Progression in Astrophotography: An Eagle Nebula Journey
Embarking on a journey into astrophotography can feel daunting, with images seen online often appearing light-years ahead of what we can achieve initially. However, every master astrophotographer started somewhere, and this collection showcases the incredible progress possible with dedication and practice.
My own astrophotography adventure began in the summer of 2020, sparked by the dazzling appearance of Comet Neowise. But it was a chance encounter with the Eagle Nebula in August 2020 that truly ignited my passion for deep-sky imaging. Since then, the Eagle Nebula has become my personal benchmark, a celestial canvas upon which I've charted the growth of my technical skills and artistic vision.
This sequence of images demonstrates the tangible results of a learning curve, a testament to the fact that consistent effort yields visible improvements. As you'll see, the journey from "baby" to "young adult" in astrophotography is achievable!
The Evolution:
Here's a look at the technical details and the evolution of my captures of the Eagle Nebula:
Image 1 (Baby)
- Dates: 2020-08-11
- Locations: San Antonio, TX (Bortle 7)
- Mount: None
- Camera: Nikon D3100
- OTA: Nikkor 70-300 mm @ 300 mm, f/6.5
- Lights: 1x2s (total exposure: 2s) @ ISO 6400
- Calibration frames: None
- Processing: NO POST PROCESS
Image 2 (Toddler)
- Dates: 2020-08-12
- Locations: San Antonio, TX (Bortle 7)
- Mount: None
- Camera: Nikon D3100
- OTA: Nikkor 70-300 mm @ 300 mm, f/6.5
- Lights: 150x2s (total exposure: 5 min) @ ISO 6400
- Calibration frames: None
- Processing: Stacked in DSS and Processed in GIMP
Image 3 (Kiddo)
- Dates: 2020-09-30
- Locations: San Antonio, TX (Bortle 7)
- Mount: None
- Camera: Nikon D5300 astromod
- OTA: Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 70-200mm f/2.8E FL ED @ 200 mm, f/2.8
- Lights: 520x1.3s (total exposure: 11 min) @ ISO 3200
- Calibration frames: 100xdarks, 100xflats, 100xbiases
- Processing: Stacked in DSS and Processed in GIMP
Image 4 (Teen)
- Dates: 2020-10-19
- Locations: San Antonio, TX (Bortle 7)
- Mount: Ioptron SkyGuider Pro
- Camera: Nikon D5300 astromod
- OTA: Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 70-200mm f/2.8E FL ED @ 200 mm, f/2.8
- Lights: 90x10s (total exposure: 15 min) @ ISO 400
- Calibration frames: 30xdarks, 30xflats, 30xbiases
- Processing: Stacked in DSS and Processed in GIMP
Image 5 (Young Adult)
- Dates: 2021-06-17
- Locations: San Antonio, TX (Bortle 7)
- Mount: IOptron SkyGuider Pro
- Camera: Nikon D5300 astromod
- OTA: William Optics Zenithstar 61II + Field Flattener FLAT61A @ 360 mm, f/5.9
- Lights: 30x180s (total exposure: 1h30) @ ISO 800
- Calibration frames: 20xdarks, 60xflats, 60xbiases
- Processing: Stacked in DSS and Processed in GIMP and Siril
This journey highlights that while the initial results might not be what we envision, perseverance is key. The beauty of astrophotography lies not just in the final image, but in the learning process and the satisfaction of seeing your skills grow with each session under the stars. Keep imaging – your progress is waiting!
