[meteorite-list] Misleading Images, a Real Problem

From: Bernhard <rendelius_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu Apr 22 10:27:51 2004
Message-ID: <001c01c3aec2$ef3ff360$0100a8c0_at_rpgdothome>

Adam, Greg, I confess.

I have altered brightness and contrast of pictures I placed on ebay. I
have done sharpening.

But I always did that in a way to bring the picture of my inexpensive
digital camera with no macro function to a standard where the picture
represents what I see with my bare eye. Nothing more and nothing less.
For this reason, I NEVER adjust colors, because they are pretty true to
live.

My experience on ebay is that 95% of the items I purchased look like
they looked on the photos.

Bernhard

-----Original Message-----
From: meteorite-list-admin_at_meteoritecentral.com
[mailto:meteorite-list-admin_at_meteoritecentral.com] On Behalf Of Adam
Hupe
Sent: Wednesday, November 19, 2003 5:37 PM
To: Tom aka James Knudson
Cc: meteorite-list_at_meteoritecentral.com
Subject: [meteorite-list] Misleading Images, a Real Problem


Dear Tom and List,

It is interesting to see how many List members showed an interest in the
new chondrite. Many asked if it was paired with other stones currently
on the market. To answer truthfully, we do not know. As we have said
many times, only a good laboratory can make this distinction. Images of
cut surfaces in reflected light are a poor way to determine pairings.

As far as picture taking goes, there is a real problem out there. The
problem is that a lot of images seen on ebay and on dealer's websites
have been manipulated to enhance the appearance. Some have been colored
to make them look fantastic. The sharpen tool has been applied to
others making chondrules look better than in real life. Others add
contrast to bring out barely visible features. Some are obvious because
they use a coin in the picture to show off the size of the specimen.
Sometimes you can see that the colors of the coin are not correct giving
a clue that you are being mislead. Others mask out the background and
make the specimen look as if it is floating in the darkness of space.
This is ok if the image of the actual meteorite has not been altered but
this is usually not the case as can be seen by the sparkling
multi-rainbow colored chondrules, how stupid do these dealers think the
buyers really are?

We feel manipulating images in this way is very misleading and
dishonest. Have a look for yourselves and you will know who the culprits
are, it is fairly obvious. On the flip side, there are some excellent
images out there that are true to life. Hint, the person is sometimes
seen holding the specimen with their fingers. If the skin color of
his/her fingers does not vary from image to image you can be fairly sure
the picture of the meteorite has not been manipulated.

We are only discussing images in reflected light of specimens for sale
not SEM or thin-section images.

How many of you have received specimens that have little resemblance to
the image you used to make a purchasing decision?

All the best,

Adam and Greg Hupe
The Hupe Collection
IMCA 2185





---- Original Message -----
From: "Tom aka James Knudson" <knudson911_at_frontiernet.net>
To: "Adam Hupe" <adamhupe_at_comcast.net>;
<meteorite-list_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Sent: Wednesday, November 19, 2003 7:13 AM
Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] New Cool Meteorite


> Hello Adam, Is this the same meteorite or paired with Rob Elliott's
> new meteorite? Sure looks similar? www.meteorites.uk.com
>
> Thanks, Tom
> Peregrineflier <><
> Yea, that's right,
> The proudest member of the IMCA # 6168
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Adam Hupe <adamhupe_at_comcast.net>
> To: <meteorite-list_at_meteoritecentral.com>
> Sent: Tuesday, November 18, 2003 10:59 PM
> Subject: [meteorite-list] New Cool Meteorite
>
>
> > Dear List Members,
> >
> > A few have already asked what other stone we will be releasing later
this
> > week. Here is a sneak preview:
> >
> > http://www.lunarrock.com/11-20/dsc00001.jpg
> >
> > This is a very beautiful chondrite with virtually no matrix or
> > metal.
It
> > has a dark filling between the multiple colored chondrules which are
wall
> to
> > wall. We will be starting a out few complete slices at 99 cents and

> > let
> the
> > market determine the value so keep an eye out later in the week.
> >
> > All the best,
> >
> > Adam and Greg Hupe
> > The Hupe Collection
> > IMCA 2185
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > ______________________________________________
> > Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list_at_meteoritecentral.com
> > http://www.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
> >
>
>


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Received on Wed 19 Nov 2003 12:31:05 PM PST