Chatroom
 

If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.

Go Back   Bad Astronomy and Universe Today Forum > Science and Space > Astrophotography
Register FAQ Members List Calendar Mark Forums Read

   

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
  #1 (permalink)  
Old 29-September-2007, 09:44 PM
RickJ's Avatar
RickJ RickJ is offline
Established Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Mantrap Lake, MN
Posts: 1,626
Default Corrected Pelicans on the move

Andy correctly pointed out it was too red. When I processed it I was struck by how red it was but nothing I could do would make it bluer without ruining everything. So I gave up and figured it was right. Andy's comment got me to go back and look at my key logger. I'm still learning photoshop and sometimes I do something great but don't know how I did it. So I put in a keystroke logger and avoid using the mouse when possible so I can better track what I did.

I found that after I had loaded in the color frames there was a gap of time with no keystrokes then some very odd ones. Most did nothing in Photoshop but two turned the green and blue layers to transparent! That left only the red layer. I then composited it which caused the red layer to duplicate to the green and blue layers so all were exactly the same. No wonder it was red and nothing would fix it.

But why those odd key strokes. Then it hit me. I'd left and gone to the bathroom. One of our cats sleeps behind my computer (see shot attached for his bed though he wasn't in it when I took the shot months ago). He, for reasons we've never figured out, follows anyone into the john. Rather than jump all the way to the floor he jumps to my chair, to do this he walks across the computer keys if I leave the computer open. Usually this is obvious when I return. It wasn't this time. Anyway here it is with the right color balance!

Rick
Attached Images
File Type: jpg PELICAN_LUM6x5RGB3X5_50.jpg (132.7 KB, 53 views)
File Type: jpg 43S.jpg (140.1 KB, 36 views)

Last edited by RickJ; 29-September-2007 at 09:45 PM.. Reason: spelling correction
Reply With Quote
  #2 (permalink)  
Old 29-September-2007, 09:58 PM
JAICOA JAICOA is offline
Established Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Aguadilla, Puerto Rico
Posts: 2,595
Default

Very nice indeed, i like that blue halo on the left corner is it from a star?. But anyway both shots looks good each has a unique look. Clear Skies
Reply With Quote
  #3 (permalink)  
Old 29-September-2007, 10:20 PM
RickJ's Avatar
RickJ RickJ is offline
Established Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Mantrap Lake, MN
Posts: 1,626
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by JAICOA View Post
Very nice indeed, i like that blue halo on the left corner is it from a star?. But anyway both shots looks good each has a unique look. Clear Skies
Yep, there's a very blue star over there, 57 Cygni, spectral type B5V. I expected that ring to be blue and when it wasn't it puzzled me. Now I know why it was so red.

That's what I get for processing at 3 a.m. with a cat for a helper.

Rick
Reply With Quote
  #4 (permalink)  
Old 30-September-2007, 12:53 AM
kvwood kvwood is offline
Established Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 196
Default

Very nice image Rick. So you have an aspiring feline astrophotographer!

By the way, I responded to your email about the FSQ. Sorry it took awhile but I didn't notice the private message. Let me know if you have any other questions.

Thanks,
Kent
Reply With Quote
  #5 (permalink)  
Old 30-September-2007, 06:28 AM
andyschlei's Avatar
andyschlei andyschlei is offline
Established Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 1,387
Default

Rick,

Quote:
Originally Posted by RickJ View Post
Andy correctly pointed out it was too red. When I processed it I was struck by how red it was but nothing I could do would make it bluer without ruining everything. So I gave up and figured it was right. Andy's comment got me to go back and look at my key logger. [snip]
Thanks for the credit for asking the question. My keyboard sits on a keyboard tray that slides under my desk, so I have avoided such feline entanglements so far.

Your second shot makes me homesick for my parent's place. They live on Conway Lake in the UP (northern Michigan near Big Bay -- zip 49808 for those who might look for it). I wish I had such a view from my window as you have from yours. I think you said that most of the time you stay inside while the observatory works, that would explain how you could work during mosquito and fly season.

Great image, you are doing excellent work. Please keep sharing, it is an inspiration to us all (well, to me anyway )

--Andy
__________________
Observatorio de la Ballona
Reply With Quote
  #6 (permalink)  
Old 30-September-2007, 06:33 AM
Torsten's Avatar
Torsten Torsten is offline
Established Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: British Columbia
Posts: 1,513
Default

Very nice image Rick. I also like the view of the lake.

Great detective story about the cat!
Reply With Quote
  #7 (permalink)  
Old 30-September-2007, 10:22 AM
winensky's Avatar
winensky winensky is offline
Established Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Ballarat, Victoria, Australia
Posts: 872
Default

Even more stunning and yes I too have a feline friend who frequently corrects my work.

Kind regards
Matt
Reply With Quote
  #8 (permalink)  
Old 30-September-2007, 08:25 PM
RickJ's Avatar
RickJ RickJ is offline
Established Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Mantrap Lake, MN
Posts: 1,626
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by andyschlei View Post
Rick,

Your second shot makes me homesick for my parent's place. They live on Conway Lake in the UP (northern Michigan near Big Bay -- zip 49808 for those who might look for it). I wish I had such a view from my window as you have from yours. I think you said that most of the time you stay inside while the observatory works, that would explain how you could work during mosquito and fly season.

--Andy
You forgot the midge flies in spring and -30 and colder come winter. When I first set up the observatory using a ST-7 and 6" f/4 in April of 2006 it was midge season. After only an hour so many had flown into the screen then fallen into the keboard soon the computer keys failed. A lot of vacuuming later the keys worked again. I quickly finished the ethernet link to the house before using it with the computer again.

The scope is 16 feet above ground level. I've attached a shot of the observatory from the ground and a shot from the deck leading to it -- of the lake that is. Note there's no one out there and not just where the camera's looking. There are only 18 full time residents of my 36 square mile township. I have very dark skies! The scope's pier is 20' tall, 6 of which is below ground and part of a 10'x8' pad of concrete 6" thick 6' under the observatory. It's topped by a 2 foot steel pier and then the Paramount. It doesn't touch the building at any point to isolate it from any motion. I've attached a shot of the scope. Note it is nearly as high as the roof of a 2 story house. I'll let you ponder why there's a small piece of second surface mirror attached to the back of the telescope.

Rick
Attached Images
File Type: jpg IMG_0844S.jpg (126.3 KB, 17 views)
File Type: jpg DeckS.jpg (111.8 KB, 12 views)
File Type: jpg IMG_0842S.jpg (122.0 KB, 18 views)

Last edited by RickJ; 09-October-2007 at 05:38 AM..
Reply With Quote
  #9 (permalink)  
Old 01-October-2007, 09:35 AM
Bokmakierie's Avatar
Bokmakierie Bokmakierie is offline
Established Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Sandbaai, South Africa
Posts: 676
Send a message via Skype™ to Bokmakierie
Default

Stuff that dreams are made of!! Wow!!!
__________________
If at first you fail, you're running average
Reply With Quote
  #10 (permalink)  
Old 03-October-2007, 03:55 AM
lizzie's Avatar
lizzie lizzie is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Townsville, Australia
Posts: 23
Default

Love the 'red' ... have it as my desktop pic, thank you, it's beautiful.
Reply With Quote
Reply


Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On



Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
i have to move...no internet Chunky Off-Topic Babbling 15 15-December-2006 10:28 PM
Northern Lights on the Move Fraser Universe Today Story Comments 4 14-December-2005 11:23 AM
Why do photons move outward from the sun's core? IMO Space/Astronomy Questions and Answers 47 27-October-2005 06:58 PM
Ok, its not real, people. Move along.... ObiWan377 Against the Mainstream 9 21-May-2003 03:28 AM


All times are GMT. The time now is 10:40 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.3
Copyright ©2000 - 2009, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
LinkBacks Enabled by vBSEO 3.0.0
©  2006 Bad Astronomy and Universe Today