POLL: two pictures, same coin....two PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHERS. Pick the better overall one.

saintguru

A or B!!


GRADE IT IF YOU DARE!!!




A


B

messydesk

Uhh... pictures?

saintguru

Gimme a break.

Myqqy

"B" looks like it has more detail....

jayboxx

At first I was going to say A's Obverse and B's Reverse, but overall I think B's shows more detail, so I will go with B. Both are very good.

jdsinva

Along with everyone else, B shows the detail better. . .

coinguy1

<<Which picture captures the complete essence....>>

What is this, a perfume or wine commercial?

Seriously, though, it's doubtful that either image captures the "complete essence", and we have no way to know for certain which is more accurate wiithout havng the coin in hand.

messydesk

B has better detail, but A has better "essence," so I picked A and don't know why that coin wouldn't grade 66 other than being "date graded."

LanLord

Both are very nice pictures, I like A better, but would be happy with either.

I know nothing about St. Gs, but I see nothing that would keep that below a 66.

RWB

"B" shows an understanding of lighting; specifically of how to use light on a sculpture to capture detail as well as enhance the artist's design. Here, the lighting has a definite source and direction (above and to Liberty's left, aimed approximately toward the Capitol building). On the reverse the directional quality of the light shows design detail well, although the best source location would have been from the front of the eagle rather than behind.

"B" also was able to better accommodate the curvature of the field and avoid the two reflections of the black camera body and lens. However, "A" handled tonal range better than "B" particularly at the lower left on the reverse were the field curves up to the rim. "A" is also better with the overdate.

"A" appears to have been done with two light sources, or one light and a white reflector. "B" looks more like a diffuse source such as a light box or gallon milk jug.

I don't think either captures the coin in all its detail. It would be interesting to have a third set taken using axial lighting.

End of approximations....

saintguru

<< <i><<Which picture captures the complete essence....>>

What is this, a perfume or wine commercial?

Seriously, though, it's doubtful that either image captures the "complete essence", and we have no way to know for certain which is more accurate wiithout havng the coin in hand. >>




JUST ANSWER WITH WHAT YOU SEE. It's a picture poll. OK?

tmot99

<< <i>At first I was going to say A's Obverse and B's Reverse, but overall I think B's shows more detail, so I will go with B. Both are very good. >>



This was exactly my thoughts.

CarlWohlforth

I can't vote. Is the actual coin darker like A or yellower like B? B makes the numerous flaws more obvious (Just Kidding about the numerous ). I'm guessing this one is 67.

BECOKA

For me it was easy, B shows more detail on the obverse and the fields showed a better look at the luster. The a pic had a slight blur to the fields on the obverse making the luster a little harder to see.

The reverse on B blew away the reverse on A. It captures the details very well. There was too much light on A where the details are not captured. Luster on the reverse of B is more consistent as well. It is kind of splotchy on A.

To make a long story short I have to go with B

Grade looks like a really nice MS65 do to a few random minor hits.

TorinoCobra71

"B"

TorinoCobra71

MadMarty

<< <i><<Which picture captures the complete essence....>>

What is this, a perfume or wine commercial?

Seriously, though, it's doubtful that either image captures the "complete essence", and we have no way to know for certain which is more accurate wiithout havng the coin in hand. >>




I was going to say the same thing.

saintguru

You all disappoint me. I think even though B shows depth, it's more like a painting that an actual coin. A shows the lustre, skin and real character of the coin..it's more "real" and that's what I strive for.

B makes the coin look very sterile, which if you were using it for an internet auctin would be better. But it's just too clean, too 'simple'.

I want pics that show what the coin REALLY looks like. Look at ANR's pics and then buy the coin! It never is quite as nice. It's "worked on". I think that coins have been catalogued so poorly that a real analytical picture is hard to come by. I'm actually opting for a more critical, true to life photo. It's reality. I swear I could have pics that made almost every coin I own look like a MS67 if I chose to. That's easy.

A has much more LIFE that B.

That's my vote and that's my preference. Everyone has their preferences.

A was by Mike Printz. B was by Phil Arnold. Both are SUPERIOR pictures. It's just a matter of preference.

That's the scoop from my perspective. It's a VERY high end 65.

CarlWohlforth

Nice for a 65. I don't get to buy many 65s that look like that one. That is, of course, assuming the photos are accurate.

messydesk

<< <i>You all disappoint me.... >>


Ahem...

<< <i>B has better detail, but A has better "essence," >>


And according to the poll it looks like only about 2/3 disappoint. The rest of us will wait until another time.

saintguru

Yes you will.

but guess what. I OWN this coin.

And it's spectacular!

dthigpen

Modern Crap.

saintguru

You're modern crap, Metro-boy.

MikeInFL

A is the better photo to me. No question.

It is perfectly exposed and well lit, altough your jpeg recompression is leaving artifacts. Clearly a MP photograph.

B is a great photo, but it has areas of overexposure and the lighting is not nearly as even. I also find the angle of lighting of the coin distracting -- it is side-lit.

Just my humble opinion...Mike

MORGANHUNTER2

B overall, and she's a crappy but neat 6

coinlieutenant

At this level of photography, it is impossible to tell without the coin in hand. Both are awesome. I would guess Mike Printz and Mark Goodman.

The coin is a 66.

coinlieutenant

Actually I would say Mike Printz and Phil Arnold.... A is Printz, B is Arnold.

Coin is still a 66.

coinlieutenant

Duh John....read the freaking post!!

mgoodm3

I like B, better contrast. I'm a contrast junkie.

When do I get a shot at it?

lordmarcovan

<< <i>Which picture captures thae complete essence of this coin?? >>

Let me see the coin and compare it to the pictures, and I'll tell you.

(Seriously- that would be the only way I would wanna judge which better "captured the essence".)

I picked "B".

Why?

Eenie, meenie, minie, moe...

relayer

I voted "A" because I think it looks more like the real coin.

Unless "B" looks more like the real coin, then I voted wrong.

lordmarcovan

I like the warm orangey color of "A" just a little better but think "B" shows some of the finer detail more crisply. The top edge of the reverse picture in "A" shows an outline which is kind of distracting if we are gonna get nitpicky (at least that looks like where the image was cropped rather than being a view of the part of the edge of the coin).

If a professional photographer produced either result with one of my coins, I would be satisfied enough. Both are excellent photos.

MacCrimmon

Two beautiful images showing two different 'points in time'.

Image A would appear to be slightly 'out of plane' compared to Image B. Notice the fields on either side of Liberty; A shows these areas to be darker whereas B shows them to be lighter or more uniform. The rays in Image A are illuminated in the fields which tends to give the coin more "pop" in that area. If the tilt in Phil's shot matched Mike's you would probably have more uniformity in the color/light patterns on each coin.

That said, given the two different lighting systems, and probable differing white balances, which has the best color match to the actual coin?

I vote B on this one because I like being able to see the faint granularity of the fields across the entire plane.

karpman9

Jay,

I personally think *A* captures the essence of the coin best. I chose *A* before I read the rest of the posts and the poll results. I liked *A* best for all the reasons you listed, so no point in restating them. I usually prefer Mike's work to most other's I've seen to date. He's a photographic genius.

I'd say market grade for that coin based on date is a high-end 65. Only the nose and torch keep it from a higher grade. The two copper spots would still allow for a 66 if the nose or torch was untouched. That's just my $0.02. You're the King.

Best regards,

netrubicon

Both pictures are very nice but I chose photo A because I think the coin would look more like that in hand. Photo B shows more detail

for sure, but doubt it would have strong resemblance to the coin in hand. MS66. Another one of Saints amazing Saints.

saintguru

"A" is definately closer to what the coin looks like. As I said, with all props to Phil, "B" is a bit cosmetic. Coins are NOT uniform with smooth fields. They have complex surfaces and that's waht "A" captures.

I also think that "A" captures far more small details, while "A" oversipmplifies areas..ie. the feathers oin the eagle.

I appreciate all the comments and you all have your sense of aesthetics. Thanks.