Flavour of the month.

TheDecepticon · #1 28-11-2010, 12:51 PM

Hi everyone,

Hope you are all well.

I have had little time for much in astronomy or imaging lately. I managed to get about 2.5 hrs total on M42 at the beginning of the month. This is my one and only M42 for this year, I want to concentrate on some harder objects this season.

It isn't the best one of the season. I had terrible trouble with colour gradients and getting a good colour to the nebulosity itself. I think the stars also lack colour, but it still looks ok.

Megrez 110, QHY9M at -20 degrees C, Lx65mins, RGBx30mins.

http://tinyurl.com/3adl4hv

Thanks for looking, enjoy your week!!

Gray.

Peter Ward · #2 28-11-2010, 01:38 PM

Stars a little eggy and saturation somewhat muted. Nicely framed, good handling light and dark & natural color balance.

A commendable M42....which is *not* an easy object to do IMHO !

It has a vast dynamic range that is a real bugger to capture without burnouts or bloated stars yet still make it look natural.

richardo (Rich) · #3 28-11-2010, 02:03 PM

I like it Gray,
not over saturated, natural look and smooth.
And as Peter mentioned, due to the wide variation in range, it can be one of the trickiest objects to do justice.

Good effort!

Rich

h0ughy (David) · #4 28-11-2010, 02:46 PM

nice shot - nice colour and framing

multiweb (Marc) · #5 28-11-2010, 02:47 PM

Very cool Gray. Bit more saturation maybe but all in one very nice work.

gregbradley · #6 28-11-2010, 05:51 PM

A very good M42. I prefer it a bit richer in colour myself but as you say you got the colour balance looking nice and its well framed. Lots of detail.

Greg.

strongmanmike (Michael) · #7 28-11-2010, 05:56 PM

I think that is an exellent M42 Gray. I'm with the others though, a bit of interior decorating and a subtle coat of paint would give it a lift but the basics are all there, top work IMO

Mike

Octane (Humayun) · #8 28-11-2010, 10:25 PM

Gray,

I like this, also. The understated muted saturation gives it a bit more of an oil painting like look.

Glad to see you got some photons. Nothing but grey here. : (

H

TheDecepticon · #9 29-11-2010, 06:13 PM

Thanks very much guys!

All taken on board for next season!

Hagar (Doug) · #10 01-12-2010, 09:25 PM

Come up very nice Graham. Looks like a bit more exposure would smooth it out a bit more but overall it's very nice.

alan meehan (Alan) · #11 01-12-2010, 09:39 PM

Inspiring shot Gray well done

allan gould · #12 01-12-2010, 09:55 PM

Really nice processing, framing and execution Gray. You must be happy with that. As Peter said its a hard object to present - you can keep it subtle or liven up the colours or sharpen it to death to present it in so many different ways some will love it one way and others prefer it the other.
Great shot anyway.

TheDecepticon · #13 02-12-2010, 04:12 PM

Thanks Doug, Alan and Allan.

I have plenty of data on this region, I could probably make a 15 hr exposure, but I just don't have the money for Registar at the moment. Soon, I hope.

I think you are right Allan, it could be presented many different ways and it would appeal to some and not others. I did try to up the colour a bit, but I left it as the nebula was starting to go very red and look unnatural.

TheDecepticon · #14 02-12-2010, 08:38 PM

Ok, so I couldn't resist it! I had to do a bit of a rework and try to get some colour in. I think I like it a lot more.

http://tinyurl.com/3am3cna

Cheers,

Gray.

RobF (Rob) · #15 02-12-2010, 10:46 PM

Top work Gray. I love the dust swirls above and around you've managed to capture with a beautiful soft feel. If you do too much more it may start to look tarty. Thanks for showing.

TheDecepticon · #16 03-12-2010, 09:47 AM

Thank you Rob, I am inclined to agree.

It wasn't really good data to begin with, so as I have said, the result is pleasing.