M31 - comparison shots

[swag72]

I have spent a fair bit of time on M31 and have got 2 shots now that I am happy with, But, they are very different in colour, despite being processed in the same way - using PI and following the video tutorials.

The first has been shown before and had about 2 hours of data

This second one had extra data added, totalling about 4.5 hours in total. So, my question is which do you feel is the better image and why? I'm really trying to get this sorted. Also, I can't work out why this one is so blue compared to the first one.

[Hawklord]

I like the first one best. The stars and dust lanes are sharper and it has more of a 3D feel to it.

They're both very good though!

[xboxdevil]

Great images Sarah, personally I think the top one is better. The second image, although there might be slightly more detail looks like there is less contrast and slightly less definition and not as sharp as the first one. I am certainly no expert, but I wonder if the alignment or focus was marginally out in the extra data that you added. The first image looks darker too, could this be the effect of additional moonlight in the second image?

[WayBig]

The first looks like it has more perspective so it gets my vote.

The second may have the same 3d effect if it was inverted.

[prokyon]

I like the 1st one. Colours are better. Nice M31!

Cheers

Werner

[simplybob]

I have to agree with the others too. The first one seems a lot better to me, the contrast is good, there are some nice colours coming through, and its sharp. The second seems washed out, and a bit blurred to me.

Nice job on both though!

[Coco]

Sara the first ones a real beauty...

I love the vanilla colours of M31 . . sadly I've never been able to image it to a point I'm real happy, I would be VERY happy with your 1st image

keep going... onwards and upwards..

[sk88]

Hello,

The first image looks amazing!

May i ask what Telescope, Camera and or other Equipment you used to take the shots?

EDIT: I just read your signature, Cheers! lol

Thank you

[LukeSkywatcher]

The 1st image gets my vote also. Too much blue in the 2nd.

[swag72]

Thanks for that - I prefer the colours of the first and wonder why the second is so blue. I don't think the moon was out, but would be interested to hear why people think the colour may be so different. I suppose that the focus on the second could have been out a little, you'd only need it a smidgen out to make a difference I guess.

Thanks for all your input - Appreciate you taking the time.

[ythanpythan]

I'd go with the others comments, the first appears to be sharper. Have you tried running it through a DSLR de-noise program, I'd be interested to see what that did.

That said I'd be chuffed with either!

Ian

[george7378]

Although the first is best in my opinion, I love both too!

[dlp]

Both lovely Sara. Wish I had your skies!

With a bit more tweaking I don't think the 2nd is that dissimilar to the 1st!

[swag72]

I like that edit - How did you get rid of that blue?

[dlp]

Did a background neutralization, color calibration, DBE, HDR wavelets, extracted luma for mask for slight stretch/red increase/sats increase using curves, into PS for smart sharpen and upped the output levels black as b/g always seem to darken on export to jpg.

Was fun - wish I had a decent shot of my own to process

David

[Sierra Golf Mike]

Sara,

Two wonderful images, I'm no expert but the first one does it for me. I can only dream about producing images that good, maybe one day, just maybe. Well done and I look forward to seeing more from you.

[David010167]

Fab images, really do like both of them.

Which camera did you use for them? The 7d crop or the full frame 5d mk2 , both great cameras.

Regards

David

[swag72]

Hi David, I used the full frame 5D2 for these.