[APML] Rescan of 2002 Aurora from Cherry Springs

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

Hello all,
I am working on an animation of this aurora and rescanned with the Nikon
Coolscan 8000 ED.  I was blown away with the rescans.  Not that they are
tremendous aurora shots, it is just that the Nikon really captured the
detail on the slide.  I did not realize how much the Polaroid 35 plus did
not pick up.  It may be a case of me not understanding how to use the
Polaroid.  I no longer have that scanner.  My only guess is that I increased
the analog gain on the Nikon by a factor of 1 to move the black point on the
histogram further to the right.  I don't think I had this capability with
the Polaroid.  I can't remember the amount of control I had over a Polaroid
scan.  I think I used some form of a European software for the Polaroid, but
it wasn't the packaged software with the scanner.  I loved the Polaroid and
have rarely seen the Nikon beat it out.  But with these slides, the analog
gain adjustment seems to really make a difference.  I realize that when it
comes to scanning, I still don't know what I am doing.

Here is the new version.

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

here is the Polaroid version.

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

The colors in the Nikon are more like the slide.  I don't know what
enhancements I did with the Polaroid.  With the Nikon, I did not use Nikon
color management and only stretched curves a bit and set the black point for
all colors.  I put a little G-blur to smooth out selected dim areas.  I
thought it was pretty interesting.  I hope to have an animation soon.  I
only have 4 frames to work with, but it may still be interesting.  Best
regards.

Jeff Ball
www.astro-photography.com

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