Critique Style: Standard
The photographer is looking for thoughtful feedback on the image as a whole, especially around the areas noted below.
Feedback Focus: Artistic + Technical
About This Image
This was shot with my astro rig (tracker and special camera, computer-controlled) 4 nights ago, in reasonably dark, clear skies. It is a 2-panel mosaic, processed in PixInsight. Each frame was 3 minutes, with 2 hours of acquisition for each pane. This is a dim hydrogen-alpha emission region, said to be challenging to capture well, so I am pleased with the result. There are a LOT of stars up there! I uploaded a somewhat large file so clicking a couple of times should enlarge it.
Feedback Requested
All comments welcome!
Technical Details
Trust me, I’ll spare you the details! Processing was completely straightforward and adjustment options very conservative to keep it as realistic as possible.
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Holy cow Diane! Masterful! Have you ever thought of printing one of these BIG?
Thanks, @Don_Peters and @Glenys_Passier ! Actually not, for the deep sky objects. They are a little like shooting a famous grand landscape from the tripod footprints of the master who made the scene famous. But I have several big prints of eclipses, both solar and lunar, that I am proud of for getting to a good location and pulling it off, with HDR techniques for the solar corona and separately-shot accurate star fields. And I’m basically out of wall space, with the need to compete with my husband’s love of airplane pictures.
@Diane_Miller This is fantastic
Can you let me know what kit you have/need to take this?
Have you a camera with the IR filter removed ie Full spectrum convert?
Telescope/lens kit
Which camera ? how many pixels etc
I want to start saving to be able to do this
I have a Meade ETX with a canon adapter but magnification isn’t great
Thanks, @Huw_Thomas ! I’m delighted to share as much as I can with you! Yesterday and today are super busy but I’ll own myself again for the weekend – stand by!!
Diane,
Just phenomenal! I suppose I haven’t seen or commented on all your astro images… but I know this one is my favorite to date!
I’m not technically qualified to critique this really… all I know is that the stars are sharp and the colors nicely restrained.
Just incredible. Congratulations!
Thanks, @Lon_Overacker ! My refractor telescope (and a couple of the tools in PixInsight) get credit for the stars – noticeable differences in size and color, with a pleasing softness. Camera lenses just aren’t built to capture pinpoints of light. I’ve been having trouble bringing out good color lately and need to find out if something changed in the latest PixInsight.
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@Huw_Thomas , I have just updated (slightly) the tutorial I have on my web site, www.DianeDMiller.com. On the right side of the home page, click on the tutorial just named “Astrophotography.” It is the midrange equipment and software I use but it is certainly possible to start with regular camera equipment. The tutorial above it goes into that using PixInsight. I’ll edit it right away as some things have gotten easier and changed a bit since I wrote it.
Feel free to ask questions! A few others here may be interested, too.
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Diane,
Your astro images always get me excited and want to go out with my equipment and try again but come back disappointed. But hopefully soon I will have what I need . Thank you for the inspiration.
This is another fascinating photo. It has a nice diagonal flow from LLC to URC. The placement of Sadr is perfect.
You nailed this one. The details are incredible and I could stare at this for hours. Star shots are so abstract, but there’s order to it. Awesome…Jim
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Thanks, @Youssef_Ismail , @Huw_Thomas and @Jim_Zablotny ! There is nothing wrong with starting with the “daytime” camera and lenses you already have, but I’ve found the same advice applies to astro equipment as to buying a tripod – go for decent quality because if you don’t you will soon replace it with something better. But I’m pretty sure I’ve reached a steady state with the equipment listed in my tutorial cited above.
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