Latest Work

California Nebula Mosaic in Narrowband - Remix

Here is a 2 panel mosaic in narrowband, but combining Hα and SII emissions, without any OIII collected. This 2nd mix uses a more traditional palette, with a mix that is primarily set as Red - 100% SII, Green -70% Hα, and no Blue, with then a lot of tweaking in Photoshop and Lightroom. This new mix still gives a yellow cast to the combined emission regions with the areas predominated by each filter wavelength showing as red or green. This target could have used an even wider FOV as with this amount of integration there is lots of faint nebulosity that is outside the FOV. But I am ultimately happy with this second mosaic I have ever attempted. More info on this object from Wikipedia: The California Nebula (NGC 1499/Sh2-220) is an emission nebula located in the constellation Perseus. Its name comes from its resemblance to the outline of the US State of California in long exposure photographs. It is almost 2.5° long on the sky and, because of its very low surface brightness, it is extremely difficult to observe visually. It can be observed with a Hα filter (isolates the Hα line at 656 nm) or Hβ filter (isolates the Hβ line at 486 nm) in a rich-field telescope under dark skies.[1] It lies at a distance of about 1,000 light years from Earth. Its fluorescence is due to excitation of the Hβ line in the nebula by the nearby prodigiously energetic O7 star, Xi Persei (also known as Menkib, seen at center below it in the inset at right).[2] The California Nebula was discovered by E. E. Barnard in 1884. Equipment: ZWO ASI1600MM-C Camera @ -15C and Gain:200 Offset:50 Software Bisque MyT Mount Stellarvue SVQ100 Astrograph Refractor, 580mm @ f/5.8 Innovations Foresight ONAG Software: Pixinsight Commercial Version 1.8 Lightroom CC Photoshop CC Innovations Foresight SkyGuard Light Frames: Hα: 112 x 300 secs (9 hrs 20 mins ) SII: 82 x 300 secs (6 hrs 50 mins) Red: 50 x 30 secs (25 mins) Green: 51 x 30 secs 25 mins 30 secs) Blue: 46 x 30 secs (24 mins 30 secs) 17 hrs 25 mins total Dark Frames: 10 x 30 secs each, RGB (15 mins total) 10 x 300 secs each, Hα, OIII(1 hr 40 mins total)

California Nebula Mosaic in Narrowband

Here is a 2 panel mosaic in narrowband, but combining Hα and SII emissions, without any OIII collected. This gives it a somewhat non-traditional palette, with a mix that is primarily set as Red - 100% Hα, Green - 100% SII, and Blue - 50% Hα, with then a lot of tweaking in Photoshop and Lightroom. This gives a yellow cast to the combined emission regions with the areas predominated by each filter wavelength showing as red or green. This target could have used an even wider FOV as with this amount of integration there is lots of faint nebulosity that is outside the FOV. But I am ultimately happy with this second mosaic I have ever attempted. More info on this object from Wikipedia: The California Nebula (NGC 1499/Sh2-220) is an emission nebula located in the constellation Perseus. Its name comes from its resemblance to the outline of the US State of California in long exposure photographs. It is almost 2.5° long on the sky and, because of its very low surface brightness, it is extremely difficult to observe visually. It can be observed with a Hα filter (isolates the Hα line at 656 nm) or Hβ filter (isolates the Hβ line at 486 nm) in a rich-field telescope under dark skies.[1] It lies at a distance of about 1,000 light years from Earth. Its fluorescence is due to excitation of the Hβ line in the nebula by the nearby prodigiously energetic O7 star, Xi Persei (also known as Menkib, seen at center below it in the inset at right).[2] The California Nebula was discovered by E. E. Barnard in 1884. Equipment: ZWO ASI1600MM-C Camera @ -15C and Gain:200 Offset:50 Software Bisque MyT Mount Stellarvue SVQ100 Astrograph Refractor, 580mm @ f/5.8 Innovations Foresight ONAG Software: Pixinsight Commercial Version 1.8 Lightroom CC Photoshop CC Innovations Foresight SkyGuard Light Frames: Hα: 112 x 300 secs (9 hrs 20 mins ) SII: 82 x 300 secs (6 hrs 50 mins) Red: 50 x 30 secs (25 mins) Green: 51 x 30 secs 25 mins 30 secs) Blue: 46 x 30 secs (24 mins 30 secs) 17 hrs 25 mins total Dark Frames: 10 x 30 secs each, RGB (15 mins total) 10 x 300 secs each, Hα, OIII(1 hr 40 mins total)

Flaming Star Nebula in Narrowband

The Flaming Star Nebula (IC405) is a relatively bright nebula in the constellation Auriga with both emission and reflection elements. It is estimated to be approximately 1,500 light years from Earth. This image uses a modified SHO palette in narrowband to represent the nebula, with extra RGB data collection to represent the stars in natural light. It is a first light image for a newly acquired QHY268M camera. Equipment: QHY268M Camera @ -5C and Gain:56 Offset:25 Software Bisque MyT Mount Stellarvue SVQ100 Astrograph Refractor, 580mm @ f/5.8 Antlia Pro Filters (3nm narrowband plus LRGB) Askar FMA180 Guidescope/ASI290MM Software: Pixinsight Commercial Version 1.8 Lightroom CC Photoshop CC N.I.N.A. Control Software Star XTerminator (Russell Croman) Noise XTerminator (Russell Croman) Light Frames: Ha - 56 x 480 secs ( 7 hrs 28 mins) OIII - 78 x 480 secs (10 hrs 48 mins) SII - 81 x 480 secs (10 hrs and 18 mins) Red: 28 x 30 secs 14 mins) Green: 27 x 30 secs (13 mins 30 secs) Blue: 28 x 30 secs (14 mins) 29 hrs 21 mins 30 secs total Dark Frames: 10 x 30 secs (5 mins) 10 x 480 secs (1 hr 20 mins) Bias Frames 60 No Flat Frames

Red Rock Country

The beautiful vistas start even before you enter Zion national park.

Zion - Kolob Terrace Road

A random wilderness walk beckons along the Kolob Terrace Road, that enters the park farther south from the Kolob Canyon area. Perfect landscape photography conditions, with some cloud action. I really liked the red dirt matching the red rocks.

Kolob Road Vista

A small side trail beckons off into the wilderness as the amazing red rock outcroppings catch the low angle light from the late day sun.

Snow Canyon Colors

The rock colors right after entering Snow Canyon State Park are amazing, with the black volcanic rocks in the foreground contrasting with the varied colors of the ridges in the distance.

Kolob Canyon Scenic Drive View

Heading up the canyon, it was jaw dropping views from the start.

Kolob Grandeur

The scenic drive along the Kolob Canyon right after the northern entrance to Zion National Park is simply not to be missed. It was especially beautiful with the late day sun lighting up the canyon.

Kolob 'Gold"

A closer in view of some of the west facing canyon walls in the Kolob Canyon section of Zion National Park during the Golden Hour.

Glowing Ridge

The late day sun along the Kolob Canyon Scenic Drive lights up one of the many rock ridges along the route.

Kolob Giants

Some of the massive rock faces light up with the last rays of the sun at the Kolob Canyon Scenic Overlook in Zion National Park.

Kolob Canyon Vista

The view just heading back down from the Kolob Canyon Overlook in Zion National Park, Utah.

Kodachrome Color

Sunset at Kodachrome Basin along the Angel's Palace Trail.

Fire Wave Vista

A VERY windy hike brought us to the Fire Wave, a very popular destination. This was one of the few images without people covering the main subject.

White Domes Trail #1

Coming back along the White Domes Trail in Valley of Fire State Park the powerful winds eventually kicked up a huge dust plume that mimicked an approaching storm, as the visibility began to be severely limited.

White Domes Trail #2

The powerful winds raise massive amounts of dust into the air over the orange expanse of Valley of Fire State Park.

Hike Into Heat

Although the warning sign was easily ignored in February, I imagine it is best heeded in the summer months. One of many amazing trails that quickly head off into the wilderness at Valley of Fire State Park.

Late Afternoon at Mirror Lake

One of the highlights of our Yosemite visit was getting back to see Mirror Lake at the extreme east end of the park. The light was amazing and the views were special.

Creek View

Looking up towards where Tenaya Creek empties into Mirror Lake in Yosemite National Park.

Tunnel View

The most iconic viewpoint in Yosemite did not disappoint, and even with a large number of visitors enjoying the view there was still room to get a capture of this classic scene.

Bridal Veil Falls

A closer detailed view of Bridal Veil Falls as seen from Tunnel View in Yosemite National Park.

Half Dome Close-Up

A telephoto view of Half Dome in late day sun, from the Tunnel View parking area in Yosemite National Park.