Coin Pics

[Nordle11 564]

I use a orange/brown cushion haha

[declanwmagee 122]

I use the back of Dave Groom's bronze varieties book...

[PWA 1967 1,841]

I use a orange/brown cushion haha

They look ok nordle only thing is you will have to keep the cushion for as long as you keep collecting.

Nice site and some nice pennies.

[Nonmortuus 848]

The black foam in the Quadrum capsules actually makes a decent background:

[Nordle11 564]

I use a orange/brown cushion haha

They look ok nordle only thing is you will have to keep the cushion for as long as you keep collecting.

Nice site and some nice pennies.

Yeah, I realised that after taking about half of the pictures haha.

I have that microscope now too, which is amazing by the way, and figured I could get some really detailed shots with it and find myself another background in the process.

And thanks Pete, many to upgrade and a few gaps left to fill, but I've only been at it a couple of years. I have to remind myself that when looking at, say, Steve's site (Accumulator)

[Paulus 1,942]

Let's try a different coin. These are 2 pics of the same coin, taken with the same camera, which pic would make the coin appeal to you most?

Attempt number 329, this time with a black background ... an improvement? I am just too close to it now to make an objective judgement!

Edited September 9, 2015 by Paulus

[Paulus 1,942]

Or this (attempt 330 - the only difference is in the lighting angles, but very important I know!)

Opinions eagerly sought

Edited September 9, 2015 by Paulus

[PWA 1967 1,841]

I think the last one looks best Paul.

You can always try 331 though.

[Paulus 1,942]

Thanks Pete, I know this is something close to your heart too!

No doubt I will try 331 and on and on, but I would so love to get it nailed! It will still be different depending on the coin, may be I am too bothered about it, but when I look at some pics I think why can't I get close to that? (e.g. BRG's), and when distance buying it is very important to take into account the 2 pics that are often all you have to go on, and appreciate that the coin may well look better/worse in hand ...

[Rob 3,002]

Not knowing how to make a picture that flatters, it is fair to say that the coin always looks better in hand. Taking consistently good images is a black art and one which I wish I could master.

[Paulus 1,942]

Not knowing how to make a picture that flatters, it is fair to say that the coin always looks better in hand. Taking consistently good images is a black art and one which I wish I could master.

And that's really my point Rob ... clearly it is a massive advantage as a seller / dealer to have pics that flatter (but truly represent the coin in hand), while as a buyer, needing to have the coin in hand before making a final buying decision leaves us where we were before the digital age - and that's not always an option one would be willing to take, without an option for a no-quibble return.

Tell me, long before I started collecting seriously (8 years ago or so), how did it work? There were not web sites, or even pics available in auction catalogues in some cases, did you have to totally trust the auction/sellers' descriptions/grades? There must have been a totally different culture to it all back then! I guess reputations must have been crucial?

I would also love to know your views on the 4 pics of the GII shilling I have posted

Edited September 9, 2015 by Paulus

[Rob 3,002]

You used to have to rely on the quoted grades. That was the main reason I decided to start selling because I felt I was sending too many things back due to overgrading and could do a better job.

As for your 4 pictures, not knowing the coin in hand I don't know which gives the truest representation. Too my eye it is probably the one with the black background, though this can give the effect of brightening the coin based on my results and others I've seen.

[MRD 6]

Paulus, Big advancement with the black background. Have you seen this book, well worth the few dollars.

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Numismatic-Photography-Goodman-Mark-NEW-Paperback-22-April-2009-/361380839780?hash=item5423fa0164

[Paulus 1,942]

Paulus, Big advancement with the black background. Have you seen this book, well worth the few dollars.

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Numismatic-Photography-Goodman-Mark-NEW-Paperback-22-April-2009-/361380839780?hash=item5423fa0164

Much appreciated!

[PWA 1967 1,841]

Paulus, Big advancement with the black background. Have you seen this book, well worth the few dollars.

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Numismatic-Photography-Goodman-Mark-NEW-Paperback-22-April-2009-/361380839780?hash=item5423fa0164

Thanks MRD i have just ordered one.

[Paulus 1,942]

I have invested a few more hours today trying to get better. If I can get anywhere near BRG's standard one day I will be over the moon!

Different coins will require different backgrounds, settings and lighting to show them off to their best (but faithfully of course!). When you only get 2 pics very often to display your coin it's important to choose carefully. I am still a total novice but feel I have made a leap forward since first posting this thread. I am trying different photographic scenarios for brighter silver, darker silver, toned silver, proof silver, and the same for copper/bronze. Yet to try gold, Cn, or other metals/alloys, although of course I have some.

I do feel coin photography is extremely important for all of us, as collectors who want good pics of their coins for various reasons, and for sellers/dealers who will wish to show off their items to best effect (disclaimer - I do not advocate or support 'photo-shopping' in any way!)

So for those who remain interested, I will post a few 'previous effort vs latest effort' pics for your frank and honest comments. Thanks to all who comment, be as brutal as you wish!

To start, here is what I consider a clear improvement (this falls in to the darker copper category):

Previous effort

Latest effort

Chalk and cheese to me - I can see obvious further improvements, but opinions as to whether you consider I am headed in the right direction very welcome

Edited September 12, 2015 by Paulus

[Nonmortuus 848]

Wow, like night a day, what a difference!

[Paulus 1,942]

Same coin I assure you

Which pics are more appealing to you?

[Nonmortuus 848]

The second effort, it brings the coin to life showing the various tones.

[Paulus 1,942]

Thanks NM, it really helps to get an impartial opinion

This will not be unique to my coin pics, there will be many variations of coin pics you come across that will be more or less flattering!

[Paulus 1,942]

A hammered (mm Aardvark eating a wasp)

Previous best

Maybe better (or maybe not)

Edited September 13, 2015 by Paulus

[Paulus 1,942]

My 'benchmark' GII shilling

Previous best

Does this seem better?

Edited September 13, 2015 by Paulus

[PWA 1967 1,841]

I think you should try on just a plain black card or similar background paul.

Dont know if its me but the lines and marks detract my eyes from the coin with the background your using.

Sure you will get there mate and definately worth investing the time to get it right.

Were is BRG when we need him ?.

[azda 973]

I'd agree with Pete' comment above about the background. Try out several different backgrounds plus different Lighting. I went from a pöain black background to plain white. The white is best for silver IMO but haven't bought any copper recently to try out on the white background.

[azda 973]

An earlier copper from me

Edited September 13, 2015 by azda