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Posts Made By: Rob Mackie

April 17, 2006 02:57 AM Forum: Birding Optics and Photos

Snowy Egret #1

Posted By Rob Mackie
I took these pics using a Canon Digital Rebel 350D and a borrowed Canon 70 - 300 DO image stabilized lens. All pics were handheld and at long end (300mm or 480mm 35mm equivalent) of zoom, ISO800, and conditions overcast with sporadic rain.

Rob Mackie

April 18, 2006 06:15 AM Forum: Birding Optics and Photos

Black Necked Stilt

Posted By Rob Mackie
Grabbed this image using a Canon 350D and 70-300 DO IS @ 300mm. Location: tidal wetlands, Corte Madera (Marin County) CA.

Rob Mackie

April 18, 2006 06:37 AM Forum: Birding Optics and Photos

Rain Duck

Posted By Rob Mackie
It had started raining when I snapped these images with a Canon 350D and 70-300 DO IS @ 300mm. Water does indeed roll off a duck's back

Rob Mackie

April 19, 2006 05:02 AM Forum: Birding Optics and Photos

Great Blue Heron

Posted By Rob Mackie
Here's the first of a series of images acquired today using a Canon 70-300 DO IS, handheld, with 350D body. This critter was particularly cooperative as he worked the runoff from recent heavy rains,

Rob Mackie

June 17, 2006 06:00 PM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Deep Sky

Crescent w/AP 130 F/6, SXV H9 in HA

Posted By Rob Mackie
This is one of my first CCD efforts. Image consists of six 12 min HA (Astronomik 13nm)exposures acquired with a Starlight Express SXV H9. Ota is an AP 130 F/6 atop a Tak EM200, guided using the SXV guide head/Tak FS60C. Acquired from my light polluted SF Bay Area home on a moonlit night. Guiding seems a bit off, either that or I'm not combining subs correctly. I used MaximDL for camera control and ImagesPlus for aligning and combining images. Processing consisted of digital development and sharpening via Richardson Lucy function.

I was gratified to see how effective an HA filter could be in enabling me to image a dim nebulous object from a bright suburban location. FWHM readings were around 2.5, so seeing wasn't that great. A few nights earlier FWHM was consistently 1.5 or thereabouts.

The image is 80% actual size. My imaging is largely hit or miss as I figure out the hard way what works and what doesn't. Comments and criticism most welcome.

Rob Mackie
El Cerrito, CA

June 20, 2006 08:14 PM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Deep Sky

Yet Another M13

Posted By Rob Mackie
I acquired this M13 last night. It consists of 5 x 2min each RGB (30 min total), unbinned, no luminance. Nothing special, I'm working on focusing issues. I've been having flexure problems and I think that problem is mostly solved. Seeing was pretty good with FWHM around 1.8. Camera is the SXV H9 through an AP 130 F/6, guided by the SXV guidehead through a Tak FS60C. Processing was minimal and stacking done in CCDStack.
Rob Mackie

August 13, 2006 11:09 PM Forum: Landscape Photography

Stromboli Volcano

Posted By Rob Mackie
Located 2 hrs by sea north of Sicily, Stromboli rises 2,900 ft above the water. It's been active more or less continually for 2,000 years. I snapped these photos as our ship cruised by on 19 July 2006.
Rob Mackie

August 27, 2006 05:07 PM Forum: Insects - Flowers and Other Small Stuff - Photos

Bee at Work

Posted By Rob Mackie
Snapped this yesterday in the garden while playing with Sigma 17-70 zoom lens. Lots more bee pix at
http://www.pbase.com/steelnavy/sigma_17_70

Rob Mackie

September 7, 2006 07:38 PM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Deep Sky

Eastern Veil NGC 6992 - 6995 in HA w/TAK FS60

Posted By Rob Mackie
My Eastern Veil image is at
http://www.pbase.com/steelnavy/image/66169990

You might say I was "cultivating a minimalist vibe" with this image...no guiding, tiny refractor, monochrome HA. I'm reasonably happy with the results, especially considering my limited post processing skills. Comments and criticism welcome.

Rob Mackie

Image Detail:
SXV-H9 CCD, unguided FS-60S Tak APO refractor, 30 2-min and 20 90-sec exposures, 1.5 hrs total, F/4.5, unguided. maxim DL for acquisition and stacking, PS for levels and curves processing, FWHM=1.9

September 13, 2006 05:17 PM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Deep Sky

Western Veil NGC 6960 in HA w/TAK FS-60

Posted By Rob Mackie
You can view image and processing details at
http://www.pbase.com/steelnavy/image/66785954

Comments about my processing...or lack thereof...most welcome. Stacking done in Maxim, levels and curves in Photoshop.

Rob Mackie

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