Hello to all!!

Im new to this forum and this is my first post!

Im just a serious amateur to photography and still in the learning process.

I will like to get some advice and tips from you for shooting in Las Vegas.

I currently have a Nikon D70, Nikon F80, nikon 18-70mm 'kit' lens, nikon 50mm f/1.8, nikon 70-210mm, Sigma 70-300mm APO, and nikon SB-800. Also a bogen/manfrotto 3001BD tripod and a manfrotto 680B monopod.

Also, do anyone here still shoot films? Any recommendation on films to use? I still have a few Fuji Sensia and Kodak Elite Chrome yet unexposed.

Thanks in advance! I hope I can be part of this new forum community!!

Just got back from Vegas (Utah mostly) There are plenty of places around Vegas.
I went to Valley of Fire (about 41 miles north northeast on route 15) Turn at route 169

Plenty of red rock formations to shoot. Saw a great sunset in the valley on Sunday evening.

Welcome to the forum Yi-P.

What kind of shooting are you going to do in Vegas and where? Street photography on the street, Street photography in the casinos (very fun), or landscapes in the surrounding area?

Daniel, when you say street photography in casinos...now street I asume is outside...but casinos will be inside no? Can you do that in Vegas?
I have been there maybe 15 times and last time they stop me special where you play/casinos of taking photos...Some security reason

Thaks
BlasR

Shooting inside the casinos can be sketchy. I had the chance to do so last time I was in Vegas a couple years ago and it was a hoot. I did some shooting of people but mostly focused on the interesting architecture and design. I never got stopped or questioned by security although I've heard of people being hassled quite frequently when shooting.

I think it all depends on how you do it and where. they actually do allow you to shoot in vegas for tourism reasons and are particularly lax about it in the shopping venues. Many of the bulbs actually are daylight balanced so pictures from P&S cameras look better.

The actual casino portion is where they tend to have problems. They're a little more on edge when you are shooting around black-jack tables and the like with dealers. I think they're afraid you are trying to work the system somehow. Some dealers have no problem with you taking their picture (one guy joked that I was hired by his ex-wife to spy on him...) some anal-rententive types will tell you it's "illegal." You just have to keep it casual, unobtrusive and leisurely (space out your shooting some).

When I was there, I was with friends and gambling/drinking occasionally too which I think helped in some places. If I arrived on my own with a camera bag and a monopod (which I wish I had) I'm sure they would have stopped me cold.

Thanks for that info! I will sure look forward for a chance to get there! Is there any special places to shot inside the valley? I take route 15 north from Vegas and turn EAST on Route 169, exit on Valley of Fire? I havent been there, but could you indicate where exactly to head out and good places to park and take pics?

Did you go in daylight time (mid-day to afternoon)? Because I am not sure if I will be able to stay for sunset there.




Mostly, street photography of the architecture on the outside, plenty of lights and colors to fill a frame. Some partially on landscapes of the deserts and surrounding area. Im afraid to shoot inside the casino for getting stopped by those securities.



Thanks for sharing this, but I still have a doubt on shooting inside the casino or not, because a big and black camera is always noticeable when you hold it up 'aiming' at something. And people mostly get paranoid because it is a "big 'n black camera".

Valley of Fire info

after turning on 169 (exit 75) you go a few miles to the entrance to the park.

You can take a sunrise shot right there by the sign (first sign of Valley of Fire).

Also during sunrise or sunset you can go to visitors center go to road that goes around and up. After passing Rainbow area count three parking lots to the left.

Walk across the road and there will be plenty of opportunities for images, including panoramics.

One of the best images I got was at sunset at the east end of the park.
The fee station looking toward lake Mead. Great light that night.

There are several formations, including the Elephant and many others.

I only spent and evening and morning there. light is everything.

Awesome sight but can be difficult to compose an interesting image.

I have attempted to attach a couple from there

Best of luck

Red Rock Canyon, immediately south of LV is worth a visit. Good scenery, easy access. It's about ten or twenty minutes south on I-15, as I recall.

A day trip to Death Valley is doable from LV if you leave early and drive fast.

P

It is certainly doable in a day, I'm just not so sure I'd recommend doing it. DV is beautiful, right around sunrise and sunset. The rest of the time it is a rocky, barren, unphotogenic sort of place. It would a long round trip to be there for the worst light

Another strong vote for the Valley of Fire. Click to view attachmentClick to view attachmentClick to view attachment

I've been to Vegas many times and rarely had problems shooting in casinos. However I did get bothered by security at New York New York, so watch it there. I tried to blend in, gamble, drink and nail a few shots. I think if you use common sense you won't have many problems.
Venetian • Las Vegas • Canon EOS 10D, EF 17-40 4L USM, EF 430EX Speedlite, ISO 100, 29mm, F4@1/60

Yet another vote for Valley of Fire. I was there about 3 years ago and will be going to Vegas and VOF again in a couple of weeks (May 11-14). I got some great stuff when I was there the first time (those files are ona different hard drive, so I can't post any right now). And, at least when I was there before (in Feb. I believe), it wasn't crowded at all; you really get some solitude to focus on shooting.

I shot at Vegas very briefly, all night shots. They came out beautifully. There's a foot bridge right near the bellagio that crosses over the main strip road, set up a tripod and shot some nice pictures with all the neon lights. I have that framed on my wall with a similar shot in NYC.

I plan to go back to vegas this september the 10th through the 17th. Am going to take a trip to Zion National Park because I heard the landscape photography is incredible and to be honest... seven days in sin city, I'll need a break to recooperate midweek.

Well, since the OP was in Jan I don't know if this thread should still be active but I'll add my 2cents just in case others are interested.


I've been in the LV area now for about 9 months and I can say this is NOT the place to be out between mid May and late September due to the heat. We have typically a hundred days or more above 100F degrees and many days above 110F so hiking around during this time can be dangerous.

That said, LV has a lot to offer photographers. Within the city there's the strip of course, but to see what NV has to offer you really need to get out of town. The closest locations are Hoover Dam and Red Rock Canyon and these are both great places if the weather is OK. My personal favorite location in the LV area is VOF (Valley of Fire) and though it's about 60 miles from LV it has many multi-colored formations that I haven't seen anywhere else.

And, a bit further away we have Death Valley (110 miles), Zion NP (200 miles), Grand Canyon (about 300 miles to the villiage on the south rim), Mono Lake and Yosemite (say, 350 miles).

In fact, were it not for the fact that LV is too hot for too much of the year it would be a nearly ideal place to start/end a photo tour.


Brian

Hi Yi-P,
shooting in Vegas is great. Shooting inside the casinos can be a lot of fun too. But don't be surprised if the punters and/or security don't agree! So try to avoid confrontations: be as unobtrusive as possible. Don't make it look as if you are taking pictures. So a biiiiig dSLR is not recommended! A point & shoot cam with an articulated LCD screen – so that you don't have to be seen peering through a viewfinder! – is much, much better!

Have fun in Vegas, Yi-P.