Boy, brilliant white silver coins are kinda hard to photo...opinions please!

mnmcoin

I spent all day yesterday trying to get the lighting right, this is an example of what I was running into...

1953 S 10c PCGS MS66 WHITE

Do you think the pic of coin looks to washed out from too much light? This was one I was having problems with yesterday although it was the most problematic I noticed most of the other 30 or so Roosevelts I did yesterday I had a problem with either too much light reflection (although most coins were very lustrous and accurately reflected the light) or not enough light and getting a darkish gray kind of outcome. I think the photo does the coin justice in color and showing that it is a lustrous coin, I am just concerned about the light sort of washing out areas of the coin.

thanks for your feedback, any suggestions are certainly welcome...you'll notice I decided to go to a slab viewable photo.

morris <><

BillJones

Does this look any better?

If you have a photo processing program, try darkening the picture and increasing the contrast. You can also play with the light in the original photo, but yes bright coins are harder to photograph than toned ones.

MadMonk

It seem that I've heard of using a circular flourescent lamp?

FC57Coins

Morris - try coming at it from an angle as opposed to right on top of it - you're getting too much reflection!

Frank

ksteelheader

Like Frank said, try coming from a slight angle. I sometimes tilt the coin with some object under it. Also, try moving your lighting around. And try more than 1 light source. It takes some experimenting at times. Good luck.............Ken

Fairlaneman

What I try to do is to get the Slab color or background color to show up in the Camera view as it actually is. This most of the time makes the coin come out as it really looks. Shadows are the hardest thing to keep out of the picture for myself. This coin shows up White where it should be White on my monitor. After viewing the coin on the Forum Site the coin has picked up a Gray Tint.



Ken

oldcameoproofsguy

Morris,

If your camera has an EV or an F Stop adjustment, try lowering the EV by 1/2 or 1 full setting. This will lessen the amount of light into the lens that is reflecting off of the coin. It looks like a full stop lower than where you are now would be the plan. When I shoot any photo I want it to be exposed perfectly so that no photoshop alterations are necessary.