Re: [APML] NGC 7331

[Alan Voetsch <critter12952@yahoo.com>]

Hi Paul,

I've tried to say before what you said here. I think you stated my
thoughts exactly, but expressed them better than I ever could.
Excellent, excellent... and thanks for laying it out so honestly. Now,
you'll probably be banished back to the hell you came from...the SBIG
group. :-) Just kidding, I really think most here are open to some CCD
input. Someday, we'll need to put it to a vote.

Alan


--- Paul Howell <paul@howell-ltd.com> wrote:
> I am a lurker here, so most of you don't know me. I lurk
> because most of my astrophotography is CCD based. When I
> first started doing imaging, I discovered the APML and silly
> me, thought that the "Astrophotography Mailing List"
> pertained to me. Boy was I wrong. I was flummoxed then, and
> I am flummoxed now.
> 
> As far as I can tell, it goes something like this:
> 
> 1. Film images has 'soul', CCD images do not.
> 2. People who shoot film are somehow inherently more in
> touch with their inner esthetic.
> 3. CCD folks are nouveau rich impostors.
> 4. CCD is the 'dark side'
> 5. We've been doing this for a long time, what would you
> know.
> 6. CCD is so expensive, only geeky rich guys can afford it.
> 7. CCD is so complicated, only geeky rich guys can do it.
> 
> I have been a professional photographer for a long time. I
> have shot film, I have shot digitally. Nowadays, we shoot
> virtually everything digitally. I can tell you firsthand,
> the 'soul' in my photography was never in my film, and it
> isn't in my CCD cameras. It's in me. This whining about CCD
> is ludicrous.
> 
> As far as the cost and complication, well it is expensive
> and more complicated than film. Get over it. So are AP
> scopes, Paramounts etc. Many, many folks cannot afford such
> high end equipment. Most members of my astronomy club fall
> into this category. Maybe they should form a list called the
> "Discussion of Astrophotography Done On Inexpensive OTAs".
> 
> As far as the esthetic thing goes, I think that's where I
> get the most riled up. Sure, some CCD'ers are hacks, so are
> some film shooters. There is however some wonderful
> photography out there done by some very talented CCD
> shooters. They are not hacks.
> 
> I wish the APML wasn't closed to my photography. I think I
> have something I could share. So I post to the SBIG list.
> But I must tell you, I would prefer to post (and discuss) on
> a list that is dedicated to all forms of astrophotography,
> regardless of camera make, method, film or CCD. The APML has
> that potential.
> 
> The APML will slowly lose relevance if it does not embrace
> new imagers, and new imaging technology. Tony said as much
> and I agree. Only Nixon could go to China, and only Tony can
> lay down that roadmap.



__________________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
Yahoo! SiteBuilder - Free, easy-to-use web site design software
http://sitebuilder.yahoo.com
_______________________________________________
Astro-Photo mailing list
Astro-Photo@seds.org
http://seds.org/mailman/listinfo/astro-photo