Antares region completed. 85mm lens

[Lester]

Hi all, this image is from 64x2 minute exposures with 85mm lens at f2 and 20Da at ISO 800. IMO my best image of this region.

http://i638.photobucket.com/albums/u...s/05612f70.jpg

[jjjnettie (Jeanette)]

Isn't it a stunning region. It has to be my most favourite part of the sky. You've done really well to capture the red nebulosity and the subtle shades of yellow in the clouds next to Antares.
My only criticism would be M4. If you do a repro, you will have to take care not to burn it out. Select him, invert and feather by a few pixels. Then work on stretching the rest of the image.

[Lester]

Thanks for the tip JJ. I need to do some reading up on that process as it is new to me. All the best.

[jjjnettie (Jeanette)]

No need to keep him separate from the beginning. Just when he starts to get overexposed. Otherwise you'll have difficulty blending it back in naturally with the rest of the picture.

[Lester]

Hi JJ, here is a reprocessed version. Kept my eye on the cluster making sure not to blow it out. Done with curves only as I still cannot get the hang of lassoing and selective sharpening. Tried some tutorials, but my internet is too slow to handle them.

http://i638.photobucket.com/albums/u...s/b686632e.jpg

[jjjnettie (Jeanette)]

Sweet.
I usually keep it under control using curves too. But sometimes if the data is good enough to be able to stretch the fainter stuff hard, it's handy to be able to keep one particular region lassoed and corralled.

[Lester]

Good, thanks for your help JJ. I will keep an eye out for any such areas that could be over cooked in the future.

All the best.

[Rigel003 (Graeme)]

Hi Lester. Both lovely images. I like the saturation of the first but some of the stars on the left seem to have a slight greenish tinge. Might just be my monitor. The contrast of the dark areas is great.

[Lester]

Thanks Graeme for your comments. I just had another look and, yes the left is showing a large number of green stars. I got no idea as to the cause of that, as the histogram looks well balanced to my eyes.

All the best.

[Ross G]

A very good wide photo Lester.

Great colours.

The 85mm has a nice FOV for astro work.

Ross.

[Lester]

Thanks for your comments Ross.

All the best.

[tilbrook@rbe.ne (Justin Tilbrook)]

Hi Lester,

You have some depth in that image, soem area's are almost 3D!

Cheers,

Justin.

[Lester]

Thanks Justin.

Here is a totally reprocessed version. I was inspired by Dave's widefield image of this region; although this isn't in the same league as his. It is my best to date.

http://i638.photobucket.com/albums/u...s/f60ec30c.jpg

[naskies (Dave)]

You've got the dark nebulae popping out nicely against the background in this version I think there's something weird going on with your highlights, though - especially around Antares?

[astronobob (Bob)]

Wow, really nice job Lester !

[Lester]

Thanks Dave and Bob for your comments. I may have to have a another reprocess to see what comes out of the mix. As I have no set recipe, anything could happen. I usually just tweek till I like it. All the best.

[Lester]

Wait, there is more. Reprocessed (even the great Mike does it). This is bringing out more of the faint nebula, without any sharpening. Replies welcome.

http://i638.photobucket.com/albums/u...s/fa0079e4.jpg

[marco (Marco Lorenzi)]

Very nice Lester, I will never get enough of this part of the sky, it is simply one of the best area up there

Marco

[Lester]

Hi Marco, thanks for your comments. All the best.

[iceman (Mike)]

Very nice Lester!