A new toy for photographing coins

You could take a dozen pictures with different lights, each looking very different, and yet each might accurately reflect reality-- the reality of viewing the coin in that light and at that angle. As you said, it depends on the live viewing conditions.

So...you may as well just choose the images you like best. As for the first two sets posted, I prefer the first.

Fantastic new Hadrian tet! It has great details and metal for that area and era.

 

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TIF said it so well. Thanks. I tried again lowering the power on the ring and changing the angle of the Ottlight. I like this better and it looks a bit more like the coin.

This coin has a slightly different texture top to bottom on both sides which shows up worse in some like than in other. The earlier image made it look worse than it is. Almost all coins have a little curve to one field or the other which can be made worse with sloppy lighting. I often tend to shoot with too much contrast when softer lighting looks more pleasing.

 

I think you can stop trying with this coin now. Those images look great!

 

Gorgeous new Hadrian (man, I love coins from Alexandria ... ummm, is that an eagle at Serapis' feet?) ...

=> oh, and nice photo (are you happy with this new photo?)

 

I'm trying to talk myself out of the feeling that it is Cerberus.

 

Oh my, really?! ... wow, a three-headed dog would be beyond cool (have you checked the descriptions from other examples?) ... man, now I'm "really" jealous if you've scored yourself a 3-headed dog (first the grasshopper and now this!!)

=> great score, either way!

 

http://www.acsearch.info/search.htm...1&ot=1&images=1&currency=usd&order=0&company=
The later years of the type are obviously Cerberus (Kerberos) but the year 12 examples sre not a lot more clear than mine. I suppose that the intent was there but the execution improved five years later.

 

Hmmm? ... although I must admit that a few of those other examples seem to have a slightly better three-headed dog, your new example is pretty sweet "overall" (great new addition => it is now on my 3-headed radar!!)

Keep-up the awesome work, Champ!! (the photos are excellent)

 

I like the latest image of the OP coin best. And the Hadrian tet is just... wow!

 

I used my old ringlight and several reflectors to shoot these before. This one is just the new light and needs help. A light tent might be the better answer.

 

What, if I may ask, is your black surface the coin floats above made of?

 

Black paper shaded. If the photo at the top of this thread was unclear, perhaps this old page will explain the idea.
http://www.forumancientcoins.com/dougsmith/coinphoto2011ez3.html

 

I don't know if it is my monitor, but I notice a hint of rose toning & a bluish hew in the second photos. Are you using a "daylight" bulb for the lighting?

 

I think the cause is a bit too much saturation of all the colors. Perhaps I should tell the camera to back off on saturation but it looks better when shooting bronzes that have more color so it is easier to desaturate in postprocessing. The lower part of the reverse does have a different tone from the top. This shows to a lesser degree on the obverse where the top is more blue. This difference shows in hand when you wiggle the coin under any strong light.

 

Very cool Doug. I do prefer the new shots, they look rather professional (I'm not quite sure if that's a good thing... ).

 

To me it is rather like human portraits. We once went to a professional photographer who considered lighting and focus while preparing imags showing us off well. Now we hold a phone at arms length and get most of us in the frame sort-of straight. That is what I'm not sure is a good thing. My photos look like the coins. Many sellers can't even take the things out of their cardboard holders. Really? Which shows the coin more accurately?


Now that I look at it, I like the face of the satyr in the seller photo. I may change my ways or, at least, reshoot his one.

 

hey, long-time-no-hear, vlaha (I hope everything is still going well in your world?)

cheers

 

I have some serious issues photographing cup shaped coins. I have one Himyar that is impossible to take a decent picture of. I have had some luck with shooting straight on on some Trachys.

 

I think you need to have multiple lamps(2-3?) to take great photos of the coins.

Hey Doug, be careful when you edit the photos to not cut some of the coin out. /\

 

I also have had little luck with convex/concave coins. Any little tips Doug?