Ray

All things Photography except for humans. Decorated, Disabled Veteran. NO AI here! NOTE: I WILL NEVER SEND UNSOLICITED LINKS AND NOT INTERESTED IN NFTs!!

[Ray @RayM5666]

****PLEASE READ****PLEASE READ****
*****RE-INTRODUCTION*****
Been a while since I posted an introduction and new pic of me. Sorry internet. Old and ugly, as promised.

First my name REALLY is Ray. Second ALL the images here are my own work and NEVER AI.

Ok, A little about the guy in the picture. I JUST turned 60 on May 6th, 2026. I'm an honorably discharged, decorated veteran. I served 10 years in the US Air Force as an aircraft crew chief for 3 years and a combat arms instructor for the remaining 7. I'm an expert marksman and still hit the range several times a month to keep in practice. I'll post targets now and then. I served 7 years in the US Border Patrol then as a civilian combat arms instructor for the Air Force.

My photography has always been a hobby. NOT INTERESTED IN NFTs. Terrestrial photography is ALWAYS of nature. I TRY not to get ANY humanity in my pictures. No, I'm not a fan of humanity. I'm the guy that roots for the asteroid! I'll be there with a baseball mitt on to try to catch it. LOL Wildlife, landscapes and weather are primarily what I focus on. The instruments I use are a Canon EOS t7 with basic kit lenses, DJI Mini 2 & 3 Drones, and a GoPro Hero 13.

My Astrophotography is my true passion. Since childhood I have been fascinated by Astronomy. I ALWAYS wanted to take pictures like the ones I saw in Astronomy, Science News, and Sky & Telescope Magazines. Back in 2011, I was FINALLY able to get the gear I needed to do BASIC Astrophotography. Now, I am fulfilling that dream and sharing it here. My main scope is a Williams Optics Red Cat 51 Gen 3. (Scope in pic with ugly old man)

Politics. Ugh! I have VERY strong opinions. THIS site is not about that for me. It is about photography. I don't care what side you are on, what you identify as or who you vote for. I will NOT engage in political debate here. Anyone that tries will be immediately blocked whether you are on my side or not. PLEASE, if any of you feel I am being political, let me know and I will correct that behavior.

Thanks for sticking around to read the ramblings of a strange, ugly old man. This is who I am and I'm too damned old to care or change.

[Ray @RayM5666]

@FototakerTony Thank you, my friend!

[Ray @RayM5666]

Since I am shooting this area while shooting the Flaming Star Nebula, decided to do a rework on IC-410, The Tadpoles. This was with the L-Enhance Filter back in 2024

[Ray @RayM5666]

@FototakerTony They are at the upper right of the central bright area of the nebula.

[Ray @RayM5666]

@freedomfeens All great images as usual! I LOVE the arch!

[Ray @RayM5666]

@kamin_amy @starfront_obs Very nice!! I'm shooting the same target. LOL

[Ray @RayM5666]

@randymilanovic Thank you.

[Ray @RayM5666]

Well the clouds have rolled in and no clear night for the foreseeable future so here is where I am at on the IC-405, Flaming Star Nebula for Nova project. Need a lot more IR/UV Cut gata to make the blue pop.

[Ray @RayM5666]

@JohnGetchel Thanks John. Still trying to learn how to blend the two data sets.

[Ray @RayM5666]

@Kristin_Mae Ok. She's pretty much house trained. I take her in Thursday to get spayed. NOT crazy about that and worried sick! She IS a snuggle bug. Bought a HUGE dog bed, I end up sleeping on because she likes to snuggle and can't climb into bed yet.

[Ray @RayM5666]

Some of you may remember this image. The first image is the LAST image I worked on with my beloved Nova for before he suddenly crossed the rainbow bridge last Nov 14. (image with Nova in it) In honor of this anniversary, I am re-shooting the same image. THIS time, I am going to make it EPIC. Here is the data collected so far. First image (without the blue) is 58 X 10-minute subs. The second image is with an IR/UV cut filter to bring out the blue. This was shot last night for 35 X 10 Minute Subs. I want more IR/UV cut filter data before I combine them so stay tuned!

[Ray @RayM5666]

@JohnGetchel Thanks, John!

[Ray @RayM5666]

@Kristin_Mae Thank you. He was my partner when up all night imaging! Training the new puppy to do the same now. Just not the same. LOL

[Ray @RayM5666]

@Happyrising_guy Thanks my friend. Even with the new puppy, this week is going to be tough.

[Ray @RayM5666]

@esvedlun Thank you.

[Ray @RayM5666]

@randymilanovic Thank you.

[Ray @RayM5666]

@Finstad_Photo Thank you!

[Ray @RayM5666]

@fromsamslens @Theme_pic_India Oh wow! Incredible work! Love the mist shroud!!

[Ray @RayM5666]

@GavinDeVicePic Don't you love the feeling of accomplishment when you do this? Great images!

[Ray @RayM5666]

@ljoysmind Thank you. I AM proud BUT realize there are MUCH better out there.

[Ray @RayM5666]

Again, not the BEST capture I have ever seen but given the equipment I was using and the inexperience I'm pretty proud of it. This was Jupiter, its moon Io and a double red spot. 2012, there was a secondary storm just south of the Great Red Spot. You can BARELY make it out on the right side of Jupiter's disk.

[Ray @RayM5666]

@Happyrising_guy Thanks Brother.