I've been away from CoinTalk for a while. This is a new picture of one of my favorite coins. I really like the patina on this one! I shot this using a macro stand and focus stacking to capture the full details of the coin. I'll post an article sometime soon on the technique I use. Agathokles, circa 295 BC. Head of Artemis right, quiver over shoulder. Reverse, Winged thunderbolt, AGAQOKLEOS above, BASILEOS (king) below, 24mm 9.58 gr
Please include illustrations of the need for focus stacking on a coin of relatively low relief shot flat. It is a great tool for angled perspective but I have not noted the need with flat angles.
Wow, you guys get up early in the morning. As it is, I haven't been to sleep yet, rough night I guess. I'm having a hard enough time shooting them flat, let alone at an angle like that.
Hey Kurt, nice coin and nice images. I too will be looking forward to your photo techniques. (Glad to have you here man. I've missed ya).
Thanks everyone for your welcomes! Nice shots Doug! Yes, I mostly use this method to capture details on higher-relief coins, including thicker rims. But I also developed a method for lighting coins that involves shooting lower-relief coins at an angle, using focus-stacking, to capture all the data. The result captures maximum details and controls the tonal range quite well. I mostly use this technique on modern coins; I'll post another article sometime.
Am I understand correctly that you are not changing focus but changing light direction and using the software to combine the areas with greatest detail? I tried that only once but decided the results were not 'real' looking and a lot of work. Perhaps I should try it with different coins before writing it off. The middle lower image here is the sum of the other five.
Hey, De Niro ... here is my version of your Syracuse-thunderbolt coin ... => Onk-Onk!! Sicily, Syracuse Æ Hemidrachm Timoleon and the Third Democracy (30 Onkia) 344-317 BC Timoleontic Symmachy coinage. 1st series, circa 344-339/8 BC Diameter: 24 mm Weight: 16.94 grams Obverse: Laureate head of Zeus Eleutherios right Reverse: Upright thunderbolt; to right, eagle standing right From the Robert and Julius Diez Collection, Ex Gustav Philipsen Collection (Part I, J. Hirsch XV, 28 May 1906), lot 1227
What I'm striving for in my method is a lighting effect similar to axial lighting, but instead of putting an optical beamsplitter between the coin and camera, I angle the coin perpendicular to the light source, with the lens off-axis to the coin. This produces a similar lighting effect to axial, and really manages the tonal range well. Since the coin is angled to the lens, I use focus-stacking to capture all the details using multiple focus steps combined with a program--Helicon Focus. I then do some final correction in photoshop. It's an involved process, but it goes pretty quickly once it's familiar. The OP coin was shot using this technique, but it's easier to see the effect on a modern, high grade coin. Below is an example where this technique is really advantageous. In hand, this is a very bright silver coin, but I prefer stressing details over bright reflections. My technique achieves well what I'm after. It's hard to describe without a full demo; I'll write an article about it sometime soon.
Yah, I totally agree .... => here is my stevex6 version of Lucasfilm Studio .... oh, and the exercise-bike is hooked-up to the computer (but no, I do not generate my own power!!) ... and "yes" that is a bottle of wine in the background!! (tools of the trade)
Yah, my friend ... I admit that I was torn!! ... Lordy, I really loved my Mom ... oh, and she had some great ideas, but when push came to shove I bailed and went with electricity ... ... I love ya Mom (please don't judge me)
Great coin. I need photo shop and a computer that can handle it too I use MS digital image for minor editing. I have a simple set up.
