Telescope: Takahashi BRC 250. Mount: ParamountME. Camera: FLI PL16803 with FLI research grade filters. LRGB image acquired utilising CCDAutoPilot5 remotely. 10 minute subframes calibrated and stacked in CCDStack then processed in Photoshop and PixInsight.
Tried to make the colour opal-like, but perhaps this colour interpretation may not appeal.
Fantastic Tim! You've certainly hit the Opal look. I'm not completely sure of the overall blue colour cast suiting the entire scene. The details and colours of the reflection neb sure are eye candy! Well done.
Last edited by jase; 18-06-2015 at 12:26 PM.
Reason: typo
Overall a beautiful image and great colour but to my eye it has a somewhat overprocessed look and a bit too stretched. If you can achieve a more natural slightly softer look I think it would add to what is a great image.
It is a pleasing looking image but I think I agree with Marc, Jase and Greg...hmm?..that was a cop out reply huh?
Ok, the only constructive feedback I can add is that to me it looks like you have used the shadow highlights feature in PS or a similar filter/action. After the minimum filter, shadow highlights is perhaps the most potentially destructive filter in PS...oh and deconvolution can be a real killer too in what ever program being used. Heavy handed use of the sliders in shadow highlights initially may look to show up faint stuff and suppress the bright stuff and while this may make one think oooh look how deep it is or wow there is detail in the faint outer reaches, it can easily and completely flatten the dynamic range in the image to unnatural levels and add plenty of noise.
If you didn't use shadow highlights or anything similar...ummm...just ignore me ...and I will just agree with the other guys
This is fantastic assistance you are giving me! I really appreciate the effort and the comments. I did indeed use shadow highlights with this one, and all of the things you have noted are very valid, that I can see now that you have raised the issues. In my efforts to create something different / individual to what you usually see, I have pushed the boundaries too far.
Having these extra opinions is very helpful indeed.
Another great shot Tim. I don't have enough knowledge to give any advice but as you have mentioned above, others opinions can be very helpful. This image has a very dramatic feel to it that I really like. Keep them coming.
There should be a lot more red in the field at 2 o'clock due to the proximity of the Barnard loop? Opal looks cool.
