Astrophotography is a hoax when they do not notify you of the level of processing that the images that are showing you have. They tell you: look at the wonders of the sky; But they don’t let you know: you can never see it with your eyes because it is a processed image, a composition or even an illustration created with images.

So to be fair, I want to show some comparisons that I have made with the latest photos of northern lights during the last G2 grade solar storm of February 28, 2023.

Why does this happen?

First, The ability of cameras in night photography

The photographic camera has the ability to see colors in the dark better than the human eye because it has a much higher sensitivity to light. The camera is able to capture more light than the human eye and this allows it to detect more colors in the dark. Additionally, the camera has the ability to capture light for a longer period of time, allowing for more color information to be captured.

The human eye is limited by its much lower sensitivity to light, and by its inability to capture light for an extended period of time. This means that the camera is able to capture more color information in the dark than the human eye can.

In astrophotography this happens more and more since cameras technology and processing methods are progressing very quickly providing options that were not possible before.

Second, look their best or stand out?

Photographers often over process images for the Internet and Social Networks because they want to make them look their best. They may use a combination of editing techniques to enhance the colours, contrast, and other elements of the photo. This may include sharpening edges, brightening colours, increase contrast, give clarity or applying filters.

The goal of over processing is to make the photo look more appealing and stand out from the crowd. Photos that are over processed stand out from the rest because they are brighter, sharper and more vibrant. This helps draw attention to the image, and can be beneficial for photographers trying to promote their work.

But, the temptation to add too many filters, effects, and adjustments can lead to images that are overly manipulated and lose their natural beauty. Over processing images can lead to an unrealistic representation of beauty, or even fall into falsehood.