Las Vegas 2nd week of May -- Any suggestions?

[Photographica]

I'm going to Las Vegas the 2nd week of May for a conference and I was able to plan my trip so I will have a day and a half free. I'm arriving Saturday mid-afternoon and will be free until Monday morning.

I have two questions:

1. The most obvious is for this time of year, where should I go? I will be either taking my Hasselblad or my 4x5 -- not likely both. I suspect there might be some areas with Spring flowers this time of year.. I just don't know.

2. If I do take my 4x5, what would you suggest I do about my film. Can I buy sheet film on Saturday afternoon in Vegas? If not, has anyone had any experience shipping film to a Vegas hotel to wait for my arrival?

Thanks for any suggestions,
Bill

 

[Aggie]

Valley of Fire just North of Town, Anything right on the Colorado River Near the downstream part of the damn, and just crazy people on the sidewalks. BTW Bill I live close to Vegas now.

 

[bill schwab]

Valley of Fire just North of Town...

I second that. Take the 4x5. Hotel delivery will work fine, I do it all the time.

 

[Nikki]

For sheet film, you can try either Casey's camera on Tropicana Ave. or Sahara Camera. Caseys will be closer to you I think but either place will have sheet film. Though I would recommend calling to see what they carry.

Dont forget to gamble, please!

 

[Markauf]

Red Rock Canyon is on of my favorite spots. It's about a 20-30 minute drive from "the Strip". Here's a "holga-eye"view.
Mark


.

 

[Photographica]

Great suggestions ... Valley of fire and Red Rock Canyon!

I'll check into Casey's too.

I think I might try shipping film to the Hotel (and carry some as well). I don't know what trouble I'm going to run into with the airline and sheet film, but As a backup, I can try the local camera supply, and with the encouraging experience of shipping to the hotel, I should end up with film.

Thanks to all! This should be a fun trip.
Bill

 

[noseoil]

Don't forget the best time to do the strip, at night. Take a roll or two of tungsten film and set up where you can. It's fun and worth the effort. tim

(there was a url link here which no longer exists)

 

[eclarke]

Great suggestions ... Valley of fire and Red Rock Canyon!

I'll check into Casey's too.

I think I might try shipping film to the Hotel (and carry some as well). I don't know what trouble I'm going to run into with the airline and sheet film, but As a backup, I can try the local camera supply, and with the encouraging experience of shipping to the hotel, I should end up with film.

Thanks to all! This should be a fun trip.
Bill

Casey's has a good supply of quickloads and readyloads. Death Valley is not that far. I go to Las Vegas a couple of times a year for work and I always go out there, usually as a 1 day trip...Evan

 

[BWKate]

Cool holga shot, Mark!

I'm going to Las Vegas from March 27th until March 31st to photograph the surrealness that is Vegas. Got an appointment to have a tour of the Boneyard, the Neon sign graveyard. I have similar worries with my 35mm B&W Infrared film and the airlines. My friend and I are going to rent a car and drive out to the Hoover Dam as well. Should be fun!

BWKate

 

[BWKate]

I also hope to meet fellow apug member Dave Wooten when my friend and I are in Vegas. It's always great to meet other apug members when travelling. It's a trend I hope to continue.

BWKate

 

[noseoil]

Kate, Dave and I got together for a little while on my recent visit last year. He's an interesting man who truly loves photography. I think you will enjoy sharing some time with him. Take along a few prints of your work to discuss. Certainly worth a few hours to jaw and visit. Best, tim

 

[Markauf]

Cool holga shot, Mark!

I'm going to Las Vegas from March 27th until March 31st to photograph the surrealness that is Vegas. Got an appointment to have a tour of the Boneyard, the Neon sign graveyard. I have similar worries with my 35mm B&W Infrared film and the airlines. My friend and I are going to rent a car and drive out to the Hoover Dam as well. Should be fun!

BWKate

Thanks!

You should have no worries with HEI and the airlines. Infrared are on the opposite end of the spectrum from x-rays.
Have fun!
Mark

 

[BWKate]

Mark,
Are you saying that the Kodak Hie 35mm Infrared should be fine with X-Rays???
Are you absolutely sure? Because that would be a great relief to me.

I really want to purchase a Holga now and it's all APUGs fault!

The reason I want to know about the X-Rays is because I'm also going to China and going to shoot HIE.


Tim,
Looking forward to meeting Dave in Vegas. He likes to shoot night stuff and so do I.
I would also love to meet Aggie but maybe another time. Any APUG member who travels to Victoria I like to say hello to and let them in on some local spots they might like to visit or recommend.

BWKate

 

[Aggie]

I would also love to meet Aggie but maybe another time.
BWKate

Why another time? It is only a 90 minute drive for me. I go down periodically to hit bookstores and such. Just let me know when you are in town and I can be there. I have found a few ghost towns in the area I want to go back too.

 

[Markauf]

Mark,
Are you saying that the Kodak Hie 35mm Infrared should be fine with X-Rays???
Are you absolutely sure? Because that would be a great relief to me.

I really want to purchase a Holga now and it's all APUGs fault!

The reason I want to know about the X-Rays is because I'm also going to China and going to shoot HIE.


BWKate

I can only say that I've never had a problem with HEI and x-rays. However, you don't want to request a hand check for the Infrared because security WILL open the canister.
Mark

PS - You'll have a blast with the Holga!

 

[roteague]

Mark,
Are you saying that the Kodak Hie 35mm Infrared should be fine with X-Rays???

As Mark stated, Infrared is at the other end of the spectrum from x-rays, visible light is in the middle of the two.

 

[BWKate]

Robert,

So I should just keep the Kodak Hie in my camera bag that will be x-rayed and I should be fine? I know that if they hand inspected they would try to open the cannisters and that's not an option. I will also have my dark bag with me.
Thanks for the advice everyone.

Aggie,

Are you serious? I just didn't want to trouble you to drive so far! I would love to meet you. My friend Carley Clifford and I will be staying at the Sahara from the evening of March 27th until the morning of March 31st.

BWKate

 

[roteague]

So I should just keep the Kodak Hie in my camera bag that will be x-rayed and I should be fine? I know that if they hand inspected they would try to open the cannisters and that's not an option. I will also have my dark bag with me.

You should not have any problems. I would just leave the film in the bag.

 

[Aggie]

NP Kate, it gives me an excuse to go down and go shopping. I can also go with you and do some street shooting at night. Safety when you have someone like me along that can scare the sh*t out of people just by giving my patented "MOM" look.

 

[cdholden]

My friend and I are going to rent a car and drive out to the Hoover Dam as well. Should be fun!

BWKate

If you don't have a fear of heights, make sure to stop at the Fiesta Casino (I think that was the name of it) on your way out. Right next to it is a helicopter service. Do the helicopter ride over the dam. It's amazing on foot, but even more from the air!
Chris

 

[BWKate]

NP Kate, it gives me an excuse to go down and go shopping. I can also go with you and do some street shooting at night. Safety when you have someone like me along that can scare the sh*t out of people just by giving my patented "MOM" look.

Okay Aggie,

I'm taking you up on that offer! I know Carley wants to do some night shooting and safety in numbers is a good idea.
I will PM you before I leave.

Photographica:

I hope you have fun shooting 4x5. That Red Rock Canyon sounds like a good place to start shooting at.

BWKate

 

[Photographica]

Okay Aggie,

Photographica:

I hope you have fun shooting 4x5. That Red Rock Canyon sounds like a good place to start shooting at.

BWKate

Thanks Kate.

I hope you get to meet up with Aggie. She's a neat person! We met in Ca. Aggie took me to Nappa Valley to a cool mill for some good shooting. On the way back, she suggested we make a quick stop at the Mumm winnery where they had the most Ansel Adams' prints on exhibit I've ever seen in one place. I couldn't stop talking about it for a month.

Bill

 

[Photographica]

Don't forget the best time to do the strip, at night. Take a roll or two of tungsten film and set up where you can. It's fun and worth the effort. tim

(there was a url link here which no longer exists)

Great suggestion Tim! I was thinking more about the desert... city shots hadn't even entered my mind.

Thanks,
Bill

 

[Photographica]

Thanks to all for great ideas!!!!! I'll have to remind myself the real reason, I'm going out there is for work....Bill

 

[donbga]

Valley of Fire just North of Town, Anything right on the Colorado River Near the downstream part of the damn, and just crazy people on the sidewalks. BTW Bill I live close to Vegas now.

The Valley of Fire is a great place to spend the day. The road in isn't marked very well but just keep going until you get to the park entrance. Be sure to take some color film as the rocks do catch fire at sunset. Also lots of petroglyphs. Watch out for rattlers and don't feed the ground squirrels as they will quickly become pests. There is an old movie set somewhere towards the back of the park which you can hike to on the way to the sand dunes. I was carrying a 60 lb. pack the last time I was there so allow yourself plenty of time for the hike in and out and be sure to take some water and high energy snacks.


Don Bryant

P.S. When you get to the turn off to VOF there will be a little casino and store at the road entrance on the left, don't take photos there as they may want to take your camera. I actually saw this happen to a group of young girls who happened to take a snap shot inside the store. What jerks!