Hi all
Just a quick reminder about the Astro’s astro imaging competition which will be held again at the South Pacific Star Party (4 - 6 April, 2008).
The categories of entry remain the same as previous year, namely:
1. Solar System – Moon, planets, Sun and comets;
2. Nebulae;
3. Galaxies;
4. Clusters (Globular and Open);
5. Wide-Field images, Meteors and Auroras;
The competition has been updated to incorporate feedback from last years competition. Full details of the Checklist for entry / Terms and Conditions can be accessed via Astro Imaging Competition link on the SPSP page at:
http://www.asnsw.com/spsp
If you have any queries then please contact me at
AstroImagingComp@asnsw.com
Greg Priestley
Organiser, SPSP 16 Astro Imaging Competition 2008
Some tips on how to win an Astro
Based on past observations, here are some times on how to improve your chances of winning an Astro:
• First you have to enter - seems pretty obvious. Don’t be put off entering thinking that the competition will be dominated by the same winners –some entrants have been strong year to year – but this doesn’t mean that they are guaranteed to win. The final results last year didn’t show how close the competition actually was – with a few different votes or had a few invalid votes been cast correctly or a few more entrants to split the counts then the final results would have been dramatically different. You can’t worry about who else is entering – they may not even be at the SPSP this year, or may not have been imaging due to other life commitments.
• Enter multiple images across multiple categories. The winners last year entered a disproportionate number of images compared to the other entrants, so of course they had a greater chance of winning – they had already stacked the cards in their favour by entering multiple images in multiple categories!
• Not all categories are as hotly contested. Historically Nebulae and Galaxies categories typically attract more entries than Clusters and Wide Field categories and hence it’s been easier to win in the Clusters and Wide Field categories.
• You don’t need the really expensive equipment to win. Some of the winning entries from the past few competitions have been shot on film with modest telescopes or with point and shoot digital compact cameras shooting through an eyepiece. Bigger and more expensive does not necessarily make a winning image. Also, the Wide Field category is designed for images taken by regular cameras – no fancy astro gear required at all.
• Images are judged visually by the attendees based on what is presented – not on how good the image looks on your computer screen back at home. You want to make sure that the print is worthy of your image. Consider having the image printed at a photo lab at the maximum permissible size (A4 or 8”x10”) – the result will be better than printing on the office colour laser printer or the home inkjet (unless you’re really into colour management and colour profiling). Presentation, presentation, presentation!
• Make sure you comply with the Terms and Conditions – it’s really important that you read this carefully – no point turning up with the “winning entry” only to find out that it doesn’t comply and is ineligible.
