Photo Critique?

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zas107
zas107 Posts: 831 ✭✭✭
in U.S. Coin Forum

Would love some constructive criticism. What do you all think of these photos? And while you are at it feel free to guess what it was graded prior to cracking out (it was in an old green PCI holder)


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  • Unknown
    Unknown
    edited May 5, 2021 1:51PM
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  • 291fifth
    291fifth Posts: 25,218 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    XF45. The color of the photo is way off and the coin itself is overexposed. I want to see browns, not grays.

    All glory is fleeting.
  • ctf_error_coins
    ctf_error_coins Posts: 15,433 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Too much blue and washed out

  • coinbuf
    coinbuf Posts: 12,577 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    I hope that the photo is way off because if the coin really looks like that I would hope that PCI called it QC recolored due to all the violet color in the photo.

    My Lincoln Registry
    My Collection of Old Holders

    Never a slave to one plastic brand will I ever be.
  • Unknown
    Unknown
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  • airplanenut
    airplanenut Posts: 22,766 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Either the color is way off, or the coin is cleaned and retoned (or both). The light could stand to be a bit harsher to create a bit more contrast and better show the details. But first and foremost, get the white balance set.

    JK Coin Photography - eBay Consignments | High Quality Photos | LOW Prices | 20% of Consignment Proceeds Go to Pancreatic Cancer Research
  • BryceM
    BryceM Posts: 11,940 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    The obverse is really messed up. I'm seeing doubles of everything....... ;)

    Focus is good. Usually, that's the biggest problem. Light distribution is OK, but could be maybe better. I like a small bit of the coin (<1%) to be completely white-saturated and a small part to be a bit dark. Low contrast circulated copper is tough for me to shoot well. Diffused, indirect lighting is often the best.

    The biggest issue, as others have said, is color. The white balance is off. As for grade, I don't see much luster and I really want to see at least a little in most XF coins. I'd guess XF40/VF35, but if others disagree it's just me being picky. Cool coin.

  • Unknown
    Unknown
    edited May 5, 2021 1:54PM
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  • Capstick
    Capstick Posts: 263 ✭✭✭
    edited May 5, 2021 1:59PM
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    Ops colors seem a bit off. Good detail though. I wish I could get pics this good of some of my stuff.

  • MFeld
    MFeld Posts: 17,153 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited May 5, 2021 1:56PM
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    @UrbanDecay04 said:
    How do you guys feel about this photo?

    I’m sure it wasn’t intentional, but I think it’s bad form to show and ask that in the midst of this thread. If you want feedback on YOUR imaging, it would be better to start your own thread, rather than risk hijacking this one.

    Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.

  • astrorat
    astrorat Posts: 9,221 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    What equipment are you using? Camera, lens, lighting, etc?

    Are you shooting as JPEG, TIFF, or RAW files?

    The information may help with directing constructive comments.

    Numismatist Ordinaire
    See http://www.doubledimes.com for a free online reference for US twenty-cent pieces
  • yspsales
    yspsales Posts: 2,670 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited May 5, 2021 2:11PM
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    Color... custom white balance off a gray card or fabric.

    Focus looks spot on.

    Bracket your exposures.

    Every coin is different and hard to tell from a tiny screen on back of camera correct exposure.

    Both bracketing and WB can be done in camera prior to shooting and saves alot of post production.

    A gray card is like $5

    Shoot raw.

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  • BillJones
    BillJones Posts: 35,938 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Much Better!

    I think that the grade is AU-53. I have a similar one a tad better with hint of red on it.

    Retired dealer and avid collector of U.S. type coins, 19th century presidential campaign medalets and selected medals. In recent years I have been working on a set of British coins - at least one coin from each king or queen who issued pieces that are collectible. I am also collecting at least one coin for each Roman emperor from Julius Caesar to ... ?
  • 291fifth
    291fifth Posts: 25,218 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Now it looks good. I will stick with my XF45 grade estimate.

    All glory is fleeting.
  • WinLoseWin
    WinLoseWin Posts: 1,912 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    The second photos look much better, if they match the actual appearance.

    I would guess PCI gave it an EF-45 or AU-50.

    "To Be Esteemed Be Useful" - 1792 Birch Cent --- "I personally think we developed language because of our deep need to complain." - Lily Tomlin

  • MFeld
    MFeld Posts: 17,153 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited May 5, 2021 4:43PM
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    @zas107 said:
    Thanks everyone! I adjusted the exposure and white balance, how do these look?

    That such a dramatic improvement over the earlier version in this thread and the 1854 Arrows quarter in your previous thread, that I’m going to guess it’s a Proof.😉

    Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.

  • airplanenut
    airplanenut Posts: 22,766 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @zas107 said:
    Thanks everyone! I adjusted the exposure and white balance, how do these look?


    These photos are significantly better. They show how a few settings done right (or wrong) can have a huge impact on the quality of an image.

    JK Coin Photography - eBay Consignments | High Quality Photos | LOW Prices | 20% of Consignment Proceeds Go to Pancreatic Cancer Research
  • Mr_Spud
    Mr_Spud Posts: 7,277 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    The pictures look great, especially after you fixed the color balance.

    Nice coin!

    Mr_Spud

  • USSID17
    USSID17 Posts: 1,264 ✭✭✭✭✭
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  • Jimnight
    Jimnight Posts: 10,846 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Much better.

  • Onastone
    Onastone Posts: 4,420 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Huge improvement ...so glad you listened to us. Guess the grade....I'm terrible at this part...looks "good" to me!!!

  • Capstick
    Capstick Posts: 263 ✭✭✭
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    Wow. Nice adjustment in the 2nd pic. Looks much better.

  • zas107
    zas107 Posts: 831 ✭✭✭
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    @MFeld said:

    @zas107 said:
    Thanks everyone! I adjusted the exposure and white balance, how do these look?

    That such a dramatic improvement over the earlier version in this thread and the 1854 Arrows quarter in your previous thread, that I’m going to guess it’s a Proof.😉

    Just a smidge better LOL. :smiley:

  • zas107
    zas107 Posts: 831 ✭✭✭
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    @yspsales said:

    Forgive my ignorance but could you please tell what is means to bracket an exposure?

  • yspsales
    yspsales Posts: 2,670 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Yes let's say your camera says shutter speed is 1/60th a second for proper exposure.

    1/30th would be +1 (doubles light)
    1/125th would be -1 (cuts light in half)

    Most cameras will let you set it to shoot bracketed exposures.

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  • yspsales
    yspsales Posts: 2,670 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @zas107 said:

    @yspsales said:

    Forgive my ignorance but could you please tell what is means to bracket an exposure?

    Forgot to quote you.

    You are just adding and subtracting light after you determine your original exposure.

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  • airplanenut
    airplanenut Posts: 22,766 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @zas107 said:

    @yspsales said:

    Forgive my ignorance but could you please tell what is means to bracket an exposure?

    Bracketing is commonly done in areas of photography where you have bright and dark areas. By taking three (or more) shots at different exposures, you get—in separate shots—the details of the very dark areas by overexposing (but the bright areas are washed out), the details of the bright areas by underexposing (the details of the dark areas are super dark), and the rest of the details in the properly exposed shot. Software can then merge the exposures into one frame and you can adjust the photo to show the desired details in the dark and light areas, where, if just exposing to one part of the brightness range, you’d lose details elsewhere.

    With all that said, I routinely bracket landscape shots (think bright sky and dark, shadowy foreground), but see no reason at all to do this with coin shots where the light is easily controlled.

    JK Coin Photography - eBay Consignments | High Quality Photos | LOW Prices | 20% of Consignment Proceeds Go to Pancreatic Cancer Research
  • zas107
    zas107 Posts: 831 ✭✭✭
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    Thank you yspsales and airplanenut!

  • emeraldATV
    emeraldATV Posts: 5,249 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Presentation really shows the error in its text image ( s,) LOL)
    Next move would be to trap its color to your or our liking.
    Oh, ? That's why were here.
    The reflections on the upper, maybe, are showing to much light and angle.
    Satisfy yourself first.
    Just thinking out loud.

  • airplanenut
    airplanenut Posts: 22,766 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Now that I'm at a computer, here's an example where I used bracketing. If I properly exposed the sky to get the cloud detail, the foreground would be super dark. If I properly exposed for the foreground, the whole sky would be blown out bright. So three shots were taken and merged, and then I had access to all the details throughout the shot.

    JK Coin Photography - eBay Consignments | High Quality Photos | LOW Prices | 20% of Consignment Proceeds Go to Pancreatic Cancer Research
  • yspsales
    yspsales Posts: 2,670 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    What APNut said :)

    Photography in Latin is "bending light"

    Watch some YT vids on product photography.

    Don't get discouraged with red cents or a Morgan dollars.

    Much more reflective vs a Brown cent... but you nailed the 55DDO

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