If your local club had a talk on coin photography.....

blu62vette

What would your expectations be and what would you want to here/learn about (obviously photography but what specifically)?

I ask because I am doing one in the near future and have my ideas but would like to know what others think. One item I am keeping in mind is that all people have different set-ups, cameras and skill levels.

Thanks for any input.....

commoncents05

I would focus less about buying specific equipment (macro lens, etc) and focus more on making the best pictures possible with your current camera. Talk about lighting, focus, keeping the camera steady, etc. I think this would apply to more people and be more useful.

-Paul

mgoodm3

Off the top of my head: I would organize it like this:

1) How lighting interacts with various coins. Number of lights, angle of light... Maybe using liveview connected to a projecter.
2) Camera interaction with the coin/light. Working distance, f-stop, shutter speed, WB....
3) How cameras differ in their ability to take advantage of the above.
4) DIfferent coins and how to approach them.

anablep

How to photograph PL/DMPL coins...

How to photograph toned coins...

blu62vette

<< <i>I would focus less about buying specific equipment (macro lens, etc) and focus more on making the best pictures possible with your current camera. >>



I agree, I dont plan on pimping any products and plan to show using a DSLR along with a point and shoot.

Good points Mark, I will have a projector to use and plan to show results with it.



<< <i>How to photograph PL/DMPL coins...

How to photograph toned coins... >>



This is what I mainly have and plan to show but also dont want to exclude what other collect so will have some copper (including toned on hand).

Thanks!!

DieClash

I agree with commoncents. I am still trying to take photos that approach the quality of Mark and you...and I am a long way off! There's so much detail to familiarize yourself with before the education starts paying off. If your audience are all beginners, then focus (no pun intended) on the aspects of digital macro photrography that have the greatest impact on producing a high quality image. Once they implement these practices, I think they will be motivated to delve into more advanced areas of study. I know I have.

I purchased Mark's photography book, after reading his posts here and devouring his online content, and it helped me tremendously. I am now experimenting with lighting and I must add that I am now just beginning to understand much of Mark's advice.

Bottom line, it takes time and practice to internalize the lessons and synthesize knowledge from same. If I were you I would emphasize the basics and the key principles to taking better photos that pay off the most for the novice. Once they're hooked, they'll learn the rest on their own.

Oh, and show lots of examples. I got hooked admiring Mark's photos and before long I began to admire your's and Ben's and others.

I still haven't reached my goal of being able to nail ones like you pros, but I'm getting closer every day.

Just thoughts from a novice numismatic photographic enthusiast that might help you develop your presentation.

Cheers!

Kirk

LeeG

I would use the "keep it simple, stupid, approach." Just touch the basics on focus, lighting, white balance, and use of a simple tripod or copy stand. Have a hand out with web sites on coin photography and where to find Mark's Book for the tougher questions.

morgansforever

I would like to know which cam is best in the $700 range.
Right now I'll deal with my Fuji S700.
A couple of questions. Is there a better way to shoot, other than directly above the coin?
How about a copy stand that had a flexible arm to mount the cam, and shoot at a 45?
What's the best way to capture the true likeness of the coin? Does it look the same in hand is important.
How do you bounce that fricken light off the slab?
scott

RedTiger

When doing any presentation, have some material aimed at novice/beginner level, some for intermediates, some for advanced. The presenter might ask for a show of hands before starting to get an idea how many are on each level and then spend more time on those topics. Don't need to ask how many are beginners, more like how many have a camera, how many have taken pictures of their coins, how many are happy with their photos, to get an idea. Have a resource sheet of websites, books, example photos, and the like, for those that want more info after the presentation is over.

Beginner material might be very basic such as what kinds of cameras to buy and avoid, the importance of macro capability, how to hold the camera real steady, the basics of tripods and copy stands, the basic lighting setups, using natural sunlight. Perhaps spend a few minutes talking about using a video camera to take inventory for insurance purposes. Intermediate information might be the effects of different kinds of lighting, what kinds of lights to buy, how to position them. Advance info might be DSLRs, custom lenses, microscope accessories for shooting varieties, tips for reflective proofs, colorful toners, early copper and gold.

/edit to add: keep in mind that for a beginner/non-camera owner it will typically take several weeks or months of effort, just to get photographs good enough to list a coin for sale on Ebay. Talking about some of the topics suggested will be way over the heads of an average coin club membership and may cross the line to showing off, rather than educating. Advanced photographers on the Internet often assume WAY too much expertise in the average crowd. At a typical coin club with an older audience, I would guess half or more have never taken a decent photo of a coin. If the talk was at a photography club, the presenter could aim higher. At a coin club, some members may not even own or use a computer, much less have a digital camera, much less be able to take closeup photos of coins.

One more tip, for a large crowd, a presenter can use index cards for written questions. This will usually allow a presenter answer about twice as many questions as having people raise their hands and ask.