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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Lehigh96, post: 610067, member: 15309&quot;]<p style="text-align: center"><font face="Book Antiqua"><font size="6"><span style="color: Blue">INTRODUCTION</span></font></font></p> <p style="text-align: center"><font face="Book Antiqua"><font size="6"><span style="color: Blue"><br /></span></font></font></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Have you ever owned a gorgeously toned proof coin that you wanted to show off to all of your friends in the virtual world?&nbsp; Have you ever tried to photograph a toned proof only to find out that no matter what you do the colors that explode off the coin in hand seem destined to hide in your photos?&nbsp; Photographing coins can be very frustrating.&nbsp; Photographing toned coins can drive you insane.&nbsp; Photographing toned proof coins can be enough for a collector to throw the camera in the ocean and look for a new hobby.&nbsp; But don&#039;t despair, diffused lighting is here to save the day.</p><p><br /></p><p>I will not begin to give a lesson in the principles of photography, but I would like to show everyone the benefits of diffused lighting in coin photography.&nbsp; Diffused lighting is especially useful in photographing proof coins which don&#039;t have cartwheel luster.&nbsp; This lighting technique will make the appearance of traditional luster disappear from your photos of your mint state coins.&nbsp; However, the ability to show color is greatly increased.&nbsp; Diffused lighting is very useful in three different scenarios.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center"><font face="Book Antiqua"><font size="6"><span style="color: Blue">TONED PROOF COINS</span></font></font></p> <p style="text-align: center"><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Let us look at a typical photo of a toned proof coin.&nbsp; The photo below is of a wildly toned 1964 Jefferson Nickel NGC PF67.&nbsp; </p><p><br /></p><p><font face="Book Antiqua"><font size="4"><span style="color: Red">Standard Lighting</span></font></font></p><p><br /></p><p><img src="http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o59/ACPitBoss/Jefferson%20Nickels/JeffersonNickel1964NGCPF67H1.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /> </p><p><br /></p><p>Unfortunately, the colors on the coin are obscured by the mirrored surfaces of the coin and can only be partially seen on the high points.&nbsp; Most collectors would look at this photo and have no idea of how impressive the coin looks in hand.&nbsp; Now let&#039;s look at the same coin photographed with diffused lighting and admire the end result in all it&#039;s glory.</p><p><br /></p><p><font face="Book Antiqua"><font size="4"><span style="color: Red">Diffused Lighting</span></font></font></p><p><br /></p><p><img src="http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o59/ACPitBoss/Jefferson%20Nickels/JeffersonNickel1964NGCPF67H.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center"><font face="Book Antiqua"><font size="6"><span style="color: Blue">PROOF CAMEO &amp; ULTRA CAMEOS</span></font></font></p> <p style="text-align: center"><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Not only can diffused lighting be used on toned proofs to show color, it can also be used on proof cameos and deep cameos to show a reverse cameo effect.&nbsp; When diffused lighting is used on cameo coins, the fields will become white and the devices dark, creating the reverse cameo effect.&nbsp; While this appearance does not suit every collectors&#039; tastes, it does provide an impressive alternative to the standard black and white cameo presentation of a proof coin.&nbsp; Here is a 1992-S Kennedy Half Dollar Silver NGC PF69 ULTRA CAMEO</p><p><br /></p><p><font face="Book Antiqua"><font size="4"><span style="color: Red">Diffused Lighting</span></font></font></p><p><br /></p><p><img src="http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o59/ACPitBoss/Kennedy%20Half%20Dollars/KennedyHalfDollar1992-SNGCPF69UL-3.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center"><font face="Book Antiqua"><font size="6"><span style="color: Blue">ELUSIVE COLOR MINT STATE COINS</span></font></font></p> <p style="text-align: center"><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>The last application for diffused lighting is with those extraordinarily hard to capture color mint state coins.&nbsp; There are toned coins that no matter how you angle the light, the only way to capture the color creates a glare on the slab right over the coin.&nbsp; For these coins, you can use diffused lighting to reduce the glare and show the full range of colors.&nbsp; However, any cartwheel luster on the coin will disappear in the process.&nbsp; I recommend that two sets of photos be taken for these coins.&nbsp; One will show the luster and the other the color.&nbsp; By viewing both, the observer can generate an idea in his/her head of what the actual coin would look like in hand.&nbsp; Here is a 1958 Washington Quarter NGC MS66* that is a perfect example.</p><p><br /></p><p><font face="Book Antiqua"><font size="4"><span style="color: Red">Standard Lighting</span></font></font></p><p><br /></p><p><img src="http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o59/ACPitBoss/Washington%20Quarters/WashingtonQuarter1958NGCMS66Star.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p><font face="Book Antiqua"><font size="4"><span style="color: Red">Diffused Lighting</span></font></font></p><p><br /></p><p><img src="http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o59/ACPitBoss/Washington%20Quarters/WashingtonQuarter1958NGCMS66StarH.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p>Notice the complete lack of apparent luster in the second photograph but the color range is phenomenal.&nbsp; Personally, I like the appearance of the first photograph better, but if I were ever inclined to sell the coin, the second photograph would bring the money.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center"><font face="Book Antiqua"><font size="6"><span style="color: Blue">DIFFUSED LIGHTING SET UP</span></font></font></p> <p style="text-align: center"><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Now I know what you guys are thinking:&nbsp; I don&#039;t have the tools to diffuse the lighting.&nbsp; Please know that every photograph I have shown in this thread with diffused lighting used only two additional household items:&nbsp; a rubber band and a paper towel.&nbsp; If you don&#039;t believe me, see for yourself.&nbsp; Here is the set up.</p><p><br /></p><p><img src="http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o59/ACPitBoss/2009%20Blizzard%20Photos/051709.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Okay guys, go experiment with diffused lighting and see what you can show me.&nbsp; Have fun![/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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