Inexpensive is unfortunately still out of reach. I'm a single dad who was working at a theater when Covid started shutting everything down. So I'm stuck with what I have for now.
Understood Rabbi, and my comment was mainly to drive the effort toward a more useful photo. As you can see in your third photo, you almost have it figured out.
I am aware of what you're saying. What I am saying is simply that I can't get a better picture than that one. That is the best one I have been able to get regardless of lighting. I took over 400 shots of it last night. None better than th at one. I'll try again but it will yield the same results.
Understood. I posted this setup to you before, but have a look. It's pretty low tech and I use it for 95% of all my photos. The block of wood simulated the iPhone 5S I used to take the pictures
I hear you...it takes practice to get the photos just right. Keep at it...it will come easier. I hope that you will find it a challenge of interest rather than a challenge of futility. I recall getting frustrated at the start when I was in a hurry to post my next find and couldn't get that perfect shot that captured what I could see in my loop.
Here are two new photo setups. Phone is dead at the moment, but when I have a charge, I'll show you a few other tips.
Couple things to note. I use fancy post-it type backings for my photos. You'll find that depending on the coin you are planning to take a photo of, different color-flat backing will help bring the coin out...not the background. Also, I try to use a couple of light sources to remove shadows and allow positioning to reduce glare. When glare is a problem, especially with shiny coins, I use various 'diffusers' to soften the light and reduce the point glares. White plastic grocery bags...sometimes some thin white fabric...coffee filters...and even some leftover window shade material. I get pretty creative and with what you have about your place, I'm confident you will be able to master your photos.
One of the best temporary filters I have used is oven paper. Start with it closest to the light source and then slowly further away until the glare is gone
I appreciate the tips, you sound just like professor berry lol I tried several backgrounds and lighting techs. Black/blue/green/brown construction paper, manilla folder, black mousepad, grey carpet, and some others, lamp light, oil lamp light, fluorescent, incandescent, LED, and natural light. But i have not tried sticky notes, that may be the missing link. Hadn't honestly even considered sticky notes as a viable background.
The date shows MDD, as each part is less than a whole letter, if a true DD, it would be 1 complete ( die strike one) + part of the second strike showing. IMO, Jim
Battery recharged...setup continued. Note the difference with the image vs the backing. Picking the right color can really be a difference maker.