Man running at M42

[xelasnave]

Well got in some time at the scope..dark and clear ..litle bit of Moon ..but why wait for it to go it may not stay clear.
7x180 secs, and one dark,..7 at 30 secs +4 dark...14 at 20 sec + 3 dark..no flats.
150sn, eq6 mount, unguided..300d stacked in time groups and then merged in photo shopcs2.

I tried to remove most of the color to make everyone happy....
alex

[Dr Nick (Nick)]

Well I can never see a running man in that but its a great picture of what I am told is a man running along with the Great orion Nebula

[xelasnave]

here is a color version ...my way.
alex

[h0ughy (David)]

LOL having some fun Alex

[xelasnave]

Yes thats exactly what it is ... sortta like cooking there are many ways you can serve a dish ... even if some taste funny... it isjust so good to get a bit of a run even if conditions arenot perfect
alex

[ballaratdragons (Ken)]

That's great Alex.

There are a zillion and 24 Orion Nebulas on the internet, but yours are certainly different!

I actually like the coloured one

You have captured very nice detail in the wings and in the Trap area

[ballaratdragons (Ken)]

Originally Posted by Dr Nick

Well I can never see a running man in that but its a great picture of what I am told is a man running along with the Great orion Nebula

Nick, I used to have trouble seeing a 'running man' too until he was pointed out to me.

Here he is marked out on an image of the Running Man Nebula
(you have to use your imagination a little bit, but the basic shape is there)

[xelasnave]

Thank you Ken for your kind words I am still in the development stage with the gear and learning what the software can do so as Dave said I am having some fun until I get serious.

Still working at tracking, focus, exposure times and controling the weather

But I reckon it has potential for an album cover.
alex

[Ric]

Very nice widefield Alex, a great capture.

The colour version as you say has a lot of potential for an album cover, my pick would be something by Santana or Yes.

Cheers

[little col]

looks a very nice image from here alex , love your colour version , it gives m42 a nice unique look

may i ask how you do the merging in cs2 as i cant get my head arouns composing the multipul exposures to get detail accross the board with no burnt out sections

[xelasnave]

Originally Posted by little col

looks a very nice image from here alex , love your colour version , it gives m42 a nice unique look

may i ask how you do the merging in cs2 as i cant get my head arouns composing the multipul exposures to get detail accross the board with no burnt out sections

Thank you for yoour kind words.

I merge using microsoft picture it because it is so simple to use... I work up the final stacks in CS2 save them as jpegs and open them in picture it, there is a feature called "transparancy" in which you can select "even" or "gradual", the gradual allows you to use the outside edge of one image and the center of another.

I probably lose something as I am sure cs2 must have a better way...but I am a mug and dont care.
alex

[little col]

thanks for the advice i ,must have a look at this way of processing

[ballaratdragons (Ken)]

Or you can download and use the free version of easyHDR (High Dynamic Range).

You enter the different length exposures and tell it to stack. Much the same as Registax, but it layers the bright and dark accordingly giving you a final image of everything except burnt out bits

Very easy to use, even I can use it

The 'easyHDR BASIC' is the free one:

http://www.easyhdr.com/download.php

[little col]

cheers ken , downloaded this a few months ago but i never used it , seems i should have involved myself a bit more with the software

[EzyStyles (Eric)]

well done Alex great shot. abit too purple though.

[xelasnave]

Originally Posted by EzyStyles

well done Alex great shot. abit too purple though.

Thanks Eric... I did not know there was any purple in the shot

Still sorting things out with the gear..got the 2 new dsi's so I can auto guide and plan getting serious any day now.

I reworked the images used for this shot.

I wont bother posting the various results they are on another computer but am very happy with the better detail, which is what I am interested in getting better at..new focuser and all that... I think I can get 10 minute subs which I will try for next, and just post a totally new attempt rather than keep showing versions of this lot.

Thanks for your encouragement.
alex