Andromeda Galaxy
by dunzel

Comment:
I missed the requirement that it needed to be taken after the challenge was issued. I took the shot shortly before. That's okay. I got what I wanted out of it, which was feedback. Thanks for weighing in. Hopefully my breakdown of how it was done will help others that are interested, and encourage them to try this type of photography. That should be the main goal of any photography site that hosts contests like this.

Message edited by author 2012-01-05 14:43:15.

Eggzample of Great Escapes
by heavyj

Comment:
One problem - it only takes about 21 days for a bird egg to hatch. He must have been ticked off after getting out.

Andromeda Galaxy
by dunzel

Comment:
Thanks HarveyG and everyone who commented. I'm not sure most people realize what it takes to get a shot like that. But then again, that's photography! I was challenged by the council to prove the shot was taken by me and I sent in the original, so I guess that's kind of a vote in itself. If people can't believe you really took the shot, then that's kind of cool too!

Andromeda Galaxy
by dunzel

Comment:
Several members asked how this was done. Here's the break down:

This image was taken by attaching my Canon EOS 1000D "piggy-back" style on my telescope optical tube. It was necessary to counter the earth's rotation using the telescope's computerized mount. The shot was NOT taken through the telescope, but just through my Canon 250mm EF-S zoom lens. I took multiple dark, bias, and light frames. The dark and bias frames were used to cancel out hot pixels in the image, as well as any stray dust particles that may cast shadows. I used software to measure polar alignment via the drift method to cancel out star drift. I then took multiple exposures of 120 seconds each at F5.6 1600 ISO. After collecting the images, I processed them using photo stacking software called Deep Sky Stacker to increase the signal to noise ratio and bring out detail. After that I processed the single stacked shot in Photoshop using multiple actions to enhance and sharpen the image. Thanks for the votes and comments!

Message edited by author 2011-12-28 17:41:44.

One hundred degrees; see!
by NES

Comment:
Good choice to use monochrome - it makes it more interesting.

The Mechanical Building Blocks of Railroad...Man Moving Forward
by ColdplayTurtle

Comment:
Nice perspective, but not sure if it fits the challenge.

Measuring The Atmospheric Pressure
by BrianR

Comment:
Nice.

Study of Affixing
by Ammie

Comment:
Interesting use of lines.

Subtle berry notes with a hint of monomethyl-p-aminophenol hemisulfate
by brucedgates

Comment:
Interesting. I like the color and choice of black background.

Thanks Mr. Edison
by PennyStreet

Comment:
Hmmmm.