I took everyones advice and took another Orion tonight. Am I happy you betcha.
1 X 5mins exposure before the battery pack went flat (something wrong with it) guided with PHD I think I might have fluked it a bit.
I will get my 40amp PS out next time.
Congrats Adrian! its a good feeling when you finally shoot one off and it works.! arnt you happy you didn't just throw in the towel! Oh hope you don't mind i did a quick tweak of your data in PS, just to show you that theres loads more detail in your image. like i say 10% capture 90% processing!
Hello AdrianF:
The photo I like much.
It is certain that the image allows to stretch the histogram a little but, but before this, would be interesting to do frames of 5 or 10 seconds and to combine with these, so that the trapeze does not leave burned.
I leave a example of old (2006) photo of the zone, where I worked the photo with frames of 5 seconds.
It excuses my terrible English.
Many greetings
Cesar http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2494/...1c0304aa_o.jpg
Congrats Adrian! its a good feeling when you finally shoot one off and it works.! arnt you happy you didn't just throw in the towel! Oh hope you don't mind i did a quick tweak of your data in PS, just to show you that theres loads more detail in your image. like i say 10% capture 90% processing!
Thanks Brendan the picture does look a little better, I had done nothing to the picture at all except resize for the forum. I will setup again tonight and try again. This time no equipment malfunction....hopefully
I actually liked the original better. Although there is a slight gradient the processing was good and the data much smoother. The repro is a bit harsh and black clipped to my taste.
Hello again:
To work an image in jpge and of a reduced size, does not give much margin of action. Nevertheless, doing false flat it is managed to neutralize almost all the bottom, leaving a gradient in the left corner, that treating the raw photo can perhaps also be avoided.
Soon a star mask and application of wavelets to emphasize layer of halftones.
I believe that the photo if it gains much.
Again, my English is my obstacle.
Many greetings
Cesar
In the original picture I did no processing whatso ever except for resizing for this forum. I did notice the gradient from bottom to top (light at bottom dark at top)
Unfortunately across the road from me is a bowling green and they decided to turn on all of their floodlights, which illuminated the trees in front of the scope and I was trying to take the photo over the top of the trees. Hopefully tonight they wont have a tournament on.
A really nice start. I would love to see you move the framing a little bit, just off the left edge is NGC1977, all great M42 images have to have the Running Man in them .
As far as the bowlers go, duck over and slip some sleeping pills in to the beer - that'll fix 'em right up.
Although there is a slight gradient the processing was good and the data much smoother. The repro is a bit harsh and black clipped to my taste. 
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This area is very well photographed, and rightly so, it is awesome. Keep at it!
