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 Replies: 48 / Views: 7,673 |
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
655 Posts |
Discovered a very nice method of imaging coins. Not too harsh, a little shadow but good detail. Can you guess the lighting method? Mmm, gallery is giving me errors so clicky on the linky. 1914 Sydney half sovereign. While we're at it may as well guess the grade... Image:  1914obv800.jpg93.76 KB Image: 1914rev800.jpg92.34 KB |
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Moderator
 United States
23522 Posts |
It looks like a single diffused light, but I couldn't guess further. Tremendous results - nice contrast, great color, even light spread with few bright spots. Depth of field is perfect - the coin is sharp, and the background disappears. I'm jealous.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5318 Posts |
I really like the modeling and contrast control.  I'll be interested to hear your method. |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
19961 Posts |
Is that a gold coin? If not, your white balance needs to be adjusted.
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Pillar of the Community
 Australia
655 Posts |
A couple more pics. Silver this time, one frosted and one proof coin. The 2006 frosted coin is normally a very difficult coin to illuminate properly with a shiny portrait and frosted background. A bit egg shaped due to some "interesting" angles used. Then there's this not so traditional proof pic with white mirror surfaces rather than black. Image: 2006frosted800.jpg77.54 KB Image: 1999proof800.jpg70.03 KB |
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
655 Posts |
Yes BadThad, the half sov is 22 Karat.
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
655 Posts |
Okay cat is now coming out of bag. The light source is Jaffa Cree! Sorry, been watching too many old episodes of Stargate SG-1.  It's a little Cree LED flashlight. (My other hobby is collecting flashlights - thought I'd put it to good use) Using ceiling bounce it's possible to get some interesting angles. The light level is fairly low after a ceiling bounce so slow shutter is needed, usually in the seconds. Camera is mounted on a copy stand. If needed further diffusion can be done by moving the LED during the exposure. Still experimenting, but seems to take reasonable images. Weird eh? Image: ledpic1.jpg19.32 KB Image: ledspot.jpg5.87 KB Image: leddiffuse.jpg6.96 KB |
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Moderator
United States
23522 Posts |
Those proof shots are tremendous, and prove that the traditional "black and white" appearance isn't the only good Proof shot. You, sir, are contributing greatly to my enjoyment of coin photography. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
936 Posts |
That proof is great, I picked up a Cree (deal extreme Romisen RC-G2) a couple weeks ago (another Fatwallet deal) might have to try this out. I also have a thing for flashlights, would not call myself a collector just a casual purchaser.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1173 Posts |
Learjet...those are definitely some excellent photos. Very difficult to get good shots of proofs and other highly reflective coins. You, sir, are really onto something! Thanks for sharing...and getting my creative juices flowing again. Now...if I can just survive the week, I'll have time to try this out this weekend.
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
655 Posts |
Okay different light source now. This time I'm using the standard overhead fluro tube on the ceiling, but diffused by an A4 white sheet of paper. I quite like how the dollar has turned out as it's straight from the mint and very shiny with mirror surfaces. Image: coa_rev800.jpg95.31 KB Image: coa_obv800.jpg79.92 KB |
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Valued Member
United States
142 Posts |
Those pictures are outstanding and that lighting is magnificent. I think they rival the Heritage Auction photos. The 2006frosted800.jpg and 1999proof800.jpg are incredible.
I would love a little more information about how your light/reflector are arranged. What are you using as a reflector for your bounce? Literally the ceiling or some type of white card? Any information would be appreciated. I am really impressed!
On an unrelated note. I never knew people collected flashlights but....what a cool thing to collect! I have always thought that flashlights had personality. I don't actually collect them but have many more of them than I need, just because I thought they were cool and bought them. I remember the MAGLITES first came out. It felt like the first "high quality precision instrument" flashlight. Sorry to get off topic, just thought flashlight collecting was interesting.
Edited by dcv
06/04/2008 05:19 am
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
655 Posts |
DCV, you must check out Candlepowerforums http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/Be advised though it is very addictive! Thanks for your kind words. My setup is actually quite basic, and yes I just use the plain white ceiling for flashlight bounce. The perfect angle is achieved by finding the right spot on the ceiling to point at. Different illumination of the coin can be experimented with by "painting" the ceiling at various points. I have to keep the room dark with dark curtains so I can take photos in the daytime, otherwise would be limited to night. As mentioned the shutter is quite slow, but that can be used to good effect. So far I have yet to find a better way to shoot coins. The little LED flashlight does copper, gold, silver, cupro-nickel, almost anything I can lay my hands on. For now, it's my preferred light source to shoot coins with.  |
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Valued Member
United States
142 Posts |
Thanks.....and again...another incredible picture. BTW I checked out the flashlight forum link you posted. Very cool. Lots of really unique flashlights. Then I ended up doing some Googling and found myself at a place called http://www.pentagonlight.com . Such cool stuff. My wife is always complaining about all my "coin stuff" being all over the dining room table. Maybe she would rather see flashlights! I really believe your photos represent the perfect marriage of your two hobbies. Great discovery! |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2669 Posts |
Awesome pictures... I know what I'll be trying today! I lost last night's battle with the camera, so this looks like a good tactical response... now I just have to shake the kids down for all my flashlights.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2177 Posts |
How Clever! The results are fantastic! Thanks for letting us in.
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Replies: 48 / Views: 7,673 |
1914obv800.jpg
1914rev800.jpg
Posted 04/28/2008 1:41 pm
2006frosted800.jpg
1999proof800.jpg
ledpic1.jpg
ledspot.jpg
leddiffuse.jpg
coa_rev800.jpg
coa_obv800.jpg
