Lighting/Photography update

spyglassdesign

I just updated my lighting setup, requiring much less correction in photoshop now!

I bought 2 gooseneck lights to replace my LED desk lamps. I am currently using some cheap daylight bulbs from home depot. I ordered some GE Reveal bulbs but I think they are faulty as the light is orange! I also have some OTTlite flourescent on the way, and another set of GE Reveal bulbs arriving later today.

This is my camera mount: https://www.amazon.com/Auxiliary-Holding-Overhead-Ballhead-C-Clamp/dp/B094N6W6SP

The silver lights are the LED's I'd been using for the last year or so. The black desk lamps are the new ones and they take whatever bulb I put in them, allowing me to experiment more. I am diffusing the light a bit using a sticky note stuck to the side of the lamp and bent between the bulb and the coins

Here is one of the most dramatic before/after so far. The after looks completely natural to in hand, with just a minor contrast edit. I'm sure as I experiment I can nix photoshop altogether by changing the camera settings.

For fun I took some pictures of other random coins with no editing whatsoever. The proof I used a filter on the camera lens otherwise it would reflect the camera in the mirrors. As always, I'm open to critique and suggestions to improve even further. I suspect getting working reveal and flourescent bulbs will help too.

Mr_Spud

Nice 👍🏻

spyglassdesign

Just a heads up, the GE Reveal bulbs that are sold these days are not the natural white light of before. They are an ugly gold hue, and apparently no longer have a 90CRI rating, and are now 85. I do NOT suggest these bulbs, and they are going back.

I should get the OTT lights this weekend.

Shurke

Very nice shots!

coinhack

Thank you for sharing your set up. This information will help some of us. And your photos are looking really good.

spyglassdesign

@coinhack said:
Thank you for sharing your set up. This information will help some of us. And your photos are looking really good.

To add, that mount actually has a phone holder as well so those who want to or only have a cell phone can use it as well!