Discovery Astrophotography with ZWO ASTRO

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Astrophotographer’s Story: Juzelle Jardin

Hello Juzelle Jardin，thanks for accepting our interview invitation. Congratulations on winning the ASIWEEK competition in week#45/2024！

Q1: At first, congratulation that your nice image won #ASIWEEK. Can you introduce yourself to us? 

Hi, my name is Juzelle Jardin. I’m from Miltenberg, a small town in Bavaria, Germany, originally from the Philippines. Besides astrophotography I also love nature, doing landscape and wildlife photography and enjoy travelling with my family.

Q2: How long have you been in astrophotography? What prompted you to start this hobby?

I’ve started taking images of the night sky since 2018, using my mirrorless camera and a wide-angle lens shooting mainly the milkyway. My fascination towards astrophotography grew after a vacation in Southern Norway in 2019, the landscapes and sceneries are beautiful, but the dark sky in there hits different. I then bought a 135mm lens and a star tracker.

One of my first images(mosaic) using my modded Sony a7s, Samyang 135mm lens, mounted on ioptron Skyguider pro.

Q3: How is the air quality in your region? Where do you normally take astrophotos?

I normally do DSO imaging in my bortle 4 sky backyard. There are LED streetlights near the Main river, approx 1km away but they are mostly covered by many houses, so I can still take broadband targets without using any light pollution filters. I sometimes drive 15-20km away whenever I want to shoot a comet or expect Aurora sightings to get a better foreground and shoot timelapse videos.

This year’s northern lights from a 49 degrees latitude. The sun approaches to its 11 years solar cycle. Our star gifted us this year with this beautiful and rare lightshow on May 10-11 that reached further down to Central and southern Europe.
Imaging the Horsehead nebula near the Main river.
Imaging from my bortle 4 backyard.

The eastern veil nebula, taken using the ASI294mm pro and TS-optics 106/700 triplet refracto

Wizard nebula in SHO, 31hrs of total integration time using the ASI183mm pro @700mm focal length.

Q4: Can you tell us about the winning photo?

Barnard 150 in Cepheues- This image was chosen as #45 2024 ASIWEEK image
of the week. 10hrs+ using ASI2600MC pro, no filter used.

I was actually planning to finish this target using the 294mm pro, I have 22.5hrs of luminance data already that I collected last year with that camera, then came autumn and winter. I never had the chance to finish it in LRGB. Then I bought my first OSC this year. I’ve tested it on Tulip nebula using a Duo filter, and I thought about shooting a broadband target, a dark nebula, without using any filter.

Since mid-July is my favorite time of the year to photograph targets in Cepheus ( Cepheus in summer rises perfectly above my neighbor’s roof at 11pm, dark enough to start imaging), I hit plan mode, pointed my telescope to Barnard 150 for two moonless nights. And the 2600MC pro delivered!

I usually do the image stacking using Astropixel processor then finish the rest of the processing in Photoshop+ RC plugins and Photoscape x.

Here is my simple workflow whether I’m processing a narrowband or broadband target:

My astro image processing workflow/tips.

  • Image stacking

-this process integrates all your sub exposures to produce a single output with better signal-to-noise ratio.

  • Stretching the image

– calibrating the star colors, light pollution/gradient reduction and overall color balance, exposure, applying noise reduction.

  • Make a starless image.
  • It is better and recommended to do the sharpening, applying contrast and adjusting exposure using a starless image to avoid oversaturating the stars. Blend the stars back. For final touch apply noise reduction and control the star size.

    Q5: What gear do you use? Any pictures of them?

    These are my imaging rigs, the ASI294mm pro and the ASI2600MC pro. I used to own ASI183MM pro which is also a fantastic camera. I used the ASI2600MC pro to photograph the Barnard 150.

    I have two refractor telescopes, the Askar fra400 and Ts optics 106/700 FCD100 triplet, each mounted on Ioptron Hem27 and CEM40.
    Another beautiful target in the constellation Cepheus, the Iris nebula- taken using my ASI294mm pro and LRGB filters @400mm and the old ioptron CEM25p.
    The north America nebula and the Pelican nebula in SHO, taken using the 294mm pro and Askar fra400.
    Elephant trunk nebula- taken using the ASI183mm pro and TS optics 106/700 FCD100 triplet APO. (Diffraction spikes from a spike mask)
    Sadr region- 15hrs in SHO, with Askar fra400 + reducer and ASI294mm pro.
    Tulip Nebula-widefield- 600sec x 31subs using the 2600MC pro + IDAS NBZii filter and Askar fra400.

    Q6: What do you think is the hardest part of astrophotography? Do you have any experience to share?

    The harsh reality, Astrophotography is an expensive hobby. Also the image processing, it is very time consuming but.. never boring.

     

    Q7: Which is your favorite astronomical target that you have photographed so far?

    For me, the andromeda galaxy. That newly discovered Oiii structure is on my bucketlist.

    The andromeda galaxy-36hrs in LRGB using the 294mm pro
    M31 in HaLrgb.

    Q8: Is there any memorable story you can share with us from your astrophotography days?

    Neowise comet. It was special. I still remember the fear of ruining the images every time someone stops by to ask if they can look at the viewfinder.

    Comet Neowise- the brightest comet in the northern hemisphere in 2020 since the Hale Bopp in 1997. Taken using Sony a7iii + Sony FE 20-600mm Telephoto lens.
    California nebula- ASI294mm pro + Askar fra400 and
    Astronomik 6nm SHO filters.
    Jellyfish nebula- cropped, taken using 294mm pro and Askar fra400.

    Q9: Besides astrophotography, are you actively involved in other astronomy-related activities?

    I would love to go to a star party someday to chat, learn, and share ideas with fellow astrophotography enthusiasts. I’m planning to visit a dark sky reserve in Westhavelland, near west Berlin if the weather and timing is good.

     

    Flaming star nebula in Hargb, 35hrs of integration using ASI294mm pro and Askar fra400 mounted on Ioptron HEM27 controlled by Asiair pro.

    Q10: How many ZWO products do you have, what’s your first ASI camera?

    I have two ASI cameras, the 294mm pro and 2600MC pro with two Asiair pros and other ZWO accessories like guide cameras and EFW.

    I’m planning to go fully automated soon, adding EAF to my rigs and upgrade my Air pros.

    Q11: When did you start using ZWO products?

    It was back in 2020 when I joined an Astrophotography group and met people online who use ZWO products, (Thanks to Ian Barredo, Sonic Duran and Jeff Samonte). ZWO products, specially the ASI1600mm pro, ASI183mm pro and 294MC pro, are very well-known cameras at that time. So, I bought my first ZWO cooled camera, the 294mm pro and Asiair pro kit.

    Q12: What advice do you have for people who are new to astrophotography?

    Just take your time and don’t rush. Don’t be discouraged when things don’t go your way. Astrophotography is a steep learning curve. At least learn the basics of photography. Astrophotography forums are your best guide to start on this hobby. Choose the exact gears that suit to the situation and your needs. A newer camera doesn’t make you a good photographer. Processing skills is more important.

     

    Hide the receipts, don’t show them to your wife 😊

    Clear skies!

    You can see my works in my Instagram acc. juzelle_jardin

    I post my astro images on ZWO astrophotography group in Facebook.

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