Were Anaconda's Pictures Accurate? - My Answer
richardshipp
Posts: 5,647 ✭✭✭
Someone asked me to post what this coin looked like "in hand" once received. I believe the intent of the request was that possibly the Anaconda pictures did not accurately represent the coin based on some further posts by the person asking. So what is my opinion, now that the coin is in hand. Here's the pictures and then below I'll give you my thoughts.
First Pictures are from Brandon. As usual pretty stunning.
Here's mine. Unretouched except cropped.
So which shots best represent the coin as seen in hand. My picture taking skill is quite limited. I used one 65 watt spot light almost right above the coin.
Brandon's picture best reflects the coin as seen in hand; although that being said the coin has much more luster and a little more rose color than his shot shows. I guess if you could mix the pictures together maybe that would be better.
At any rate, as the purchaser of the coin I can say that I felt the coin was accurately represented in his shots.
I'm a happy customer.
I have no affiliation with their company in any way, just wanted to clear up the question asked of me.
Thanks.
First Pictures are from Brandon. As usual pretty stunning.
Here's mine. Unretouched except cropped.
So which shots best represent the coin as seen in hand. My picture taking skill is quite limited. I used one 65 watt spot light almost right above the coin.
Brandon's picture best reflects the coin as seen in hand; although that being said the coin has much more luster and a little more rose color than his shot shows. I guess if you could mix the pictures together maybe that would be better.
At any rate, as the purchaser of the coin I can say that I felt the coin was accurately represented in his shots.
I'm a happy customer.
I have no affiliation with their company in any way, just wanted to clear up the question asked of me.
Thanks.
0
Comments
I see some luster in Brandon's picture, although concentrated on the periphery.
I do not see any greens & very little yellow on your image, nor the dark contrast.
I took the liberty to play with the image, is this any closer?
Also, the disclaimer, as we all should know, lighting has so much to do with how color (lightwaves) is bounced back to our rods & cones.
Without knowing, at least I don't know, what type of lighting Brandon used (color temperature & color rendition index), and since we all (probably) have uncalibrated monitors, it is unfair to judge what we see onscreen to what we see in hand (close should be good enough).
JMO
<< <i>I guess if you could mix the pictures together maybe that would be better.
I see some luster in Brandon's picture, although concentrated on the periphery.
I do not see any greens & very little yellow on your image, nor the dark contrast.
I took the liberty to play with the image, is this any closer?
Wow, I don't know how you guys do that with pictures. Your adjustments to his picture better reflects the coin than his.
Please read me revised comments.
<< <i>Interesting to see how a coin can look so different in different images.... >>
Probably because my pictures suck
Mine do too.
It's a whole lot easier to play around with good images to make them better, than to originally create them.
Love the coin too.
<< <i>Brandon is one heck of a picture taker and I have seen some coins in hand, Brandon is a pro(numismatist and imager) and I bet that coin in hand is better looking than even Brandon could image it(no offense Brandon I bet that coin is smokin)!!! >>
I appreciate that more than you can imagine.
<< <i>
<< <i>Great thread! I love the "in hand" pics. The Anaconda pics are great at showing the tone layout, but would not be acceptable from many other sellers (because the nice luster could not be taken for granted). Nice to see two sets of pics working in different ways!
Love the coin too. >>
No offense poster but this has to be said.
My pictures represent extactly how the coin looks. They do not just show the "tone layout" or color. The buyer of the coin indistputably said the coin looks like it does in the pictures. If my pics aren't "acceptable" from many other sellers then why don't they show pics like ours? Because they can't!!! If they would stop calling me to tell them how to do it, then it might not be as annoying. The coin has nice luster and looks exactly like it does in the pics. Why is that so hard to believe? If a coin doesn't look like it does in hand than it does in my pics, then send it back. I'll sell it to someone who will appreciate it for all that it is.
On Monday I'll post my "uncropped, unenhanced" photos of the coin. If I'm not kicked off by then! I wouldn't mind if I was.
I am truly getting incredibly tired of the big-mouthed members of this board who have something against dealers and are collectively dumber than a bag of hammers but have mouths as big as an airplane hanger. I am absolutely trying to find the nicest coins for collectors in the sea of s-h-i-t that is out there. I don't just sit at a table hawking slider crap. I literally go to every table, look at every lot in auction, and analyze major collections. Damn. I'm getting sick of this knowitall crap. At Baltimore there were 30% PCGS overgraded or unappealing crap, 60% NGC overgraded or un-eyeappealing crap and 10% nice stuff available. Of that 10% 30% of it was prcied at a level that we wanted to give to our customers. Yeah, I said it. Sue Me! I'm here for the coins. NOT FOR THE CORPORATIONS to profit off of you. Can't You See This!
So! Dammit!
#1. Our pictures accurately reflect how coins look.
#2. We strive to provide the finest coins for our inventory.
#3. lf you haven't been there, STFU already!
#4. If you don't like the coin then send it back. We want to sell it to someone who will appreciate it! No problem!
Kick me off. I don't care. I'm tired of trying to impress those who just want to castrate me. For all of those who appreciate me and what I've tried to do, thank you. You will forever be greatly appreciated. For everyone else, please try to understand that I'm trying to benefit you. Do a google search for Brandon Kelley or run my credit report. S-H-I-T. I'm not some rich fanatical nut. I just love fantastic coins and want to provide the most in-depth website for them on the internet. I have two kids 6yrs old and 3yrs old and a beautiful wife and they mean more to me than any coin could. Do the math. I'm going to bed.
If you want good coins then you know where to look.
-Thanks,
-Brandon Kelley >>
Holy crap Brandon, you've lost it! See your doctor and get some meds. I guess this is what a starvation diet will do to you.
<< <i>No offense poster but this has to be said.
My pictures represent extactly how the coin looks. They do not just show the "tone layout" or color. The buyer of the coin indistputably said the coin looks like it does in the pictures. If my pics aren't "acceptable" from many other sellers then why don't they show pics like ours? Because they can't!!! If they would stop calling me to tell them how to do it, then it might not be as annoying. The coin has nice luster and looks exactly like it does in the pics. Why is that so hard to believe? If a coin doesn't look like it does in hand than it does in my pics, then send it back. I'll sell it to someone who will appreciate it for all that it is.
On Monday I'll post my "uncropped, unenhanced" photos of the coin. If I'm not kicked off by then! I wouldn't mind if I was.
I am truly getting incredibly tired of the big-mouthed members of this board who have something against dealers and are collectively dumber than a bag of hammers but have mouths as big as an airplane hanger. I am absolutely trying to find the nicest coins for collectors in the sea of s-h-i-t that is out there. I don't just sit at a table hawking slider crap. I literally go to every table, look at every lot in auction, and analyze major collections. Damn. I'm getting sick of this knowitall crap. At Baltimore there were 30% PCGS overgraded or unappealing crap, 60% NGC overgraded or un-eyeappealing crap and 10% nice stuff available. Of that 10% 30% of it was prcied at a level that we wanted to give to our customers. Yeah, I said it. Sue Me! I'm here for the coins. NOT FOR THE CORPORATIONS to profit off of you. Can't You See This!
So! Dammit!
#1. Our pictures accurately reflect how coins look.
#2. We strive to provide the finest coins for our inventory.
#3. lf you haven't been there, STFU already!
#4. If you don't like the coin then send it back. We want to sell it to someone who will appreciate it! No problem!
Kick me off. I don't care. I'm tired of trying to impress those who just want to castrate me. For all of those who appreciate me and what I've tried to do, thank you. You will forever be greatly appreciated. For everyone else, please try to understand that I'm trying to benefit you. Do a google search for Brandon Kelley or run my credit report. S-H-I-T. I'm not some rich fanatical nut. I just love fantastic coins and want to provide the most in-depth website for them on the internet. I have two kids 6yrs old and 3yrs old and a beautiful wife and they mean more to me than any coin could. Do the math. I'm going to bed.
If you want good coins then you know where to look.
-Thanks,
-Brandon Kelley >>
All I did was move the hues slightly from the clues I got from richardshipp.
Who's to say that Brandons monitor doesn't have a slight hue shift, or mine, or richardshipp's?
What I'd like to know is who the troll is that asked that this be started in the first place?
Reading other post's I can guess, but would rather know for sure.
<< <i>Another thing to note is that the size of the image will have a subconscious psychological effect. Both of these pictures were taken by Brandon, and in fact are the same shot, just different sizes. The color looks different, huh? >>
not to me
Probably the result of interprelation of the software when it has to average out surrounding pixels.
But, to the root question, and I think it was answered, Brandon's image was more than acceptable.
That should be the end of the discussion.
I am truely sorry if I added fuel to the flames, that was not my intention.
From what richardshipp has to say, it sounds like the coin he received was the one he wanted, and he's a happy customer. To me, that puts the matter to rest.
-- Adam Duritz, of Counting Crows
My Ebay Auctions
<< <i>Another thing to note is that the size of the image will have a subconscious psychological effect. Both of these pictures were taken by Brandon, and in fact are the same shot, just different sizes. The color looks different, huh? >>
Actually, they are not the same image at all. When an image is resized, quite a bit happens to the image, and depending on which software and/or method of downsampling, this can have significant effects on things such as color, contrast, and sharpness. I believe this is the effect you are referring to and it has very little to do with the subconsious.
<< <i><< Another thing to note is that the size of the image will have a subconscious psychological effect. Both of these pictures were taken by Brandon, and in fact are the same shot, just different sizes. The color looks different, huh? >>
Actually, they are not the same image at all. When an image is resized, quite a bit happens to the image, and depending on which software and/or method of downsampling, this can have significant effects on things such as color, contrast, and sharpness. I believe this is the effect you are referring to and it has very little to do with the subconsious. >>
Mike, I had no idea that the software actually changed the image. That would explain why pictures always appear different to me when viewed at different sizes. I just assumed it was a subconscious thing (like on of those brain teasers or for instance why a specific color background appears better with a certain coin) and never stopped to think that it could actually be a different image.
<< <i>
<< <i><< Another thing to note is that the size of the image will have a subconscious psychological effect. Both of these pictures were taken by Brandon, and in fact are the same shot, just different sizes. The color looks different, huh? >>
Actually, they are not the same image at all. When an image is resized, quite a bit happens to the image, and depending on which software and/or method of downsampling, this can have significant effects on things such as color, contrast, and sharpness. I believe this is the effect you are referring to and it has very little to do with the subconsious. >>
Mike, I had no idea that the software actually changed the image. That would explain why pictures always appear different to me when viewed at different sizes. I just assumed it was a subconscious thing (like on of those brain teasers or for instance why a specific color background appears better with a certain coin) and never stopped to think that it could actually be a different image. >>
Live and learn.
The image editing software packages don't change the image on purpose, per se, but rather because it is just part of the nature of resizing digital images. Think about it using a simple example... A picture of 2 by 2 pixels, 4 pixels total. In order to half its size you have to go from 4 pixels (2x2) to 1 pixel (1x1) -- if these pixels are not all the same, how are you going to choose the value of its replacement? It ends up there are lots of ways to do this with the most simplistic look only at the four pixels in question. There are also more sophisicated algorithms use neighboring pixels and fractal or other complex mathematical algorithms (do a google on "bicubic interpolation" or "resizing algorithms") to choose the replacement pixel(s), but each of them have a unique visual effect on the resulting photograph -- things such as color shifts, contrast change, and a change in perceived sharpness.
If you are interested in some more reading on this topic, here's a good overview of digital image interpolation.
Hope this helps...Mike
p.s. sorry for the tangent, but I just wanted to be clear that resizing in and of itself probably accounted for the difference in the different sized photos, and not more a nefarious objective.
<< <i>I am truely sorry if I added fuel to the flames, that was not my intention. >>
Same here. I just mean that I liked both pictures for different reasons, and that I trust Brandon's photography/opinion more than some other coin imagers. Sorry if things in this thread became mixed up.
As for the rant, that was a pretty darn good one, worthy of dual posts.
And kudos to those who apologized for just the possibility of starting something "off base".
Most likely a little misunderstanding, and a little harmless steam released.
"No harm, no foul" deal.
( Now stay tuned as we join our regularly scheduled programming in progress...
I've said this at least once... if I hit the lottery, Brandon would be one of the first people I'd visit.
I've always been amazed at his offerings on the Bay of E.
I've never seen him not try to be honest in his dealings... even the artifically toned coin he said he had no knowledge about, he made good on immediately after the coin was outed.
Why can't those that have a beef with Brandon just not purchase his coins and be done with it... how long do they need to kick this dead horse?
Peace from the middle east...
Steve
(Brandon... psst... Brandon... please ship THIS coin or THIS coin or even THIS coin for the unrehearsed and unscripted comments.)
In memory of the USAF Security Forces lost: A1C Elizabeth N. Jacobson, 9/28/05; SSgt Brian McElroy, 1/22/06; TSgt Jason Norton, 1/22/06; A1C Lee Chavis, 10/14/06; SSgt John Self, 5/14/07; A1C Jason Nathan, 6/23/07; SSgt Travis Griffin, 4/3/08; 1Lt Joseph Helton, 9/8/09; SrA Nicholas J. Alden, 3/3/2011. God Bless them and all those who have lost loved ones in this war. I will never forget their loss.
I took it like he meant he wished he could form a hybrid not based upon quality but other general attributes, such as hue.
This should have been (IMO) dealt with in PM's, but hindsight is always perfect.
No offense to richardshipp, but why ask even ask him to post a picture of the coin 'in hand'?
And to ask this without knowing if he has the right equipment to do this 'professionally' or get an image that matches the coin exactly right (to himself)?
And even if he did, I still say we all have uncalibrated monitors & we all would see the coin slightly different.
Again, nothing against richardshipp & what he did, but rather the person who used him to cast aspersions on Brandon's credibility.
JMO
<< <i>
<< <i>I am truely sorry if I added fuel to the flames, that was not my intention. >>
Same here. I just mean that I liked both pictures for different reasons, and that I trust Brandon's photography/opinion more than some other coin imagers. Sorry if things in this thread became mixed up. >>
For the folks in the other threads who say they missed it all, this may be as close as any of us come to knowing what he was going on about. Feel free to read everyone's posts asking WFT it's all about as you ask today WTF it's all about. You're welcome.
Apropos of the coin posse/aka caca: "The longer he spoke of his honor, the tighter I held to my purse."