M42 Luminance, February's data never completed

[Barry-Wilson]

Posted for fun really.  Orion relatively quickly disappears behind my neighbours tall sycamore tree.  When I processed these luminance subs, the spikes became very evident.  I'd seen these spikes before (apart from the tiny ones resulting from the ccd's microlensing) when I'd caught images through the top of a bare willow tree to my NE.  So I must have had interefrence from the tree when capturing the luminance.  Oh well, next year!

The image is an HDR composite of 30s, 120s and 300s luminance data with my Atik 383L+ on my WO FLT132.

Hi res, http://astrob.in/175946/0/.

Thanks for looking.

Barry

[Martin-Devon]

Leaving the spikes aside Barry, that's one heck of a good M42, it looks jam-packed with features and has a real "stand-out" look to it which I think is excellent. Back to those spikes, I've seen the same when I've tried imaging just over the top of my obsy roof, these sharp diagonal spikes; as the target rises they quickly disappear though so as you guess they are probably due to some sort of interference.

Some lovely imaging/processing work coming through from your now Barry, keep it going!

Martin 

[swag72]

Nice Barry - I like it. Have you done any NR?

[Barry-Wilson]

Nice Barry - I like it. Have you done any NR?

Yes Sara.  I'd experimented with Grey C Storation (and don't like it).  It is really evident in the smoothed edging to the nebulosity between the Running Man and M42, is it not?  Hence my question to you some weeks ago about NR prefernces and applicability to targets.  Since then I've been refining my NR processes, trying to to strike the sujective balance between too much noise (as a distration from the subject of the image, leading one's eye away) and the overly smooth & refined, almost 'artificial' images you see.  As Olly said in a previous post, there's nothing wrong with some honest noise.  This image, whilst only a test really of HDR composition and high dynamic range processing, is overly smooth in parts without a doubt in my view.  What do you think?

Leaving the spikes aside Barry, that's one heck of a good M42, it looks jam-packed with features and has a real "stand-out" look to it which I think is excellent. Back to those spikes, I've seen the same when I've tried imaging just over the top of my obsy roof, these sharp diagonal spikes; as the target rises they quickly disappear though so as you guess they are probably due to some sort of interference.

Some lovely imaging/processing work coming through from your now Barry, keep it going!

Martin 

Thanks Martin.  I was pleased, despite the spikes!  I've really enjoyed the LRGB experience this winter and it takes some time to re-evaluate your processing technique having switched from a 6-month NB season.   It takes time to experiment with processing, making errors along the way, before you find your own style and develop sufficient objective self-critical practise.  The rigor starts first of all with the imaging though, doesn't it: precision, patience and perseverance!

Barry

[sologuitarist61]

Excellent - I bet you are pleased with that one Barry!

[lensman57]

Oooh that is a very nice M42 Mr Wilson.

A.G

[swag72]

I really should have the courage of my convictions instead of asking whether NR had been applied first!!! I think that the inner detail of M42 and the core are really good. The detail is there and it looks as it should in my opinion. From there, I think it's drastically over smoothed. The cloud dust is looking very much at odds with the middle and to my eye it's almost looking like different two pictures layered on top of each other. 

I'd like to see this with zero NR applied and take it from there!!! 

[Barry-Wilson]

Ha! It isn't easy to have the courage of one's convictions in all instances! Glad we agree on this image.

Whilst I agree that this is over smoothed, I find my eye distracted away from the subject of an image when there is no NR. The trick is finding the balance in my view (like so much in life . . . ).

If I find time I'll re-process without using Grey C Storation & only the usual suspects, ACDNR & TGVDenoise (with a light touch, honest ).

Barry

[Barry-Wilson]

Oh, my emoticons haven't appeared in the text (typing using my iPad). Tongue is firmly in cheek and I'm being light-hearted, hope that come's across.