[APML] Astrophoto results from desert southwest

["Jeff Ball" <jeffball@zoominternet.net>]

Hello all,
I have completed processing images from a recent trip to New Mexico
Skies and Sunglow Ranch, Arizona.  I have two journal pages dedicated to
these two sites.  I joined with other APML members and observers for 16
nights of imaging.  We had a great time and a lot was learned in the
exchange of ideas on astrophotography.  I look forward to their posts
when completed.  Unfortunately, only 6 nights were able to be used
photographically.  The past few months have provided me an opportunity
to work on a few things.  

I have come to the conclusion that exposing the current picks of slide
film, E200 and Provia 400, beyond 1 hour with my 130 f8 scope was
gaining me nothing.  So I decided to pick up a faster lens and purchased
a Traveler via Astromart.  I am very impressed with the Traveler and new
field flattener.  Minimal vignetting in only the extreme corners is seen
on 6x7 format. I also imaged with a newly acquired 300mm Pentax f4 lens.
My goal was to capture the Milky Way and the dust cloud areas.  

I shot some Provia and E200 early on and we were fortunate to have Rick
Thurmond on site at New Mexico to develop our slides the next day.
Thanks to Rick for doing a wonderful processing job.  I really liked the
overall presentation of the E200 more than the Provia and went to E200
exclusively for the remainder of the trip.  I found one hour at f6 to be
a good exposure on the E200 at those dark sky sites.

I also broke down and bought a monitor calibration kit-the Spyder with
Optical software.  I really think this makes a huge difference.  I know
they are expensive, but I am very pleased with the results.  It took me
a while to really see gray as my monitor had been really biased towards
blue.

I had a chance to really go through Jerry L's book on CD.  This is part
of the core curriculum for image processing.  I thought I had a little
grasp of Photoshop until I read this CD.  Jerry really assists with
setting up the software for the most efficient use.  His
non-astronomical graphics really helped me to envision the processes
that were taking place in Photoshop.  This was a great idea to include
non-astronomical images as a teaching tool of the fundamentals of image
processing.  Wonderfully done and thanks to Jerry.  

My processing may not be perfect, but I do think I have developed a
certain consistency thanks to members on this list, textbooks by members
on this list, and Jerry's book on CD.  I hope you like the images.
Comments or questions welcomed as always.  

http://www.astro-photography.com/new_mexico.htm

Jeff Ball
www.astro-photography.com



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