Las Vegas is a photographer’s dream assignment, at least for photographers who are attracted to colored neon signs, bright lights, and an imaginary, make-believe world. This city in the desert is resplendent in its sequined costumes and gem-studded necklaces of sparkling light.
It has the audacity to re-create the glory that was Rome (Caesars Palace), the dynastic majesty of ancient Egypt (The Luxor), the spirited sea battles of the Caribbean (Treasure Island), and then top it all off by having a volcano erupt every 15 minutes after dusk at the Mirage.
Photographers either hate it or love it. Environmentalists and nature photographers cringe at the teeming crowds along the strip, the hype, the glitz of commercialism and, what they call, the decadence of Babylon.
These purists, however, can have it all. A 15-minute drive delivers them into the solitude of the desert and none can forget the glory of a sunrise at Red Rock Canyon. For us, we have a hidden switch under our photo vests. Pushing this switch changes us into the “shoot glitz” mode and we’re ready to shoot Las Vegas from dawn until midnight.
Every photographer who comes to Las Vegas is eager to bring back good pictures of the dazzling lights in Glitter Gulch or along the strip, but they often are disappointed in the results. We can offer basic guidelines and sound advice for taking real prize winners of the fanciful neon and colored lights in this city of chance.
To get some of the best shots of this city, you’ll want to be at the corner of Third and Fremont Streets in what is nicknamed “Glitter Gulch” about 6:30 p.m. The neon lights in Las Vegas don’t all come on at the same time, to prevent a crippling power surge. They do, however, come on within 10 or 15 minutes of each other and they are usually all on while there is still ambient light in the sky.
Moving down Fremont, toward Casino Center, with a wide-angle lens, you’ll have a chance to experiment with some of the world’s flashiest neon displays.
First, select a daylight type film, even though you will be shooting after sundown. Surprisingly, we also recommend a relatively slow-speed color film of about ISO 100. We frequently use Ektachrome Lumiere 100 or Fujichrome 100 for night shots. The secret for sharp night pictures of city lights is to always use a tripod and a fairly slow shutter speed with your lens closed down to about f/5.6 for maximum sharpness.
A cable release will ensure that your images are free of any motion blur caused by pushing down on the shutter button. Set your camera in the aperture priority mode and let the built-in meter automatically select the shutter speed for your f/5.6 aperture.
To guarantee at least one perfect exposure, we suggest bracketing your exposure with a +1 setting and a -1 setting. Try putting a person in the foreground and do a time-exposure shot of the bright colorful neons, using a brief burst from your electronic flash while the shutter is open to highlight your model without losing the background.
Most photographers on vacation in Las Vegas will want to shoot pictures of people playing slot machines and at the gaming tables, but unfortunately this is strictly against casino rules. Do not take photographs without the authorization of the casino’s public relations office.
There are short side trips from Las Vegas that you should not miss if you can rent a car. At sunrise, try to be in the Valley of Fire State Park, where the oblique rays of light catch grotesque red rock formations and throw twisted shadows. In the higher desert toward the mountains are the Joshua trees, gnarled and ancient and patiently waiting for your camera. The Red Rock Recreation Area, 18 miles west of Las Vegas, has magnificent light on pictographs and petroglyphs until 3 p.m.
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For more information about Las Vegas, contact: Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, 702-892-0711.
