Hey toning experts!>>GTG morgan toner

You can lead a horse to water, but you cannot make him drink. There are mediocre images, there are bad images, and then there are your images, and yes your images are in a class of their own. That was not meant as a compliment. And I am admittedly not great at imaging coins either, which is why I hire a professional photographer when I want serious opinions. I know my limitations.

On another note it amazes me how many people suddenly become "experts" because of a username, password, and internet anonymity. And this isn't targeted to any specific thread but is directed at multiple threads over long periods of time, but the amount of vomit and misinformation that I hear over and over again is becoming more than I can stomach. I think I am done with this site.

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

There is no need for that. Are your photos bad? Not particularly. However, I would suggest that you keep the lighting consistent for your obverse and reverse images.

Look at the photos of coins on PCGS. Those are excellent and they still don't show what the graders see with the coin in hand when they are making these determinations about toning. To imply that if someone gets it wrong from your (decent) amateur photos, or that if they don't even venture a guess, then they don't know what they are talking about is simply petulant on your part. You could have made this a fun thread until you started challenging and insulting people.

 

If someone is more interested in agreement on a questioned coin rather than honest opinions, most members stay away from answering. Even if the coin resides in a top level TPG slab, there is no reason to have to deal with an unreasonable person who would challenge any given answer. So to all concerned, if you really want participation, stay balanced and appreciate that people do take the time to answer. You can say what you wish about someone's coin, but not about the Someone. None of the rules say or imply people have to answer another members questions, challenges, 'guess the grade, variety or whatever. Just move on to the next posting. The forum is to promote learning in a good mannered exchange. Thanks Jim

 

Expert is a relative term. On this forum, I am an expert on toning. That said, I have no idea what color the toning is on that Morgan. I appreciate that you are working on your photography skills, but you don't get to call people out for not participating until you have resolved your photography issues. Honestly, any opinion I could give based on those photos would be a pure guess, and they would be meaningless to anyone reading the thread.

I don't want you to think that I am slamming your photos, nobody starts off as a professional photographer. As proof, here is what I was capable of in 2007:



The same coin 7 years later:



After joining different coin forums, my coin collecting hobby basically split into two different hobbies. The first was collecting coins, the second was photographing them. The photo from 2007 has several problems. There is not enough light on the coin, it is out of focus in spots, and the white balance is off. Your photos have the exact same problems. I use a Canon Powershot SD 880 IS with a cheap copy stand and two gooseneck lamps with CFL bulbs. The copystand and the use of the timer allows me to take a focused photograph. The camera must have the ability to use macro mode and be able to set your white balance via a preset setting or manually. I use the preset for CFL bulbs in my photographs. Lastly, you must position the camera far enough away from the surface of the coin in order to ensure the light gets to the coin. My camera is about 8-12 inches away depending upon the size of the coin and I use a poker chip under the bottom of the slab to tilt the coin into the light sources which are placed at 10 & 2 o'clock. Hope this helps!

 

Couldnt have said it better Jim, Ill be a man and take the blame for the thread going south. Now im trying to extend an olive branch to those who didnt like my comments. This WAS meant to be a fun thread, AND a learning experience for all. Props to those who chose to overlook all of the bickering and replied anyway.

 

I said "threads" for the simple reason that they're all the same: post coin and ask for opinions, and when someone dares to share an opinion different from your own, dish attitude and insults.

As for "baiting you into another argument", I do not recall ever having one with you in the past, but considering your MO, it's a definite possibility. Oh, and just so we're clear, the post you so eloquently responded to was only meant as a little food for thought.

 

Well how about this: you dont like my MO of debating and i dont like how you jump in and keep the ball bouncing.There were even, instead of getting the last post in lets agree to disagree and move along. Ive actually been pretty civil thus far. Call me bruce banner cause you wouldnt like me when im angry

 

Gentleman, let it go. It is over. No one likes me when I feel I have given warning and have been ignored. Thanks. Jim