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

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

Photo 365 - Day 185 (Mr. Leaf #4)

Day 185 (January 4th, 2011)
Title: Mr Leaf #4

And so comes to a close the adventures of Mr. Leaf and his portraits.  It was fun playing around with my macro lens and a magnifying glass (that's what gave the shots a strange "fuzziness" to them).  It also turned into a nice display of texture in a photo.  I hope Mr. Leaf was pleased with the shots!

Enjoy

Photo 365 - Day 184 (Mr. Leaf #3)

Day 184 (January 3rd, 2011)
Title: Mr Leaf #3

The continuing tales of Mr. Leaf and his photo shoot.  Its kind of hard to tell with the small version of the photo, but there are some really interesting details on this (and the other Mr. Leaf) photo.  You will need to click the thumbnail to zoom in a bit, but you can actually see the cell structure of the leaf.  Go macro!

Enjoy

Photo 365 - Day 183 (Mr Leaf #2)

Day 183 (January 2nd, 2011)
Title: Mr Leaf #2

As all portrait photographers know, its good to show off the curves of the client.  Mr. Leaf was no exception.

Enjoy

Photo 365 - Day 182 (Mr Leaf #1)

Day 182 (January 1st, 2011)
Title: Mr Leaf #1

Inspiration can hit just about anytime.  You might be walking down the road, watching the rain fall, reading or just zoning out in front of the TV and - BANG - something happens or you hear/see something that gives you an idea and off you run with it!  This was one of those moments - now, that's not to say that in the end the final work will be fabulous or amazing, but as with many things, just the journey there was worth the trip.


We went out to Walnut Creek for Valentines day (because lets be honest, what says "Love" better than spending hours walking around shopping), and as we were walking to dinner this perfectly lovely leaf was spotted.  It was bright green, no little bug bites or holes and it was just sitting there right in the middle of our path.  My wife picked it up, and it joined us for dinner.  We carried it around the rest of the night and even brought it home with us.  The next morning, I noticed it was starting to dry out, but it was still a great leaf.  I thought: "I know you're going to be leaving us soon Mr. Leaf, so how about a few photos, just so we can remember this by?"  And so, here is my Leaf Portrait Session.


He was a very good subject.  Never complained once!


Enjoy

Photo 365 - Day 181 (Heart Assembly)

Day 181 (December 31st, 2010)
Title: Heart Assembly

There was once a time, many moons ago, when I was unaware of scrapping and the "joys" that scrapbooking can bring.  My wife has informed me, that scrapping is in fact the way to world peace and if we could just call follow a few scrapbooking rules, the world, nay, the universe would be better place for everyone (at least, everyone who scraps). 


Now I, previously an uneducated non-scrapper (aka: heathen), did not know there were scraping rules.  I, in my insanity, would sometimes cut paper.  Using scissors.  And after cutting said paper, I would (for all you scrapbooker folks out there, I apologize profusely) throw away the piece of the paper I didn't need!!! I didn't know!  There I was, cutting a square out and throwing away the rest of a perfectly scrappable shred of paper!  I never knew that, that small, tiny, nearly microscopic particle of paper that I was going to dispose of could become an amazing card or could be the center-piece of a 20' wall hanging depicting the beauty of flying tree squirrels! 


Luckily, through long, extensive "re-education" training with my wife, I now know better.  All bits of paper, no matter the size, will be saved into one of many, many 'Scrap Paper' folders so that they may live again. 


Amen, and my the Scrap be with you.


Enjoy