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 Replies: 13 / Views: 4,703 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
717 Posts |
I thought I would try some axial lighting, so I grabbed a 5x7 picture frame with glass. I then cut some 45 degree triangles from hardboard, and taped them to the frame so it would be held at 45 degrees to the camera lens. I took my janso and aimed it at the bottom of the glass so it would bounce onto the coin. Here are the results:   What do you guys think? I probably need to invest a little more time in the setup. I don't like the hotspots. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
9395 Posts |
Looks good -- the frosted field shows lots of details. For comparison purposes, it would be interesting to see a pic of the same coin with more conventional lighting.
Someday, I'll have to try real axial lighting. The closest thing to axial I've done so far is pseudo-axial with a tilt-shift bellows and light bounced off the coin at an angle.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5825 Posts |
To be truly axial lighting you also need to block any direct illumination coming from your light source. ALL light HAS to be reflected from the glass. I only mention this because you didn't indicate that it was included in your setup. Here's my setup. Note that I have a piece of 2"x 4" sitting on edge on the base just in front of the uprights. This blocks any light from coming to the coin directly from the lamps.  Edited by kanga
10/03/2015 10:58 am
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
717 Posts |
Do you turn off all lights in the room when taking the picture?
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Valued Member
Netherlands
74 Posts |
I'd like to add to Kanga's comment that it's also advisable to use a diffuser between the light and the glass for a softer light with less of the reflection that you see now. Even something as simple as a Kleenex will work for a diffuser...
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5825 Posts |
Quote:
Do you turn off all lights in the room when taking the picture? Most definitely. Plus all that black cloth you see in my picture is for covering ALL surfaces close around my setup. I even have a sleeve to cover the chromed upright on my camera stand. I was getting some weird lighter areas in my images until I figured that out. Quote:
I'd like to add to Kanga's comment that it's also advisable to use a diffuser between the light and the glass for a softer light with less of the reflection that you see now. Even something as simple as a Kleenex will work for a diffuser... But remember, the amount of illumination reaching the coin is less because not all light from your source is being reflected down to the coin. Some just passes through the glass. You may need a stronger light source with axial lighting. |
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Valued Member
Netherlands
74 Posts |
That's true, but at least with a sturdy copy stand and tethering you can have longer shutter times without it impacting the photo too much.
I use a flashgun as a lightsource (Nikon SB-700): I put the flash gun where you've got the lamp in your set-up, and have it triggered by the camera flash (covered with a plastic thingy from Nikon that only lets the infrared light through). Compared with the lamp I used before it requires less post-processing to get the white-balance right, and it has the advantage of the strength of the light being adjustable. So with very dark coins I just up the light a bit, while with very reflective proof coins I tone it down a bit.
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Pillar of the Community
1325 Posts |
I haven't seen any of these in hand to know what it should look like for the non-fancy variety, but with the lighting I would say that looks more like Ted Kennedy, than John. Probably the extra chins and jowls.
Lady Liberty looks great and makes me think she should be on the penny so people can see what she SHOULD look like before getting seasick and turning green out on that island.
Edited by shadz
10/04/2015 4:42 pm
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
2784 Posts |
I wonder what a person would get. if I use the axle lighting and a halogen. the dimmable ones. I have built a dimmer switch wired it all up. it works great. kanga like your idea here. tomorrow I will go buy some dark cloth. put together some glass to try this axle lighting. plus see if the dimmer will help to cut the bright spots. great idea like your design it works. have a great one
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Valued Member
United States
430 Posts |
I have not tried this because I thought you needed a dedicated partially mirrored glass to do it. When I looked at the cost of those I swooned. So if you use a plain vanilla plate glass it will work? Are there advantages to using thicker vs thinner glass, or even Acetate or lexan?
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
4036 Posts |
Thicker glass causes more distortion of the image, and reduced sharpness. As thin as possible is best. Acetate or lexan might work but again needs to be very thin.
Contact me for photographic equipment or visit my home page at: http://macrocoins.com |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
2784 Posts |
ok just put something together fast. one has to play with the lighting. move the light a little and everything changes. I think I will pick up and cfl ott lite bulb tomorrow. see if that helps well here is my first try  |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
2784 Posts |
ok I put a tube on one of my janjo lamps. it made a big different here is 2 more. let me know what you think   |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
2784 Posts |
just checked this 1968 dollar they are paddling up river. the coin is slightly rotated.
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Replies: 13 / Views: 4,703 |
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Posted 10/03/2015 10:58 am
