The Purpose of Photography

By now, most everybody has their own horror story about receiving a coin which looks totally different in hand than depicted on an image, usually Ebay. This is an example of how pictures can be very misleading and would probably contain a disclaimer like, "I'm not an expert on coins so look at the pictures and make up you own mind - NO REFUNDS"



Now I love the photo manipulation features because they allow me to make the picture MORE ACCURATELY represent it than the raw images themselves. But the same features can be abused.

What would you think if you bought the coin on the right and received the coin on the left?

I invite everyone to post examples of your surprises from purchases from images which didn't exactly match the coin in hand.

ps This particular coin was purchased at a show and the images are just variations I've made myself as I am learning the art and skills required to present clear and accurate depictions of my coins.

 

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I shoot with the least, if possible, no, manipulation.
The seller's pic:

My pic of coin received:

 

I bought this raw coin back in January
The seller was calling it "MS-60 Uncirculated"


Coin as posted by eBay seller ...




Coin as it arrived ...




To be honest, I am not even sure it's the same coin!

I am thinking if I sent it to PCGS i would come back as either VF or EF (maybe) ... or if i'm very un-lucky Genuine (cleaned)

I know I should have returned it, but I was very busy at the time.

Needless to say, i don't buy raw coins anymore.

 

I bought this from Heritage after discovering a TrueView's image.

Heritage image



TrueView



Mine

 

So long as you are talking Heritage, here is my "buy". The first pictures are Heritage's and the second set are what I received.

 

Heritage pics are lousy, but in both our cases, at least they show some luster.

 

Wow those are all crazy!!

phubanks there is busy then there's that. I'd have sent that back so fast both our heads would have snapped!! That's horrible.

And as for those others great pick up's. How did you find the TrueView on it?

 

Your photos have me drooling. I'm still trying to get it in focus.

 

I think it's the same coin because of 'spots' southwest of star 10, but the surfaces certainly make it look totally different.

 

Since Heritage also provides images of the slab, just insert the certification number where the X's are in this site address and if a TrueView is available, it will come up. It usually doesn't happen, but I was lucky enough that one existed.

http://www.pcgs.com/TrueView/Large/XXXXXXXX.jpg

 

Man that was some good thinking on that one.
Bet you got a good deal on it because of that.

When I read the topic I thought I was going to see lots of purchased that went bad but I'm glad to see that yours went well from the pictures.

 

The Heritage images in that case were a definite advantage as long as none of the other prospective bidders saw the Trueview image.

 

The differences in coin photos can be quite profound. I really prefer not to manipulate ANY aspect of my pictures except to resize them for web use. Manipulations should be kept to lighting and camera angles IMO. I also GREATLY prefer a white background so I can determine if the photographer used proper white balance.

 

I would have returned that within 1 minute of opening....unless it was an amazing bargain. The seller shows clearly a red coin with cartwheel luster and then mails you brown coin. :hammer:

 

I would have been just plain mad...that one is ridiculous.

 

My ultimate goal is to do just that, but right now, I can get much closer to the actual coin with a little help.

 

Wow, people doctor the shart out of their pictures, jeeze.