Lagoon and Trifid with more star colour

[gregbradley]

Attachment 277546After some trial and error I found the lack of star colour from my original
image of this was due to using high gain narrowband mode on the camera instead of lower gain broadband mode. Also I took longer exposures (300 seconds instead of 120) and there was no moon damaging the colour.

So now the stars have colour. Not as much though as if I used a CCD camera but perhaps its more accurate being mostly pastel colours like David Malin says star colours are.

Also I did a version with a synthetic luminance which is a combination of LRGB and another with HaRGB (both had the same effect).Basically it boosted the background brightness and did not affect the nebula areas except around the Trifid. So a worthwhile experiment.

Which version do you prefer?

https://pbase.com/gregbradley/image/171784413/large regular size file

https://pbase.com/gregbradley/image/171784413/original large sized file

Alternate version with synthetic luminance:

https://pbase.com/gregbradley/image/171784416/large regular sized file

https://pbase.com/gregbradley/image/171784416/original large sized file

I prefer the standard version as the synthetic luminance highlights the stars a bit too much. With nebula images you usually want the stars to recede in order to highlight the nebula.

Greg.

[Andy01 (Andy)]

Much nicer star colours now Greg, and my vote is for version #1

[gregbradley]

Originally Posted by Andy01

Much nicer star colours now Greg, and my vote is for version #1

Thanks Andy. Yes the first version is my preference also.

Greg.

[alpal]

Nice now Greg,
better star colors and much more blue nebulosity around the Trifid.
I like the first version on this page.

One tiny improvement could be a blurred layer mask used on the
bright center of the Lagoon
to give it more contrast but that's artistic license.


cheers
Allan

[JA]

Very Nice Greg - Definetly number 1.
The image pops more /better contrast and darker black lanes with richer overall colour

Best
JA

[astronobob (Bob)]

Details are very sharp & an eye-opening Image, excellent view colour, ballance & framing

[Peter Ward]

The Benz with Connolly leather in the beige or black....decisions, decisions?

Both very classy renditions.

I'll be the contrarian and say number 2

[gregbradley]

Originally Posted by alpal

Nice now Greg,
better star colors and much more blue nebulosity around the Trifid.
I like the first version on this page.

Thanks Allan.

One tiny improvement could be a blurred layer mask used on the
bright center of the Lagoon
to give it more contrast but that's artistic license.


cheers
Allan

A local contrast enhancement layer?

Originally Posted by JA

Very Nice Greg - Definetly number 1.
The image pops more /better contrast and darker black lanes with richer overall colour

Best
JA

Thanks JA, that was the one I preferred for those reasons.

Originally Posted by astronobob

Details are very sharp & an eye-opening Image, excellent view colour, ballance & framing

Thanks Bob.

Originally Posted by Peter Ward

The Benz with Connolly leather in the beige or black....decisions, decisions?

Both very classy renditions.

I'll be the contrarian and say number 2

Hehe, so long as the cup holders are sturdy.

Greg.

[topheart]

Both....



Cheers,
Tim

[strongmanmike (Michael)]

Very nice Greg Both lovely, I think picking a favourite will depend very much on the viewing environment and monitor used by the judge

Mike

[gregbradley]

Originally Posted by topheart

Both....



Cheers,
Tim

Thanks Tim. Yes I think its a technique that will suit some images more than others.

Originally Posted by strongmanmike

Very nice Greg Both lovely, I think picking a favourite will depend very much on the viewing environment and monitor used by the judge

Mike

Cheers 1450 Mike.

Greg.

[strongmanmike (Michael)]

Originally Posted by gregbradley

Cheers 1450 Mike.

Greg.

...I like that, has a ring to it...hmmm?..or there's the imperial version, 4757 Mike

[The_bluester (Paul)]

I actually like version 2 due to it bringing out more of the faintest whispy nebulosity and dusty stuff, down around the "Toes" in particular.

[Startrek (Martin)]

Greg,
Both lovely images
My preference is no 2 though
Well done !!
Martin

[RobF (Rob)]

Nice that both of them bring out the haze of blue around the lagoon (and the "foot"). I like the colours of the star clouds in #1 in particular.

p.s. If you really can't decide, there's always PixelMath in PI to just take the average

[gregbradley]

Originally Posted by The_bluester

I actually like version 2 due to it bringing out more of the faintest whispy nebulosity and dusty stuff, down around the "Toes" in particular.

Thanks Paul. That whispy nebulosity is quite nice. Delicate as well.

Originally Posted by Startrek

Greg,
Both lovely images
My preference is no 2 though
Well done !!
Martin

Thanks Martin. I think its the best Lagoon/Trifid I've done so far.

Originally Posted by RobF

Nice that both of them bring out the haze of blue around the lagoon (and the "foot"). I like the colours of the star clouds in #1 in particular.

p.s. If you really can't decide, there's always PixelMath in PI to just take the average

Yes there is that - thanks Rob.

Greg.

[Geoff45 (Geoff)]

The detail is amazing. Those little dark globules in the Lagoon really stand out well.

Nicely done.
Geoff

[gregbradley]

Originally Posted by Geoff45

The detail is amazing. Those little dark globules in the Lagoon really stand out well.

Nicely done.
Geoff

Thanks Geoff. I am happy with this AP scope and QHY camera combo.

Greg.

[IanP]

Version #1 for me ...

[gregbradley]

Originally Posted by IanP

Version #1 for me ...

Thanks Ian,

Greg.