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 Replies: 20 / Views: 3,467 |
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Valued Member
United States
138 Posts |
try a 75 watt full spectrum bulb.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5318 Posts |
Quote:
Maybe too much light. I've gotten the best representations of luster from a single bulb. That would, of course, require a much longer exposure.  I've found that a single light source provides the best representation of details. Of course, other photographers may easily have better methods than my own.  I like how you lit your coin.  Another benefit of a single light source is you eliminate a white-balance problem of several lights with conflicting color temps. This also can happen in a single-source setting where there is background lighting from outdoors. Either case will produce secondary highlights of a different color, which is pretty hard to fix by software. If I might offer some observations, I took a look at your last photo and noticed the shadows and highlights were clipped, resulting in a possible loss of detail. This suggests a high contrast setting on your camera--or your lighting is too harsh. You could try diffusing your light source through tissue paper or translucent plastic. Below, I've tried a few things with your photo in post-processing (Photoshop), reducing highlights and pulling detail out of the shadows, and finally sharpening the image. If you have any questions about what I did, I'm happy to give my .02.  |
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Pillar of the Community
  United States
5953 Posts |
I am kind of limited on what I can try at the moment. I am on a drill ship. Long exposures are not really an option as the vessel vibrates due to the engines holding the vessel on location. I have several Flashlights I can try for a light source and will experiment with those. I only have Nero photo editor here with me and its fairly limited.
The above picture was taken using just daylight through a window hence the light source appearing to come from one side. Tonight I will see what I can get in the dark using a flash light as a light source. Asking the electrician for a 75watt daylight bulb will just get me a blank look of incomprehension. I have a ring loght for the lens but I don't have the correct adapter ring to make it fit. The one thing I do have on my side is lots of time so I will play with the ideas given so far and hopefully the suggestions will keep coming. I will use the same subject coin until I get it right..... Be prepared to be bored.....
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5318 Posts |
Wow...I was unaware of your shooting conditions. You're doing very well considering your limitations. |
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Valued Member
United States
138 Posts |
try "Gimp" image manipulator. its a free linux image program, its pretty good there is also a version for windows too.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1359 Posts |
Definately NEED macro and if at all posible delay your shutter a few seconds like if your goin to take a self portait of the family. set it on a stand or tripod of some sort and use the shutter so you dont even get the slight movement from you pressing the button!. Lightin is real key and if you get the right light maybe the glare is too much try to filter it with a sheet of paper!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5953 Posts |
OK today was a busy day. I went to the machine shop and made an adapter ring for my lens ring light. I also got some wax paper from the cook to defuse the light. I waited until the sun went down Set up the tripod in the darkest corner of the bridge. Worked out how to set the ISO to 400, worked out how to set the shutter timer. I was happy with the results I was getting before but Now I am blown away. The colour match is almost perfect even the iridescent blue toning is showing. The Details are nice enough that if I bought the coin from the picture I would not be disappointed with the item in hand. Thank you all for the help Any other suggestions keeping in mind my shooting limitations?  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5953 Posts |
Kurts your photoshop rendition does wonders for the detail but the colouring/Toning is lost I have finally got that correct I just need to sharpen up the details a little more
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5318 Posts |
Richard,
Thanks...and I agree--I did not have the coin in hand to compare color accuracy.
I see the difference to your recent photo.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10284 Posts |
Yikes! Attack of the Killer Duece! Nice image Kurt ... super nice coin 2
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5953 Posts |
Yep and its mine I say all mine. Spent almost a year arguing with the dealer over price. Go to enough shows and the eventually bring out the good stuff to show you....
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Rest in Peace
United States
2668 Posts |
May I go to a show with you?  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5953 Posts |
OK Had a few days in dock. Played with the f Settings and tried again. Not sure I like this any better but it does kind of show that the picture makes the coin. At first glance between this and my previous attempt you could be forgiven into thinking they were different coins...  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5953 Posts |
OK one last try and I promise to leave it at that I think I have hit the upper limit of what my camera is capable of.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2669 Posts |
*sigh* time to buy a new camera..  Just kidding! Those are excellent shots.. I especially like the way you were able to capture the blue toning. I wonder if you could mix that setup with your last one.. you could get the toning with just a bit more detail. But then again, you can only tweak things so much, and your last couple of shots have been awesome  |
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Posted 12/21/2008 4:21 pm
