NGC 6188 in Ara - Mark II

Octane (Humayun) · #1 18-03-2010, 03:53 AM

All,

This is my second attempt at this beautiful object (it's one of my personal favourites). I'm still not happy with it as it requires a lot more exposure to bring out the finer details; I started shooting this after 4 AM and finished it off as the sky started turning blue. Aperture would probably help, too.

Having said that, it's a marked improvement over the one I shot 4 years ago.

Another target for the new toy when it arrives!

Read and view here.

Comments, critique, etc., most welcome.

H

duncan · #2 18-03-2010, 08:16 AM

Hi Humyan,
Beautiful shot mate. I don't know if it's possible but some more contrast on the darker neb would look great.
Very very nice work.
Cheers,
Duncan

TrevorW · #3 18-03-2010, 11:28 AM

Hi H very nice indeed although appears maybe a tad oversharpened to me

Cheers

Octane (Humayun) · #4 18-03-2010, 11:50 AM

Duncan,

Thank you.

You're right, it is lacking in contrast. I processed it on little sleep and will re-visit this and sort that out.

Cheers.

Quote:

Originally Posted by duncan

Hi Humyan,
Beautiful shot mate. I don't know if it's possible but some more contrast on the darker neb would look great.
Very very nice work.
Cheers,
Duncan

Trevor,

Thanks.

Funny, though as I haven't sharpened the image, at all!

Quote:

Originally Posted by TrevorW

Hi H very nice indeed although appears maybe a tad oversharpened to me

Cheers

Thanks, guys.

H

TrevorW · #5 18-03-2010, 11:56 AM

Sorry H just appeared that way on my monitor or maybe I'm sitting to close to it

gregbradley · #6 18-03-2010, 03:30 PM

Overall very nice Humayun.

A bit of blue haloing around the brighter stars from the lens not having blue fully in focus with the other colours.

Noel Carboni has an action to reduce that.

On my monitor it looks a tad brown overall of what is often presented as a predominantly red object.

Otherwise its very good.

Greg.

telecasterguru (Frank) · #7 18-03-2010, 03:45 PM

H,

Great image of a beautiful object.

Frank

strongmanmike (Michael) · #8 18-03-2010, 05:21 PM

Well Humi, that's a s good as it gets with a DSLR really...you have set the bar rather high for your future CCD images though

You do post your images at a pretty small size

which always flatters an image

(like a black dress or top makes you look skinny

) but never the less I think it looks bluddy great

Mike

mill (Martin) · #9 18-03-2010, 05:47 PM

That looks very impressive Humayun

You could have told me it was up when we were at the SV camp

multiweb (Marc) · #10 18-03-2010, 05:51 PM

Very cool! One of my favourite as well. Beautiful part of the sky. Didn't realise it was up already. Top shot with great colours and details.

Bassnut (Fred) · #11 18-03-2010, 06:05 PM

A top job for a difficult target for a DSLR. With the standard youve reached with a DSLR, youll just laugh with the ST11k, its so much easier, even with the need to change filters.

Garyh · #12 19-03-2010, 07:44 AM

Very nice H! Certainly a fine rendition of this beaut area. One of my favorite areas as well and look forward to it getting higher in the evenings!

Octane (Humayun) · #13 21-03-2010, 04:40 PM

Trevor,

Not to worry!

Quote:

Originally Posted by TrevorW

Sorry H just appeared that way on my monitor or maybe I'm sitting to close to it

Greg,

The blue haloing wasn't as apparent in the original RAWs. They've been pronounced a bit more due to stretching in pre-processing as well as the numerous curves in post-processing.

I'm going to sit down and work out how to remove the haloing effectively. I would rather learn how to remove the artifacting myself than to use someone else's tools. For me, it's part and parcel, and all part of the challenge.

And, you're right, now that I look at it, it's a bit brown. I think a slight saturation boost in the reds should fix that. I'll have to apply it selectively, though, as it will blow out the finer details in the ribbon.

Thank you!

Quote:

Originally Posted by gregbradley

Overall very nice Humayun.

A bit of blue haloing around the brighter stars from the lens not having blue fully in focus with the other colours.

Noel Carboni has an action to reduce that.

On my monitor it looks a tad brown overall of what is often presented as a predominantly red object.

Otherwise its very good.

Greg.

Frank,

Thank you, appreciate it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by telecasterguru

H,

Great image of a beautiful object.

Frank

Mike,

Cheers, mate. Hey, have you tried this one on your system yet? This field would come up really nice in your 6" and 35mm square chip in the new setup.

Quote:

Originally Posted by strongmanmike

Well Humi, that's a s good as it gets with a DSLR really...you have set the bar rather high for your future CCD images though

You do post your images at a pretty small size

which always flatters an image

(like a black dress or top makes you look skinny

) but never the less I think it looks bluddy great

Mike

Martin,

Cheers! I would have, but, I think you guys were inside telling jokes and having a drink, or two, or ten. :grin:

Quote:

Originally Posted by mill

That looks very impressive Humayun

You could have told me it was up when we were at the SV camp

H

Octane (Humayun) · #14 21-03-2010, 04:43 PM

Marc,

I reckon you should do a C11 and Hyperstar 4x4 mosaic of this region. Even in hydrogen alpha, it would look splendid.

Quote:

Originally Posted by multiweb

Very cool! One of my favourite as well. Beautiful part of the sky. Didn't realise it was up already. Top shot with great colours and details.

Fred,

Thanks! And, here's hoping! I am going to ask my old man if we can put a pier and SkyPOD in his backyard (western Sydney) and do narrowband imaging remotely. More money spent. :frown:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bassnut

A top job for a difficult target for a DSLR. With the standard youve reached with a DSLR, youll just laugh with the ST11k, its so much easier, even with the need to change filters.

Gary,

Cheers, mate. This'll come up a treat in your Newtonian, too.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Garyh

Very nice H! Certainly a fine rendition of this beaut area. One of my favorite areas as well and look forward to it getting higher in the evenings!

Thanks, everyone.

H

gregbradley · #15 21-03-2010, 06:38 PM

Greg,

The blue haloing wasn't as apparent in the original RAWs. They've been pronounced a bit more due to stretching in pre-processing as well as the numerous curves in post-processing.

I'm going to sit down and work out how to remove the haloing effectively. I would rather learn how to remove the artifacting myself than to use someone else's tools. For me, it's part and parcel, and all part of the challenge.

And, you're right, now that I look at it, it's a bit brown. I think a slight saturation boost in the reds should fix that. I'll have to apply it selectively, though, as it will blow out the finer details in the ribbon.

Thank you!

Hi Humayun,

I was noticing in your other images there is no blue haloing which usually means your scope is not truly APO (like Tak FS series doublets). So that's good, as it means your optics seem quite good.

So yeah there must've been something going on there with the processing. Another thing that can happen is a bit of high cloud or mist comes over and makes one colour sub blurry and that could possibly create that effect.

I think colour range tool, widen the selection to a bit beyond the halo and then either curves on blue or perhaps desaturation or even hue/saturation set to blue and pull it back with desaturate or even selective colour set to blues and fiddle with the sliders. Lots of ways really.

A real simple way is to set the sponge tool to desaturate 50% and rub it on the offending stars.

Greg.