carastro

Ah, missed this reply, and just messaged you.

Will need your e Mail address Gina, can you PM it to me.

Carole 

I have just done another talk on Monday to a huge U3A audience (over 200 people).  I was told a lot of the photographic group had turned up too.

I did my usual talk which included what, and how to create images.  I think one or two people dropped off to sleep, or glazed over, but the majority seemed to find it very interesting.  

At the end I took a stacked image (old Horsehead DSLR image) and live processed it.  

I got some very interesting questions afterwards, and one person turned out to have done a bit of AP himself.  

I got another booking on the back of it for a Probus group.

If you would be interested I might have a PDF copy of my talk somewhere I could e mail to you for ideas, I sent it to some-one else asking a similar question, assuming I can find it.

Carole 

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I wouldn't make it appear only possible with a motorised eq mount

Yes I do mention simple ways of imaging too.

Carole 

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Do you give your talks to astronomers or the general public, Carole.  I ask because my audience will be non-astronomers so doesn't want to be too technical.

Generally photographic groups, and U3A and similar. 

Carole 

I regularly do talks on Astrophotography, and do it with Powerpoint.  I normally start at the beginning and say what kit is needed and why, and what happens if you don't use an Equatorial mount etc.

Then I have a prepared number of stacked images showing the improvement the more that are stacked. starting with a single sub, then 2, 4,8, 16 stacked, and then show the whole image 50% single sub and 50% 16 subs stacked showing the huge difference.  That always brings some Oohs and Aahs.

An example of an image processed without flats, then the stretched flat for that image showing the dust and vignetting, and then the image with flats applied.  More oohs and aahs.

I show how to focus with a Bahtinov mask, and topwards the end of the talk I show a few of my images and how long they took in exposure.

HTH

Carole 

We don't have raccoons or skunks in the UK, except in Zoos.  

Heron's will have them though.

Carole 

As stated above, you must be the Queen of DIY projects Gina, where do you get all your energy.

We had a pond in the garden for some years from a sunken children's turtle playpool (lol), and all manner of wildlife arrived in it.  Including, frogs and spawn and tadpoles, newts, pond skaters, water beetles, Toads arrived, and this is from the suburbs of London, so who knows what you may get down your way.

Carole