Re: [APML] Astrophoto results from desert southwest

[Steve <sc02492@yahoo.com>]

Jeff, this is some of the best work that I've ever
seen.  Truly inspiring.

Congratulations!

Steve Cannistra

--- Jeff Ball <jeffball@zoominternet.net> wrote:
> 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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> Astro-Photo@seds.org
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