First attempt at M 31

gshappell · 9th of January 2012 (Mon)

25 shots for 25 seconds each with the kit lens at 24mm(ish), f/4, 1600. Used DeepSkyStacker and Baz's awesome tutorial. I have a lot of work to do... not quite happy with the results but better than my real first attempt two nights ago.
Critique/tips greatly appreciated. Cant really afford better lenses right now, but am going to pickup the nifty fifty sometime this week.

M 31 by gshappell, on Flickr

cyberon · 9th of January 2012 (Mon)

It's alright, it's a start. I think you caught the bug already!

gshappell · 9th of January 2012 (Mon)

Yeah, i have been reading threads and websites all weekend and this morning. Now really unhappy with it...cant even see it compared to others i've seen ! LOL!

SteveInNZ · 9th of January 2012 (Mon)

You shouldn't be at all disappointed with that as a first effort. Have a search for "gradient removal" or "light pollution removal" techniques using p/s layers. Be gentle, but I think that you'd get a good result if you could even the background out a bit.

archer1960 · 10th of January 2012 (Tue)

The only real issue you're having is that 24mm is really too wide for a good M31 shot. It would work great for the MIlky Way, though.

cmh512 · 11th of January 2012 (Wed)

Are you using a tracking mount or are those the extent of the star trails in a 25second shot at 24mm?

gshappell · 11th of January 2012 (Wed)

No tracking mount...

9th of January 2012 (Mon)	#1
gshappell Member Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 53 IMAGE EDITING OK	First attempt at M 31 25 shots for 25 seconds each with the kit lens at 24mm(ish), f/4, 1600. Used DeepSkyStacker and Baz's awesome tutorial. I have a lot of work to do... not quite happy with the results but better than my real first attempt two nights ago. Critique/tips greatly appreciated. Cant really afford better lenses right now, but am going to pickup the nifty fifty sometime this week. M 31 by gshappell, on Flickr __________________ Canon EOS XSI 18-55 IS Kit lens \| 55 -250 EFS Beginner My flickr 500px webpage

9th of January 2012 (Mon)	#2
cyberon Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Perth, Australia Posts: 538 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: First attempt at M 31 It's alright, it's a start. I think you caught the bug already! __________________ 500D, Speedlite 430EX II, Lens : 15-85mm; 50mm F1.8 II; 100mm F2.8L IS Macro; 70-200mm F4L; Samyang 8mm F3.5 U/W : G11, OEM Housing, Inon S2000, Inon D4 Tray, Inon UCL-165 Close up lens Astro : Modded 1100D, ES 80ED, Skywatcher HEQ5 Mount, Astrotrac TT320X-AG, Astronomik CLS Clip in filter

9th of January 2012 (Mon)	#3
gshappell Member Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 53 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: First attempt at M 31 Yeah, i have been reading threads and websites all weekend and this morning. Now really unhappy with it...cant even see it compared to others i've seen ! LOL! __________________ Canon EOS XSI 18-55 IS Kit lens \| 55 -250 EFS Beginner My flickr 500px webpage

9th of January 2012 (Mon)	#4
SteveInNZ Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Auckland, New Zealand Posts: 1,066 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: First attempt at M 31 You shouldn't be at all disappointed with that as a first effort. Have a search for "gradient removal" or "light pollution removal" techniques using p/s layers. Be gentle, but I think that you'd get a good result if you could even the background out a bit. __________________ "Treat every photon with respect" - David Malin.

10th of January 2012 (Tue)	#5
archer1960 Goldmember Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 2,842 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: First attempt at M 31 The only real issue you're having is that 24mm is really too wide for a good M31 shot. It would work great for the MIlky Way, though. __________________ T1i (500D), A2E film body, Tokina 11-16, Tamron 18-270 VC, Canon 85 f/1.8, Canon FD 100 f/4.0 macro, Canon EX-430 flash, Vivitar DF-383 flash, Astro-Tech AT6RC telescope, various other semi-crappy manual lenses and stuff.

11th of January 2012 (Wed)	#6
cmh512 Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Oregon Posts: 152 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: First attempt at M 31 Are you using a tracking mount or are those the extent of the star trails in a 25second shot at 24mm?

11th of January 2012 (Wed)	#7
gshappell Member Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 53 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: First attempt at M 31 No tracking mount... __________________ Canon EOS XSI 18-55 IS Kit lens \| 55 -250 EFS Beginner My flickr 500px webpage

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