First 350D widefield images - help processing

[iceman (Mike)]

Hi guys.

The seeing was so shocking last night that I didn't bother with planetary imaging, so set the 350D on top of the tripod and put the tripod on top of my EQ platform. Some high level clouds went through at one stage and it wasn't extremely dark.

Here's a couple of shots, and need some help with processing. I've been so into planetary processing that I'm clueless when it comes to the best method to process widefield shots like this.

Please, have a go at processing my images. I've uploaded a couple:

1. orion-stacked.zip (26meg at full resolution): 3 images stacked in aligned and stacked in registax, that's all.
2. orion-registar.zip (2meg at small resolution): 2 images registered and combined in registar. 1 using "Average" and one using "Sum".

The shots were taken with the 350D last night at about 9:45pm. I used ISO800, 18-55mm lens @ 28mm f/4, 3 x 60s exposures. I enabled Mirror Lock and Noise Reduction.

I also used my wireless remote to turn the shutter on, and then again to turn it off. Worked great!

If you post a version that you've processed, please include:
a) The tools you used
b) The methods

So that I can reproduce it next time.

Appreciate your help.

[davidpretorius]

downloading now.

are they the three individual photos or one photo already stacked??

gee you must have a good relationship with the boss of the IIS website to have such a big file uploaded!

[iceman (Mike)]

Here's my first attempt..

A fair bit of skyglow I couldn't get rid of.

I used registar (average) to combine the 3 images, and then photoshop to adjust curves and levels. That's all i've applied. Reduced size and quality for web.

[iceman (Mike)]

Dave, the registax one is stacked, and the registar ones are already combined.

I'm uploading a zip right now which contains the 3 originals, for those (like you) that want to try and stack in a different program.

orion-3originals.zip (9meg). The upload is finished.

[iceman (Mike)]

In a fullsize crop (attached below) of another image I took at 55mm f/5.6 (60 second exposure) you can see some star trails at 60 seconds, my platform obviously wasn't exactly aligned, which is something i'll have to work on.

However when it's reduced to web size you don't notice it so all is good!

Also, focusing while looking through the view finder at some stars is very difficult! I need to get DSLRFocus

[iceman (Mike)]

This full crop is from the registax-stacked image, with the lens @ 28mm. The star trails aren't evident thanks to the shorter FL, and more nebula is visible thanks to being 3 images stacked.

[iceman (Mike)]

The following is a single 40s exposure of Mars, M45 and Taurus, using the 18-55mm lens @ 28mm f/4.0

The red "glow" is from high level clouds in the north.

[davidpretorius]

grabbed the stacked tiff, crop the trees and aerial

saved as a jpg and did an abe gradient. i will try with the iris gradient removal to see if there is any difference.

in iris:

loaded up original, subtracted the gradient

gaussian filter 1.0

ddp

stretching: stretch 100%, initensity to personal preference

[davidpretorius]

these are very nice large images to work with, the uploaded web version does it no justice.

there are lovely pinks and blues in the full version

once i have finished mucking around, i will zip up and email you the full versions.

great work, these are fantastic!!!

[davidpretorius]

ok,


three images loaded into iris, deep sky registration to cut out star trails

median stack to reduce noise

gradient subtract

gaussian 1.0

ddp

stretch

[TidaLpHasE]

G'day Mike, glad to see you getting started with the 350, your gonna love it.

I downloaded the stacked 26meg pic, and then copied it then coverted it to jpg, as i couldn't process it as a tiff.

I used m$ digital image pro, adjusted brightness and contrast, levels and sharpened it a bit, cropped out the trees.

It's a great pic, i can't wait for you to start getting Milky Way shots

Here's my attempt at processing your pic.

[beren]

Very nice work Mike , congrats on the first foray with your DSLR. Had a go at processing with the full frame and a crop , aligned/stacked with images plus and some PS tweaks

[h0ughy (David)]

nice beginning Mike! I miss the Sony widefields (only kidding Mike)!

[atalas]

Nice work people !

[RB (Andrew)]

G'day ICE-dude,

I like these images, well done.
I had a little go at your image but I thought I'd try to keep the background a bit more natural rather than overprocessing it. I've left some glow in there (used PS CS) but used Xterminator and NEATIMAGE to clean it up.

Anyway here it is.

[iceman (Mike)]

Thanks guys, appreciate your comments and your processing efforts.

Will try applying some new techniques to some shots taken last night.