Posted 10/24/2022 5:26 pm
Far as I know Phil Arnold is still the head photographer at PCGS, they do have others that work under him. He does most of the True View shoots. He does take multiple sets of the image (especially with proofs) and looks can vary even in the same shoot.
As an ex-professional photographer myself I can say I can make a coin look very different with just a slight movement of the lighting, if the camera is changed at all, or lens or lighting (in any way even slightly) looks and appearance can most assuredly change like the coin photos you show. It's not on purpose, but there is no way to have the exact consistency from photo shoot to photo shoot. I can tell the coin is the same in all the photos, but it's still art and interpretation in shooting coins, as much as we (and likely PCGS photo team) would like to make every shoot the same, from coin to coin, it's just not realistic.Heritage Auctions has a neat set up with fixed cameras for gold, silver and copper coins in the coin photo room all having similar lighting that doesn't change, yet I can find the same coin they have sold and photographed looking different quite easily on their website, same goes for Stack's/Bowers, Goldberg Auctions, etc.
Just to see what Heritage's photo stations look like with the fixed cameras, lenses, and controlled lighting, see this old behind the scenes at Heritage post I did back in 2015. (Note Heritage has moved into a new building and offices since then).
http://goccf.com/t/228287
I will say I am amazed just how consistent Heritage photography of coins is though, best in the industry for that alone.
Lyle at Goldberg's is probably my favorite shooter for catalogs. Not a huge fan of the images at True View though some are wonderful others I just shake my head at.
As an ex-professional photographer myself I can say I can make a coin look very different with just a slight movement of the lighting, if the camera is changed at all, or lens or lighting (in any way even slightly) looks and appearance can most assuredly change like the coin photos you show. It's not on purpose, but there is no way to have the exact consistency from photo shoot to photo shoot. I can tell the coin is the same in all the photos, but it's still art and interpretation in shooting coins, as much as we (and likely PCGS photo team) would like to make every shoot the same, from coin to coin, it's just not realistic.Heritage Auctions has a neat set up with fixed cameras for gold, silver and copper coins in the coin photo room all having similar lighting that doesn't change, yet I can find the same coin they have sold and photographed looking different quite easily on their website, same goes for Stack's/Bowers, Goldberg Auctions, etc.
Just to see what Heritage's photo stations look like with the fixed cameras, lenses, and controlled lighting, see this old behind the scenes at Heritage post I did back in 2015. (Note Heritage has moved into a new building and offices since then).
http://goccf.com/t/228287
I will say I am amazed just how consistent Heritage photography of coins is though, best in the industry for that alone.
Lyle at Goldberg's is probably my favorite shooter for catalogs. Not a huge fan of the images at True View though some are wonderful others I just shake my head at.
"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
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
Edited by westcoin
10/24/2022 5:31 pm
10/24/2022 5:31 pm
