Re: [APML] 6x7 North American Nebula - From Seattle?

[Matt BenDaniel <matt@starmatt.com>]

Jay,

Your image is very nice, and it will benefit from the use of a few additional processing techniques.

Firstly, the image is clipped on the low and in red on the top end. If you can go back to a raw unclipped image and pay more attention to the clipping, you'll bring out more detail in the image.

The image is vignetted. Anti-vignetting is fairly advanced but you might think about trying it here. After the vignetting is taken care of, you'll be able to darken the shadows and reveal more faint detail.

I think the image could use a bit more blue. Ideally you want to see both red and blue field stars. Ultimately you may want to star shape.

It's funny, because I was just working on my NA Neb when your message came across:
http://starmatt.com/gallery/astro/naneb.html

Matt


At 18:45 24-01-03 -0800, Jay E. Potts wrote:
>I have seen some absolutely stunning images of "The North American Nebula."
>on this group, and I won't pretend that this image is in the same league.
>
>However... This image is significant to me, because it was taken, for all
>intensive purposes, from within Seattle! For the last 30 years, I didn't
>think it was possible to get results like this surrounded by major cities.
>Of course, processing tools have been very limited for the majority of that
>time. But I didn't think useful data of any kind could be gathered.
>
>In any event, this image is the result of stacking four images that I took
>will performing a test to see how long I could expose E200 before washing
>out the background in light pollution. These images sat for months until I
>had a way to scan them. Then the scans sat for months until I had time to
>process them.
>
>Large Image:
>http://www.whirlpoolgalaxy.com/ngc7000_p67.html
>
>Small Image (details):
>http://www.whirlpoolgalaxy.com/ngc7000_p67_intro.html
>
>I suppose my processing could use some work. Getting a reasonable color
>balance is pretty tough because of all the green and blue I had to remove in
>an attempt to reduce the effects of light pollution.
>
>Suggestions welcome.
>
>Thanks,
>Jay E. Potts
>http://www.whirlpoolgalaxy.com (Astrophotography)
>http://www.americanfocus.com (Landscape and Wildlife Photography)

--
Matt BenDaniel
matt@starmatt.com
http://starmatt.com

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