| Author |
 Replies: 22 / Views: 4,003 |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
3193 Posts |
Based on the thread regarding the photo set up at the Heritage auction, I thought I'd create/modify my own set up to see how much of a difference I'd see. Now my setup is my Pentax K5 shooting at f8 at 1/125th of a second from Elinchrome strobes mounted on poles roughly 7 feet above my object. The lights are in soft boxes so they are already diffused to start with but I thought I'd go ahead and build a similar diffuser as seen in the photo. Took me about 15 minutes to do. Took it in the studio and set it up very similarly to what is in that photo except my lights are sitting much higher above my target but they are also much more powerful. Tell me your thoughts. The first picture is the original without the extra diffusing, the second picture is with the new setup. After your thoughts I'll spill the beans on which picture is the closest to the actual coin.   |
|
|
|
Bedrock of the Community
United States
94367 Posts |
Ineteresting. The right obverse fields hardly resemble each other.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
 United States
4038 Posts |
The 2nd coin is a better photo, but with a little judicious post-processing, you could end up at the same place with either, so either both look like the coin, or neither one does.
Contact me for photographic equipment or visit my home page at: http://macrocoins.com |
|
Pillar of the Community
 United States
3193 Posts |
Ray, with a little judicious post processing I can turn the Barber dime into a Morgan dollar  . The second coin is the one with the additional diffusion and I agree a much better picture. I believe with the first one I over exposed the shot and never went back to really look at it. I saw the thread regarding the heritage auctions and thought I'd give it a try and like the results so I may re-shoot a few of my coins to see if that thought continues.. |
|
Valued Member
United States
92 Posts |
I am far from an expert but I think the bottom picture is the better picture. I recently purchased some diffuser material, need to get busy making some...
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
3193 Posts |
SV, what I did was simply create a wooden frame from 1x3 aspen (Menards). I cut the wood in to 18" lengths then stapled and glued the pieces together to make a frame. I stretched the diffuser material around the frame and stapled it to the frame.
My setup is simple, because my lights are higher up than most I positioned them at 10 and 2. I then placed the framed diffuser between my object coin and the lights, set my camera settings and took the shot. I agree with you and Ray that the second shot is better than the original. I want to run some more coins through the process and compare to my originals to see if it is consistently better.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
3193 Posts |
as an aside, as promised, the second shot is as close to the original coin look as I've been able to take. The coloring is spot on. Now with some lighting and camera adjustments who knows?
|
|
Valued Member
United States
92 Posts |
I run my lights at approx 10 & 2 also and fairly high up. I think that is about the best I can get for now...but there is always more to do...I am going to use some sheetmetal to make my diffuser frames because it is lighter and try to figure out a way to hinge them to my lights. I am an old precision sheetmetal mechanic and worked in silicon valley for many years prototyping for the various industries there...should be able to come up with something. I may just make them removable? Who knows...too many projects too little time...
|
|
Valued Member
United States
92 Posts |
Here is a toned New Zealand Florin...wish it had more color though...   |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
3193 Posts |
Not bad SV! You might want to adjust your exposure some as you're blowing out the details a little, especially in the 2nd shot. Nice coin and nice pics!
|
|
Valued Member
United States
92 Posts |
It should help some when I get some diffusers made....and yes I did think about adjusting the exposure a tad more. But in my case I am taking pictures for online sales and I blow away most other sellers pictures, not to say I couldn't or wouldn't try to make them better...it is a time is money type situation, but at the same time...better pictures usually sell the product quicker and for more $$$...thanks, I like to think I am doing well for only a few months of self training...!
|
|
Valued Member
United States
92 Posts |
another one I decided to keep for my collection...added more lighting and adjusted the exposure some...   |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
3193 Posts |
Now this one is much better! Nice shot!
|
|
Valued Member
United States
92 Posts |
Here is my latest version of my coin shooting station...right next to my listing computer. I don't even have to get up, but it makes it easier if I do...!  |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
3193 Posts |
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
1298 Posts |
What type of lighting do you use? Do you use all 4 of the sources for all your shots? Thanks, Ham.
|
| |
Replies: 22 / Views: 4,003 |
Posted 07/05/2016 4:22 pm
