Astro Images from Paul Mayo

[Astro Dave]

This is a link to my friend Paul Mayo's site.

Paul hasn't had the exposure others receive but in my opinion he produces some of the best astro-photography you'll ever see. Shevill's work is also on par with this.

Paul Mayo Astronomy and Astrophotography
http://www.skylab.com.au/pmsa/

[Radar]

Some beaut images there Dave. I love the one that shoots straight up the telescope.

[CanisMajorTom]

Amazing stuff. I don't think I've ever seen a 12 inch newtonian on a GEM before. That is a nice rig.

[h0ughy]

This is a link to my friend Paul Mayo's site.

Paul hasn't had the exposure others receive but in my opinion he produces some of the best astro-photography you'll ever see. Shevill's work is also on par with this.

Paul Mayo Astronomy and Astrophotography
http://www.skylab.com.au/pmsa/

Gee that's a big call isn't it? Paul is very very meticulous with his work and only shows his best efforts. Paul's work is on par with Scott Alders work and I would say that between those two guys they would have to be one of the most skilled astrophotographers in Australia, as they still manually guide. Scott Alder has found deep sky planetary nebulas that are so faint and guided on them for several hours, and Paul's work, not all is shown on his web site. I think these two guys can place almost any image they have gotten into the DM awards and not disgrace themselves!

[Astro Dave]

hOughy, CanisMajorTom and Radar

Your comments indicate one glaring and obvious thing - we have some extremely top TALENT in this country, not just in astro-photography but in all facets of our hobby.

I guess I'll see more this weekend, it always happens. I do a large outdoor theatre presentation on weekends here at a huge vineyard - a 'star party' thing, scopes on the field, slides, DVDs etc etc and people bring along photo samples of their work.. a lot of it is really pretty slick!!!

hOughy, I do agree about Scott ... in fact, both these guys would fare well in any DM award category (David Malin Awards for the uninitiated) If you don't know who David Malin is I can't help you any further.

I just put in for Paul here because I've had a little more to do with him I guess and I know he's had a couple of tough years. My way of paying respect I guess and an attempt to become a changed, more empathetic individual - a precursor if you will to finding the 'new me' inside.

My wife says I'm insensitive, beligrent, conceited and caustic at times. The claim has also been laid that I'm a also a 'Little Hitler'. I keep telling her as I beat her she's wrong!! Isn't anyone listening!!! ....Sorry.

By the way, Astro Tasmania is right - we need you guys as much as you need us. Get the images in!

[h0ughy]

No, I think my original comment was misunderstood. My comment, I though was reasonably clear, Shevil is like me - no where in the league of Scott and Paul! Yes he has taken many photos, and captured some nice views, but not refined or having that wow factor. I am in awe og guys and gals that can produce those shots.

Both Scott and Paul do their work on a extremely tight and meager budget, from what I have seen of Shevil's images he has "modern" toys, as with my self, but that does not make me a good astrophotographer. that was my point!

And for the record that is only my opinion.

[Astro Dave]

Hey Whoa - CHILL OUT!

In referring to Shevill I was implying he had the same dedication and eye for detail when I said his 'work' was on par..nobody mentioned results. Could have been framed better in retrospect but, that's life!

Just as an aside - have you seen much of Shevill's photography?

[orion]

Gee that's a big call isn't it? Paul is very very meticulous with his work and only shows his best efforts. Paul's work is on par with Scott Alders work and I would say that between those two guys they would have to be one of the most skilled astrophotographers in Australia, as they still manually guide. Scott Alder has found deep sky planetary nebulas that are so faint and guided on them for several hours, and Paul's work, not all is shown on his web site. I think these two guys can place almost any image they have gotten into the DM awards and not disgrace themselves!

I met Paul Mayo through a friend of ours Scott Alder and I agree with houghy.
these two blokes have talent. I know Scott sits at his telescope for ages trying to get as much photons as possible to acquire that once in a life time image.
When their names are mentioned the first word that comes to mind is talent the second is Humble`

[AstroTasmania]

Just for the record, I do have a few 'modern toys', however, if you look at most of my astro images you will see they have been taken with simple techniques, unguided, well within the range for many to achieve. The Meade SN-10 has been used as well as my homebuilt 12" Newtonian, the other 'modern toys' have not yet featured in my astro photography. I have no guided deep sky stuff, that is a treat I still have to explore.

I have done my apprenticeship in UK winters and spent years of cold nights waiting for gaps in the clouds, clearing a path through the snow to the scope etc. I have made all my telescopes, cameras and ancillary equipment, domes etc for the past 40 odd years, now it is time to treat myself. In 1966 I developed aluminised full aperture filters for solar imaging, a technique then not in common use. Published in BAA Journal 1966. I still design and invent new equipment using modern technologies.

During the last few years I am indulging myself, I've done the 'hard yards' and age needs some help. It has been my contact with Paul over the years which has stimulated my interest in DSLR deep sky, and for that I am very grateful that he has shared his images & methods with me.

I have left my scientific & general International, National & State prize-winning competition photography behind. My astro photography is for pleasure and the benefit of beginners and sharing knowledge gained over the years via SKY & SPACE and other non-astro publications and media sources. I enjoy seeing the brilliant results of others and I will learn continue from their experiences.


Clear skies....

[h0ughy]

Hey Whoa - CHILL OUT!

In referring to Shevill I was implying he had the same dedication and eye for detail when I said his 'work' was on par..nobody mentioned results. Could have been framed better in retrospect but, that's life!

Just as an aside - have you seen much of Shevill's photography?

Seems like I have upset yourself and Shevill, I am sorry! Please accept my humble apologies. Now also accept my apology for the next bit of writing too.

i enjoy photography, terrestrial and astro, and i don't care who it is there is always room for improvement. Now I am going to say this, I hold no animosity towards anyone. You can't live life like that.

But I call it how I see it, and yes I have gone extensively through Shevill's web site, he does have some good images there, and some fairly ordinary ones.

I am not alone in the fact that I was disappointed in the quality of the images supplied in the last S&S. If you don't like that truth then I can tell you that's what the common man/woman is saying. i handed the mag to a keen photographer friend of mine to whom I work with, and a few others, even a few women co workers who wouldn't know the night sky from the day, and the common point all raised was the quality of the images. "I would have expected the widefield images to have been a lot crisper and without the obvious out of focus shots that were printed" was the comment from one person. I will leave this for you to ponder, if the aim is to show new people skills and what you can achieve with fairly common cameras etc, then make it worthwhile with good images. No I am not talking about Malin quality, but I am talking about good clean images. Please guys, listen to the public a little. If you don't believe me then go out and sample that yourselves with people you don't know.


I most probably get banned or never have an article published ever again, but you can never hide from the truth. The truth for me is that I am very very average and Shevill is doing himself a disservice if he has all those awards and accolations behind him. I have learnt one can never rest on ones laurel's:hmm:

[Radar]

G'day Dave,

I think with an amatuer astro magazine, it is good to show photos from all skill levels. I have seen in many astro mags pics of all quality (including my own pics which I now cringe at, lol). I don't mind seeing images that aren't perfect. For example, take an image that does not have perfectly round stars. I like to examine the image and figure out what the errors were, either field rotation, focus, tracking etc. From the shapes of the stars, all this can be determined. I enjoy this kind of thing. I guess it also depends on your perspective of what you expect from a magazine. We're all different I guess.


I most probably get banned or never have an article published ever again

lol, I don't think so mate. You can't get out of here that easy. :Chessy_Smile:

[AstroBob]

This is an interesting thread. I think each to his own which is fair enough. Everyone is different. I think constructive criticism is good, but should sometimes be done in private, or otherwise if can either embarrass the receiver or the criticism can appear to be simply a a negative dig at the person/s(for whatever reason).
As long as that mag in question has images from pro's and amateurs, then I see no problem with it. To be honest, I buy all the astro mags, and until I read this thread, I hadn't even thought of this kind of thing. If magazines only publish astrophotographers that have acheived some elite level, then that may put beginners off from submitting their work. I am just getting into astrophotography and I can't wait to submit my images. If my images had to be elite though, I probably wouldn't get a look in from the mags for years.

I can't beleive i wrote so much, but this last paragraph got away from me :Chessy_Smile: