Las Vegas

  1. Night at the Hard Rock Cafe

    This shot was taken at the Hard Rock Cafe last time I was in Vegas. (Few months ago now) I really wanted to do more photography around town but had a sinus infection I was still battling. When I took this photo I was actually waiting for dinner reservations so I was just standing around with not much to do. Next to me I saw the Hard Rock Cafe and thought it might be cool to get a long exposure with the lights of the traffic streaking across. 

    I think I need to plan another trip to Las Vegas this winter while it's still nice and cold.

    Today's Photo

    Hard Rock Cafe Las VegasNight photo of the Hard Rock Cafe on the stip in Vegas. Taken with a long shutter as the lights from a bus streaked across.

  3. Mud Jeep

    Submitted by on

    This little masterpiece is a great example why you should always take your camera with you everywhere. I was filling up with gas and taking a break on my way back from Utah when this thing pulled up. I've never in my life seen more dirt on a truck than this. I guess there is some great mud holes in Las Vegas this time of year. The owner was nice enough to let me take some photos. Apparently this is actually the accumulation of two layers of mud from two different off-roading trips. 

    HDR Photo, Mud Truck, Las Vegas

  4. Monte Carlo Fountain - Las Vegas

    Submitted by on

    I've been MIA a few days but I'm back! Posting from hotels is a pain. Today I'm out in Williams Arizona and the Internet here is at least usable. Last night I was in Las Vegas at the Monte Carlo. You'd think I'd have internet there but it wasn't working. Anyway.

    This photo is from the fountain in front of the Monte Carlo. I went out and took a few photos while I was grabbing an overpriced only decent Mexican dinner at Diablo's. I didn't get a chance to give the city a full photography run like I wanted which is a bummer. I was feeling sick and wanted to make sure to get some rest before going to the Grand Canyon and Horseshoe Canyon. I've been to Las Vegas 258,000 times so I'll just have to take some more cool photos of the city next time I'm there. 

    This photo I used a slightly different treatment than what I usually do. I used a process in Photomatix called Exposure Fusion. It was the only way really to get all these colors and exposures to really line up with each other. Tonemapping sort of created some nasty artifacts and grain in the sky as well as in the highlights. I just couldn't get it to look right without the bad HDR glowing look. I'm pretty happy with this exposure fusion method though. I made a preset and will definitely be playing with it some more, especially with Night HDR where the sky is usually black. I really like the unusual look it gave to this photo. Kind of looks like a painting. 

    Monte Carlo Fountain, Las Vegas