New lights, different angles, and a colorful new Bust
pursuitofliberty
Posts: 7,109 ✭✭✭✭✭
For the last couple years my photographs have all been using photo-grade fluorescent lights, but they just don't direct the light like an old halogen spot bulb does.
I can't buy Halogen's in CA anymore (and you can't have them shipped from Amazon, or similar places either), so I had to use some creative help from family out of state. Those showed up last week, and this weekend I found a little time to tinker with my photography stand and set up the camera for the new lights.
Since I had several coins on my desk that came in this last week, I had some practice material handy.
After some back and forth last night, and a couple LanceTips this morning 
, I think I found a pretty good spot that feels some leaps and bounds from where I was. Actually, it was the lights that made most of the difference, although I did move them up a couple inches (further from the coin) to steepen the light source angle.
One thing I don't like to do is post process. I like to get a picture that looks about spot on, right from the lens. I still have to crop and maybe do a slight exposure adjust ... but with fluorescents, colors just never seemed quite right unless I tweaked around, and even then ...
Anyway ... I am so happy because the pictures I took were basically about spot on, right off the camera. I know I still have more to learn and more practice to do in that respect (but that's just the evolutionary process, right?), but I thought I'd share one of the NEWP's before she disappears into the box.
Feel free to guess the grade, offer comments (on either the coin or the quality of images), or just post what you want because there's a new thread here! 
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“We are only their care-takers,” he posed, “if we take good care of them, then centuries from now they may still be here … ”
Todd - BHNC #242
Comments
AU-58
Nice coin
Mike
My Indians
Danco Set
Damn Boy them be some AWESOME Picture
Pretty toning
BHNC #248 … 130 and counting.
Very nice, coin and photo👍
Mind I ask what brand and type new lights you purchased? Also how high up are you placing your light now and are you using 2 or 4 lights? I am guessing you shooting them straight down towards the coins. Is this a DSLR camera? Great pictures too! Thank you for sharing
AU-55 it’s a great coin, but I think they knocked it down for that black streak in front of Liberty’s chin and for whatever that arc like thing is going from Liberty’s chin down to the bust area is. But it looks really nice anyway
Mr_Spud
Was wondering who would comment on those. The arc is an old scratch, while the "black streak" was the real grade limiter, IMO ... but I think PCGS got it right, even though it shows better than the assigned grade.
That mark is a scuff/scrape, and although partially toned over, if I put about 6 degrees tilt one way (top to bottom) it disappears, but the other way it will flash.
“We are only their care-takers,” he posed, “if we take good care of them, then centuries from now they may still be here … ”
Todd - BHNC #242
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Nikon D3500 with a Sigma 105mm. Two lights (PAR 30 Halogen - narrow spot), at about 10 and 2 o'clock, maybe 18" from the deck.
Yes, as straight and as square as I can, using a copy stand.
“We are only their care-takers,” he posed, “if we take good care of them, then centuries from now they may still be here … ”
Todd - BHNC #242
A real beaut...nice combination of flash and crustiness 😄
Now that is a real quality coin photograph. If the color is true, you have done great work in capturing that coin. Super detail.... almost like having it in hand. Cheers, RickO