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Photography Advancements -- Looking Back over 2 Years

By now most forum members have seen this coin (probably numerous times image) so I thought it would be a good coin for this thread. Over the past year and a half I've continually progressed in my photography experience and the results have shown this. So here are three sets of pictures. The first set is with a 60mm macro about a year and a half ago; the second set was taken about 7 months ago just after I got my 100mm sigma macro, and the last set was taken a few days ago after recieving Goodman's book. Enjoy and let me know your thoughts, criticism or praise is welcome (as long as it's merited -- cough*ADAMLANEUS*cough image )

New
imageimage

7 Months Ago
imageimage

Year and a Half Ago
imageimage
Want to buy an auction catalog for the William Hesslein Sale (December 2, 1926). Thanks to all those who have helped us obtain the others!!!

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    lasvegasteddylasvegasteddy Posts: 10,492 ✭✭✭
    awesome progression...now go back to elevating your layering or gft??? works as you got something there when you can layer a coins image as if it is tilted in hand
    everything in life is but merely on loan to us by our appreciation....lose your appreciation and see


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    adamlaneusadamlaneus Posts: 6,969 ✭✭✭
    I'll have to think on it.

    There appears to be a dentil or two that might not be lit as well as possible. image

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    Excellent photos. I hope to get to the year and a half ago level. image
    Witty sig line currently under construction. Thank you for your patience.
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    speetyspeety Posts: 5,424


    << <i>Excellent photos. I hope to get to the year and a half ago level. image >>



    Buy mark's book and don't be afraid to ask him questions via PM. With his book out and him being so generous in answering questions, that time can probably be cut from one and a half years to one year or even half a year.
    Want to buy an auction catalog for the William Hesslein Sale (December 2, 1926). Thanks to all those who have helped us obtain the others!!!

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    GoldbullyGoldbully Posts: 18,508 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Hey speety, is your last name Goodman??? image

    Nice progression of pics!!!
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    speetyspeety Posts: 5,424


    << <i>Hey speety, is your last name Goodman??? image

    Nice progression of pics!!! >>



    Nope but my first names mark (and i stayed at a holliday inn express last night...hmmm maybe my photo skills haven't really improved? image )
    Want to buy an auction catalog for the William Hesslein Sale (December 2, 1926). Thanks to all those who have helped us obtain the others!!!

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    BECOKABECOKA Posts: 16,961 ✭✭✭
    Your latest is by far the best but you need to bump up the exposure a notch or two. That luster is just eeking to come out.

    If you have the RAW file you can do it in the Adobe RAW editor plugin for Photoshop. Same as if you did it in camera or at least pretty close.

    So close.
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    speetyspeety Posts: 5,424


    << <i>Your latest is by far the best but you need to bump up the exposure a notch or two. That luster is just eeking to come out.

    If you have the RAW file you can do it in the Adobe RAW editor plugin for Photoshop. Same as if you did it in camera or at least pretty close.

    So close. >>



    Nope image I switched to RAW the next set of images though so from now on I'll have it in the right file type (double image )
    Want to buy an auction catalog for the William Hesslein Sale (December 2, 1926). Thanks to all those who have helped us obtain the others!!!

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    richardshipprichardshipp Posts: 5,647 ✭✭✭
    image
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    much of the progression looks like lighting. what did you change, and how did you do it?
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    speetyspeety Posts: 5,424


    << <i>much of the progression looks like lighting. what did you change, and how did you do it? >>



    Bingo! Previously I have always spaced the lights equidistant around the coin (so 3 lights = 120 degrees between each light source). After talking with Goodman I changed the lights so that they had a total spread of 120-150 degrees (so somewhere like 12 o'clock, 3 o'clock, 5 o'clock) and backing the lights wayyyy off.
    Want to buy an auction catalog for the William Hesslein Sale (December 2, 1926). Thanks to all those who have helped us obtain the others!!!

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    mgoodm3mgoodm3 Posts: 17,497 ✭✭✭
    Nice pics.
    coinimaging.com/my photography articles Check out the new macro lens testing section
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    BroadstruckBroadstruck Posts: 30,497 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I like all 3 sets of pics! imageimage
    To Err Is Human.... To Collect Err's Is Just Too Much Darn Tootin Fun!
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    Hi Mark: Definitely, if I were going to buy this coin on the 'bay and had to grade it myself, I'd want the newest pics.
    Much better definition on the feathers and Liberty's hair than the 7 mo. old set.
    The 7 mo. may have an edge with the shield image.
    The oldest also has better details than the 7 mo. shot.
    It took me about 2 years of trying til I was satisfied with mine.
    I even got the VDB under Lincoln's shoulder on a fake '14-D penny.
    When I started, I couldn't get the horn to show on a buffalo nickel!
    I use the 2 light flourscent 23 watt light system with the coin on a dark background.
    I place them at 3 & 9 o'clock. My Nikon has a 1.7" macro focus distance.
    It also has auto focus so I have to hold the shoot button 1/2 way down til it focuses right.
    I'm old school photography and would rather do all this manually but it'll work if you do it right.
    Thanks for the demo.
    JET
    It is health that is real wealth, not pieces of gold and silver. Gandhi.

    I collect all 20th century series except gold including those series that ended there.

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