subs. Hope to get out again soon for lots more longer exposures.

[Tamtarn]

Originally Posted by Ric

Lovely image, lots of detail and natural looking colour.

Thanks Ric

Originally Posted by Jeffkop

Theres a lot to like with this effort Barb & Dave. I really like the greys that appear. It looks like non astro cameras are more sensitive to it, my 40D does the same. Many of the other M42's around taken with astro cameras show some light grey but it seems nothing like their counterparts.
Lots of detail for such little exposure time too, it sure is a bright object.
Thanks for showing us.

The 40D does do a great job Jeff. We're happy with ours. Like to try a CCD but we think it would be too complicated for us to get our heads around

[TheDecepticon]

Not too bad guys!
Did you guys have an image published recentley also?

[RobF (Rob)]

Impeccable processing as always Barbara and David. Lovely image.
I'm sure you could start giving processing classes for a fee! (Perhaps the next IIS star party!? )

[strongmanmike (Michael)]

Yep, pretty nice guys and a very good return from not much investment

I do think though that the trap area is quite obviously darkend so looks a bit like we are looking at it through an unnatural looking hole in the nebula, it's only subtle but if you could just rework that bit only, the dynamics of the image would be just a little more believable I think...?

Still a great looking image none the less

Mike

[Hagar (Doug)]

I just can't believe how well this has worked out considering it's only just single images.

Well done.

[Tamtarn]

Originally Posted by TheDecepticon

Not too bad guys!
Did you guys have an image published recentley also?

Gray one image was published in AS&T Nov/Dec the other in Astronomy 2010

Originally Posted by RobF

Impeccable processing as always Barbara and David. Lovely image.
I'm sure you could start giving processing classes for a fee! (Perhaps the next IIS star party!? )

[TheDecepticon]

Congrats, then! You're images have earned it!

[Tamtarn]

Originally Posted by strongmanmike

Yep, pretty nice guys and a very good return from not much investment

I do think though that the trap area is quite obviously darkend so looks a bit like we are looking at it through an unnatural looking hole in the nebula, it's only subtle but if you could just rework that bit only, the dynamics of the image would be just a little more believable I think...?

Still a great looking image none the less

Mike

Thanks for your constructive thoughts Mike.
I hadn't purposely darkened that area. Having checked a hubble image and a few others some seemed to leave it dark so I left ours that way.

After your suggestion I realised that there was a lot of detail hidden away around the dark core so I did a repro selecting just that small area.

There's more detail there hope it looks better

(New image at beginning of thread)

[danielsun]

Very nice with plenty of detail especially for only a few shots. Nice work with the blending too. I have also been playng around with blending some M42's in PS and am findig that core a little tricky to get perfect.

Great work guys

Cheers daniel.

[Tamtarn]

Originally Posted by Hagar

I just can't believe how well this has worked out considering it's only just single images.
Well done.

Thanks Doug. This session was cut short so we only ended up with a couple of long exposures so we were lucky it came out so well.
Hope to get longer subs this new moon

Originally Posted by danielsun

Very nice with plenty of detail especially for only a few shots. Nice work with the blending too. I have also been playng around with blending some M42's in PS and am findig that core a little tricky to get perfect.

Great work guys

Cheers daniel.

Thanks for commenting Daniel

It's good to try different ways to blend the different length exposures. You just have to keep giving it more time and eventually something clicks.

I can't count the hours I spent trying to get this one just right So keep at it!

Barb

[mill (Martin)]

Second image looks top notch and the core is very good.
For single exposure images this is very very good

[strongmanmike (Michael)]

Originally Posted by Tamtarn

Thanks for your constructive thoughts Mike.
I hadn't purposely darkened that area. Having checked a hubble image and a few others some seemed to leave it dark so I left ours that way.

After your suggestion I realised that there was a lot of detail hidden away around the dark core so I did a repro selecting just that small area.

There's more detail there hope it looks better

(New image at beginning of thread)

I see, you have managed to reveal the inside of the dark bay (as I call it) nice! I ws refering though to the area around the trap as a whole. There are lots of interpretations for sure but the usual problem I see with this area in most M42 shots is that it looks unanaturally darker than the bright surrounds and the transition to this darkened area is too abrupt. It is very tricky to get right I recon but the Trap area is the brightest part of the whole nebula so it should really remain so to look natural. The trick is to gradually blend the darkened trap area into the surrounding bright areas so that it is showing plenty of detail but remains bright, just my opinion of course

Over all it is a very pleasing result and you must be quite happy with it. I really like how you have revealed stuff inside that dark bay section and the coliurs look good too, nice!

MIke

[Tamtarn]

Originally Posted by mill

Second image looks top notch and the core is very good.
For single exposure images this is very very good

Thanks Martin after acting on Mike's suggestion we're really happy with it

Originally Posted by strongmanmike

I see, you have managed to reveal the inside of the dark bay (as I call it) nice! I ws refering though to the area around the trap as a whole. There are lots of interpretations for sure but the usual problem I see with this area in most M42 shots is that it looks unanaturally darker than the bright surrounds and the transition to this darkened area is too abrupt. It is very tricky to get right I recon but the Trap area is the brightest part of the whole nebula so it should really remain so to look natural. The trick is to gradually blend the darkened trap area into the surrounding bright areas so that it is showing plenty of detail but remains bright, just my opinion of course

Over all it is a very pleasing result and you must be quite happy with it. I really like how you have revealed stuff inside that dark bay section and the coliurs look good too, nice!

MIke

Ahaaaa now I see what you mean Mike. I thought you were speaking about the dark bay

I understand your explanation now You're right the trap is the brightest part of the nebula and most images as you say portray it unnaturally darker including ours.

I will try to highlight the trap and keep the detail if possible.

Thanks again for your thoughts it certainly helped me see things differently

Barb