This was my first entry in "Sky." I pulled it in favor of another shot that I grabbed the evening the challenge closed. It's looking like I made the right decision, and since this can't be entered in any other challenges (I used Expert Editing rules) I guess it just goes in the port :-P
Details:
This was shot with a Canon 5D and 400/5.6L lens (borrowed from Strangeghost, thanks John!) mounted on a CG5 tracking mount. Four exposures @ 2 minutes each, ISO 800. The sky background was quite bright, so contrast in the original RAW files was really low. Converted using ACR, using linear gamma, then stacked to redue noise and contrast stretched. Curves adjusted to retain as much detail as possible in the central part of the nebula, while not losing the outer fringes.
This image would have benefitted greatly from being shot much later in the evening. The low position in the sky, the light pollution in the east from our position, and high altitude haze all contributed to less than optimal conditions. Wind also took it's toll, creating sxcessive camera shake in two of my six original exposures.
This is still by far my best effort at this particular object. I'll definitely try again, perhaps with a longer lens and under more optimal sky conditions.
Add photograph to your favorites
Add photographer to your favorites
Photographer found comment helpful.
