Re: [APML] Astrophoto results from desert southwest

["Chris Cook" <ccjd@ix.netcom.com>]

Jeff -

Looks like you had a great time.  I enjoyed your Sag and Scorpius
constellation shots and the Cat Paw CCD.
The Sunglow startrail image is missing.
Nice work!

Chris

----------------------------------
Chris Cook
Astronomical & Nightscape Photography
www.abmedia.com/astro


-----Original Message-----
From: Jeff Ball <jeffball@zoominternet.net>
To: 'Discussion of Film Astrophotography' <astro-photo@seds.org>
Date: Saturday, July 05, 2003 11:31 PM
Subject: [APML] Astrophoto results from desert southwest


>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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>

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