Here's a Great Example of How Lighting Makes all the Difference in a Photo

airplanenut · December 11, 2005 6:15AM

I shot this coin in November, but was in a rush... I got the lighting so the coin could be seen and took a quick snap, then put the coin away.

I had more time yesterday night, so I pulled out the coin and reshot it--I didn't spend a lot of time, I just played a bit more with the lights, and also set the metering to spot, as opposed to matrix (I'm not sure what it was set to the first time, but the darkness leads me to believe matrix)...

Quite a vast difference, I do believe

Jeremy

PS- A note about spot metering: it measures the light from the center of your focus (aka the coin). This is NOT A GOOD THING for scenic pictures... if you go on vacation, turn the feature off. I've forgotten to, and a building may be nicely colored, but a bright blue sky becomes washed out white

coinfreak499 · December 11, 2005 6:17AM

A big improvement

TorinoCobra71 · December 11, 2005 6:29AM

Yes a VAST improvement. Congrats and a BIG

TorinoCobra71

Mark · December 11, 2005 7:16AM

The second picture is better, but the coin still looks like a Jefferson nickel. Can you try again?

Mark

PS:

pmh1nic · December 11, 2005 7:20AM

Beautiful coin and great photos.

JoesMaName · December 11, 2005 7:22AM

I actually like the top pics better. The details on condition and strike are better represented in the top pics. Though I can see why you like the color and brightness of the bottom two. Either way nice job.

Frankcoins · December 12, 2005 10:46PM

Some test photos I made...

http://frankcoins.com/test111405.jpg

I did this test with various lighting and camera settings...all from the same distance and with
the same setup...

I got a coin back from an ebay buyer...he saw some marks that were not on my photo of a nice
clean MS66 Franklin (sold years ago by Rick Tomaska)

..along with this kind email....

I have just opened my coin from you and I am OUTRAGED... I don't know how anyone could have graded THIS coin as MS66. Second of all, the coin I received is NOT the coin pictured on Ebay! BAIT AND SWITCH does not even dignify your local club, I'm sure...let alone the Texas coin dealers association and certainly not the ANA! I am SIMPLY LIVID!!!

I could go into the detail of the differences between the coin I received and the photos but frankly, I'm too nerved up at the moment. I have a mind to send the web page and the coin to the ANA but then of course I might win the battle but lose the money I shelled out for the coin. Needless to say I am very unhappy with the coin and in addition the hefty S&H&I I paid! Maybe I was sent the wrong coin or maybe you did not want to part with it for $200

ibzman350 · December 12, 2005 11:12PM

Herb

ChuckC · December 12, 2005 11:13PM

call me the devil's advocate, but the first pic looks more crisp and better in my eyes.

jayboxx · December 12, 2005 11:59PM

I like the top pictures better for the detail, the bottom for the color.

RKKay · December 13, 2005 12:35AM

Same coin, same session, same lights, different angles:

Longacre · December 13, 2005 12:38AM

Rick--

The differences in your pictures are dramatic. That's incredible that it is just because of the angle of the lights.

mgoodm3 · December 13, 2005 12:42AM

Another example that I posted last night.

two lights: less contrast, more even lighting, less intense color.

one light: more contrast, less light coverage, more intense color.

RKKay · December 13, 2005 12:44AM

<< <i>Rick--

The differences in your pictures are dramatic. That's incredible that it is just because of the angle of the lights. >>

It's amazing. And, looking at the coin in person, every one of the pictures could be an accurate depiction. It all depends on the lighting.

Bustman · December 13, 2005 1:02AM

Jeremy,
I like the first shot better.

ajia · December 13, 2005 1:23AM

Can those of you that have posted pict decribe the pights used? Do you know the temp. of the light(s)?
If a digital, what was the color balance?

A lot of factors play in how we (& camera's) see color, but RKKay's images are pretty dramatic!

Oh, and I like the first set of images better.
BUT, as I've been told before....Unless you have seen the coin, please respect the fact that my images are accurate !

airplanenut · December 13, 2005 1:29AM

I do think part of the difference between the photos is also the compression--that's a factor I neglected to record, and could have resulted in some softness on the second shot.

That said, the lights are the same Sylvania Daylight HaloFloods... just moved around.

Jeremy

BECOKA · December 13, 2005 3:35AM

While the lighting and color on the second Jefferson is better, the details in the first one are much crisper. i.e. there is a blurring effect on the second one. I would have to say the first one is better because of this.

Thanks for posting these, it is nice to see experimentation.

HTubbs · December 13, 2005 3:38AM

Jeremy,any chance of you posting a picture of your lighting setup?

carl · December 13, 2005 3:54AM

I agree with several others about the first photos being a little better. However, as already noted the coin still looks like a Jefferson Nickel. Maybe stronger lighting will bring out some other coin.

coppercoins · December 13, 2005 3:58AM

<< <i>I actually like the top pics better. The details on condition and strike are better represented in the top pics. Though I can see why you like the color and brightness of the bottom two. Either way nice job. >>

I concur. I like the top set better.

SDCollector · December 13, 2005 5:15AM

PS- A note about spot metering: it measures the light from the center of your focus (aka the coin). This is NOT A GOOD THING for scenic pictures... if you go on vacation, turn the feature off. I've forgotten to, and a building may be nicely colored, but a bright blue sky becomes washed out white

Been there, done that. The first day in Europe I realized after a few pictures that my camera was sent to spot meter and manual white balance (my coin pic setting). The first few pictures all had an ugly blue haze. Fortunately I caught it soon enough and changed the settings.

Here's a Great Example of How Lighting Makes all the Difference in a Photo

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