Re: [APML] The perfect astrophoto book (Was: North American Nebula (ordodging aurora))

[Robert Reeves <reeves10@swbell.net>]

> Robert,
>
> I send this post to the group because I believe it does interest most of
> us here.
> As I already told you I enjoyed a lot reading your book, envaluable
source.
> I'd like to start also with prime focus astrophotography, but personally
> I wouldn't cosider talking about ccd photography as there are dozens of
> other books talking about that. Instead I would appreciate some more
> talk concerning digital image processing of scanned images and all the
> tricks about getting rid of vignetting, stacking photos digitally.
> I know this is a big issue, because i believe it is almost impossible to
>
> separate the technique from the software actually used for doing the
> job; you would probably end up to need to choose a program instead of
> another. Would it be correct doing that? I really dunno, perhaps yes,
> because in any case someone can understand from the technique how to do
> it with another program, or prhaps it would be an extra burden for the
> reader...I'm puzzled by that.

Nicola,

Thanks for your input.  But don't worry about my addressing CCD in any
books, other than as an autoguider.  I plan to champion film
astrophotography until it is just not supported by film suppliers.  In fact,
for CCD, I heartily recommend Ron Wadowski's book "The New CCD Astronomy".
A great book for those who have entered the Dark Side!

As for addressing digital processing of scanned film images, that is the
greatest priority for any future edition of Wide-Field Astrophotography.
People keep saying "Film is dead!"  I dissagree.  It is the darkroom that is
dead.  Film still kicks butt but now we scan the film, then merge our
techniques with those also used by the CCD gang.  Any future treatment of
film astrophotography must emphasize a good understanding of the basics of
digital processing.  Today, that would include using one or more of the
programs RegiStar, Photoshop, and SGBNR.  By the time another printing of
Wide-Field comes out, who knows, there may be another indespensable program
we add to that list.  Lets hope so!  This part of astrophotography is still
evolving.

Robert Reeves                      reeves10@swbell.net
520 Rittiman Rd.                   www.robertreeves.com
San Antonio, Texas 78209    210-828-9036
USA                                     29.484  98.440  200 meters


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