I recently re-imaged M17 after 8 months. Albeit with a completely different setup of superior optics, I am posting this because the improvement is not only due to the setup, but rather the journey of learning.
When you’re passionate about your hobby, you’ll never be bored again in your life. Since I first attached a DSLR to my telescope in March 2012, I was hooked. Continuously trying to improve on my previous photos. Its come at a financial cost too, but that is not a necessity. Tenacity and perseverance is.
I’ve learnt a great deal from people whom I now consider friends via social media. Twitter has become a platform to interact with others equally passionate about astrophotography, and communities on Google Plus and Flickr groups enable us all to share our photos and experiences.
Moreover, it’s the willingness to move outside of your comfort zone. “No one looks back on their life and remembers the nights they had plenty of sleep”. Own your passion, always work to better yourself.
About the photos:
October 2012:
Canon 5Dmii
Celestron 11′ SCT
CGem DX
No field flattener
Unguided
9min
9x 60sec ISO400
Post processing:
Acquisition & integration: Nebulosity 3
No flats / Darks
Edited in Photoshop
Location: JHB (South Africa), very light polluted area
Click here to view full image
May 2013:
Canon60Da
Officina Stellare HiperAPO105
CGem DX
0,75x reducer/corrector
Guided SSAG&PHD
81min
10 Darks / 16 Flats
27x 180sec ISO800
Acquisition: Nebulosity 3
Calibration & processing: PixInsight
Finished off in Photoshop CC
Location: Sutherland (South Africa), dark site
Click here to view full image
