This thread has reinspired me to kick it up a notch and do some much needed reshoots. This coin demonstrated some unusual challenges, not only is the coin fairly reflective and the designs are shallow but sharp . Check out the reshoot. By changing the direction of the lighting and then slightly lowering the while level I believe give a more accurate and realistic depiction of the coin. IMHO the new photos give more life to piece and the viewer can better appreciate the specimen's fine workmanship. Original: Reshoot: North and Central India Hephthalites or Gurjaras Anonymous (s.AD 550-600) AR Drachm 23.8 mm x 4.00 grams Obverse: Crowned Bust of Peroz with winged skull cap. Unreadable crude legend. Reverse: Crude Zoroastrian fire altar. Flanked by two attendants. ref: MACW 1479-1482 Note: Rare. Beautiful Well centered nearly complete example. Ex. Dr. Alex Fishman
The original violates what I believe to be the one cardinal rule of coin photography. The lighting should never come from the bottom. There are times I can justify any other direction but bottom lighting is what we call ghoul lighting when shooting people. Light from below looks like what you see on Halloween when a kid come to your door lighted only by a flashlight shining up under his chin. I know some of you think I make this stuff up but there are things in photography we just should not do. https://www.google.com/search?q=gho...6xqvYBw&ved=0CB4QsAQ&biw=1280&bih=598&dpr=1.5 I consider ghoul lighting as big a sin as shooting a coin without removing it from its holder. The reshoot is a great improvement. This is a coin I would try with completely non-directional lighting. Just bounce light around the room and rotate the coin under the camera until you see the most pleasing results.
I bought a lot of four coins a few months back, on eBay, because it had a very well-struck Constans 2-Victories type. The other three coins looked pretty shabby from the dealer's pic, so I didn't bother taking a second look at them until today. Turns out one of them, a Valentinian I Securitas Reipublice type, is worth keeping - in fact, it's got a great Victory, lots of sharp lettering, and a lovely patina, with some magenta mineral deposits on the reverse. In fact, I like this coin so much, I've determined that I got a two-for-one deal on this lot.
1 - Crashing computers (with no backup) leads to reshooting coins 2 - Bing's reshots are far better than older pics Conclusion : let's crash our computers (with a hammer or anything appropriate) and we'll all become good photographers of our coins Who starts ? Q
The best part is that I am looking at coins I haven't looked at in a long while. Like I said, it's like having new coins.
OK, I have just finished re-imaging my MA Legionary Denarii and this one has me boggled. My old image I have listed as Legion XII, and the image seems to confirm this call: Now, however, since I re-imaged this coin, it appears to be Legion XIX. Same coin with the same flan chips. Anyone care to opine?
I think that part where Anakin Skywalker murders all the younglings is a bit over the top for a family movie.
Another I think that came out much better in the re-shoot: OLD NEW AUGUSTUS AE Quadran OBVERSE: SISENNA MESSALLA IIIVIR, altar REVERSE: APRONIVS GALLVS AAAFF around SC Rome 5 BC , Moneyers Apronius, Galus, Messalla, and Sisena 3.0g, 17mm RIC 463 or 200 in Old RIC
Absolutely!! The re-shoots are clearer and have less lighting glare---or none at all--- and are simply superior... One day I'll get there too...one day.....
I wanted to share another. I will stop boring you all soon, I promise: OLD NEW VESPASIAN AR Denarius OBVERSE: CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVG, laureate head right REVERSE: ANNONA AVG, Annona seated left holding bundle of corn ears in her lap Struck at Rome, 77/8AD 3.1g, 18mm RIC 964
Please don't stop anytime soon. I have to say I'm seeing your coins in a new light with the rephotography and really appreciating the results.
