Direct, Indirect, Diffused Lighting. The differences when photographing coins.

Hey gang!

I was shooting this coin today when I thought this would be a good example to show how different lighting setups can effect your coin's images. This coin is a nice PL coin but is NOT DMPL.

The first image was taken with indirect light. This meaning the lights were off to the side of the coin shining onto it.

 

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Here is direct light. The light was reflecting directly off the field.

 

Here is diffused light through white paper.

 

Years ago I bought one of those cloud dome setup's. That thing would make MS coins look like DCAM's good thing the true grade was on the slab.

 

Thank you for the informative post Matt. Photography is my enemy. Do you use a tent by chance??

 

Great post, Thanks..

 

I always like reading threads like this. Thanks Matt. So which do you think best represents the coin in hand. 1,2, or 3? I'm guessing the 1st since you said it's PL not DMPL and the second pic doesn't really show much PL reflection in the fields.

 

The coin looks closer to #1 but has attributes of picture #2 being PL.

 

This is a good example of what I have said previously about light tents being good for proof coins, but not so great for others, because the diffusion really brings out the cameo, but is a bit off with the color.

 

Diffused light on UNC coins makes them look very strange. It is however useful for proofs.

 

The one diffused through white paper is astounding.

 

It might look like a frosty DMPL monster... but it's really not. That's the main reason I posted this thread was to show you what the different kinds of lighting can make a coin look like.

 

Thanks for this thread. I have been experimenting with a photography set up since Christmas. Lighting and angles are key! TC

 

Thanks for posting this, Matt! I wonder what the coin would look like using axial lighting.

Chris

 

That's one setup I don't use currently... It would be neat to see. I may look into setting that up.

 

Proof and Uncirculated act differently

I liked this comparison thread. So I did some shots to compare on my own...same design, both proof and unc. In a dark room. First shot is with direct lighting about 18-24 inches to the sides. 2nd shot is with same lighting position, diffused. 3rd shot is same diffused lighting, with a white bulb about 3 feet above and behind the camera. The proofs look like this.

 

and the Uncirculated looks like this

 

For me...I like the 2nd setup for proof coins (love the jet black fields) and the 3rd setup for uncirculated coins (best representation). For this coin, if I was taking a "keeper" photo, I would adjust the light positions slightly to remove the hot spots (glare areas) and such, but the setups would be the same.


Proof and Unc. Keepers