2017 Eclipse with correct star field

Image Critiques Nightscape & Astro Critiques
1

aligned-raws-adjusted-mean-rasterized-Edit.jpg
aligned-raws-adjusted-mean-rasterized-Edit.jpg2000×1338 908 KB

and a 3:4 crop:

cropped eclipse
cropped eclipse2000×1500 597 KB

Critique Style Requested: Standard

The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.

Description

At last!! When I started processing the 2017 eclipse, I had a star field that I had shot 6 months before when that portion of the sky was in darkness. I was able to aim the tracker accurately at the predicted point, but I hadn’t realized that I had the camera rotated at 90 degrees to what it was when I shot the eclipse. I had 2 reference stars that showed in the longest HDR exposures for the actual eclipse (the brightest two visible here), and when I used those to fit the stars I had shot, it just didn’t feel right. A couple of months after that processing, I got interrupted – for about 4 years – due to one of our California wildfires. Now, with a new tracker and a dedicated astro camera, I recently got a much better star field and was able to figure out the correct orientation. (I had used the wrong star to align with the one toward the upper right.)

Specific Feedback

All comments welcome! I’m relieved that I finally got the correct orientation of the stars, and also that they now show in a more pleasing range of sizes.

Technical Details

The eclipse is a composite of exposures to bring out detail in the corona (more complicated and better result than HDR software can do). The eclipse was shot with a Canon 1DX2 and 400DO lens, tracked. Star field and earthshine added from other exposures. Stars shot with an Askar FRA400 refractor with an 0.7 focal reducer and ASI2600MC Pro cooled camera, which gave close to the same 400mm field of view as the eclipse. Stars processed in PixInsight. The top of the frame is celestial north – I got that part right at the actual eclipse.

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2 Likes
2

Fantastic, Diane. It looks like all of your painstakingly efforts have paid off. Good for you, great shot!!

3

I went down the critique template list. All I can say is all good! Nice shot and edits Diane.

4

Thanks, @linda_mellor and @James_Bartek! I now think of one thing I could use opinions on, which is the crop. I’m going to order a large metal print and will clone or seriously dim the brighter stars close to the top edge.

This aspect ratio and crop (the original full frame for the eclipse) just feels right, with the eclipse floating in a large-feeling sky. I think the only other option would be a 3:4 but I hate to crowd the 4 brighter stars on the center left.

Added above for easier comparison.

1 Like
5

The original crop works for me, Diane. The size help emphasize the massiveness were as the cropped version looks, well, cropped and tight.

6

I’m just in awe at what you have done with your eclipse photos! This is spectacular. I prefer the two to three ratio, but do like how prominent the moon is in the second crop. If I had to choose, I’d go with the original. Wonderful work Diane; print it large!

7

Aspect ratio…my opinion…this looks good.

8

Thanks, @linda_mellor, @John_Williams and @James_Bartek! Metal print on order, 26 x 40 – the original aspect ratio with a sliver off the bottom! It will replace an older canvas print of the previous version, that someone coveted and I was happy to part with – even well before I had time to do the improved version.

2 Likes
9

Outstanding work Diane. Detail in the corona is great and the earthshine is perfect also. I love this vision of showing the eclipse among the star field it was in at the time of the eclipse. I never thought of that as an image. I guess I am too visually literal in trying to show what my eyes saw at the time.

10

Thanks, @Youssef_Ismail – I love that the camera can let us see things we can’t see!

1 Like
11

I don’t have much say but I do think that you did an absolutely fantastic job with this and that the image is jaw dropping. I love this!

12

Thanks, @Tom_Nevesely! A 26x40" metal print is now on the wall – Bay Photo did a great job with it.

1 Like