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How do they do it
Walkernut
Posts: 123 ✭
I think my coin photography is pretty good, but if I could produce a picture like this
instead of this
I could get better money for my coins on Ebay. The coin in hand under an Ott light doesn't look as colorful as the top picture but better than my bottom picture. Any suggestions on how I can acquire the expertise to pull off the top picture.
instead of this
I could get better money for my coins on Ebay. The coin in hand under an Ott light doesn't look as colorful as the top picture but better than my bottom picture. Any suggestions on how I can acquire the expertise to pull off the top picture.
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Have the same problems here also, usually in too much of a hurry doesn't help either.
<< <i>Any suggestions on how I can acquire the expertise to pull off the top picture. >>
Juice it!
I greatly prefer the bottom picture because the overall color looks more realistic.
-Paul
Why don't you tell us what your set-up is? A whole book could be written on coin photography so help us narrow the scope of your "problem".
Lance.
(Yes, that was a silly joke. Mark's book is wonderful, as I've said many times.)
Find a way to keep the camera and coin still. Holding them is not a good option.
<< <i>I use an Olympus c-2100 ultra zoom digital camera using the macro setting. I take a dozen or so pictures of each side holding the coin under an Ott lamp which gives it natural lighting. I hold the coin at different angles and distances figuring I should get at least one good picture out of the bunch. As good as my pictures come out for Ebay purposes, I feel I should be able to do better. >>
Your photos are quite acceptable, as I said. But if you want to really make improvements you're going to need a macro lens and D-SLR, a sturdy stand, and remote shutter control (inexpensive). This will get you better focus, always first to tackle.
A 50mm macro is how I started but outgrew it. 100mm is much better. But the weight makes desktop tripods impractical. A lot of guys find ways to make full-sized tripods work. A copy stand is obviously best.
Lighting makes a big difference, as you know. I like halogen and incandescent. I am unhappy with my OTT lights. But this is a personal opinion others may disagree with. Experiment.
Nothing wrong with shooting lots of images. You always will. One setting does not work for all coins, even similar ones.
Good photo editing software is important. You can make many corrections if you shoot raw.
And finally, buy Mark Goodman's book. You won't regret it.
Don't give up! The effort is big but so are the rewards.
Lance.
Ken
<< <i>I would ditch the OTT lite. I tried those for a bit and was never happy. >>
I tried one, too. Now it's my desk lamp