[ravnostic]

I definitely do want to go someplace darker, and the scope is completely set up for remote locations (either batteries or a car lighter port.) My issue is about going out alone with a $3k toy (people drink, get idiotish, etc.) You’d be welcome to come along for the ride (got a 1.25″ adapter for your lens? And a gun?)

I found with the LPR lens, light pollution isn’t a problem. Somewhere in the hundreds of shot I’ve taken in the past week I have a comparison shot using the Whirlpool galaxy. A. World. of. Difference. So a little light isn’t much of an issue. But darker skies=better lighting=better night shots, definitely. My next photo opportunity will be Sunday night, then Tuesday night. Then it’s the contest, so beyond that, I’d have to wait for All Night III, or whatever.

Meteor shots are ridiculously difficult to capture; too small, too fleeting, rarely bright enough. And through a scope, it’s about impossible (though a satellite shows up as a streak every once and a while.)

[ravnostic]

Regardless, I guess, some awesome pics for a difficult contest. Though I placed 10th, I’m proud of my efforts to get even that far, considering the competition. Monumental will be even tougher (their ain’t much ITWO monuments in Az, I searched archives for one, found serendipity in another, and haven’t decided on the third.)

BTW, my aunt (who actually gets paid for this photo stuff) tells me the next gen DSLR’s will be auto-equipped with HDR built in, to replicate whta the eye sees, rather than the camera–it’ll be automatic. I don’t know the details, but if this is so, the game will be raised to a whole new level (for those who can afford it.)

[ravnostic]

Congrats Or (and if you climbed that mountain, you deserve the win for your efforts.) Elsinore, exactly what or when does ‘call’ the end of the voting?

[ravnostic]

Crap–just saw the BB response. How’d I miss that? Must have been drunk the first time I clickitied. Now I have to find that picture….or retake it if I can’t…

[ravnostic]

Ravnostic: Just wanted to say I really liked your shots in this thread, I voted. The mailbox really (ah hah!) delivered!

/thank you, try the veal

Thanks. There was a full-on version of the whole box set, but it was a bit large to provide the level of detail I wanted for the post. I decided a single box showed more character.

[ravnostic]

orionid: I sort of get it. I think. Regardless, I need a $400 wedge 😉

I do get it; what I was unclear of (and if you’ve seen the thing you might understand) was how the wedge mount works. To look at it, it’s pretty unclear (I read up on it, though). But I do/did grasp the concept of aligning the alzimuth to the ‘pole star’ (which is actually about 3/4 degree off from Polaris), and thus only needing the alt. for guidance. Orionid’s explanation and demonstration were very good, however.

And yep–I need it too. But Else, should you have the Celestron, you can get the wedge for about $250, but without the fine-tuning kit that makes super-sharp adjustments for extra long exposures easier. Depending on your prowess, you could get maybe 15 minute exposures that would be quite decent.

Anywho, it’s in the budget. By mid-July, I’ll have my wedgie, or at least have the money for it. However, I won’t get to use it till October (summer monsoons are coming), so I may put off buying it; perhaps I can find a deal between now and then.

[ravnostic]

Our version of the wild parrots in L.A., I suppose. I see them every once in a while. There’s a couple other unique birds that I’d not expect to find in the wild in Az that I see as well; don’t know what type they are, though. Very nice shot.

[ravnostic]

Got my LPR lens and tried it out; I’ll have to post the before after pics sometime. World of difference. Also caught the ISS this time around, though I’ll need a shorter shutter speed to do it justice (used 1/400th sec, too slow; blurred).

[ravnostic]

I like the picture it links to, however. That (all wok’d up), and pi for dessert…yummy.

[ravnostic]

Very nice, congrats ravnostic! I’ve had a couple of photos published in the local alt weekly, one of which made the cover–very thrilling to see your stuff in print, eh?

Indeed. Even if it’s only 240×150 pixels. Or so. This is my third publication; first was a computer program in 1984, then a short story in 2004(ish). I never thought a photo would make it, though. I submitted the dragonfly w/cameo spider to the Nat’l Geo photography contest. Won’t win, of course, there’re ‘real’ photographers entering. But I’m still proud of that shot. Some of yout’s ought to enter; you all have a serious chance there (there are some really excellent shots, but I’ve seen as good in farktography.)

[ravnostic]

I’ve had one photo in Discover magazine,

I would be interested in seeing that picture. I love D. Mag.

[ravnostic]

I found it’s easy to compose a shot with a prominent number. Composing a good one…not so much. I’m sure I’ll be blown away, though; you people always come through on these things.

[ravnostic]

Well now I need to ask for the canon version for my b-day or x-mas. that and at least one more battery for my Rebel xs. I need a job dammit. this hobby is expensive as hell when employed . Forget about it when jobless.

I feel ya. I was unemployed for several months up to 3 months ago, which is why (with a pilfered neighbor’s net connections) I got into the farktography end of fark to begin with (lots of time, and no money.) I’m fortunate that the job I landed has overtime available; as this group brings out the smeagol in all of us (ask ennuipoet!!)

[ravnostic]

I might. Probably. Maybe. I want better telephoto though.

/must ponder.

Don’t know if you have a Canon SLR lying around, but I saw a Celestron 500mm telephoto compatable w/canon on ebay; maybe it’s still available. It should be a quality lens.

Those ones tend to be spotting scopes or telescopes fitted with cheap glass adapters, or a mechanical means of prime focus, hence the price range in the few hundreds of dollars. I suspect U-Man is thinking more along the lines of this or this or, if he wants a second mortgage, this.

I suspect this, because, across the aisle, I’m rolling pennies for this.

You may be right. I may be crazy. But when it comes to Celestron lenses, I tend to think ‘quality’. And as photographically inexpert I am, I do believe I know my telescope manufacturers well enough.

Celestron does not put out junk. The optics will be quality, I have zero doubt. They are not Tasco or Sears or some other rinky-dink fly-by-night-plastic-optic production facility. Visit Celestron.com astrophoto forums for proof (they put me to shame; that’s why I’m buying what toys I can afford.)

Now whether it would work in the applications U-man desires is another story. But I’m just putting it out there.

[ravnostic]

Man, now that I see your brownie, I’m definitely getting the one I saw if it’s still there next Friday (but I’ll negotiate the price.) But me wants one. The one I saw was in pristeen condition; no rust at all (The nice thing about a desert is rust usually isn’t a problem.) I’ll figure out how to load it somehow.

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