Title: Stack of Gold
I love gold dollars! Next time you are at your bank, pick up a roll and then go and spend them!
Enjoy!
Showing posts with label gold. Show all posts
Showing posts with label gold. Show all posts
Saturday, July 2, 2011
Photo 365 - Day 354 (Stack of Gold)
Day 354 (June 22nd, 2011)
Title: Stack of Gold
I love gold dollars! Next time you are at your bank, pick up a roll and then go and spend them!
Enjoy!
Title: Stack of Gold
I love gold dollars! Next time you are at your bank, pick up a roll and then go and spend them!
Enjoy!
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Photo 365 - Day 235 (Elevated Self Portrait)
Day 235 (February 23rd, 2011)
Title: Elevated Self Portrait
I'm not normally a part of my photos - as an "artist" I like to remain outside my work in general. But, since I am constantly "harassed" by some folks to be "in" the pictures more, here is yet another self-portrait (I did one earlier in this project, but for some reason people don't think that counts). While riding in a lovely golden elevator (and no, I was not in Willy Wonka's house), I noticed it made a neat "fun-house" like imagine. I shot a few photos and this is the result!
Technical bits: f/3.5 at 1/25th (ISO 640). The stats are so low because when I tried using the on-board flash, it really made the photo look bad (reflected light everywhere). So, I had to try without a flash and this was about as soon as I could get. If I had my 50mm prime lens, I think I would have set it to f/1.4 at 1/60th with ISO at 400.
Enjoy!
Title: Elevated Self Portrait
I'm not normally a part of my photos - as an "artist" I like to remain outside my work in general. But, since I am constantly "harassed" by some folks to be "in" the pictures more, here is yet another self-portrait (I did one earlier in this project, but for some reason people don't think that counts). While riding in a lovely golden elevator (and no, I was not in Willy Wonka's house), I noticed it made a neat "fun-house" like imagine. I shot a few photos and this is the result!
Technical bits: f/3.5 at 1/25th (ISO 640). The stats are so low because when I tried using the on-board flash, it really made the photo look bad (reflected light everywhere). So, I had to try without a flash and this was about as soon as I could get. If I had my 50mm prime lens, I think I would have set it to f/1.4 at 1/60th with ISO at 400.
Enjoy!
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Photo 365 - Day 189 (Golden Baby)
Day 189 (January 8th, 2011)
Title: Golden Baby
For today's Coin Learnings, I'm going to touch on the part of coin collecting that causes the most twitching in coin folks - Coin Condition (also known as Mint Condition or Mint State). In essence, a coins condition is a rating (from 1 to 70; with 1 being the lowest and 70 being the best) of how "perfect" the coin is. By perfect, I mean how close is the coin in relation to the original design (die) that made the coin. Generally, when you look at coins in your pocket, they are circulated and have a rating around 25-55 (very fine to about uncirculated). Sometimes you'll see a old cent that's been beat up and it would have a rating of 8-12 (good to fine). Other times you'll see a brand new dime that's shiny and bright with no scuff marks or dirt, that might have a rating of 55-60 (about uncirculated to uncirculated (mint)). Even coins that aren't really coins anymore still have a rating, say a coin run over by a train or one that's had a hole drilled through it would still having a rating of 1-3 (cull to about good).
The rating is probably the most critical element in what determines the value of a coin (the other major element is its rarity - or how many a certain coin was produced). Generally, the higher the grade (score) the more the coin is worth. When a coin gets to grade 60 or above, its considered Mint and has very few, if any mistakes on it. Each grade above 60 the coin must be getting closer to perfect. A grade 70 coin is extremely rare and are considered perfect examples of said coin. As for cost, just to give you an example; a 1987 quarter in grade 70 sells for about $220.00. Its the same as any normal 1987 quarter you'd pull out of your pocket and keep in mind, in 1987 over a billion of these quarters were made! But out of that billion, less than .000001% (around 1000) will be perfect, which is why they cost so darn much!
Oh, last little fyi about grade (keep in mind, there is a LOT more you can learn about grading coins - books worth if you are interested), never, EVER clean a coin! If you clean it, no matter what it looks like after you clean it, because of the chemicals on it, it will be worth very little (certainly not worth anything near what you'd hope). So, no cleaning! An unaltered scruffy coin is always better than a cleaned one!
This photo is of a 2010-S $1 coin. It's grade is probably around 64-65.
Enjoy
Title: Golden Baby
For today's Coin Learnings, I'm going to touch on the part of coin collecting that causes the most twitching in coin folks - Coin Condition (also known as Mint Condition or Mint State). In essence, a coins condition is a rating (from 1 to 70; with 1 being the lowest and 70 being the best) of how "perfect" the coin is. By perfect, I mean how close is the coin in relation to the original design (die) that made the coin. Generally, when you look at coins in your pocket, they are circulated and have a rating around 25-55 (very fine to about uncirculated). Sometimes you'll see a old cent that's been beat up and it would have a rating of 8-12 (good to fine). Other times you'll see a brand new dime that's shiny and bright with no scuff marks or dirt, that might have a rating of 55-60 (about uncirculated to uncirculated (mint)). Even coins that aren't really coins anymore still have a rating, say a coin run over by a train or one that's had a hole drilled through it would still having a rating of 1-3 (cull to about good).
The rating is probably the most critical element in what determines the value of a coin (the other major element is its rarity - or how many a certain coin was produced). Generally, the higher the grade (score) the more the coin is worth. When a coin gets to grade 60 or above, its considered Mint and has very few, if any mistakes on it. Each grade above 60 the coin must be getting closer to perfect. A grade 70 coin is extremely rare and are considered perfect examples of said coin. As for cost, just to give you an example; a 1987 quarter in grade 70 sells for about $220.00. Its the same as any normal 1987 quarter you'd pull out of your pocket and keep in mind, in 1987 over a billion of these quarters were made! But out of that billion, less than .000001% (around 1000) will be perfect, which is why they cost so darn much!
Oh, last little fyi about grade (keep in mind, there is a LOT more you can learn about grading coins - books worth if you are interested), never, EVER clean a coin! If you clean it, no matter what it looks like after you clean it, because of the chemicals on it, it will be worth very little (certainly not worth anything near what you'd hope). So, no cleaning! An unaltered scruffy coin is always better than a cleaned one!
This photo is of a 2010-S $1 coin. It's grade is probably around 64-65.
Enjoy
Photo 365 - Day 187 (Call Me Millard)
Day 187 (January 6th, 2011)
Title: Call Me Millard
Continuing with our "More Than I Really Needed To Know About Coins" lesson, we come to mints! Mints are tiny things that make your breath better... oh... wait, wrong mints. Mints buy a whole lot of metal (steel, copper, zinc, nickel, aluminum, etc), in huge rolls and run them into machines that punch out little "blanks" (basically its a 200 ton cookie cutter). They take the blanks, wash them and prep them and then line them up to be "smooshed" (that's a technical "coin" term) into coins. True, there's a bit more "technical" parts, but that's the Reader's Digest version.
In the US, there are 4 operational mints, the two largest (and well known because you carry their coins in your pocket) are Philadelphia and Denver. They make all of the circulated coins (coins that are made for public use). San Francisco makes special "Proof" sets that are for collectors (they are sealed in plastic containers so they stay in uncirculated condition). Lastly, is West Point, which only makes gold, silver and platinum coins for collectors.
This photo is of Millard "Original Gangsta'" Fillmore. You do NOT want him on your bad side...
Enjoy
Title: Call Me Millard
Continuing with our "More Than I Really Needed To Know About Coins" lesson, we come to mints! Mints are tiny things that make your breath better... oh... wait, wrong mints. Mints buy a whole lot of metal (steel, copper, zinc, nickel, aluminum, etc), in huge rolls and run them into machines that punch out little "blanks" (basically its a 200 ton cookie cutter). They take the blanks, wash them and prep them and then line them up to be "smooshed" (that's a technical "coin" term) into coins. True, there's a bit more "technical" parts, but that's the Reader's Digest version.
In the US, there are 4 operational mints, the two largest (and well known because you carry their coins in your pocket) are Philadelphia and Denver. They make all of the circulated coins (coins that are made for public use). San Francisco makes special "Proof" sets that are for collectors (they are sealed in plastic containers so they stay in uncirculated condition). Lastly, is West Point, which only makes gold, silver and platinum coins for collectors.
This photo is of Millard "Original Gangsta'" Fillmore. You do NOT want him on your bad side...
Enjoy
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Photo 365 - Day 186 (Evil Presidential Eye)
Day 186 (January 5th, 2011)
Title: Evil Presidential Eye
For those of you who were unaware, I am a coin person. I like coins, I collect coins, and I am even sick enough to go to coin shows. One of the things I really love about coins, are their history - nearly every nation uses their currency as a medium for displaying some aspect of their history (and culture). In the past, US coins were some of the most beautiful coins made, sadly, during the 1980s-1990s many of our coins lost their artistic elements and were just slabs of metal to most. But, in 1999 the US Mint decided to go all 'crazy' and started using coins as form of both art and history with the State Quarters program. Speaking on behalf of us 'coin folk', we were overjoyed. It made people look at their coins again, it brought younger folks into the world of collecting and helped start a trend in modern coinage that is still continuing - frequent changes to our coins, with new and better art.
One of the new series' that I am really excited about (really, I get actually excited about it - if you ever see me, just ask about it and I'll go all nuts explaining why the program is so great) is the Presidential Dollars program. In a nutshell, starting in 2007, every year the US Mint is going to release 4 new $1 "gold" coins, each with a different president, starting with good ole George Washington and going till Gerald Ford (they can't go past that, because Jimmy Carter is still alive - they have rules about putting art of living people on coins - basically, they won't). And it's not just a face, but it has when they were president as well. It's educational and fun!
These coins are available at any bank or from the US Mint's website. Buy them. Lots of them. They are nifty!
... except when Abraham Lincoln is starting at you... spooky!
Enjoy
Title: Evil Presidential Eye
For those of you who were unaware, I am a coin person. I like coins, I collect coins, and I am even sick enough to go to coin shows. One of the things I really love about coins, are their history - nearly every nation uses their currency as a medium for displaying some aspect of their history (and culture). In the past, US coins were some of the most beautiful coins made, sadly, during the 1980s-1990s many of our coins lost their artistic elements and were just slabs of metal to most. But, in 1999 the US Mint decided to go all 'crazy' and started using coins as form of both art and history with the State Quarters program. Speaking on behalf of us 'coin folk', we were overjoyed. It made people look at their coins again, it brought younger folks into the world of collecting and helped start a trend in modern coinage that is still continuing - frequent changes to our coins, with new and better art.
One of the new series' that I am really excited about (really, I get actually excited about it - if you ever see me, just ask about it and I'll go all nuts explaining why the program is so great) is the Presidential Dollars program. In a nutshell, starting in 2007, every year the US Mint is going to release 4 new $1 "gold" coins, each with a different president, starting with good ole George Washington and going till Gerald Ford (they can't go past that, because Jimmy Carter is still alive - they have rules about putting art of living people on coins - basically, they won't). And it's not just a face, but it has when they were president as well. It's educational and fun!
These coins are available at any bank or from the US Mint's website. Buy them. Lots of them. They are nifty!
... except when Abraham Lincoln is starting at you... spooky!
Enjoy
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Photo 365 - Day 116 (Oakland Docks)
Day 116 (October 27th, 2010)
Title: Oakland Docks
I got these while visiting Hanger One distillery in Alameda. They are the giant cranes at the Oakland docks. These are used to unload/load giant steel carriers off the cargo ships and put them either on trains or trucks. Normally I see them from my house (much farther away) and they look like those little "bobbing-head birds" that slowly raise and lower their heads. I had to really mess with the timing on my camera to get a good shot, because the lights were really bright but if I metered off them, I wouldn't get any detail in the shadows. On the other hand, metering for the shadows made the lights just blow-out any details. So, its was a fun balancing act of shutter speeds to get a nice shot. I also like how you can see the stars in the top, but at the same time see the light streaks from the planes coming in/out of SFO.
Enjoy!
Title: Oakland Docks
I got these while visiting Hanger One distillery in Alameda. They are the giant cranes at the Oakland docks. These are used to unload/load giant steel carriers off the cargo ships and put them either on trains or trucks. Normally I see them from my house (much farther away) and they look like those little "bobbing-head birds" that slowly raise and lower their heads. I had to really mess with the timing on my camera to get a good shot, because the lights were really bright but if I metered off them, I wouldn't get any detail in the shadows. On the other hand, metering for the shadows made the lights just blow-out any details. So, its was a fun balancing act of shutter speeds to get a nice shot. I also like how you can see the stars in the top, but at the same time see the light streaks from the planes coming in/out of SFO.
Enjoy!
Friday, November 5, 2010
Photo 365 - Day 113 (San Francisco Park)
Day 113 (October 24th, 2010)
Title: San Francisco Park
I was lucky enough to be a part of the Hanger One multi-birthday celebration event that happened a few days ago. Basically, there are six of us who have birthdays within days of each other. It was decided to have one big party to celebrate everyone getting older, and what better place to do so than Hanger One! We had cake, fireworks, crazy amounts of food, and of course, great booze!
While the party was rocking, I looked out and saw the San Francisco skyline and knew that I HAD to get a shot of it. I setup my stuff, and started shooting. I got about 15-20 shots that were all "okay", but nothing that was spectacular (I think I needed to modify my settings a bit - a smaller aperture would have been a good idea). When I got home, I realized that since none of the shots were great that I would try to do a HDR with them. This is the final output. I like the colors and there is enough detail to really identify specific San Fran landmarks (not just the bridge). What I didn't really notice the entire time was the fence that matched up almost perfectly with the skyline. Had I thought about it, or had I been able to see the little screen better on the camera, I would have moved closer to the fence so it would have not been in the shot. But, after looking at it, I kind of like it. It gives the feel that the city is fenced in and isolated from the rest of the world. It also gave me the idea of the "San Francisco Park", only the entire city is the park.
Enjoy!
Title: San Francisco Park
I was lucky enough to be a part of the Hanger One multi-birthday celebration event that happened a few days ago. Basically, there are six of us who have birthdays within days of each other. It was decided to have one big party to celebrate everyone getting older, and what better place to do so than Hanger One! We had cake, fireworks, crazy amounts of food, and of course, great booze!
While the party was rocking, I looked out and saw the San Francisco skyline and knew that I HAD to get a shot of it. I setup my stuff, and started shooting. I got about 15-20 shots that were all "okay", but nothing that was spectacular (I think I needed to modify my settings a bit - a smaller aperture would have been a good idea). When I got home, I realized that since none of the shots were great that I would try to do a HDR with them. This is the final output. I like the colors and there is enough detail to really identify specific San Fran landmarks (not just the bridge). What I didn't really notice the entire time was the fence that matched up almost perfectly with the skyline. Had I thought about it, or had I been able to see the little screen better on the camera, I would have moved closer to the fence so it would have not been in the shot. But, after looking at it, I kind of like it. It gives the feel that the city is fenced in and isolated from the rest of the world. It also gave me the idea of the "San Francisco Park", only the entire city is the park.
Enjoy!
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