How I Created an Award Winning Astro Image

This year I submitted some of my images to the Astronomy Photographer of The Year Competition run by the Royal Maritime Museum in Greenwich. There were over 3000 applications from 67 countries, and to my delight one of my images was not only shortlisted ...meaning it would be in the Exhibition and published in a book.... but was also awarded Runner Up in the Stars & Nebulae category. I thought it might be of interest to share how I captured and processed this image, so this video gives you all the details.

[@goonerwin1]

beautiful image martin and a well deserved award, well done 👍🌟🌟

[@martinsastrophotography]

Thank you!!

[@richardmattas4003]

Holy sh!t...that's beautiful! well done sir...this will be bookmarked forever, for multiple reasons!

[@martinsastrophotography]

Thank you Richard!!

[@richardmattas4003]

even after a year, i come back to this vid to process my NB images. it's the color...it's fabulous.

[@martinsastrophotography]

That’s great Richard. Thanks for commenting and letting me know.

[@shawnc.madden2181]

Outstanding photo and lesson!!

[@martinsastrophotography]

Thanks Shawn!! Glad you enjoyed it.

[@robby12320]

Wow, what a fantastic image of the flaming star nebula. Just goes to show there are so many ways nebulae can be displayed and you really nailed it here.

[@martinsastrophotography]

Thank for that Robert!

[@zyban99]

Congratulations. Very well deserved

[@martinsastrophotography]

Thank you Matt.

[@ahmedwaddah9391]

Great job 👍 congrats 🎉

[@martinsastrophotography]

Thanks Ahmed!

[@GrahamtheWood1]

Superb Image, Well done on your award! Your Photoshop workflow is impressive, I thought I was OK using PS but I’ve learnt a few things today. It is such a complex program, but excellent. I’m Mac based so have had a few issues with non compliant astrophotography software eg Deep Sky Stacker so I’m looking at Pixinsight instead which is rather expensive and another steep learning curve. Ironically, I changed over to Mac from PC for processing my terrestrial photography. Such is life! Thanks for great tutorials, look forward to more.

[@martinsastrophotography]

Thanks for the great comments Graham. I’m glad it was useful. Clear Skies!

[@OutlandishJourneys]

Congrats on the well deserved award, Martin! That Flame is stunning…😱 How are you getting on with the Hyperstar (very well obviously based on your award! Lol!), in terms of practical use, I mean? Do you remove and reattach regularly? Do you need to collimate often? I’m considering one for my Edge 8, but not sure whether to keep that native at f10 or f7 with the reducer…and just get a RASA 8 as a separate system? Great upload and best wishes! 😀

[@martinsastrophotography]

Many thanks for the nice comments! Hyperstar is awesome. I used it all through last winter and have just set it up for this winter. So this is only my second time attaching it. It’s been cloudy for 3 months so I will have to wait to see if it needs tuning. You get used to how fast it gobbles up photons at f/1.8 so it’s a bit of a shock when you switch to F/7!! I see your dilemma. I’m happy with the single telescope and 3 available focal lengths/speeds. I would go with whichever is cheaper. I guess the focal lengths will be very similar?

[@andreasiacovides8636]

Congrats.!!!

[@FAstroHD]

Congrats mate

[@martinsastrophotography]

Thanks!