What a difference lighting makes.
DoubleEagle59
Posts: 8,043 ✭✭✭✭✭
Two pictures of the same coin (on Ebay) that shows the stark differences in appearance when using different lighting.
I must say it's good on the seller that they provided the secondary picture displaying the proper color tone of the coin.
But can you imagine the complaints if only the first picture was provided.
(and I realize this is the US forum, but this coin illustrates my point best).
"Gold is money, and nothing else" (JP Morgan, 1912)
"Gold is the canary in the financial coal mine." (Alan Greenspan)
"I only golf on days that end in 'Y'" (DE59)
"Gold is the canary in the financial coal mine." (Alan Greenspan)
"I only golf on days that end in 'Y'" (DE59)
2
Comments
Yes... a world of difference. We have seen that demonstrated here many times.... However, always good to see more examples. We always have new members and others not versed in photographic anomalies. Cheers, RickO
How did you determine the secondary picture displayed the proper color tone rather than the first?
It could also look more like the first photo rather than the second.
That has happened for me and many others at both Ebay and other auctions where the color and luster in-person were better than the photos made them appear.
Sometimes full slab/holder can be closer to actual look and sometimes worse. It often comes down to the lighting and angles.
"To Be Esteemed Be Useful" - 1792 Birch Cent --- "I personally think we developed language because of our deep need to complain." - Lily Tomlin
Good point.
But in this particular case, if you're familiar with ICCS grading, you know the second picture is the accurate one.
"Gold is the canary in the financial coal mine." (Alan Greenspan)
"I only golf on days that end in 'Y'" (DE59)
Amazing isn't it.
it is impossible to capture all of a coin's dynamics in a single photo, and at least on my end I provide secondary photos when necessary. Doing so in the digital environment caters to the buyer's and collector's need to tilt a coin in hand to get different perspectives for toning, luster, relief, etc. In a similar example to the OP, I've photographed a 1982-S Washington commem with both axial and non-axial lighting, and on the website I help out with I developed a clickable widget that allows visitors to toggle between views.
Custom album maker and numismatic photographer, see my portfolio here: (http://www.donahuenumismatics.com/).
The first image looks like a photo and the bottom a scan. Regardless, without the coin in-hand how can you tell which is more accurate and under what lighting conditions?
In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson
It's not about lighting, it's all about grayscale.