How would you process this image to bring out the Milky way?

bdery · 09-11-2015, 05:50 AM

I've been trying to capture images of the Milky Way and have been dissatisfied with the results. While not being an expert, I'm usually content with how I can process images. In this case, however, I cannot get close to what other people are getting with their Milky Way pictures.

This was shot towards the North (northern hemisphere). There is the halo of a city 40 minutes away showing to the right. Here is the original, along with the best I could do. Clicking the images will bring you to full size versions (mine are RAW, these are JPEG sadly, not sure how to link RAW in Smugmug). Have a go at it, as long as you teach me what you did

Original

Processed

RAART · 09-11-2015, 06:34 AM

why you don't link a TIFF image or if you have gmail/google account you can upload the file to google drive and list as public and put the download link here...

bdery · 09-11-2015, 07:01 AM

Good idea, I'll try to do that at home this evening. Still, the 24 MP JPEG should be a good place to start

RAART · 09-11-2015, 07:03 AM

BTW - your JPEG image cannot be downloaded either just to let you know.

**MJSfoto1956** · 09-11-2015, 07:03 AM

if you allow downloading of your image from SmugMug we can take a better peek...

Michael

bdery · 09-11-2015, 08:34 AM

Sorry about that. Download should be possible now.

**mattb123** · 09-11-2015, 09:11 AM

I imagine you know this but darker skies would help.

bdery · 09-11-2015, 10:53 AM

Originally posted by mattb123

I imagine you know this but darker skies would help.

I do know this. working with what I have...

CarlJF · 09-11-2015, 02:11 PM

I'm far to be an expert and I don't know exactly what you have done or not, but I would change the WB to 3900. I then work with an "inverted graduated filter", the masked part being on the bottom to work with the constrast and levels to get get the best out of it. Usually you've to be quite drastic with these settings... If you have it, I find these adjustemntes are best done with Topaz Clarity than with LR, since it allows finer constrast adjustments.

RAART · 09-11-2015, 02:37 PM

I looked into his file but with JPEG file it is not much that can be done... too much noise, wrong WB, exposure has to be corrected etc. I just did quick dirty adjustments on jpeg file but this is far from good results.

amoringello · 09-11-2015, 02:55 PM

Do you have LightRoom? Try the new De-Haze feature as a start.
Very quick and simple, and does a pretty good job from what I've seen.

CarlJF · 09-11-2015, 03:05 PM

Originally posted by bdery

This was shot towards the North (northern hemisphere). There is the halo of a city 40 minutes away showing to the right.

According to the EXIF in the JPEG, you took the shot at 21h42. If you were in the Quebec City area, the milky way center, which gives the best shot, was to the south... What you got was only the end of the arm, which is not as bright or "good looking" than the center.

Professor Batty · 09-12-2015, 07:31 AM

This is a really good tutorial for Milky Way photos:

How to Process Milky Way Astrophotography in Adobe Lightroom – Lonely Speck

It uses lightroom, most of his techniques would work in PS as well.

**jbinpg** · 09-12-2015, 08:40 PM

This is the Perseus Arm of our galaxy which is the farthest to the outside of our spiral arms. The constellations of Perseus (bottom left), Cassiopeia (center), and the Great Galaxy of Andromeda (center right) are plainly visible. Yes, the heart of the galaxy in Sagittarius will show the densest star fields but there is beauty across the heavens. Why limit yourself to a few months of the year?

bdery · 09-14-2015, 05:13 AM

Originally posted by RAART

I looked into his file but with JPEG file it is not much that can be done... too much noise, wrong WB, exposure has to be corrected etc. I just did quick dirty adjustments on jpeg file but this is far from good results.

I was away for the weekend and could not link the RAW. I'll do it this evening. Thanks already for the attempt.

Originally posted by amoringello

Do you have LightRoom? Try the new De-Haze feature as a start.

I do have lightroom but not the CC6 version.

Originally posted by CarlJF

According to the EXIF in the JPEG, you took the shot at 21h42. If you were in the Quebec City area, the milky way center, which gives the best shot, was to the south... What you got was only the end of the arm, which is not as bright or "good looking" than the center.

Correct, I did not shoot the center. The South was filled with even more light than the North, sadly.

09-11-2015, 05:50 AM	#1
bdery Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Quebec city, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 9,357	How would you process this image to bring out the Milky way? I've been trying to capture images of the Milky Way and have been dissatisfied with the results. While not being an expert, I'm usually content with how I can process images. In this case, however, I cannot get close to what other people are getting with their Milky Way pictures. This was shot towards the North (northern hemisphere). There is the halo of a city 40 minutes away showing to the right. Here is the original, along with the best I could do. Clicking the images will bring you to full size versions (mine are RAW, these are JPEG sadly, not sure how to link RAW in Smugmug). Have a go at it, as long as you teach me what you did Original Processed

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09-11-2015, 06:34 AM	#2
RAART Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Oakville, ON Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,095	why you don't link a TIFF image or if you have gmail/google account you can upload the file to google drive and list as public and put the download link here...

09-11-2015, 07:01 AM	#3
bdery Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Quebec city, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 9,357 Original Poster	Good idea, I'll try to do that at home this evening. Still, the 24 MP JPEG should be a good place to start

09-11-2015, 07:03 AM	#4
RAART Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Oakville, ON Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,095	BTW - your JPEG image cannot be downloaded either just to let you know.

09-11-2015, 07:03 AM	#5
MJSfoto1956 Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Boston Posts: 1,305	if you allow downloading of your image from SmugMug we can take a better peek... Michael

09-11-2015, 08:34 AM	#6
bdery Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Quebec city, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 9,357 Original Poster	Sorry about that. Download should be possible now.

09-11-2015, 09:11 AM	#7
mattb123 Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Colorado High Country Photos: Gallery Posts: 10,872	I imagine you know this but darker skies would help.

09-11-2015, 10:53 AM	#8
bdery Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Quebec city, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 9,357 Original Poster	Originally posted by mattb123 I imagine you know this but darker skies would help. I do know this. working with what I have...

09-11-2015, 02:11 PM	#9
CarlJF Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Quebec City Posts: 1,185	I'm far to be an expert and I don't know exactly what you have done or not, but I would change the WB to 3900. I then work with an "inverted graduated filter", the masked part being on the bottom to work with the constrast and levels to get get the best out of it. Usually you've to be quite drastic with these settings... If you have it, I find these adjustemntes are best done with Topaz Clarity than with LR, since it allows finer constrast adjustments.

09-11-2015, 02:37 PM	#10
RAART Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Oakville, ON Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,095	I looked into his file but with JPEG file it is not much that can be done... too much noise, wrong WB, exposure has to be corrected etc. I just did quick dirty adjustments on jpeg file but this is far from good results.

09-11-2015, 02:55 PM	#11
amoringello Veteran Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Virginia, USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,562	Do you have LightRoom? Try the new De-Haze feature as a start. Very quick and simple, and does a pretty good job from what I've seen.

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09-11-2015, 03:05 PM	#12
CarlJF Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Quebec City Posts: 1,185	Originally posted by bdery This was shot towards the North (northern hemisphere). There is the halo of a city 40 minutes away showing to the right. According to the EXIF in the JPEG, you took the shot at 21h42. If you were in the Quebec City area, the milky way center, which gives the best shot, was to the south... What you got was only the end of the arm, which is not as bright or "good looking" than the center.

09-12-2015, 07:31 AM	#13
Professor Batty Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 118	This is a really good tutorial for Milky Way photos: How to Process Milky Way Astrophotography in Adobe Lightroom – Lonely Speck It uses lightroom, most of his techniques would work in PS as well.

09-12-2015, 08:40 PM	#14
jbinpg Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Prince George, BC Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,546	This is the Perseus Arm of our galaxy which is the farthest to the outside of our spiral arms. The constellations of Perseus (bottom left), Cassiopeia (center), and the Great Galaxy of Andromeda (center right) are plainly visible. Yes, the heart of the galaxy in Sagittarius will show the densest star fields but there is beauty across the heavens. Why limit yourself to a few months of the year?

09-14-2015, 05:13 AM	#15
bdery Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Quebec city, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 9,357 Original Poster	Originally posted by RAART I looked into his file but with JPEG file it is not much that can be done... too much noise, wrong WB, exposure has to be corrected etc. I just did quick dirty adjustments on jpeg file but this is far from good results. I was away for the weekend and could not link the RAW. I'll do it this evening. Thanks already for the attempt. Originally posted by amoringello Do you have LightRoom? Try the new De-Haze feature as a start. I do have lightroom but not the CC6 version. Originally posted by CarlJF According to the EXIF in the JPEG, you took the shot at 21h42. If you were in the Quebec City area, the milky way center, which gives the best shot, was to the south... What you got was only the end of the arm, which is not as bright or "good looking" than the center. Correct, I did not shoot the center. The South was filled with even more light than the North, sadly.