PXL Shots

This was taken from my observatory using this http://www.scopetrader.com/Photography/Photos/8491785.jpg

This is not the "night sky." This is space

I agree with Kyricom , this is space.

while I sort of agree here about the space thing, you also need to remember that we cannot see this during the day!............difficult call!!

Folks, get real: if you take a macro lens to shoot a small detail of some texture, it's the same kind of magnification which appears here. Basically, it's just another lens pointing into the night sky and that's about it. This contestant is lucky enough to have a big gear to shoot stars in a "macro sense" and there's no need to twist the rules to "space or sky" -- looking into the sky with a regular lens is just a wide shot of the same scene. The photo has to be judged on photographical merits anyway.

Now I understand....... it reminds me of a Don McLean song.

There is a difference between “space” and “night.” Night exists because it is contrasted with day. Space is always dark. When are these (and more importantly, the void between them) bathed in daylight? Saying it’s like a macro is inaccurate because the theme does not specify lens type or technique, only content. You could use macro, wide angle – whatever – but it has to be “night skies.” “Sky” is an important word. Sky exists in an atmosphere, space obviously doesn’t. Most entries are of the “sky,” through which you can see space. These pictures bypass the sky, and go into space.

Exactly, the c/g doesn't specify lenses, the picture has to be taken at night and more then 50% of the frame have to show (a part of) the sky. All goals met here, and that's the proof of the pudding.

except that it's not the sky... there is no atmosphere ( and thus, no "sky" in these pictures = off theme

First off - I resent the implication that these are not my images - they are. Secondly, they are the night sky - as some posters have rightly said, you can only see them at night, and magnification is used to 'zoom in' on certain areas (although not as much as you might think). Technically there is no difference between my shots and the star trail photos that haven't attracted any complaints, other than the camera has 'followed' the stars as they appear to move around the Earth. But hey, I'm not a mod here, so if someone who feels jealous that they can't take photos like this objects.......

then who am I to complain.........

And if you want to see what really IS possible I suggest you look at http://www.ukastroimaging.co.uk (where I am a mod)

I can understand why you might be upset, and I'm sorry. It's nothing personal and I really don't think jealousy enters in to it as I don't have anything entered in this contest, nor do I intend to. I never said they aren't nice shots. They are beautiful shots, just off theme. There is no sky. There is no atmosphere. That is the difference between the others and yours. These are shots of deep space. Space is not sky. Sorry

Incredible image and well in theme. This is a shot of the sky. To take this shot the author had to be looking up to the sky, fortunitly for him the quality of his equipment is far superior to most of ours. I also do agree it is a picture of space but this photo was taken from earth and not from space and so is an image of the sky. Its the same as someone taking a photo of the sky from a city and from the countryside the quality from the countryside would be far superior than the city with all its lights. Well done author

Amazing

bello