[HOTTIEBOY]

Pasted from Allaboutastro.com

Exposure Info: LLRGB image; 160:50:40:60 RGB (20 minute subexposures for L, 10 minute subexposures for RGB, color binned)

Processing Information: Acquisition with CCDSoft. Calibration (darks/flats), registration, gradient removal, and RGB channel combine in MaxIm DL 4 (average combine). LRGB and LLRGB combine, color balance, levels/curves, high pass sharpening, and noise removal and local contrast enhancement (Noel Carboni's Astronomy Tools) in Photoshop CS.

Exposure Notes: One of the more difficult objects I've shot, simply because of the havoc wreaked by the bright star Alnitak just off the frame to the left. Philosophically, it poses a dilemma...attack the gradient, leaving the viewer with the question of why the red channel is weaker compared to the other channels -or- perserve the gradient, making it more obvious that something lurks outside the frame impressing itself on the landscape? For this image, I chose a mixture of both philosophies. The original data is heavily biased to the blue, so strengthening of the red channel and removal of most of the blue gradients were required; however, leaving some of the diffraction spikes/flares from Alnitak gives reference to its presence.

[HOTTIEBOY]

ping

[Americanexpat]

Beautiful pictures, thanks for posting.

[tje]

and I thought I had gas....

[RightWhale]

Photoshopped is it?

[meanie monster]

Nice pics and, lol at your tagline! :>)