When I keep TWO image pairs, and why

[slokind]

I just got one of those narrow flanned Septimius denarii, also the dies not the freshest (nor yet worn out) and the flan preparation and striking not of the finest (nor yet deplorable).
I was right in thinking it is just the sort of coin that can look either quite pretty or not pretty in legitimate normal photos, the kind I take with two lamps or three adjusting heights and angles a bit, but only a bit, and religiously photographing the reverse identically to the obverse.
For this nice little PROFECTIO rider, first I used three lamps to maximize surface properties and to provide even lighting; then I used only two lamps, the left at ±10h and right at ±2h, at about 45°, to emphasize what artists call plastic values—rounded relief and nice facial features.
It wouldn't make much difference on a denarius that cost three times as much, but it does on one like this.  Anyway, I like it.  It has a funny horse.
•• 27 01 11 ARden 16mm 2.687g axis ~6h  Rome Septimius Severus, laureate, head to r. L SEPT SEV PERT IMP VIII (RIC 91) or IMP VIIII (RIC 106).  Rev. Profectio: emperor riding to r. with spear held diagonally.  PROFEC  T  I   O AVG, with T and I interrupted by spearhead and horse's head.  Needless to say, less than the whole legends are on this narrow-flan specimen.
CLICK to zoom up to 1000 pixels across.  DSC 0022 is the one with 3 lamps on.
Pat L.

[moonmoth]

The second, two-lamp version certainly makes this likeable coin look more attractive.

When I look at these, they seem to have an overtall greenish tone, but to my surprise, on analysis in Photoshop, although the background has more green than other tones, the coin itself has more red.  An example reading is R=108 G=103 B=83 in the horse's shadow; the exact figures vary over the coin.  It's the lack of blue that makes it look greenish, as was shown by a quick experiment in creating tones.  The background varies too, but an example is R=155 G=168 R=158 to the right of the nose.   I wonder if this is a quality of the bulbs you are using.

Bill

[slokind]

The greenish background comes from the manufacture of the glass that I place over my Corning glass baking dish.  When only the two upper lamps are on, there is more background variation.  So I don't worry about those.  I use the Levels and simply get the coin (the two halves already 'flattened') to make it look like metal and as close as possible, without monkeying around, to the neutral gray that Apple provides as one alternative window background.  The room is full of stuff, though, and the Nikon's CCD seems to pick up even light from other rooms and reflections from my own clothes (but last night I had gray sweat togs).  I don't mind very much, so long as the silver coins don't look like shortbread cookies or blue moons.
Three lamps is 50% brighter than two, and the three lamp image is sharper, but the second one is sharp enough for looking at. 
The room is dull apple green with a dingy cream ceiling, but the overhead lamps are off.
The camera seems to 'sense' the alloy of Severan silver, since the Republican one I posted last week in Forvm COTD looks more silver.
The two desk lamps are a pair; the third is a standing lamp, but another Ott light, and it takes the same long mini-fluorescents.
Pat

[moonmoth]

It's very easy to pick up unexpected colour tints.  I turn off the room light, which is yellower than my lamp, and when I stood by the camera I had to remember not to wear a brightly coloured top.  (Now I click the mouse.)

Silver from different periods does photograph differently and fairly consistently.  The purer it is, the shinier. 

Bill