Same coin, same camera, different lighting. Check out the difference!

coinkid855

Which one do you like best?








-Paul

Justlooking

The top one looks like milk chocolate. Although I do like chocolate, I like the second one better. What did you do differently?

coinkid855

<< <i>The top one looks like milk chocolate. Although I do like chocolate, I like the second one better. What did you do differently? >>



I used axial lighting, which essentially means I used light reflecting off of a slanted pane of glass to get the effect.



-Paul

mingot

Thinking of setting something like this up soon. Give us a picture of your setup!

coinkid855

<< <i>Thinking of setting something like this up soon. Give us a picture of your setup! >>




Unfortunately, I only have one camera at the moment, and it's attached to my macro lens, so no photo, sorry!



-Paul

ambro51

Tough to answer since I think both images exactly represent this coin. Different light, different reflected light, different look. I like number 1 better.

chumley

voted for number 2 the 1st one made me hungry

messydesk

The second is prettier, and the two being shown together is most accurate.

lordmarcovan

It's purdy either way, but the colors "pop" in the second picture.

ambro51

johnrav

I will say neither, you can do better.

The light is to harsh - and bright. You could add a diffuser to that reflected light possibly. Just look at the hair where you loose all the detail in the white highlights. 'expose for the highlights' I.e. There should not be any large white blobs.

IMO. And the best thing about coin photography is you can keep trying, unlike facing the sun setting on Yosemite, where you have about 1 minute to get it right in ever changing lighting.

Bankerbob56

I voted for the second photo only because you asked which photo I liked better.............

But I would ultimately answer with whichever pic most accurately shows the coin! Since you have the coin in hand, if you were a buyer, which photo would you say is most accurate!?!?

keyman64

The second one is what it looks like in hand. Why would you consider showing anything else?

blu62vette

<< <i>I voted for the second photo only because you asked which photo I liked better.............

But I would ultimately answer with whichever pic most accurately shows the coin! Since you have the coin in hand, if you were a buyer, which photo would you say is most accurate!?!? >>



Here is my guess. Photo #1 looks accurate straight on. Photo #2 Looks accurate at a 20 degree angle. Toned proofs have a range of different looks.

coinkid855

<< <i>

<< <i>I voted for the second photo only because you asked which photo I liked better.............

But I would ultimately answer with whichever pic most accurately shows the coin! Since you have the coin in hand, if you were a buyer, which photo would you say is most accurate!?!? >>



Here is my guess. Photo #1 looks accurate straight on. Photo #2 Looks accurate at a 20 degree angle. Toned proofs have a range of different looks. >>



Todd's right on the money! This coin looks even better in hand than it does in my shots too.


-Paul