M42 - My first real attempt

[Jutscher (Sam)]

Hey all,
Like most aspiring AP'ers, my first half decent processed image is of M42. Taken at Golden Grove, Chittering, the clouds cleared just long enough to take 15x5min subs, with a couple of darks (literally), nil flats etc.

The image was taken on a Tak TSA 120, with a modded 500D. Guided by SSAG on ED 80. It was first light for this scope, and I was quite happy with the RAW images that the camera was spitting out.

As this is my first attempt at photoshop etc, please be gentle with any criticism.

Cheers

[h0ughy (David)]

well mate if this is your first attempt, i look forward to when you are confident!!! Fantastic First go

[leon]

I agree, fantastic first effort, and like Houghy says, look out for the next chapter, well done indeed.

Leon

[TrevorW]

Nice one Sam, may need some colour adjustment but well done, also PM me who hypertuned your EQ6 as I'm thinking of getting mine done

[Jutscher (Sam)]

Hey Guys

Thanks for the feedback.

Yeah, colour correction etc is still a bit of a Pandoras box to me having never really used photoshop till the last couple of months, but that is the great thing about this hobby - the learning curve never seems to end.

Also, I need to shout out a big thanks to Shane (the astroguy) who by pure accident happened to be at Chittering that night. I gained a lot of really valuable information from him (including actually managing to find and align to crux). He really goes out of his way to help people learning the craft - much appreciated.

Thanks again guys

Sam

(PM sent Trevor)

[irwjager (Ivo)]

You should be chuffed with that one - well done!

[jjjnettie (Jeanette)]

A fantastic effort!

[Davros (Lauren)]

Thats beautiful. I would be framing it and hanging it on the wall.

[Jutscher (Sam)]

Thanks again,

Here is another version (a little rushed) in which I reprocessed all the images using a different colour scheme.

Its a little grainy at present, but the idea is to gain more blue etc, which I think is working.

As a practicing perfectionist, the image aint quite ready to hit the printers just yet, need a bit more data. Will have a go at getting flats + bias and a lot more darks.

Cheers

[anthony.tony]

Great Image-tony

[Hagar (Doug)]

Pretty dam good first attempt Sam, Look out everyone when he masters PShop and capture.

Very well done.

[multiweb (Marc)]

Impressive first attempt. I'm yet to get that kind of details in the core.

[Jutscher (Sam)]

This site really helped with masking the core in photoshop.

http://www.astropix.com/HTML/J_DIGIT/LAYMASK.HTM

Makes bringing the core glow down a breeze.