I have found this nebula kind of difficult to locate and photograph from within the city but it is possible as you can see! even though the Helix is the largest and the brightest planetary in the sky it has a very low surface brightness because it is so extended. I have seen it in binoculars as well as with 8" and the 11" scopes when seeing permits.On other days when the seeing was not so good I could barely detect it in the 11". This photo was taken with the 8" scope on Kodak gold 400 at f 6.3 for 35 min. when the seeing was fair.