Photographing U.S. currency? Is it legal or not?

12 years 10 months ago #98515 by Martin
I have a pretty cool photo idea, but it does involve photographing some bills. What are the laws concerning photographing U.S. currency? Anyone know?


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12 years 10 months ago #98523 by MLKstudios
If memory serves me well, if you photograph it flat, it needs to be enlarged 150%, so as to not be confused with the real thing.

But, as soon as you "copy" a bill with a camera, you are on your way to counterfeiting in the eyes of the law.

HTH :)

Matthew L Kees
MLK Studios Photography School
www.MLKstudios.com
[email protected]
"Every artist, was once an amateur"

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12 years 10 months ago #98527 by Village Clown
I think as long as you are doing what ever with no intent to counterfeit, or it's clear piece of art of some sort. However I would stay away from full size individual shots.


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12 years 10 months ago #98551 by Screamin Scott
Just Googled it as you really need to be careful...Here's a link

desktoppub.about.com/od/scanninggraphics/a/money_usa.htm

Scott Ditzel Photography

www.flickr.com/photos/screaminscott/

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12 years 10 months ago #98555 by chasrich
Here is an idea... Use counterfeit money for the project.

Find some of these real looking/fake $1,000,000.00 bills I've seen in handouts and use those. Certainly not an intent to make a bad bill from that. Also be sure to ask for a jury trial! :rofl:


“Amateurs worry about equipment, professionals worry about money, masters worry about light, I just make pictures… ” ~ Vernon Trent
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12 years 10 months ago #98559 by DestinDave
I'm sure a lot depends on the final image too.. here's something I worked up a few years back for a web page about Payment Information..

Obviously no intent for illegal activity here..

Dave Speicher
I thought I wanted a career.. turns out I only wanted paychecks.
dlspeicher.zenfolio.com

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12 years 10 months ago #98861 by Joves
Well the problem isnt so much with the photographing it, as it is with the printing of it. Printing the bill in actual size is a no no.


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12 years 10 months ago #99047 by Village Clown

DestinDave wrote: I'm sure a lot depends on the final image too.. here's something I worked up a few years back for a web page about Payment Information..


Obviously no intent for illegal activity here..


Exactly, it depends on the final image. Nice job Dave


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12 years 10 months ago #99401 by Garbo
As stated, I would just stay clear of 1/1 size match. I think currencies can make great photos, especially some of the colorful European bills.

Nikon D300: 24-70 2.8 | 70-200 2.8 VR |Sigma 150 2.8 | 50 1.4 | SB-800
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12 years 10 months ago #103112 by Jerry1
I used a $20 bill to check the focus of a lens and when I tried to open it in PS Elements9 the program told me that it cannot open photos of currency. I could open it in Imagebrowser to view it but DPP wouldn't open it. So, apparently, at least in my software, you cannot open an image of currency and manipulate it. btw, I wasn't trying to manipulate it, only tried those two programs first to check on lens focus. Guess I had better find something else to check focus with.


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