Experiments with lighting continued. Trying to get good color.

mgoodm3 · November 8, 2003 4:41AM

I posted about trying new lighting yesterday and jbsteven asked how things work with toning. Toning is hard to take good pics. Seems like the pic needs to be taken at an angle to the coin making focus more difficult. I put the light almost on top of the coin (within 3 inches) and took a pic just off to the side. Probably my best toning pic yet, but still some slight focus issues. not a deep field of view with macro. I have tried to maximize it by keeping the aperture closed down as far a possible on the camera.

How does everyone else do it? I don't see how they can be taken from straight on, at least with the material I have. I have one nicely toned coin, and it has been the subject several times for me now. sorry if you have already seen the coin. Picture has not been enhanced any. That's the color as I see it.

Louis · November 8, 2003 4:43AM

Mikey · November 8, 2003 4:44AM

That's pretty darned good photography.

kamehameha00 · November 8, 2003 4:44AM

I would bid on a coin confidently with that picture.

mgoodm3 · November 8, 2003 4:46AM

You shouldn't necessarily buy it off a good picture because you cant see very well in the picture that the coin is slightly bent. gotta be careful with raw.

kamehameha00 · November 8, 2003 4:53AM

I know,but still,thats pretty good photography.

mgoodm3 · November 8, 2003 5:27AM

thanks. I am trying to figure out the great mysteries of coin photography. I will post them as I discover them.

shylock · November 8, 2003 5:34AM

mgood - nice pic! Coins like that should always have 2 sets of images supplied -- one at an angle to capture the color, and a standard shot for clearer definition and proportion. I wish the auction houses would do that. If a coin looks drastically different in person depending on how you hold it then how is a camera suppose to capture it in only one shot? I've been using the 2 image method for toned proofs lately. The angled shot is always the tough one, especially if you're shooting through plastic.

bennybravo · November 8, 2003 5:43AM

After trying many different lighting setups, I always go back to natural sunlight in a slightly shaded area to avoid glare.It just seems to capture true color much better.

Lakesammman · November 8, 2003 5:45AM

Wow - nice shots you guys. I would buy the 3 cent piece but it looks "bent", not round

Very nice job of capturing the color.

Shylock - well put. I've been trying to get shots that capture it all in one picture. Thanks for the common sense comment.