My name is Emanuele, I'm new to this forums! :)
I have been invited in by a moderator and so I'm here! I have been into photography, as a hobby, since a couple of years ago, but my main area is astrophotography!
I have started imaging just 3 months ago and I have a ton to learn still, but it is incredibly fun!
My main instrument is a Pentax 125 SDP (125 aperture - 800 Focal Length).
For guiding I use the little Pentax 75 SDHF!
My camera is a Canon 40D unmodded.
I hope I can fit here? I don't see a section dedicated to astrophotography so I'm posting here. Hope you like my images!
Here's the first ever image. I used a Pentax 105 SDHF (now sold) for this image.
Emanuele, I love these photos! Well done! and welcome to this forum-I'm hoping to learn alot from you so please give plenty of details w/ your posts-like what was your lighting like , I am not familiar w/ the Pentax 105 SDHF? Why that camera ? Is it designed for this type of photography? Can I get these shots w/ my Canon 40D? What does unmodded mean? Sorry I feel stupid asking all these questions but I am interested in learning this.
HI everyone!! :)
Wow lot's of replies! Thank you to everybody for their kind words!
To answer the questions (Denise's and others):
I took this in Big Cypress National Preserve, 45 minutes west of Miami, on Alligator Alley.
I used a German Equatorial mount, a Takahashi EM200 Temma 2 Jr, and my Pentax refractor to which my Canon 40D is attached at Prime Focus (directly to the telescope). At this point the telescope acts as a normal photographic lens! :)
Unmodded for the Canon 40D means that it is a stock model! Just like you bought yours (Denise) at the store. A lot of people that are into DSLR Astrophotography mod their cameras by removing the filter in front of the CMOS sensor and replacing it with one that will allow a certain wavelength of light to pass (mainly red). This will greatly enhance the camera sensitivity to emissions nebulae (HII regions on galaxies arms)
The first shot of the Pleiades was a stack of 14 shots, at 2 minutes each....for a total of 36 minutes at ISO 1600. This is not a lot at all, in fact, this was just a test shot, my first ever. Then after taken what we call "lights" I calibrated them by subtracting from each 2 minute shot (light), a dark frame taken at the same temperature as the lights were taken, at the same ISO speed and same length! This dark frame subtractions removes bad pixels from the images, but most importantly removes the read and thermal noise of the camera!
:) Hope this answers a bit of questions....just ask and I'll write more!
Here's a new shot for today! M33 , one of the most visible galaxies in the heavens!
Wow, It's a whole new world!! I find this very interesting-looked on your site and Orion's Sword is exquisite!!! Can't wait for your next post w/ more details!!
A big welcome to the BPN family Emanuele,
I really enjoy looking at your astro compositions...Its a whole different perspective...thanks for sharing...its very interesting...I think you are going to feel right at home here at BPN...once again welcome, and looking forward to your next capture...:):cool:
Great shot of the Pleiades, you sure did a great job of photographing them. If I remember right from astro navigation in Bomber Command over 65 years ago, the Pleiades show to the top right of the bow from the constalation of Orion showing his belt and the bow in front of him stretching in a arc from the vicinity of Sirus to just below the Pleiades?? Please correct me if I'm wrong.
One of our first Poster's Richard Kowalski., author of "HA Police post" http://www.birdphotographers.net/for...ight=HA+Police is an Astro Phyiscist who works with U of A and the Mt. Hopkins telescope that is visibile from our garden 10 miles away. Would be nice if you guys could get together. He has a link with post to "Full Moon Photography."
Welcome to the BPN forum
Uncle Gus
BTW; You wouldn't know this, however it is frowned on to post different photos in same post.
Last edited by Gus Hallgren; 01-17-2009 at 10:53 AM.
Reason: More info
