Photo Experiment: Please Critique (lotsa pics)

DesertRat

I'm still trying to figure out the crazy world of coin photography and I feel I'm getting better at it but I know I still have a long way to go.

For those of you who photograph coins for a living or on a regular basis, can you look at these and give me some pointers please?

I tried several types of coins to get a feel for the various metals and how the light reflects and such. I have hard time capturing toning without angling the coin or the camera, is that normal? I have also come to realize that gold is very difficult to capture.

Tell me what you think and feel free to offer any suggestions. I can only improve through knowledge of where I'm making mistakes.

Thanks!

Test Subject #1




Test Subject #2



Test Subject #3



Test Subject #4




Test Subject #5






Test Subject #6

Blackhawk

I don't know **** from shinola about photography, but your pictures look just dandy to me.

lordmarcovan

The halfpenny pic's a bit dark- so are some of the other black-background ones. But they look good. Dark or not, you captured the prooflike luster/mirrors on that 1950 halfcrown quite admirably, I think.

And test subject #1 meets with my approval- not only is it in keeping with my new pursuit of Roman Imperial coins, but it is a good clear photograph, as well.

TwoKopeiki

The sharpness is all there and the images look good. A couple are a bit too dark, for me, though. To capture toning without tilting the coin - try positioning the lighting higher overhead...

DesertRat

Thanks for the input. I'll try shooting the darker coins on a lighter background, the Maximus came out very good that way. The half crown seemed to do well on the black background but the Kennedy half didn't fare so well; possibly because the Kennedy is a circulation strike. I need to play around with that one some more as the bullseye toning on the reverse is hard to see from straight on.

clarkbar04

Too much glare on the first few.

dcamp78

I am not an expert at coin photography, but here are my suggestions:

- get some different colors for your backgrounds. Dark colors will make the photos darker(go figure)
- try diffusing the light. Small pieces of white cotton to shine the lights through.
- try taking a pic straight on, then go left, right, up & down about 15 degrees and compare the differences.
- it looks like your pics are cropped. Size them to the same size within your photo editor.

Hope this helps.

lordmarcovan

theboz11

Shoot gold in natural sun light or a 100W clear glass bulb for best results. Tone is best captures using the slant glass technique, which has been explained here several times and easy to search.

Here is a link to an Omni coin spread on Coin photo shooting.

DesertRat

<< <i>Shoot gold in natural sun light or a 100W clear glass bulb for best results. Tone is best captures using the slant glass technique, which has been explained here several times and easy to search.

Here is a link to an Omni coin spread on Coin photo shooting. >>




thanks! I'll check out that site.


LM....I guess what you're saying is I got 2 out of three okay??

lordmarcovan

Just a recycling of a joke post on the Liteside, that's all.

oldshep

I like the results of #2 !!!!

Shep