Photoclubalpha

I have been fighting the temptation to post this one, though of poor quality even by my own standard, what is exciting to me about this shot is this
is my first attempt at wide field astrophotography. This is a 5 image + dark frame stack using DeepSky Stacker. It was taken from my backyard, on a
tripod, each shot is 10sec exposure, (50 sec total exposure) at f2.8 and ISO1600 on A700 using CZ24-70 lens. I am seriously mulling over acquiring a
tracker as time progresses. As always, all C&C is appreciated. Couple of things off the bat, the focus was off. The lens was too wide for where I positioned it.
You can see the roof of our neighbor's home to the left and a tree top in the lower half about 60% of the way from left (orange blobs). I am reading a bit
on the trips and techniques and there are quite a few technical terms bandied around and trying to get my knowledge up.
I was more excited about getting the SW to do what it is supposed to do than anything else. An image without the darkframe was less contrasty and it
was a revelation to me how that impacted. I was fascinated by how each of the shots were almost dark and after the stacking this emerges.

With best regards,
Sury


[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/bigsu ... .jpg[/img]
DSC17043047-5DarkFrameDSS by BigSury, on Flickr[/url]

sury wrote:I have been fighting the temptation to post this one, though of poor quality even by my own standard, what is exciting to me about this shot is this
is my first attempt at wide field astrophotography. This is a 5 image + dark frame stack using DeepSky Stacker. It was taken from my backyard, on a
tripod, each shot is 10sec exposure, (50 sec total exposure) at f2.8 and ISO1600 on A700 using CZ24-70 lens. I am seriously mulling over acquiring a
tracker as time progresses. As always, all C&C is appreciated. Couple of things off the bat, the focus was off. The lens was too wide for where I positioned it.
You can see the roof of our neighbor's home to the left and a tree top in the lower half about 60% of the way from left (orange blobs). I am reading a bit
on the trips and techniques and there are quite a few technical terms bandied around and trying to get my knowledge up.
I was more excited about getting the SW to do what it is supposed to do than anything else. An image without the darkframe was less contrasty and it
was a revelation to me how that impacted. I was fascinated by how each of the shots were almost dark and after the stacking this emerges.

With best regards,
Sury

This is well out of my field of knowledge but you sound like you've researched the subject, you're self critical and can recognise pitfalls and how to remedy them, so I'm sure you'll get better and better.

In the meantime - I'm impressed and I can easily recognise Orion,his belt,his dagger and sirius ? Plus a very faint plough/big dipper/Saptarish? Tell me if I'm wrong as I'm not too good at astronomy.

Pat

Pat,
You are right on the target. Thank you for your encouraging words. Much appreciated.
Saptarishi in Sanskrit: Sapta = 7 Rishi = Guru/Swami/Monk/

With best regards,
Sury

Here is one from Princeville, Kauai (north shore of the island). 10 images + 11 dark images in Deep Sky Stacker.
Lens: 70-400G at 85mm, f4, 7 second exposure per shot at ISO6400. Tweaked in DSS and LR4 for noise removal
and not completely successful but couldn't wait.
I bought a eBay gadget for about US$30 for interval timing. The camera was put in Bulb mode, the gadget programmed,
the lens in manual focus and let it go.

Congratulations, Sury.

That indeed looks like a starry, starry night. One that one doesn't see with the naked eye.

You're happy with yourself! : ))

Thanks for sharing,

Yildiz