Hey whats up people? Anyways, I was wondering what you thing about these pictures. I have gotten a 10 Megapixel camera for Christmas, so I was a bit curious too see how close ups of some coins would turn out. So, you tell me.Sorry About Twin Images.
Nice images! Now, just be patient, as you get better, it will take some time to get everything just right. Lighting will be your biggest issue. But, great start!!
IMO good beginning. Now try using a different background. Something non-reflective. You don't want the exposure to be influenced by incidental light. You want the light reflected from the coin to control the image. This is particularly important when you image copper (but the copper coins you DID image came oout quite nice).
Agreed, you need a new background. Try using a white paper, even printer paper works ok, because your grey background blends in with the coins (except the copper obviously). You can use that white paper to white balance your camera if it has that function also. Other than that, I think your on the right tract.
IMO, you get too much reflection from a white background and that overwhelms the light coming from the coin. Give you false color. I used non-reflective dark grey or black. You can preset your white balance and as long as you manually lock in the setting you won't have to worry about that except to occasionally give it a check. A white background often give you a black disk when you image copper.
With a darker background, and Photoshop (not for anything deceiving, just cropping, sixing, etc), you're on your way to taking good coin images. As was mentioned in another thread, taking images of coins, due to their luster and tendency for glare, can be very difficult to master. Darker background and you are off to the races.
Nice pics! I'm new to coin photography as well. The first two came out the best. However, the last two appear blurry to me. So maybe you're too close for what your camera's macro setting supports. Try moving the camera away from the coin and hold the shutter button down half way to utilize the camera's auto-focus. And then as others have pointed out; the background. Have fun! -LTB
Nice touch with the black background. You could also place coins on a bar-b-que grill top if black. Also, if not being used of course. Light backgrounds sometimes work best with dark coins, dark backgrounds work better with Light coins such as Silver. OK so now try a person. Hopefully you have thought of that too.
I have had a few issues with white background. But I read somewhere that this is the recommended way with coins. I do have have a difficult time with copper lik you said... too dark, and sometimes I get washed out on my silver stuff (like the Kennedy below). Maybe this is the problem. Thanks kanga, I think I will try some black construction paper also. Here are a couple of mine, I shot them on white background and used Photoshop to put them on black background also fixed so you can see both sides in one shot.
I use a gray card to set the white balance. Once I have that saved I use a black or dark blue background to shoot the image. Crop it and upload to the bucket at the size needed to post on the net. It's the fast easy way.
