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 Replies: 40 / Views: 10,258 |
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Valued Member
Canada
478 Posts |
Edited by rmc
03/27/2014 8:23 pm
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
4038 Posts |
As with CP's example, this looks to be partially non-axial. Did you shade the coin from any direct light coming from the source? How about any light coming from other sources? I see illumination on the sides of some features, so this is a clear indication of non-axial. The sides of all the features should be in shadow.
Contact me for photographic equipment or visit my home page at: http://macrocoins.com |
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Valued Member
Canada
478 Posts |
 You got me. Yes there was other lighting involved...the room lighting was on  Here I was so proud of myself |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4038 Posts |
Again comparing with CP's example, the pic is very nice. Just because it's not pure axial doesn't mean it isn't good. In fact I bet when you get pure axial you won't like it as much.
Contact me for photographic equipment or visit my home page at: http://macrocoins.com |
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21788 Posts |
For the Cent, the lighting DOES look biased from the right. I guess that the additional ambient room lighting is responsible.
Whatever the case, the result is a good one.
For the Morgan, there seems to be a slight bias in the lighting from above. I guess additional ambient room lighting again.
Another very good result that brings out the rainbow toning. The colour temperature is right.
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Valued Member
 440 Posts |
rmc the more I delve into this the more I realize that experimenting with lighting is a key issue. And a "variation" of axial lighting may actually in some cases produce the "look" we are trying to achieve. Are you happy with your pics and do they provide a true rendition of the coin? Ambient lighting can be eliminated. I'm still working on a platform for this process but want to attempt it with quality glass.
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Valued Member
Canada
478 Posts |
I have my set up in my office in the basement, its not a bright room and has no window. I did try a comparison shot with the room light off and it did not seem to make a difference in the picture so I just left them on. I used a desk lamp for the main light shinning horizontally toward the glass and finally I used one jansjo light from above that is heavily diffused. I understand now that this isn't true axial lighting but I love the out come. I have struggled to find the right lighting for pennies and until now I have pretty much failed. I've taken several photos now using this method not just of pennies but nickels, quarters etc and have found it to be my favorite. Especially for pennies, this seems to have provided me with the best rendition and trueness...with a little twikking, I think this will be my go to lighting method for most of my pictures. PLUS I have found you can go from one coin to another with little or no lighting adjustment and other than cropping, little to no editing, the coins I posted have no editing. Again, not true axial lighting but thanks to you guys and this thread, I stumbled onto a great lighting method.  |
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Moderator
United States
23522 Posts |
I'm kinda impressed by what you're achieving, rmc. Your stuff really pops out at the viewer.
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Valued Member
Canada
478 Posts |
Thanks SD...that means a lot coming from you  I love how it can really show the "grain" of a coin  Sorry...don't mean to hi jack the thread...just thought Id share  Edited by rmc
03/28/2014 11:54 am
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Pillar of the Community
2087 Posts |
A couple of photographs using my axial lighting rig. Ambient light was as near to nil as possible{ taken in a darkened room with the only light source the LED light for the axial lighting. As a reminder I use a 50-50 Edmonds beam splitting plate ( very old uses titanium dioxide for the coating) This first medal is a monster 5 oz's of silver with mirror surfaces. With any other type of lighting I usually get nasty glare. Lens was what was on the camera at the time Minolta 35mm-70 macro.  For the next coin I went to a dedicated macro lens; Sigma 105mm ex macro. Now this coin wouldn't fill the sensor so I cheated a little and activated the Cameras optical zoom. Effectively I just did some pre-editing with the camera.  Both photos meet my needs there is no glare or distracting reflection. For me thats what I like about Axial lighting Edited by austrokiwi
03/28/2014 4:43 pm
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Replies: 40 / Views: 10,258 |
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Posted 03/27/2014 10:39 pm
