New High Resolution program
I am watching with interest a new development in achieving higher resolution images with today's DSLRs. The process involves maxizing image resolution by combining several images and performing super resolution algorithms. The program is PhotoAcute and is fairly new. Ewe Steinmueller is performing real-world testing on the application and has posted a diary at the link below. I hope to evaluate the process in the near future.
PhotoAcute Super Resolution review by Ewe Steinmueller
Hilton Head Surf
On our family vacation to Hilton Head this summer I engaged in a study of morning light. Each morning I would arrive at the beach well before sunrise and simply photograph and study the light of the morning. Each morning was very unique with some mornings presenting harsh direct light and other morning like this one where the light was a gentle mix of pastels and was very soft. I hope you enjoy the new image and that it conveys to you a wonderful Atlantic Ocean sunrise morning.
New Film from Kodak!
I really can't believe I have the opportunity to even post an announcement about "new film." I received my email newsletter from John Sexton today. Mr. Sexton is a wonderful photographer with a legacy of studying with Ansel Adams. In Mr. Sexton's newsletter, he presents the Kodak announcement of the the T-Max 400 BW film. He also references some data from Kodak that some 75% of 9000 professional photographers plan on continuing to use film. The survey quotes some of the photographers as to why they will continue to use film. It is a very interesting read and demonstrates that we are still in a very energetic and diverse art form where the tools one may choose are wide and varied.
New Podcast by Alain Briot
A wonderful new Podcast by Alain Briot is now available. Alain discusses many pertinent issues for the photographic artist, or any artist actually. Alain discusses understanding your audience as an artist, what it means to be a "professional artist," how to discuss your artwork with others, and other issues. Highly recommended for any artist:
The second generation of Fiber Gloss Papers
Digital fine art photography is as much about papers as it is about inkjet printing technology. We are currently in our second round of new fiber gloss paper introduction by several manufacturers including a new entry from Harman. Ewe Steinmueller and Michael Reichmann have new articles where they share with us their impressions of these new papers. I am awaiting arrival of the Harman Fiber Gloss paper for testing and will report on the paper in the next few weeks.
Michael Reichmann article and initial review of Epson Ehibition Fiber Paper
The Herschel 400 Astronomical League Project is underway
It’s not too late to join. We are about 30 objects into the Herschel 400. Hope to get another session in soon. Please subscribe to the YouTube channel so you get notifications on LIVE STREAMS.
Angels in Monoceros: The Monoceros M2 Complex
The Monoceros R2 molecular complex (often shortened to Mon R2) is a massive giant molecular cloud and one of the nearest active star-forming regions to Earth. It's a dynamic stellar nursery embedded in dense gas and dust, where new stars—particularly massive ones—are actively being born.
Key Facts
Location: Southwestern part of the constellation Monoceros (the Unicorn), near the border with Orion. It's part of the larger Orion-Monoceros cloud complex.
Distance: Approximately 2,400–2,700 light-years (around 830 parsecs).
Size and Structure: The main dense core is relatively compact (a few light-years across), but the overall molecular cloud and associated nebulae span a wide area—reflection nebulae alone stretch up to about 2° in the sky. It's situated well below the galactic plane, which makes it stand out in certain observations.
Age and Activity: Star formation here began roughly 6–10 million years ago. It hosts an OB association (young, hot, massive B- and A-type stars) that illuminates surrounding dust, creating prominent reflection nebulae with bluish hues. There's also significant emission from ionized gas (red glows) and dark nebulae that appear as shadowy silhouettes blocking background light.
Notable Features:
A central hub of massive star formation with embedded clusters, molecular outflows, and HII regions.
Infrared observations (like those from VISTA or 2MASS) penetrate the dust to reveal hidden young stars and protoplanetary disks.
It's a key site for studying early stellar evolution, variability in young stellar objects (YSOs), and the interplay between massive stars and their natal clouds.
The most famous and photogenic part of Mon R2 is the region around NGC 2170 (the Angel Nebula), a striking reflection nebula with wing-like dust structures, glowing blue from scattered starlight, mixed with red emission and dark lanes. Wider views of the complex reveal a richer tapestry of colorful gas, dust filaments, and star clusters.
Credit: GROK 2/28/26
Click on image for larger view.
New Astro Camera: OM-3
Join me for a LIVE conversation about this new astro camera coming to the market. Is this the best option for you? How does it compare to other options? https://www.earthandskyphoto.com Correction: when discussing Bulb mode with Canon, I incorrectly said it had a limit of 30”. I meant to say manual exposure has a max of 30”. In bulb, you need to use a remote control or app for exposure time control. The problem is you can’t set exposure time for stills in the camera menu. I was made aware that Olympus no longer owns the OM system. It is owned by Japanese industrial Partners, a private equity firm. For content on the OM-3 for astrophotography, please see Ben Chapell’s Narrow Band channel. https://youtube.com/@TheNarrowbandChannel?si=GcWY-BM9skG9LPhY
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