Having your coins professionally photographed

I think Todd will have to answer that. I'm sure he has a professional set up AND the knowledge to properly image a piece.

 

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More than the process it is the practice. I take around 2000 photos a month of coins. I did 3000 in a weekend a month back and have been doing this for a couple years.

As far as that shot, Nikon D200, 2 CFL lights. I have a beast of a copystand and a room dedicated for photography. No other lights are on while I take photos.

 

Cat that is one beautiful and detailed token, truly!

 

If i wore a hat, i would certainly tip it to your skills!!!!

 

I take around 2000 photos a month of coins.

"I take around 2000 photos a month of coins."

Nice work you do. And that pretty much explains the process.

Back in the '70's I got recruited by the neighbors to become an "agricultural photographer". It supported my photography habit, allowed me to get a new Speedgraphic (big formats are GOOD formats) and even get invited by the local county fairs to DoKUMint their livestock.

Then guys with chickens & goats & rabbits & pigs wanted me to take photos.

It was more fun when the cows were Black & White, I only had to maintain a B&W darkroom..........oh, yeal.

I'm "color defective" by birth. When you start taking 2K Photos/month though you have to accept the fact that you either love it......or you have problem

8^)

Keep up the great work. (2K/month is WORK)

edit~ps~At least most coins don't want to gore/stomp or kick you, do they?

 

I have had a few coins kick my butt, but not physically, just real hard to photograph. I love the photography. I get to see some of the most amazing coins, what is not to like?

 

Don't even try....

Next thing that happens is someone wants you to shoot their wedding.

Don't even think about it.

Become a politician or something useful. Your negs (oops, Flash Cards) become evidence for divorce lawyers and such.

8^0

I don't care that Photography is God's way of saying you don't have enough equipment! Collect Coins so the more outdated they become

the more you can appreciate them.

I keep & use a coffee mug Ansel Adams drank from....It makes my funky coffee taste better every time I remember to "PreVisualize" backwards.

And Keep up the great work. I wanna see!

DoK U Mint~ Coin Voyeur in training.

 

Why thank you, m'lady!

 

I use the cloning tool to get rid of the prongs. I probably spent 30 minutes.

NGC65BN

 

I've seen Todd's photo's too and always love them. One day I'll get a bunch done instead of just the one'ze, two'ze done.
They sure make your coins look the best.

 

I've had several people take several photos of my copper coins. In my limited experiences it seems like when it comes to a very lusterous copper coin, you can either get a great shot of the coin's luster OR you can get a great look at the fine surface details and color of the coin. I don't remember seeing any pictures that capture BOTH with 100% perfection as to replace the need to look at a coin in hand. Personally, when looking at the higher grades, I'd rather see that fine surface detail as the lusterous shots seem to hide things like weaker strikes and small marks. Here's a couple of shots of an MS66RD Indian Cent I have (none of which were taken by Todd by the way):

PCGS TrueView that shows more of the luster but really misses some of the fine details:


A professional photo of the coin in the slab that also captures the coin's luster, but doesn't let you see the details of the coin well:


Another professional photo which doesn't capture all of the luster but really nails the finer surface details:


Like I mentioned, neither photo replaces the need to view the coin in hand if you were trying to make a decision to spend a fortune on it, but I like the last set of shots better as I can see all of the tiny flaws (and lack of flaws) and get a better idea of the coin's grade. Also, I have been using the photo as my avatar here since I joined.



But anyways, here are just a few of some of my higher end copper coins that were imaged by Todd and I think he did a pretty close to perfect job on each (remember also, the images here are compressed a bit and are also much smaller in size than the originals Todd provides his clients):

MS67RB:



MS67RB:



MS66RB:



MS66RB:



MS64RD (undergraded):

 

By the way, speaking of Todd, we're not the only ones who think Todd's skills are amazing! Here's a great interview of Todd taken by and posted on Numismatic Hub.

http://www.numismatichub.com/

 

I think he's copper looks just fine to me but that's my opinion too
My pictures look like poo many impress me. Yours are very nice too but your post about photoshopping verified what I was thinking about your. My opinion is that real pictures should be done with the camera and not with editing software. Not that you can't crop and stuff but adding coin where prongs are and stuff like that are a no-no IMO.
I have 2 friends that are professional photographers and what they do with just the camera is amazing. And I'm pretty sure that's what Todd does too as I have watched him live at a show or two.

 

I presume you post was addressed to me? I also keep the originals for picky people like you The prongs are distracting IMO and you can't see what is under them any how - so no harm - no foul. I use Gimp BTW.

 

Currently - I am of a different opinion on Red Copper 65RD and and up, probably because I am a newschool internet coin buyer. I don't think I have the patience to run around different shows. besides, with out other coins that I have, I doubt i would know what I was looking at with a coin in hand. I need to compare any potential purchase to a given, like a coin I already own.

As far as imaging the coin to present detail more so than the luster. I feel that there is nothing more disappointing to have a well struck high grade cent arrive with lack luster brilliance. Everyone likes/looks for different things in their coins. To me, when I line up several 66 or 67RDs the ones that immediately grab your attention are the most lusterous at arms length, then you pull the loupe out. I feel that digital images of high grade copper should be presented in the same scenario. Luster first then expand up into high resolution for the details. My images are somewhere around 50x which is high enough to see the metal flow lines that create cartwheeling luster .

I feel like I am consistently getting a good portion of both luster and detail, however I also know that there is room for improvement. Hopefully this summer I will have new equip producing better results and a top secret project will also come to fruition. lol

Here again, I am going on what I have learned to like, what I notice, what I look for. To each his own... Of course my opinion can and will likely change, if my focus on what I am collecting/looking for, changes.

For example, I haven't embarked on finding EDS coins with perfect strikes and minimal to no tics and dings. I totally agree about luster vs details, If I looked at a coin first under a loupe for the details and then looked at in hand, I might have a different opinion about this. I feel like I am consistently getting a good portion of both. Keeping the lighting and camera settings the same when shooting MSRD copper is important for consistency..

I have some coins that I shot early on that need to be reshot using my current set up however I think this set exemplifies what I have collected/learned so far. http://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/showcase.aspx?sc=1209

ANyways....