My first real photo attempt

Hi all,
this is the first real attempt. Here is a photo of my 1884 cc Morgan. Please feel free to comment on the photo and or the coin. I'm working on the whole photo process so please any input would be great.

Thanks!

 

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nice pictures, really got all the details

 

Very nice Merlin, Good details and lighting

 

Thanks! Like I said it's my first real go-around. Any thoughts on a grade?

 

That's a good pic Mark. It would probably be even better if you took it out of the 2x2. Sorry, I can't help you with the grade, I'm not a Morgan guy.

Bruce

 

Hello 1066Merlin,

Thank you for posting the photo. I don't see any signs of circulation so the coin looks mint state. Based on the photo, I'd guess MS63. For fun, you might want to take the coin out of the holder & experiment with different lighting & angles. Post all the good photos here. I'd enjoy the opportunity to refine my guess at the grade.

 

Here you go, sorry I'm still getting the hang of this, LOL Same coin out of it's 2x2

Thanks Bruce! I need to play with lighting now.

 

Thanks, That means alot coming from you Siggi!

 

It looks much better out of the 2x2 Mark. I think it's a great pic. Sorry, but between now and my last post I still haven't learned anything about grading Morgans..... Oh alright, I'll give it a shot....... I grade it EN (extra nice). Did you buy this one from Lonnie?

Bruce

 

Beautiful coin! Great pics!

 

What model of camera/lens are you using? What are you doing for your light source?

 

Nice shot on the second set but the colour is a tad off. Sometimes the background that you are using will throw the colour balance off a bit. I always grab a bit of black or white felt from the wifes craft room to use as a background for the coin that I'm shooting....

Hey. Is that a die small crack I'm seein' between the "S" in Pluribus and the "U" in Unum?

 

LOL, I'm quite happy with the "EN" grade!
Yes, It is one I picked up from Lonnie. He really does have some nice coins at very reasonable prices.
Thanks for the encouagement !

 

I'm using a Canon SX10-IS. The key however was an inexpensive copy stand. As for lighting, I used a 1 60w reveal bulb and a small LED lamp from IKEA. I'm still playing around with that. These photos are quite literally the first ones I have taken so I have lots to learn.

 

Thanks Green!
I agree with the color, it is a little off. I'm still figuring out the lighting bit.
I will try the felt idea for sure! I just received the copy stand today. I was so excited I just placed the coin on the base and gave it a shot. I need to get the coin out and look closer, there maybe a crack there, I'm not sure LOL

Thanks for the input!
Mark

 

Thanks NEV, I appreciate that!

 

Indeed there is a die crack! It actually runs from the "I" in Pluribus all the way to the "M" in Unum. WOW, Thanks Green!

 

You did quite well for the first time.

You will get better results if you use a single type of lighting. The reveal bulb and the LED are completely different types of light. Try shooting in a room with only one type of light - whether it is incandescent, natural lighting (sunlight), fluorescent, LED, etc. Also experiment with different lighting angles. You may find your best results are when the light source is nearly directly over the coin (axial). And what works for one coin may not work for another. You will probably find the best lighting for silver is not the best for copper.

 

Also try diffusing the light - tape a paper towel over the light - to capture a little more detail/contrast.

I would use the 2 reveals at the 11 adn 1 oclock position straight down diffused and seee what that looks like.

try to shoot your coin types from the same angle position and height once you find the pics that look the best. remove the paper towel to highlight lusterous coin.

Oh ! some cameras perform a little better when you block teh viewfinder with a peice of electrical tape. try a before and after and compare

 

Mark, All my pictures are taken using daylight in the windowsill. Then you have that natural colour you are looking for. That is actually what photographers are trying to do with exspensive lighting equipment. But what they do is spread the lighting a little better.

Yellow bulb will always leave a unreal colour on the coin as well as taking our the luster.

I used to use a high end canon camera with macro lense. Was thinking about building a small photobox. But then I tryed my cheap camera ( family one ) and put the coin in the windowsill at noon and the end resault was very good. You can get a better spread on the light using lightbulbs and a photobox but for 0 exspense I say go with the natural daylight.

Some samples