TUTORIAL: Make better astro photos in Light polluted skies
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Dec 2, 2012 15:41:12 #
Going to try a short tutorial for members to learn how to produce acceptable Astro Photos taken in light polluted skies.
Frame One is the original photo. Taken with a Canon EOS T2i 18-55 mm lens at 18mm, f/3.5, 31 sec exposure, ISO 3200
Frame Two is a duplicate copy made in PhotoShop Elements 9 with all the brighter stars omitted using the Spot Healing Brush Tool (Band aid icon) set at 50px diameter.
Frame Three has Gaussian Blur (from filter column) set at maximum 250 pixels applied to Frame Two image.
Now use SELECT ALL for Frame Three (Gaussian Blurred) and paste to Frame One (Original Image).
Next go to PANEL BIN and under Layers, select Difference.
Go to Layers column and scroll down and apply FLATTEN IMAGE.
You should now have an image that has a black sky but the stars are not very prominent.
Next in ENHANCE column go to Adjust Lighting and apply Shadows/Highlights - now you should see a completely dark sky with lots of stars. There is some noise so additional processing would be advisable to improve the image.
I hope this is relatively easy to follow and with a little practice it can become routine. This system does not however work very well with extended objects unless they can be completely removed with the Spot Healing Tool. But it can produce some nice photos of Milky Way Star Fields, Clusters and Constellations.
Frame One is the original photo. Taken with a Canon EOS T2i 18-55 mm lens at 18mm, f/3.5, 31 sec exposure, ISO 3200
Frame Two is a duplicate copy made in PhotoShop Elements 9 with all the brighter stars omitted using the Spot Healing Brush Tool (Band aid icon) set at 50px diameter.
Frame Three has Gaussian Blur (from filter column) set at maximum 250 pixels applied to Frame Two image.
Now use SELECT ALL for Frame Three (Gaussian Blurred) and paste to Frame One (Original Image).
Next go to PANEL BIN and under Layers, select Difference.
Go to Layers column and scroll down and apply FLATTEN IMAGE.
You should now have an image that has a black sky but the stars are not very prominent.
Next in ENHANCE column go to Adjust Lighting and apply Shadows/Highlights - now you should see a completely dark sky with lots of stars. There is some noise so additional processing would be advisable to improve the image.
I hope this is relatively easy to follow and with a little practice it can become routine. This system does not however work very well with extended objects unless they can be completely removed with the Spot Healing Tool. But it can produce some nice photos of Milky Way Star Fields, Clusters and Constellations.
Original
Spot Healing
Gaussian Blur
Final
Dec 2, 2012 16:58:09 #
Jamers
Loc: Michigan
WOW..after reading this and Sarges brothers description, in another listing, it reminds me when I first began studying Greys anatomy in college. I can really get hooked on this topic. :thumbup:
Dec 2, 2012 17:05:31 #
Well jump in here Jamers, we would welcome you and if you find something wrong or a short cut or a better way please let us know. Astrophotography is a learning experience for us all. I've been into astrophotography since the old Tri-X B&W film days with a homemade camera and a telescope and I am still in the learning process.
Dec 2, 2012 17:23:12 #
Jamers
Loc: Michigan
Algol wrote:
OK, I feel the affect of the bite. This topic has fascinated me since I was seven years old when I saw my first UFO in Ypsilanti Michigan. Just told my wife I will require a telescope and a whole bunch of other gadgets I can't even pronounce their names, or even have a clue what they do.Well jump in here Jamers
Wife's response..."here we go again". :lol:
Dec 2, 2012 17:32:43 #
Jamers, I can fill you in on all the gadgets, never mind how they are pronounced, you should hear me speak in my native southern slang, I can really butcher the English language, lol.
Dec 11, 2012 12:01:59 #
Apr 24, 2014 12:27:10 #
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