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Picture taking...Why does everyone want to make it sound so complicated???

With all due respect to everyones likes and dislikes as far as setup, why does everyone make it sound like a precise art?

Here is a picture of my setup and some photos just taken using that same setup!!!

The setup
.image

Coin #1
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Coin #2
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Coin #3
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Coin #4
.image

Comments

  • image Cause I don't got a deck like that... and certainly no duct tape wrapped around a wooden post... image
    -George
    42/92
  • Outside light isn't the best for viewing coins and taking pictures either.

    Cameron Kiefer
  • GTOsterGTOster Posts: 861 ✭✭✭
    Cause I can't get mine to work right image
    Paul
  • mrearlygoldmrearlygold Posts: 17,858 ✭✭✭
    Great photos!

    Rgrds
    TPimage
  • Outside light isn't the best for viewing coins and taking pictures either....Cameron, is there something you see wrong with those pictures, or, the coins????
  • NoGvmntNoGvmnt Posts: 1,126
    Geeeez, in #3 it looks like John needs a shave and it also looks like he has a couple bald spots. If he loses any more hair he is going to be a Frankie! Ohhhh nooooooo!!!

    Jim
  • Not with those coins, but gold does look different in sunlight than it does under a coin lamp.

    Cameron Kiefer
  • That's exactly the coin #3 looks in hand!!! But, a Frankie???...image
  • mgoodm3mgoodm3 Posts: 17,497 ✭✭✭
    Raw coins are easy. The damn plastic is what makes it hard (I think on of your pics is in a slab). I do the complicated thing because I can control all the factors better and it makes me fell like a man.
    coinimaging.com/my photography articles Check out the new macro lens testing section
  • Ken,

    Do you freehand the shots with your digital camera? Also, do you use macro or adjust shot with photo editing software? I also assume there is no flash used. I ask because I have problems with getting the right lighting inside.

    Thanks
    Gary
    Gary
    image
  • BaleyBaley Posts: 22,660 ✭✭✭✭✭
    slabbed coins are tougher.

    and no offense, but those shots could be improved..

    Liberty: Parent of Science & Industry

  • dpooledpoole Posts: 5,940 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Nice pictures!

    Silver and nickel tend to be more forgiving, in my experience. Copper's tough to get the color right. My experience is that I've had to change the lighting arrangement and other aspects, depending on the metallic composition. THAT'S what makes it so tough/complicated.
  • Do you freehand the shots with your digital camera?...Yes.
    .
    Also, do you use macro or adjust shot with photo editing software?...Macro.
    .
    I also assume there is no flash used. ....Correct.
  • slabbed coins are tougher.....Coin #1 and #2 are slabbed...
    .
    .and no offense, but those shots could be improved.....Totally unedited photos!
  • BaleyBaley Posts: 22,660 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I meant, they're a little dark, particularly at the top and bottom.

    Liberty: Parent of Science & Industry

  • BarryBarry Posts: 10,100 ✭✭✭
    Ken,
    What's with those 2 coins at the bottom? They're all spotted. Look like dogs to me!
  • The two coins at the bottom, actually the same coin, is a dog. I grabbed it off the junk pile just to use to photograph...image
  • stmanstman Posts: 11,352 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Hi Ken, don't take offense here.... the Morgan looks like a good pic but I'm not seeing luster like I do with the ones that do make it sound so complicated. I could scan that Morgan and get similar results.
    Please... Save The Stories, Just Answer My Questions, And Tell Me How Much!!!!!
  • I see my problem....I have been photographing mine on a tee shirt, instead of a piece of duct tape!image
  • airplanenutairplanenut Posts: 22,141 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Ken,

    I think the problem with your setup (not a real problem, mind you) is that you can only use it when the weather is good. To have a setup that is made with entirely artificial light can be quite difficult at times--it is much easier to use light from one source millions of miles away than concentrated a foot from the slab.

    Thus, the real complication comes not with whether it is ever easy, but whether it is easy to take a picture at any point in time.

    Jeremy
    JK Coin Photography - eBay Consignments | High Quality Photos | LOW Prices | 20% of Consignment Proceeds Go to Pancreatic Cancer Research
  • I love the setup. Bottom line is I can make a buying decision from those photos. That's the main thing. They are at least as good or better than 90% of the photos on E-bay. JMHO Steve
  • Wow. My setup is just about that complicated. Just have to remember to turn on the lights over the oven.
    image
    image
    You're now official, Bubba 4/24/04
  • MadMartyMadMarty Posts: 16,697 ✭✭✭
    What happends if you want to take a picture of a coin at night or if it's raining???
    It is not exactly cheating, I prefer to consider it creative problem solving!!!

  • airplanenutairplanenut Posts: 22,141 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>What happends if you want to take a picture of a coin at night or if it's raining??? >>

    Hence his toners image
    JK Coin Photography - eBay Consignments | High Quality Photos | LOW Prices | 20% of Consignment Proceeds Go to Pancreatic Cancer Research
  • WWWWWW Posts: 2,609 ✭✭✭
    Hey Ken,

    How does that set-up work with proof copper?

    Bill
  • BikingnutBikingnut Posts: 3,375 ✭✭✭
    How do you hold the camera still? What if the sun is too bright?
    US Navy CWO3 retired. 12/81-09/04

    Looking for PCGS AU58 Washington's, 32-63.
  • How does that set-up work with proof copper?...Very well. You just adjust the white balance on your camera...


    How do you hold the camera still? What if the sun is too bright? ...I just prop my arms so they don't shake. The setup is under roof so I usually get only indirect light. Those pictures today were taken while it was raining. You listening Marty???

    I do the same type of setup in the winter on an inside windowsill. Granted, I can't take pics when the sun is below the horizon, but I manage.....Ken
  • ColonialCoinUnionColonialCoinUnion Posts: 10,087 ✭✭✭
    Ken -

    Whatever you're doing is working significantly better than what I'm doing.

    Your shots look great - as good as anything I've seen by anyone, anywhere.

    JA


  • One thing I did forget to mention. That's practice.

    I do believe that taking many, many pictures and writing down what your settings and conditions were for each picture. Then you can start to learn your own specific camera and how its different settings work. God knows how horrible the pics I posted here a year ago were. I mean, Frankies and Kennedys are not brown! They used to be!
  • MadMartyMadMarty Posts: 16,697 ✭✭✭
    Now if you just had any good looking coins, you would be set!image
    It is not exactly cheating, I prefer to consider it creative problem solving!!!

  • Hey Marty, have I told you lately to "bite me!"???....image
  • FC57CoinsFC57Coins Posts: 9,140


    << <i>I do believe that taking many, many pictures and writing down what your settings and conditions were for each picture. Then you can start to learn your own specific camera and how its different settings work. >>




    I dunno Ken - that sounds pretty complicated to me! image
  • Gee Frank, that shouldn't be complicated to a young fellow like you! Now, for an older guy like Marty, it would be understandable!!!...image
  • FC57CoinsFC57Coins Posts: 9,140
    image
  • MadMartyMadMarty Posts: 16,697 ✭✭✭
    Hey of you, the pug and myself.. I'm the youngin'!!!!
    It is not exactly cheating, I prefer to consider it creative problem solving!!!

  • But Marty, Frank looks younger!!!....image
  • LucyBopLucyBop Posts: 14,001 ✭✭✭
    image
    imageBe Bop A Lula!!
    "Senorita HepKitty"
    "I want a real cool Kitty from Hepcat City, to stay in step with me" - Bill Carter
  • Lucy, that's a very nice pic of the reverse!!!!!....image
  • FC57CoinsFC57Coins Posts: 9,140
    Baby's got back image
  • MadMartyMadMarty Posts: 16,697 ✭✭✭
    MS67FBC, Full Butt Crack!!!
    It is not exactly cheating, I prefer to consider it creative problem solving!!!

  • Marty, that's MS70 every day of the week. But, we understand about you older folks having trouble with your eyesight!!!!...image
  • JRoccoJRocco Posts: 14,277 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Now I'm shot for the nightimage
    Some coins are just plain "Interesting"
  • i love duct tape

    i'm still trying to find the best way to get pix...i don't have good light, i think the scanner secretly hates me, and if i set up on my bed a couple of cats always try to help LOL


    you took cool pix image
    anita...ana #r-217183...coin collecting noob
    image

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