I can't believe it, a simple trick works wonders!!!

1907Quarter

So I've had less than mediocre results photographing ngc slabs. My coppers are dark and I can't pull the colors out subsequently. Light bulb! I cut out black cardboard strips, tape them onto the slab making a rectangular perimeter, right up to the rim! I don't even have to change the exposure level!! Totally unadulterated pic!


Color and luster all at once of my 1904 ngc MS65BN!

mercurynut

That is a great idea I will have to give it a try!

Tonelover

It's better than your first attempt, brought out more of the color this time. The coin still looks a lot better in person though. Better get back to that drawing board.

CoinAddict

Great pic. Do you have a pic of the obverse?

1907Quarter

Great pic. Do you have a pic of the obverse? yep, let me get it...it's not as grand as the other but still ok. I'm using irfanview and using airplanenut's adage, shoot big res, crop, resize and compress!


Jon-I can only now appreciate how lucky I got on the centavo-this stuff's hard!-it's almost like a crapshoot until you get it on the computer!

coppercoins

Could you back up and show us the whole setup? I'd like to see a picture of the area, the cardboard sitting on a slab, etc.

ibzman350

yea me too

Herb

1907Quarter

hope this helps

boz

ms70

You know what might be cool? Cut out a circle in the size of each denomination you want to shoot. Keep them on hand. Nice job!

Boom

Man, the luster shows up real nice when you pulled back.

magikbilly

Hi 1907Q,
yes, I have been trying things like that and more with all sorts of results. I tried a reflective silver empty 35mm slide mount with the slabbed coin showing through, tilted as before, and have been catching mirrors and surfaces with contrast. Nothing to post yet. Still pleased with my last Seated 10c scan.

Best,
Billy

dorkkarl

great digi-pic!

K S

nwcs

Beautiful coin, too! I think I'll have to try that trick.

magikbilly

Hi 1907Q,
now you know why I mentioned the black t-shirt! Makes a world of difference - light absorbtion I guess, I don't know - less bouncing around. Pics look great

Best,
Billy

Shamika

Very nice.

ibzman350

It's times like this I wish I wouldn't have slept through Photograph 101,

The results wouldn't be the same if the coin was placed on top of the black material??

Herb

anablep

Now that's a great idea. Keep the pictures coming...

seanq

<< <i>It's times like this I wish I wouldn't have slept through Photograph 101,

The results wouldn't be the same if the coin was placed on top of the black material??

Herb >>



For a raw coin that would probably work, but probably not for a white slab. I think the black needs to be close enough to the coin that the camera sees them both.

The more I read and experiment with coin photography, the more I find that the proper white balance is the key. My cheap-o digital camera doesn't have a manual setting, so I've tried all manner of things to trick it into the proper setting. Like 1907Q I found that dark coins or coins with colorful toning work best on a black background. To take pics of cameo proof coins, I found that the black & white "cowskin" pattern of a composition notebook worked great - by forcing the camera to differentiate the black & white in the background, it was tricked into doing the same on the coin.


Sean Reynolds