| Author |
 Replies: 13 / Views: 2,500 |
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
4038 Posts |
I'm looking at some small changes to exposure settings, lighting and post-processing to improve on showing surface details. It's amazing how much even small changes in these things affects the final image. My goal was to eliminate blown-out areas and improve on shadow detail but to not completely destroy the overall presentation with a low-contrast image. Let me know your opinions.   Edited by rmpsrpms
04/24/2012 10:45 am
|
|
|
|
Valued Member
United States
70 Posts |
Both great images! So detailed that you can even see the die polish marks on the cent.
The first image definitely has more shadowing than the second. It's hard to decide which I like best. The first one allows you to see the contour of the portrait and appears more sharp, but the second image is nice and bright.
I think I like the first image.
|
|
Moderator
United States
56855 Posts |
I like the first image better. John1  |
|
Valued Member
United States
67 Posts |
Both are certainly nice pics. But I do think I like the little less shine of the second pic.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
2224 Posts |
I like the first the most, but both of them are great. Wish I could get photos like that!
|
|
Valued Member
United States
292 Posts |
Novice opinion:
The second image shows more detail and less blowout. Look at the jack running from the shoulder up to the collar. You can see die flow lines in the second image but they're only hinted at in the first. It's like the first one was really close to capturing the detail but couldn't grab it due to the exposure?
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
9792 Posts |
#2 defintely #2!
"Buy the Book Before You Buy the Coin" - Aaron R. Feldman - "And read it" - Me 2013! ANA Life Member #3288 in good standing since 1981, ANS, Early American Coppers Member (EAC), Colonial Coin Collectors Club member (C4), Conder Token Collector Club member (CTCC), Civil War Token Society (CWTS) member, Liberty Seated Collectors Club (LSCC) & Numismatic Bibliomania Society member (NBS), USMex, Member in good standing, 2¢ variety collector. See my want page: http://goccf.com/t/140440 |
|
New Member
Spain
40 Posts |
Every day, your photos are better....
For me, the second is better.
You can see very well Pte Lincoln's hair.
What kind of post-processing are you doing?
Regards J.
|
|
Rest in Peace
United States
9104 Posts |
|
|
Moderator
United States
23522 Posts |
The second image is clearly superior from a technical standpoint, but I can't help preferring the first from an aesthetic standpoint.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
8517 Posts |
They're both phenomenal pics and if I had to choose it would be the second.
Oregon coin geek.....*** GO BEAVS ! ! ! ***
|
|
Pillar of the Community
 United States
4038 Posts |
Quote:
Every day, your photos are better....For me, the second is better. You can see very well Pte Lincoln's hair. What kind of post-processing are you doing?
Regards J. Thanks J! I always do a small amount of sharpening ("1" in ViewNX2) after resizing to compensate for the sloppiness of the algorithm. I also added a tiny bit of contrast to push the darkest shadows to black, but no other PP Quote:
The second image is clearly superior from a technical standpoint, but I can't help preferring the first from an aesthetic standpoint. Well said. My goal in changing the lighting was to improve on my ultimate goal of being able to take a single image of a Lincoln Cent that will show all the details required for variety identification. Secondary goal is to have an aesthetically pleasing image. I don't think the 2nd image is ugly but the lower contrast is less attractive than the 1st image. I often look at Mark Goodman's pics, which are almost all lower contrast than I've been posting and have few if any hotspots, and wonder how he achieves this result. The 2nd image is more similar to this than I've produced before, so I'm thinking I may have a handle on it. I'm worried that he does a lot more postprocessing than I do, and I'm loathe to do a lot since I prefer to get the image "right" from the start. |
|
Moderator
United States
23522 Posts |
The last time I read Mark describing his technique, he was using (usually) a Nikon setup with a single A19 60w incandescent, away and at a greater angle than we try to employ (maybe 30 off vertical). I'd already graduated to my twin (sometimes triple) MR16 halogens at this point, and I was amazed that he was able to achieve such even lighting with a single bulb. I've always been meaning to revisit a setup similar to what he described, but never got around to it. You want to see another guy that has it totally figured out, go check http://bluccphotos.com/ . |
|
Valued Member
United States
70 Posts |
Yes not only does he have it figured out, but he's also shooting through a slab which is more difficult than shooting raw. And then to shoot proofs as well as extracting those types of colors without axial lighting, etc...he's a true pro.
|
| |
Replies: 13 / Views: 2,500 |
|
Posted 04/24/2012 11:22 am
