Comments on: Getting Started: Budget Astrophotography released

By: Allan Hall

Allan Hall — Sat, 19 Dec 2015 04:52:08 +0000

In reply to Pat.

The Kindle versions are in color if it is that important to you. The reason I decided to make the books in black and white was very simple, cost. In order to make the same (very small) amount per sale the book in color would cost somewhere around $60. I simply did not see a justification for a $60 price tag.

The actual full color images from the samples are available for download from the website.

If I remember correctly the “look inside” on Amazon which lets you preview the book shows the images are all in black and white to let you know exactly what you are getting before you order it. Maybe on amazon.de it is different, I don’t honestly know.

I am sorry you did not like the fact that Long Exposure was in black and white. I will warn you that all my books are that way, b&w in print and color in Kindle.

Clear skies,

Allan Hall

By: Pat

Pat — Sat, 19 Dec 2015 00:04:05 +0000

Hi,
I’ve got long Exposure and find it a great book to get started. …would there not be the fact that the book (at least in the Amazon.de version) does only contain b&w images. I really find it annoying when the process of color image processing is explained with b&w images only. My first reaction was really “You must be kidding!” when I looked in awe at those four b&w images where the text explains how that red, green and blue images are combined to the final color image… Just can’t stop wondering whether that was your intention or a budget saving trick of Amazon. While the text is really good and helpful, those b&w images are just useless. Now I saw in the preview (on Amazon.de) that Budget is printed in the same worthless b&w way. That’s really a pity. If there is a way to get the book with color prints, please let me know. If there’s none, I’m just curious to hear what you were thinking how those b&w images could possibly help anybody…

By: Allan

Allan — Wed, 02 Sep 2015 22:32:02 +0000

In reply to Gejza Novak.

I am sorry you found the other two books unhelpful. Long Exposure contains more information aimed at long exposures, while budget contains much more DIY information that is not contained in Long Exposure. Budget also contains information on using free software like GIMP which is not available in any of my other books. Using an EQ mount contains much more information than any of my other books on EQ mounts however it is far less expensive and only available electronically which aims it more towards beginners with EQ mounts rather than astrophotographers which I assume to have at least a passing knowledge of mounts.

Visual Astronomy does contain some of the same information, after all, finding and navigating the night sky is the same for long exposure AP, budget AP and visual astronomy so it is the same in all three books. Visual contains a lot more information on observable objects, the pioneers of astronomy and charts of upcoming astronomical events which is not available in any of my other books. If you want more original content than that I am afraid to say you might want to look elsewhere. If however you like the tone of the books you have, and want a book geared specifically towards visual (admittedly with some necessary repetitive information) then you might enjoy the visual book.

Either way, I appreciate your comments and if you do decide to purchase the visual book, would love to hear your comments on it.

Allan Hall

By: Gejza Novak

Gejza Novak — Mon, 03 Aug 2015 10:41:00 +0000

Few days ago I bought this book as the third in a row (after Long Exposure Astrophotography and Using an Equatorial mount) and realised, that Long Exposure Photography is the only book that contains all necessary information and the other too books are only shortened copies if it (the same text and pictures). It is a pity that this is not mentioned on your Amazon page. Now I am affraid that your other book on visual astronomy will be the same.