I have been working on re-photographing some coins in my collection, as looking back at a few of the pictures I have taken look a bit more washed out and have more glare than I would like. I am using the same camera, but instead of using 2 magnifying lenses to get close, I have the camera on a tripod with a single lens, and am zooming in a little bit farther. I am using 2 light sources and shooting against a white background. I'll post a few "then and now" pics, and you can see the difference in the color and glare. This has definitely improved my photos of highly reflective coins. They aren't perfect (still a few "hotspots"), but I think they are an improvement on my previous photos. Old New Old New Old New
There's always room for improvement. After reshooting the same coins every month or so, I progress towards more and more accurate and clear pics, both in terms of color and detail... Before: After:
You need more light. And, move your lights higher. Your new images are definitely better (the previous diffused light ones were "dead"), but work on the lighting more. Also, pay attention how you're lighting the bust -- lighting behind Lincoln's head is okay as long as you are also lighting his forehead and face properly, not leaving him in a shadow. Practice, practice, practice...
