Orion Nebula

[AstroKane]

Hi All - I have recently learnt some new processing techniques so I revisited some Orion data captured October 2017. I am really happy with this revision I thought I would post in here.

What impresses me most is that this is only 1 hours worth of data, on a modest Astro setup and from my notes this was imaged under a full moon. All in all I cannot wait to have another go this season with another years worth of experience to see what kind of result I can get - I also suppose I can add the new data to the data I already have!

Technical details:

SW ED80 DS-Pro, Celestron Advance VX, Un-modded Canon DSLR

100 seconds subs unguided.

Clear Skies

[assouptro]

Interesting image!

What new processes have you learned and what software are you using 

cheers 

Bryan 

[AstroKane]

12 minutes ago, assouptro said:

Interesting image!

What new processes have you learned and what software are you using 

cheers 

Bryan 

Thanks - it’s not perfect by any means but given the circumstances and the equipment used, it’s not half bad. I watched some videos on masking, luminance and LRGBCombination which I hadn’t previously really used. All processed in Pixinsight. Made a huge difference to the image.

Below is a side by side comparison to how I edited  the data last year compared to today:

Clear skies

 

 

[LightBucket]

Hmmm, the one on the right is far better in my opinion, and more realistic...

[assouptro]

I like the original too but it’s fun to try new processes. 

I keep thinking about pixinsight but I’ve not taken the plunge yet and struggle on with photoshop. 

I guess you’d recommend it?

[wimvb]

Tip :

to remove the vertical bands, rotate the stacked image, use CanonBandingReduction with highlight protection, the rotate back.

Personally, I also prefer the original version. But stars are a lot smaller in the newer version. ?

[celestron8g8]

25 minutes ago, AstroKane said:

Thanks - it’s not perfect by any means but given the circumstances and the equipment used, it’s not half bad. I watched some videos on masking, luminance and LRGBCombination which I hadn’t previously really used. All processed in Pixinsight. Made a huge difference to the image.

Below is a side by side comparison to how I edited  the data last year compared to today:

Clear skies

 

 

One on the right is correct and looks great ! The left one ....., looks like you lost alot of good data and color saturated . I vote on the right . 

[AstroKane]

I’ve only managed a couple of images so far that have enough data to really play around in processing. It’s interesting to see the split of opinions between more natural looking and more aggressively processed images ?

I personally prefer the more vibrant colours, it’s all good fun.

I really like PI so far from what I’ve seen and processed. But PS also produces great results so i presume it’s more down to user preference.

clear skies

[wimvb]

2 minutes ago, AstroKane said:

it’s more down to user preference

In the end it's always down to personal preference.

Just one question: did you use a range mask during the reprocess? The reworked image seems to have more abrupt edges around the nebula.

You could try a version with vibrant colours, and the detail of the original. Just an idea.

[AstroKane]

5 minutes ago, wimvb said:

In the end it's always down to personal preference.

Just one question: did you use a range mask during the reprocess? The reworked image seems to have more abrupt edges around the nebula.

You could try a version with vibrant colours, and the detail of the original. Just an idea.

I did! ? first time I’ve used it. As mentioned I’m über new to processing so hopefully as I acquire better data my processing skills will improve.

I will look into perhaps reprocessing and toning it down. I’ll post any re-edits here!

clear skies 

[Charic]

41 minutes ago, AstroKane said:

 ...........It’s interesting to see the split of opinions between more natural looking and more aggressively processed images ?

I personally prefer the more vibrant colours, it’s all good fun..........

Good fun and gives artistic licence to do as you please, but from my early days  as a photographer using black and white Ilford FP4,  I always tried to achieve the perfect exposure and focus, and took the short first time, because unlike todays technology, not much could be done after the effect. The only editing I had back then  in the darkroom were masks, under-or over developing and filters, unlike todays technology.

I know the images you guys present here take quite an effort to process and achieve, but often when I see images of the Moon stacked and processed, I see something that reminds me of  Welsh slate, with its colouration and smoothness within the detail, almost to the same effect of leaving the shutter open to get that ghostly image of running water or the flow and ebb of the sea, which differs completely to what yo seen visually with the naked eye.

Just about all the images I see here with their impressive colours  do impress me, especially when I know their up there for real, but even my scope cannot help me without the special sensory abilities of todays sensors.  

I'm not sure how much artistic licence you can get away with when it comes to imaging galaxies and nebulae as its something  were not normally  aquainted with, but Mess about with Moon and especially if out of focus, nah nah!

Given that I like your first image, when put side-by-side, I too am more drawn to the original.

All from someone that does not image, but learning all the time.

I did note your using the popular SW80ED, that would be my choice, and my camera at present is the Nikon D5000. Also I don't have any specialised mount. This and any further requirements are firmly on the back burner for now.

[newbie alert]

I personally prefer the image on the right..im not a big fan of vivid nebulas..

Did you loop around the nebula to bring the colours out  keep the black sky..theres alot of nebulosity going on in that part of the sky and it's certainly not black..

Saying that thou,it's your image and you process it how you like..

[AstroKane]

16 minutes ago, Charic said:

I did note your using the popular SW80ED, that would be my choice, and my camera at present is the Nikon D5000. Also I don't have any specialised mount. This and any further requirements are firmly on the back burner for now.

Great comment, top read. As mentioned, I am very new to processing. I upgraded from a DSLR and iOptron Sky tracker to the SW ED80 on a Celestron Advance VX mount last summer.

And then followed a pretty rocky start as I had to learn PA (which I ended up adding a Polemaster to my mount) Star alignment and find decent imaging software so I had a steep learning curve. A bit of perseverance though and I am slowly learning my rig.

I operate a really, really basic setup compared to some of the guys on here - setup up mount, attach scope & DSLR, polar alignment and I am pretty much good to go - I can get around 90-100 second subs.

 

[AstroKane]

Just now, newbie alert said:

I personally prefer the image on the right..im not a big fan of vivid nebulas..

Did you loop around the nebula to bring the colours out  keep the black sky..theres alot of nebulosity going on in that part of the sky and it's certainly not black..

Saying that thou,it's your image and you process it how you like..

I did pick up some faint nebulosity, but I think as it was only around an hour of data under bad light conditions I didn't pick up much. I hope to really improve this year. Main limiting factor last year was my gear was new and I didn't have dew heaters..!

[wornish]

Certainly pushing the limits, if thats what pleases you then thats what matters.

As you said a lot of astro processing is personal taste..

Personally I prefer last years processing its less stark and more natural looking, but we are all different.

[des anderson]

Both cracking images,last years image has the edge for me. Des

[AstroKane]

Great evenings discussion thanks all - I shall bear these comments in mind the next time I managed to grab some data to process..In the meantime I shall be pestering everyone once my guide scope turns up and I start to learn guiding! ?

Clear Skies

[Charic]

You'll soon be teaching others.

Have you buy any chance seen, heard or read this book........... https://www.firstlightoptics.com/books/making-every-photon-count-steve-richards.html

Steve is also a member to these forums, and there's not much thats he's come across you wont wont encounter. Such was the learning curve, Steve wrote this book, a favourite amongst astrophotographers. 

[wimvb]

56 minutes ago, AstroKane said:

In the meantime I shall be pestering everyone

Pester away. ?

Clear skies

[Scooot]

I like the running man, he stands out very well in the vivid image. He has a bright orange ball at his feet  

[AstroKane]

9 hours ago, Charic said:

You'll soon be teaching others.

Have you buy any chance seen, heard or read this book........... https://www.firstlightoptics.com/books/making-every-photon-count-steve-richards.html

Steve is also a member to these forums, and there's not much thats he's come across you wont wont encounter. Such was the learning curve, Steve wrote this book, a favourite amongst astrophotographers. 

I have certainly heard it mentioned many times on the forums and when I have been researching various bit I needed to understand - One for the Christmas list ?

[newbie alert]

Making every photon count is mainly capture and equipment..dark art or magic bullet covers the processing part..both awesome books..highly recommended 

[MarsG76]

Good data, but personally I prefer the one from last year.. looks more real and not as over saturated..