Angled photography. Only way I can get color to show...

jesbroken

On this 1913 S T1 Buffalo Nickel. It is so nice inhand but just doesn't show straight on. I am a poor photographer at best and have always been unable to capture color very well. So I just use my cell at an angle and at least get some color to present itself.
Jim

GaCoinGuy

I can never get color to show without playing with the settings. That looks like a nice Buff and an "S" to boot.

lordmarcovan

Phil Arnold, before his tenure as the PCGS TrueView original guru, pioneered an angled photography technique. There were threads about it on the forum. I wonder if the pics are still active in those ancient threads, should one be able to find them…

robec

You could try angling the light source.

jesbroken

Bob, I did try that and to a small extent color showed, which shouldn't be any difference, but for me it did.
LMV, I'll do a search.
Jim

Mr_Spud

I angle the lights myself, but some use that technique with a piece of glass at an angle. It has a fancy name

Mr_Spud

jesbroken

I built a similar device once utilizing a 2way mirror and lighting. Still have it somewhere. I was never able to improve the photo with it.
Jim

The_Dinosaur_Man

Jim, try using a plastic slide from a Dansco or from one of the albums I've sent you. The plastic is reflective enough to bounce the light and thin enough to minimize distortions to the camera.

skier07

What does the coin look like with conventional images?

leothelyon

Ideally, we want the light to bounce perpendicularly off the coin and back up into the camera lens. But this is impossible since the camera is in the way. There's the axial photography method which I have tried and failed. I use a method that creates a V angling positioning of the camera and lighting. The coin lies flat at the bottom point of the V. It makes the coin take on a bit of an oval shape. There's likely a way/use of a photo editor to correct the oval shape to a more circular shape but haven't thought it's necessary. But it is necessary that the light bounces off the coin and goes directly back up into the camera lens. That light is carrying the colors of your coin!

Leo

yosclimber

My daughter-in-law uses axial photography for her coin photos.
I believe she gets some very good results.
I need to learn her methods!

https://www.instagram.com/coinpeeps/

lordmarcovan

I think @mgoodm3 ’s Numismatic Photography book also covers the topic, if memory serves. I no longer have the copy he so kindly gave me. Passed it on to someone else who was interested.

jesbroken

@lordmarcovan said:
I think @mgoodm3 ’s Numismatic Photography book also covers the topic, if memory serves. I no longer have the copy he so kindly gave me. Passed it on to someone else who was interested.

I got his copy in 2009 at the Baltimore show. Met him and Ron Pope who became a very special friend.
Here are a couple of straight on photos in same fixed lighting.
Jim

YQQ

just ask some of the members here who always post the most incredible photos.