Compare photos of the same coin

[moonmoth]

Here are two photos of the same coin, using different techniques.  One combines two photos taken with different exposures, and completely eliminates the burnt-out highlight.  The other uses Photoshop to minimise the burnt-out area, but it is still there.

When I first tried this, I thought the version that eliminates the white highlight must be better, because it loses less information about the coin.  But the other version seems more lively, and even more realistic, and more pleasant to look at.

Which version to you prefer?

Bill

[cmcdon0923]

Personally, I kind of like the top one.

[newbeonecoinobe]

I have to agree the top one looks best to me also.

Pete

[slokind]

I'll go with the Photoshop'd one.  If the burn out really burned me (and on this one it isn't TOO bad), I'd try working with different lighting, something like window light on an overcast but not gloomy day?  Otherwise, to lose the 'detail' called 'the look and feel of metal' is more serious to me.
Pat L.

[commodus]

To me the difference is negligible, but if I had to choose I'd go with the first one.

[moonmoth]

Thanks for looking and for your comments.  When I was working in Photoshop, the difference seemed greater and the first one looked somehow flat, but looking at them here, I now agree with all of you. 

Taking a second photo adds to the work, but the alignment is easy as long as I don't have to touch the setup in between shots; I can alter the camera settings from my PC.   I will write up the details of the method shortly.

To add to the variety of methods, here's the photo I was trying to improve on, taken a couple of years ago.  The darker tone results from using a shorter exposure to try to cut down the highlights.  I can do that better now; I learn more quirks of photoshopping every year. 

Bill