Coin Photography Advanced Course
coinguy96
Posts: 59 ✭✭✭
I'm curious if this is something currently offered in the numismatic marketplace? I've been photographing coins (mostly badly) for 10 years and I'd love to improve my skills.
Photographing graded toned coins with accurate colors and details would be the goal (as I'm sure many others would like to know as well). So it got me thinking, is there anyone that's currently offering a course to learn this skill?
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Is there a specific aspect that you are trying to improve. I have been taking images of coins for 10 ish years as well. From my non-expert perspective, colors are based upon lighting decisions (and then in workflow decisions (like white point)). Details are based on lens, focal plane, ISO, stability, fstop decisions. It takes a lot of practice, time and big set up configuration changes to optimize. I have not heard of an advanced course.....ANA? Great question.
keoj
This is likely your best bet (see class #6): https://www.money.org/summer-seminar/course-catalog/
The ANA summer seminar is offering an upcoming class. The link above should take you there.
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It would be nice for a course that is not tied to the summer seminar and one that is offered at several locations around the country.
I personally think its not just coins. A certain skill set working with a camera and lighting is the key.
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Decades ago I took advanced photography via Summer Seminar in The Springs with Tom Mulvaney & Astrid Gracy. Like in late 80's. Film ruled the day. Things I learned about capturing coins long ago remain important today. Macro is macro. Axial lighting is axial lighting. Depth of field is & you guessed it. Do not be confused by the circle of confusion !
Figure out how to close down your aperture on whatever device you are using and you are gold.
Practice makes perfect as does trial and error. Even with a background in film & video, photographing coins is more demanding to achieve desired results.
Custom album maker and numismatic photographer.
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https://www.donahuenumismatics.com/.
That's the problem!! If I listed all the struggles I was having, or questions I had, this would turn into a chapter book!
But for starters. Here are two different 1950 Franklin Proofs (so I know it's a little apple to oranges) but the idea is still the same and they're both graded NGC 67 CAMEO. One is recently photographed by Greatcollections and the other is photographed by me (I'm sure you can deduct which is which). How come it looks like my photo isn't actually capturing the fields of the coin or the coin itself for that matter... Whereas Greatcollections looks like the photo is an actual representation of the coin. And I'm not just referring to the "Halo" look around Franklin's face. Just the whole thing in general looks terrible compared to the GC photo.
Thank you! I will look into this.
I wish I knew what this even meant!! That's what I'm talking about. I need to learn from someone who knows what they're talking about!
A photography course would be so awesome for the hobby! So many people are interested in coins, but there's only a handful of people who can accurately photograph graded coins, especially toned and proof coins.
Your lights are too far away from the coin from what I'm seeing. Also bring the lights more towards the top of the coins and the sides.
FWIW, Proof Franklins are IMO the most difficult type to image, and by far.
Coin Photography
Thank you for the insight! I will look into moving my lights closer and see what effect that has on the coin.
If you want to invest time and money into learning in a 22-hour hands-on class, sign up for the ANA Summer Seminar class. You'll get decent instruction and lots of practice. This class fills up quickly, because the ANA only has a certain number of copy stands, so don't wait too long to sign up if you're interested.
Keeper of the VAM Catalog • Professional Coin Imaging • Prime Number Set • World Coins in Early America • British Trade Dollars • Variety Attribution
https://www.money.org/summer-seminar/course-catalog/
"Session One Class Descriptions
Session 1: June 20–25
All classes are held Sunday–Wednesday, June 21–24, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
YOU ARE LOOKING AT CLASS #6 only offered in 1st session.
Happy Shopping !
This course is designed for beginners through advanced photographers who want to learn basic and advanced techniques to photograph numismatic items and manage a digital collection; use photographs to sell coins online; conduct research using numismatic photography; perform diagnostic inspections of numismatic items; or submit images for publication.
Learn how to use multiple lighting configurations and get the most out of your equipment. Discover proper image capture and file-handling methods for efficiency. Learn basic editing techniques using Adobe Photoshop/Elements to produce proper results and image management.
Students are encouraged (but not required) to bring a DSLR camera with macro lens and a laptop with Photoshop or Photoshop Elements, along with several personal numismatic items to photograph.
Instructors: Clark Fogg, CSI forensic consultant and numismatic photographer, historian, and author; and David Heinrich, numismatic editor and photographer, ANA governor"
WHAT DOES THIS ADVENTURE COST ???
"Registration Pricing and Discounts
Off-Campus Tuition – 1 Week (Session 1: June 20-25 OR Session 2: June 27-July 2)
TUITION AND BANQUET TICKET. LODGING AND MEALS NOT INCLUDED.
Meals can be purchased in the college cafeteria at the posted Colorado College rates. Students looking for private baths or air conditioning or those traveling with family should consider this option.
Early Registration Price: $885; Price after March 28: $935; Life Members receive an additional $25 discount.
On-Campus/Double-Occupancy – 1 Week (Session 1: June 20-25 OR Session 2: June 27-July 2)
5 nights in a Colorado College Residential Hall, Double-Occupancy Room. Tuition, daily meals and one banquet ticket included. Unless you request a specific roommate, one will be selected for you. Each double-occupancy room includes a window fan, microwave, mini-refrigerator, bedding and towels.
Early Registration Price: $1,330; Price after March 28: $1,380; Life Members receive an additional $25 discount.
On-Campus/Single-Occupancy – 1 Week (Session 1: June 20-25 OR Session 2: June 27-July 2)
5 nights in a Colorado College Residential Hall, Single-Occupancy Room. Tuition, daily meals and one banquet ticket included. Each single-occupancy room includes a window fan, microwave, mini-refrigerator, bedding and towels.
Early Registration Price: $1,360; Price after March 28: $1,410; Life Members receive an additional $25 discount."
Thank you all! I will look into the ANA Seminar.
I taught the advanced course for a few years, who it teaching it now?
"Instructors: Clark Fogg, CSI forensic consultant and numismatic photographer, historian, and author; and David Heinrich, numismatic editor and photographer, ANA governor"
Keeper of the VAM Catalog • Professional Coin Imaging • Prime Number Set • World Coins in Early America • British Trade Dollars • Variety Attribution
That ANA seminar sounds like fun. I've been a hobbyist photographer since the 80's, but have never done macro before I started learning how to do coin photography a few months ago. Be careful, it's an expensive rabbit hole. I already have good gear and software, so I only needed a macro lens, a copy stand, and lights.
I'm getting decent results, but I'm learning a lot of time-consuming lessons like making sure your slabs are polished, making sure you invest enough in your copy stand so that it's rigid and repeatable (I did not and will have to buy twice), etc., etc..
It's always great to have folks working on the same thing share successes and failures.
Here’s an example from my most recent full collection re-shoot:
Newbie collector of type and circulated Peace dollars, photographer of places and animals, player of instruments and builder of amplifiers, espresso industry professional, and a person distracted by shiny objects. https://mycollect.com/Rule556/sets