Significant architecture in Las Vegas?

[haefnerphoto]

I'm flying in and out of Las Vegas on my way to Death Valley, soon after Thanksgiving, and in addition to shooting landscapes thought I'd shoot some architectural samples in Las Vegas.  Any suggestions?  Thanks, Jim

[Peter McLennan]

The night lights are incredible - the creative possibilities limitless.  If you have a newer, high ISO camera, you won't need a tripod, although shooting with one on the street is not a problem if you're not blocking traffic. The sound and light show in "Downtown" LV is worth a visit - take a cab from The Strip.  If you're brave, like shooting "street" and have a companion for security, the Las Vegas bus station is quite amazing. 

Photography inside the casinos is forbidden (although I have no idea how they enforce this with the advent of cellphone cameras) but the various hotel interiors are amazing. The Venetian is fun indoors, as are the Forum Shops inside Caesars Palace.  Shooting these indoor locations will take a little more creativity since a tripod will probably attract the security cops. 

As for shooting on the street in daylight.  Forget it. LV loses most of its glamour by day.

Have fun in Death Valley.  Be sure to visit Dante's View.

[SecondFocus]

The structure of the Fremont Street Experience is pretty unique and interesting unto itself even when you get away from the night time spectacular nature of it. During the day it might lend itself to some interesting photography.

http://www.vegasexperience.com/

[bcooter]

CityPlace.

I assume you want to work to the level you show so this is probably the place.   It's very modern. 

Spend about an hour walking around it and scout it.   Has a lot of architecture as art installations that change with the day and the light.   

Mid Afternoon like 4 to 5 it's not hugely full, or very early morning, when everyone's asleep.  (though it probably will be busier this time of year as we were their in August).

Don't know their policy on tripods but like all of Vegas, everyone has a camera around there neck so almost any dslr and any lens will probably not garner too much attention.
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Foundation Room House Of Blues (their private club) on the top floor of Mandalay bay.

Probably the best overhead view of the strip at night, other than with a Helicopter.   

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BC

[TorontoSam]

This is my first post.  Nice to meet you all.  Thanks to Michael & Christopher of 'The Luminous Landscape' for assisting me to set up this account quickly when I had encountered a problem.

I was in Las Vegas earlier this year and set up my tripod for many of the night shots.  Police did not bother me.  I guess as long as you are not blocking traffic.

Bellagio Fountain is a good spot.  It is just right in front of the Bellagio hotel.  Good luck.

Sam

[haefnerphoto]

Thanks everyone for the suggestions!  Glad to hear that tripods don't create any issues also.  BC, I was planning to stay at Aria (at City Center), a friend of mine designed the exterior lighting for the complex and it sounds fantastic.  How about significant residential, educational or museum structures, does anything come to mind?  TorontoSam, nice shot of the fountains too!  Jim

[rainer_v]

if you want modern not-kitsch architecture look to the citycenter from MGM at the center of the strip. i just was shooting there the two VEER towers, very nice buildings. aside is a building with shopping mall from liebeskind , esp. the interiors of it are great ,  as well as the vdara hotel  which is behind the aria hotel, you have to cross the casino in the aria to come to the vdara. the bellagio aside the aria has very nice interiors. beside the liebeskind building is a small foster tower with a very elegant surface. this all is a 8 bln dollar complex. the most expensive recently built in the us, so go there.

btw. the vdara behind the aria has nicer rooms than the aria and better price cause no casino in it, so its more for business travellers. you get great modern suites  with very nice city views for affortable prices.

[Kirk Gittings]

Jim,


I do commercial shoots regularly in Vegas. I frankly hate the strip-personal taste perhaps. Vegas is now actively encouraging "real" (IMO) architecture. To me one of the best examples is the Gehry Cleveland Clinic: Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health and other buildings in that immediate area. A couple more on my blog:
http://kirkgittingsphotography.blogspot.com/2010/08/simply-for-love-of-architecture-gehry.html
or at UNLV main campus-just off the strip:

[Rob C]

Kirk, now I really do believe that the US doesn't do irony very well.

I refer, of course, to the Bilbao gallery masquerading as a Brain Health Centre: can you imagine the state of mind of any possible patient entering, nay, approaching that construction?

On second thoughts, maybe the US does both irony and subliminal compulsion/marketing very well, and both at the same time!

Puts a whole new meaning to 'Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas'!

The photograph, of course, is excellent, and offers visual reassurance via the two verticals at the edges; they were verticals, weren't they...?

;-)

Rob C

[haefnerphoto]

Jim,


I do commercial shoots regularly in Vegas. I frankly hate the strip-personal taste perhaps. Vegas is now actively encouraging "real" (IMO) architecture. To me one of the best examples is the Gehry Cleveland Clinic: Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health and other buildings in that immediate area. A couple more on my blog:
http://kirkgittingsphotography.blogspot.com/2010/08/simply-for-love-of-architecture-gehry.html
or at UNLV main campus-just off the strip:

Kirk, The Gehry building is just the kind of structure I was hoping to find.  Between that and City Center I should be able to get something of use.  Many thanks, Jim

[Kirk Gittings]

If your brain wasn't twisted before you get there, it sure might be before you leave...........

[Dan Wells]

In terms of photography restrictions, I was in Vegas for a conference recently, and brought no camera except my D3x (which I had for doing some landscapes in the desert before and after). I actually managed some shots inside the casinos (watching out for security and using a wide angle lens, often without bringing camera to eye) with that beast... The only place I found a meaningfully enforced restriction was inside the Titanic exhibit (and even there, I bet I could have slipped a compact camera in pretty easily - I just didn't have one on me!). I found it REALLY ironic that Vegas has an (excellent) exhibit on the Titanic! If there's one place where the Titanic's lessons are unlearned, it's Las Vegas!!!


                          -Dan