digg

Join DiggAbout

Discover and share the best of the web!
Learn more about Digg by taking the tour.

Neat Photos Lining Up U.S. Currency with D.C. Buildings Depicted on Them

dcist.com — A clever series of shots lining up currency with the D.C. buildings depicted on them. We suspect this is one of those things that seems simple, but in practice is a lot more difficult than it looks to get everything in focus and lined up perfectly.

Bury
show profanity settings
expand all
  • Livewired, on 11/16/2007, -42/+4Would it really be that hard? I suspect not. Neat nonetheless.
    • davidlow, on 11/16/2007, -0/+10I've tried to do things like this. It's easy to line up the image very close, but it's really really hard to line it up perfectly the way this guy does.
    • sjl127, on 11/16/2007, -0/+2nevermind
  • Chewie67, on 11/16/2007, -28/+7Hard? No.

    Creative? YES!
    • GawtMilk, on 11/17/2007, -0/+4I'd say it's the other way round. Practically every tourist with a camera in DC tries to do this. The difference is this guy does it really well.
  • charlieboyx, on 11/16/2007, -26/+4Someone should have took the money and ran.
    • mourne, on 11/16/2007, -0/+4$85 (assuming the photographer had just that), is not worth the ass beating involved for trying to take the money.
      • stoopidguy, on 11/16/2007, -0/+3For a while, there was a gang operating _on the national mall_ that was stealing petty amounts of cash with guns. It was all over the news here for quite a while -- it actually affected tourism rates.
      • Slungsolow, on 11/16/2007, -0/+2worse has happened on the mall for less money. I'm not saying that it's crime ridden or anything, but tourists have been mugged in front of these landmarks before.
  • Kronos6948, on 11/16/2007, -13/+2already down.
  • soulpunisher, on 11/16/2007, -4/+21That was cool...I liked it. Good job
  • Avaseal, on 11/16/2007, -16/+4Not only is this photographer creative, but they're also an 85 Dollaraire! ...WoWzer!!
  • TheDiceMan, on 11/16/2007, -3/+33damn! another awesomely simple thing where I've thought 'why didn't I come up with that?' *_*
    • castevens, on 11/16/2007, -1/+5That seems to happen to me a lot. I wish I was more creative . . .
  • briLo, on 11/16/2007, -25/+0Front page material....wtf?
    • bilbravo, on 11/16/2007, -0/+1See, if enough people digg it in some time period, it goes to the front page. So... yes, front page material!
  • Damian91, on 11/16/2007, -16/+95"Cheney, why is that man holding a 6 dollar bill at the house?"
    "George, it's a 20 dollar bill, and I've alerted some security guards to go taze him away from the property"
    • TheDiceMan, on 11/16/2007, -18/+3'dont' taze me bro'
    • ethanpack, on 11/16/2007, -7/+1Money.
    • wvdavis, on 11/16/2007, -8/+1Cheney, "Great idea George... have them take him to South Texas, and I'll take care of him."
    • davidlow, on 11/16/2007, -7/+2Cheney: "Condi, Release the hounds!"
    • 5urr3al5am, on 11/16/2007, -3/+4Geeze I thought you say something creative like Bill Clinton holding money out to a stripper...
  • CraigJ, on 11/16/2007, -1/+38direct: http://www.flickr.com/photos/musely/1977925616/
  • Slungsolow, on 11/16/2007, -2/+48now I want to see someone do this with nickels and pennies that are cut in half.
    • davidlow, on 11/16/2007, -2/+36It'd be a lot of work to dig up all those presidents to get the profiles you'd need. Oh, wait. You meant the BACK of the coins. Nevermind.
    • TheSabre, on 11/16/2007, -3/+6A nickel? The Monticello isn't in DC.
      • Slungsolow, on 11/16/2007, -0/+5meh, 2 hours isn't that far to drive
    • freakstyle571, on 11/16/2007, -2/+4Isn't that actually illegal? Defacing currency or something?
      • kcreekmore, on 11/16/2007, -2/+4only if it's "with intent to defraud".
        • TheSabre, on 11/16/2007, -3/+4Wrong. It has nothing to do with defrauding. If it cannot be reissued (such as cut in half), then it's illegal as per USC Title 18, Part I, Chapter 17, Section 333.

          “Whoever mutilates, cuts, defaces, disfigures, or perforates, or unites or cements together, or does any other thing to any bank bill, draft, note, or other evidence of debt issued by any national banking association, or Federal Reserve bank, or the Federal Reserve System, with intent to render such bank bill, draft, note, or other evidence of debt unfit to be reissued, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than six months, or both.”
        • dignation, on 11/16/2007, -0/+2imprisoned 6 months for cutting a nickel in half? Harsh.
        • fr34k5h0w, on 11/16/2007, -0/+9I'm probably going to get dugg down for this, but what about coin souvenir presses? Here's what Google turned up:
          "I looked into this as well in the past, I wanted to press quarters for fun. Here is what the penny press machine makers stance is on the issue:
          "IT'S LEGAL! U.S. Title 18, Chapter 17, Section 331: Prohibits among other things, fraudulent alteration and mutilation of coins. This statue does not, however, prohibit the mutilation of coins if done without fraudulent intent if the mutilated coins are not used fraudulently."
          Basically, if you are not using it fraudulently then you can alter the coin."
          http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=42 ... -> leskowitz-ga
          • Zalyster, on 11/17/2007, -0/+2So it's bad to cut holes in coins, tie a string to them, and get free cokes? :'(
            Never worked for me, by the way...Always got stuck in the machine.
  • marques99, on 11/16/2007, -17/+64Pretty kewl, someone finally found a use for the American dollar.
  • shashib, on 11/16/2007, -11/+2great idea. Good job in execution. Where di u park whil you took the pictures?
    • evanbooth, on 11/16/2007, -0/+11your mom's house.
    • TheSabre, on 11/16/2007, -0/+15Where did he park? Oh, I don't know... one of the MANY streets around the Mall? Maybe he lives in VA/MD/DC and took the metro? Is that really important?
    • DeFex, on 11/16/2007, -1/+3there are other forms of transportation dont assume everyone is a resource hog.
  • Sovereigndk, on 11/16/2007, -13/+2So Why did the FEDs go and steal all the Gold and Silver from 'Liberty Dollar'?
    search digg for: FBI Raids Liberty include buried stories to find them, as they have been buried
    • AlwaysDiggsDown, on 11/16/2007, -0/+1I believe that was because there was no gold to begin with. The whole thing was a scam.
      • Urusai, on 11/16/2007, -0/+3Yeah, one of the vaunted properties of gold-backed currency is that you can't just print money for a profit. Kind of makes for a lousy business model when you think of it.
        • HareBall, on 11/16/2007, -0/+1We haven't been on the gold standard for many years. Probably isn't any country in the world that is anymore.
      • TheSabre, on 11/16/2007, -0/+2There was gold. They seized millions of dollars of gold/silver/platinum/etc. Not saying I agree/disagree with either the Liberty Dollar or the raid. Just clearing up some facts.
  • chubbymidget, on 11/16/2007, -6/+15Photographer was later detained and 'processed' at Gitmo for taking pictures of government buildings without the proper papers.
    -And now you know the rest of the story....
  • crackedplastic, on 11/16/2007, -6/+3Why don't you just link to the photographer's Flickr site instead? http://www.flickr.com/photos/musely/1977925616/
  • hybridcreation, on 11/16/2007, -0/+65Sure beats another idiot using the Washington Monument as his schlong.
    • somedirtbag, on 11/16/2007, -3/+5Dugg for use of the word "schlong".
    • actionmann50, on 11/16/2007, -1/+11Yeah! Everyone knows the Leaning Tower of Pisa is funnier.
    • duo8675309, on 11/16/2007, -3/+4Ha. I just did that exact thing no less than a week ago.
  • ussoldier, on 11/16/2007, -17/+1Homeland Security needs to get his ***** ***** face slammed against the pavement for brazenly taking photos of US government buildings in the capitol. These are hot as hell terrorist targets. So many people want to take out the US government its not funny, for all the criminal actions its dne around the world... we have enemies people, you can't go putting your boot in peoples face for decades around the world and just let any tom dick or joe native who you've killed their family, walk up and take photos of your government buildings.
    • billb914, on 11/16/2007, -5/+0I thought photographing/reproducing American currency was illegal
    • Tyr86, on 11/16/2007, -0/+3So you're saying we should go arrest the post card companies too? Let's go after Google Earth and hell, let's go get Rand McNally himself for making a map of DC! You're an idiot.
    • bilbravo, on 11/16/2007, -0/+3Wait, is this a serious post?
    • Scogras, on 11/16/2007, -0/+1I don't understand ur complaint is it against the government or against this photographer?
    • CATSCEO, on 11/16/2007, -0/+2you forgot the /sarcasm
  • gibsonic, on 11/16/2007, -12/+1don't forget these buildings you can seen in the US currency!
    http://swaramuslim.net/images/uploads/laknatullah/ ...
    http://swaramuslim.net/images/uploads/laknatullah/ ...
  • tsbruford, on 11/16/2007, -11/+1photoshopped
  • wvdavis, on 11/16/2007, -7/+2What about the $100.00 bill?
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:US_%24100_rever ...
    • Slungsolow, on 11/16/2007, -0/+9it isn't a DC Building
    • DaveTehWave, on 11/16/2007, -0/+10Since that's in Philadelphia, I hardly think it's fitting...
      Plus the photographer didn't have a $100 bill.
    • nate886, on 11/16/2007, -1/+2I thought the same thing but then I read the text on Wikipedia instead of just looking at the pretty pictures...
    • habitat2050, on 11/16/2007, -1/+1They tore that down years ago to make way for a new Wal-Mart. Thats progress I guess.
  • wvdavis, on 11/16/2007, -14/+1What about the $100.00 bill?
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:US_%24100_rever ...
  • davidlow, on 11/16/2007, -1/+49When you find the exact right place to take these pictures, you'll be standing over secret documents buried by the Founders to be used in the event of a nut case becoming President. Bring a shovel!

    See the upcoming movie "National Treasure 2" for the full background information.
    • TheSabre, on 11/16/2007, -5/+5I was *this* close to being an extra in NT2. But you had to be available Friday through Sunday, and I had work on Friday. Ugh.
      • Zalyster, on 11/17/2007, -0/+1I have Nicolas Cage's father's iMac. HDD was wiped, but it's pretty cool nonetheless.
  • RecoDesign, on 11/16/2007, -9/+2i bet there was some photshop tweakin going on there to get things lined up just right unless they took a million pics hoping that one would line up.
    • huskerdude, on 11/16/2007, -0/+18Or they went really nuts and used the viewfinder on their camera.
    • HardwareWeenie, on 11/16/2007, -0/+7From Flickr: Getting these right took a wide angle lens and really small aperture, both of which help give the depth of field needed so that both foreground and background are reasonably crisp.
      It may be hard to believe but there are still some people in the world that take the time to line up shots, do the aperture math to find the depth of field. The biggest problem he said he has was the location of the sun in each shot.
  • travbrack, on 11/16/2007, -1/+5that would be cool if they cut a penny in half and lined it up with the lincoln memorial
    • fxu1989, on 11/16/2007, -2/+1It can easily be photoshopped. Take 2 pictures, one with the penny, one without it. But you'll probably need a tripod or something that holds the camera in the same position on both images.
  • dagamer34, on 11/16/2007, -12/+3Too bad the money is loosing value. -_-
    • catalysis, on 11/16/2007, -0/+9I didn't know value could become loose.
      • Tyr86, on 11/16/2007, -1/+4Whores have value, no?
      • stalefries, on 11/16/2007, -1/+2Yeah, the buildings on the currency have pretty poor foundations.

        /pretty lame
  • davidlow, on 11/16/2007, -10/+9How to get your next photo on Digg's front page:

    Step 1: Hold a bald eagle (now no longer endangered) firmly underneath your boot.
    Step 2: Cut a solver dollar in half.
    etc.

    (No animals were harmed in the posting of this comment)
  • jgrose, on 11/16/2007, -5/+1simple and creative. i digg.
  • look4alec, on 11/16/2007, -9/+4But can you fold it revealing the burning twin towers?
    • TheSabre, on 11/16/2007, -2/+3No, but I can make a mushroom out of Washington's forehead...
    • bloominoctober, on 11/16/2007, -0/+1No but I can fold it so the front reads "***** of America"
  • utzig, on 11/16/2007, -4/+4I want to see the shot of the one dollar bill. mostly because I want to see what (half of) the pyramid with the glowing eye really looks like.
  • mmcwhorter, on 11/16/2007, -9/+5Wow. I guess American dollars are still good for something...
  • robbielaney, on 11/16/2007, -1/+35That guy is my identical hand twin!
  • dupswapdrop, on 11/16/2007, -1/+5Dick get your shotgun some nutcase is taking pictures of buildings in D.C.
  • djslouch, on 11/16/2007, -11/+1can someone please tell me why this is interesting... at all...

    please.
    • bangerznmash, on 11/16/2007, -0/+4Because it has more value to society than bitching about things on your computer.
      • Scogras, on 11/16/2007, -0/+2That is so not true your post sucks! (sarcasm)
  • isaactwito, on 11/16/2007, -0/+4That was probably one of the easiest diggs ever.
  • mostdiggever, on 11/16/2007, -4/+3so i guess a picture is only worth 85 USD.
  • wilcocola, on 11/16/2007, -2/+6Suprised that guy wasn't detained and questioned for 8 hours.
    • Gndoab, on 11/16/2007, -1/+3yea its comments like this that scream "I don't live in,nor have I ever visited DC"
      • wilcocola, on 11/17/2007, -1/+1actually I have three friends in the DC area whom I regularly visit, thanks for thinking you automatically know so much about me tho.
    • zeromancer, on 11/16/2007, -2/+3not to be racist, just pointing out statistics, but there's no way that guy is going to be questioned. he's white. sometimes i wish i weren't white just to see how much adversity different ethnic groups actually face in US. I may have just thought up my senior thesis....
  • Dissipate, on 11/16/2007, -3/+1I like these pictures. They depict what U.S. currency is really backed by: cabals of politicians.
  • ggnictee, on 11/16/2007, -2/+2dugg for use of the word neat. :)
    also the pics are cool.
    • CATSCEO, on 11/16/2007, -0/+1Que?
    • chesstwin, on 11/17/2007, -0/+1Yeah, its not FANTASTIC, or BEST EVER, or AMAZING, just neat,
      thanks
  • bloominoctober, on 11/16/2007, -2/+3This photographer is the bravest man alive. I don't have the courage to go around flashing $85 around all those homeless people.
  • afagen, on 11/16/2007, -6/+0Not that it's anywhere near as cool as the collage with the bills, I've done the $0.01 shot of a penny in front of the Lincoln Memorial:
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/afagen/475583943/
    • OrangeTide, on 11/16/2007, -0/+2Your penny shot isn't as cool as the one with bills, which is why we're digging you down.
  • MCCULLAH, on 11/16/2007, -5/+1photoshoped
  • brothervm, on 11/16/2007, -0/+0What would you do with the back of a $2 bill... have the Continental Congress looking in at a cage fight with Hilary and Obama?

    http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b1 ...
    • swicepick, on 11/17/2007, -0/+1Or you could get one of the older $2 bills with Monticello on the back, and go to Virginia to get the shot.

      For some reason, a president's private residence just wasn't as patriotic as the signing of the Declaration of Independence, I guess.
  • cusoman, on 11/16/2007, -0/+2Dugg just for not using "MUST SEE!", "AWESOME", or "AMAZING"
    • OrangeTide, on 11/16/2007, -0/+2AWESOME AMAZING MUST B SEEN 2 BELIEVE !!!
  • akkibaba, on 11/16/2007, -0/+3These photos are so neat, I'd go as far as to say that they're the bee's knees.
  • danwallace, on 11/16/2007, -0/+1Now which one of those is the cage where they keep that monstrous Abe Lincoln strapped to the chair so he won't kill again?
  • eNthem, on 11/17/2007, -0/+1Two thumbs up!!
  • gibbwake, on 11/17/2007, -1/+2Its not US currency, its Federal Reserve notes. The federal reserve isnt federal, its a privately run bank run by elitist bankers that own and control most of our politicians. Watch this for more information: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-515319560 ...
    • wakebrdr1, on 11/17/2007, -0/+0when will FEMA start rounding us up into their secret concentration camps?
  • CarlH2007, on 11/17/2007, -0/+4An interesting variation on this would be to cut out the buildings from the currency, and then take photos with the actual buildings filling the cut out space.
  • motravo, on 11/17/2007, -0/+1Yeah, that focus ring can be a bitch
  •  

    Login or register to add a comment

    Create a new account or login to join in the conversation on Digg. You'll also be able to Digg stories to help promote things you like.


© Digg Inc. 2008 — Content posted by Digg users is dedicated to the public domain.
DIGG, DIGG IT, DUGG, DIGG THIS, Digg graphics, logos, designs, page headers, button icons, scripts, and other service names are the trademarks of Digg Inc.