Photograph suggestions in Las Vegas.?

Question

I'm a photography student in LV. Just looking for suggestions on good things places to shoot. This is my first photo assignment and I just need some interesting things in and around vegas.

Gryph Thanks for the insulting and condescending answer! I just wanted a few ideas to get me started. I understand there things to shoot here. just thought somone might have a unique spot or idea. You must be a frustrated photographer to have an attitude like that. Next time don't bother.

Edwin,
Thanks for the wealth of information and the time you took to outline it. I will certainly add it to my notes to keep. I'm currently shooting Digital for this class, but I do also shoot film. B/W I like the feel of the developing process it connects you to the history. E-mail me I'd love to see your work.

Answer 1

How about a day on the Strip? Shoot from first light until dark. After dark, time exposures to show all the garish lights.
If your camera allows you to make multiple exposures (your Owner's Manual will tell you) try a few. To get the exposure correct you'll have to use the EV setting on your camera. For a double exposure use EV -1; for a triple exposure, use EV - 1 1/2; for 4 exposures use EV -2. If you're using a film camera without an EV compensation just multiply your ISO by the number of exposures you want to make on a single frame. (From ISO 200 to 400 for a double exposure.) Visit AIRC-Adorama Imaging Resource Center for more information on a variety of topics.

For time exposures you'll need to be in full Manual Mode so you can make the exposure settings, a tripod and a mechanical cable release unless your camera allows you to set shutter speeds up to - or longer than - 15 seconds. If you can set a 15 second shutter speed you can use your cameras self-timer.

From my always dependable FotoSharp (fotosharp.com) "Day & Night Exposure Guide" lets look at 'City skyline in the distance' and see what it says based on using ISO 200:

At f4, 8 sec.
At f8, 15 sec.
At f11, 30 sec.

If you can find a vantage point overlooking a busy highway with Vegas in the background you'll get really cool "light trails". Headlights will be white streaks, taillights will be red streaks - with Vegas properly exposed in the background.

I've set up my tripod in the front seat of my car, mounted a camera with a motor drive and a 28mm wide angle lens set at f8, with the lens as close to the windshield as possible, set my shutter on "B", a long cable release and driven around at night making 15 second exposures on ISO 200 film. If its recently rained all the better.

flickr.com/photos/8184104@N06

Answer 2

Congratulations! We've just got back from getting married there ourselves and we had a great time. We chose to get married on the Bellagio Terrace overlooking the lake - an extremely pretty spot, and they did a fantastic job for us. The fountains play for you at the end of the wedding, and the photographs look just amazing. However, I did a lot of research before we chose there, and in terms of the hotels, I also found the Venetian, Luxor and Excalibur very helpful, and they also have lovely chapels (and other venues) to get married in. In terms of independent chapels, Little Chapel of the Flowers, Graceland Wedding Chapel and Little Church of the West really stood out from the crowd for me. It depends how much you want to spend and what's important to you for your wedding, but the website below lets you search every wedding package in Vegas by cost and traditional/themed ceremony, and has details of every chapel and wedding venue in the city. Also, I'd suggest you buy the book 'Neon Nuptials' available via Amazon which has very honest reviews of every chapel. For our reception, we chose Mon Ami Gabi at the Paris Hotel - it has great views of the Bellagio fountains, a fixed price menu to help with budgeting, and the food and service were wonderful. Highly recommended. Another good venue for not-too-expensive food and large party facilities is Voodoo Lounge at the Rio. Again, the website below lets you search all reception venues in Vegas with fixed price menus by cost and cuisine. Have a fantastic time!

Answer 3

Yea go to the mirage where they have the water fall or ceasrs palace walk around the outside of some of the casinos and take some of the statues and surounding area I have some really good pictures of statues around the casino area!!i was just there not to long ago on my honeymoon!!

Answer 4

At risk of sounding rude...but YOUR IN LAS VEGAS!!!

There is an infinite amount of things to take pictures of in Vegas. If you can't find something to shoot, then you might want to drop photography all together and maybe take up basket weaving instead.