I am not going to say "Vegas Baby!"

[pjwarneka]

Hi everyone,

I am going to be in Vegas in July. yes, hot I know.

Staying at the MGM Grand, any tips of places to go to shoot some typical vegas shots AND some night shots. MGM seems to be in the middle of the strip, so is there one end of the strip that is more Photo friendly?

also where is the "Vegas" sign - you know the one.


Thanks,

Patrick

 

[alexf]

Any view from a high window is nice. The lighted signs at night are excellent subjects.

If you have a car, going downtown (not the best part of Vegas IMO) is nice for the old casinos, signs and the street show (The Fremont Experience).

IIRC the sign you are talking about is in the South side of the Strip, near the airport.

If you care to go out of town, I would strongly suggest a trip to Valley Of Fire State Park. Just an hour or so away on the NW side of Lake Mead. A gem to photograph.

 

[pjwarneka]

AlexF,

Thank you. I will take those tips with me. Coming from Downtown Chicago, I am used to shooting a lot of night lights, But I figured that in vegas there might be one view that is more visually appealing over another. It will be fun to shoot the town.

Patrick

 

[wbeem]

Right across the Strip from MGM is NYNY. I grabbed this shot from the sidewalk by Tropicana (across the other street from MGM).

Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

Another night shot is Luxor, with that intense beam of light coming from the top.

View attachment 96742

I usually stay at Hard Rock (not walking distance from MGM):

View attachment 96743

View attachment 96744

Go to the top of the Eiffel Tower just before sunset, as it may take some time to weed through the crowd to get one of the openings for a camera lens:

View attachment 96745

View attachment 96746

View attachment 96747

That's just a few things from the exterior. There are tons of opportunities inside the casinos, on the streets, day or night. It's a lot of hiking, though.

 

[hotrod4x5]

Depending on how much time you have and what you want to shoot, there is also Red Rocks, which is west of town on Charleston Ave. The light on the red rocks is best at sunset, which, due to the high mtns. happens about 45 mins before almanac time out there.

WBEEM, did they let you take a tripod to the top of the eiffel?

 

[Bill K]

If time permits I think the Hoover Dam is also nice to photograph, Not far from Vegas at all.

 

[fyrbolt]

Boy, there are so many places... not enough time.

The corner of Flamingo and LV blvd. is a good place. You have Bellagio, Caesars Palace there. Not too far is Paris, Mirage, Treasure Island, The Venitian...... BTW, if you look at the Mirage. Pay attention to the wings or extensions of the building. They reflect off one another creating a "mirage". It looks like you are seeing right through the building on to the rear wing of the building. Depending on the angle, as you pass the building, the reflection of the building blends in with the "real" wing. It really is neat. I think the actual "mirage" of the building is more visible from the freeway but can still be seen from the strip. Have fun in Vegas....

 

[hotrod4x5]

The Mirage effect is cool, I agree!

 

[fyrbolt]

here are a couple pictures from last night.

Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

 

[hotrod4x5]

Ray,those are cool. I'm in Vegas at the moment working with a local bank that is hanging some of my work in a few of their offices. Been here 2 weeks, been to VOF 3 times, Red Rocks 3 or 4 times and shot the strip from a distance (one of their specific requests along with VOF and RR) 5 different nights. I wish they wanted closeups of the casinos, because those are much easier than shooting the whole skyline from 10 miles away at the Red Rock parking garage!

 

[fyrbolt]

Thanks Rodney.

I am new to all this but I'm having a lot of fun. This forum has really helped me learn how to take decent pictures. I still have a lllloooonnnnngggg way to go. But at least I have some decent gear to start with. Funny, I used to be into golf. I was playing once a week of more and got down to a 5.6 hcp. My wife that I had totally lost it ). Now golf is taking a back seat to photography and my wife thinks I've gone overboard but this time on the other side of the boat..... I guess once I sink my teeth into it, I don't let go very easily, or at least I hang on to it for a while.

Anyway, have fun here in Vegas. I like it here, it's not all lights and slot machines. Post some pictures, will ya????

 

[PJohnP]

Patrick :


Well, it's nearly "ultimate geek", but think about Star Trek : The Experience at the Hilton. I stopped there when I was in LV for business a few years back, and it was a fun thing to do. Since then, they've added more to the show, but if you're a Trek fan, it's worth the stop.



John P.

 

[wbeem]

Depending on how much time you have and what you want to shoot, there is also Red Rocks, which is west of town on Charleston Ave. The light on the red rocks is best at sunset, which, due to the high mtns. happens about 45 mins before almanac time out there.

WBEEM, did they let you take a tripod to the top of the eiffel?

Sorry, I didn't see this until now. I didn't have my tripod with me on the Eiffel, but I did take a monopod without any issue. I doubt that a tripod would help, though. The top area is caged with only a few openings for cameras. It's generally very crowded up there, so people would trip all over your tripod.

I know the folks at the Strat wouldn't let me take the monopod up for sunset pictures. When I asked why, the lady told me it was a security risk and that I could hit someone with it. I asked her who I could hit up there that I couldn't hit down here, but that didn't help change her mind about using the monopod.

 

[RAURICK]

The tallest building in Vegas is the Stratosphere hotel. You can get a ticket to the top and get some great shots. The ticket is good for two visits so you can go once in the daytime and once at night. They don't allow tripods, but you can put your camera on top of one of the "pay" binoculars and get some steady shots. If you like thrill rides, they have three on the top of the building and two of them go over the edge! Not for the faint of heart!

http://www.stratospherehotel.com/

 

[fyrbolt]

Here is one more

Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

e.


Patrick... Did you go on your trip? Share some pictures.....