the other Vegas (8 big pics)

the other Vegas (8 big pics) · 09:13 PM

Decided to see the other side of Vegas beyond the neon, faux architecture, and clang-clang-clang of the casinos. Not only did I return with more money in my pocket, but personally I found it to be more rewarding. Just got back, so still have more pics to go through, but here are some of the ones I've done so far (I think some of the pics are a bit overdone - my laptop screen looks a lot different from my other screen at home, so I'll have to redo a few

)

Red Rocks Canyon

a library

another picture of a library (tried to straighten the foreground pole... should I do the door instead???)

Dam!!

the Springs Reserve (very cool place imo)

**mike.hiran** · 03-06-2009, 01:05 PM

Originally posted by juanraortiz

Fantastic series. All the pictures are great, but the first one is impressive, a PPG member for sure. Viva Las Vegas!!

Thanks much! I still want to see if I can make the foreground bush a bit more vibrant... looks like a good chance for me to learn how to use layers.

Originally posted by daacon

Well done - for all the times I have been to Vegas I have yet to venture too far off the strip - this year that is my plan. I love #1 what a shot.

I've been meaning to go for a while too... at first this trip was going to be a mix of gambling and scenery, but I was so struck by it, I devoted the rest of the trip to the outdoors. And this time of year was perfect... highs of 70's, lows in the high 40's. In a couple weeks, there might have been more cactus blooms though... those flowers are amazing!

Originally posted by axl

nice series, but the first one steals the show....
BR

Thanks much!

Originally posted by kenemore

I really like all of them, but #1 and #4 are my favorite. Gotta love vegas.

Hoover Dam was very nice too... took the long tour and it was pretty interesting. I wish I could have stayed to see a sunset there, but had to go. Thanks for commenting!

**mike.hiran** · 03-06-2009, 01:58 PM

Originally posted by drmartin

Magnificent landscape!

It really is incredible at Red Rocks and the Valley of Fire... I could spend weeks there getting to hike all the different trails.

Originally posted by scott-devon

Very nice, I've been kicking myself for not getting out to Red Rock Canyon on my one trip to Vegas. It looks beautiful.

If you do go, go early in the day... very few people and the light is much better too. I would say sunsets would be amazing too, but if you're up a trail, the dark could make getting back a bit difficult

Originally posted by xs400

I like'em. Excellent colors. Well done.

Thanks! But getting back to Portland was very nice too... seeing lots of green around seems much more soothing.

Originally posted by sawtooth235

I agree with number 1 and 4 being my favorites as well.

Nice series.

Ray

Thanks much!

Originally posted by Jimbo

WOW.. nothing else to add. JIM

Thanks a lot Jim!

**mike.hiran** · 03-07-2009, 01:11 AM

The post processing continues... here's a couple more.

gawan · 03-07-2009, 01:09 PM

Great series! I like them all, but the first and the last ones in the first set are my absolute favourites!

rfortson · 03-07-2009, 01:43 PM

Wonderful shots! The first one is stunning. I really like the colors and saturation. The shots of the dam are nice as well (being an engineer, I love dams anyway). Great shots!

Damn Brit · 03-07-2009, 05:14 PM

Stunning is the right word for that first shot. Excellent series.

KrisK10D · 03-07-2009, 05:50 PM

Great idea getting away from the strip. I imagine we've all seen the neon before

As with most folks, I've fallen for the first and last shots in the first series. Fantastic exposures! The landscape is sharp as a tack and the colours are simply beautiful. The texture of the last and the lines featured throughout are fabulous. I would love to use it as a background texture on a poster

**mike.hiran** · 03-08-2009, 01:03 AM

Originally posted by gawan

Great series! I like them all, but the first and the last ones in the first set are my absolute favourites!

Thanks; glad you liked them!

Originally posted by rfortson

Wonderful shots! The first one is stunning. I really like the colors and saturation. The shots of the dam are nice as well (being an engineer, I love dams anyway). Great shots!

You would have loved the tour of the generators and the air vents down in the depths of the dam too... I'm no engineer, but found the engineering solutions needed for something of this scale fascinating. Thanks for mentioning the color and saturation... the pictures I posted so far were the ones that I thought were ok in this regard (except for the last pic of the 2nd set... thought I'd play with the cross processing feature a bit).

Originally posted by Damn Brit

Stunning is the right word for that first shot. Excellent series.

Thanks much... Red Rocks is a stunning place and I got lucky with the clouds. Really a perfect place for people who like to shoot wide, which I do.

Originally posted by KrisK10D

Great idea getting away from the strip. I imagine we've all seen the neon before

As with most folks, I've fallen for the first and last shots in the first series. Fantastic exposures! The landscape is sharp as a tack and the colours are simply beautiful. The texture of the last and the lines featured throughout are fabulous. I would love to use it as a background texture on a poster

I'm glad I decided to get away from the strip... there is so much other stuff to see and photography is much more rewarding out there too (let alone tolerated as many casinos probably don't care for DSLR's for security reasons).

Thanks for your comments! And in case you were wondering, that last picture of the first set is a door

; as I was leaving the building, I really liked how the light was passing through it, so good fortune was with me even if I wasn't gambling.

----
Well since I'm writing this and I've post processed quite a few pictures today, may as well post a few more...

How do you like my faux macro?

ll_coffee_lP · 03-08-2009, 09:57 AM

Awesome series!

c[_]

**Scottnorwo** · 03-08-2009, 10:18 AM

Wow great series. Number one is the one I like best

Modus Operandi · 03-08-2009, 05:44 PM

Most impressive!

khardur · 03-08-2009, 06:01 PM

first one does it for me - wow that's spectacular.
The the dam and the abstract one are my other faves. Very cool, thanks for sharing.

**mike.hiran** · 03-08-2009, 11:16 PM

Originally posted by ll_coffee_lP

Awesome series!

c[_]

Thanks!

Originally posted by Scottnorwo

Wow great series. Number one is the one I like best

Thanks for commenting... I see a consensus on pic #1. Can't wait to see what the reaction to it after I learn to do some layers.

Originally posted by Modus Operandi

Most impressive!

Much appreciated!

Originally posted by khardur

first one does it for me - wow that's spectacular.
The the dam and the abstract one are my other faves. Very cool, thanks for sharing.

My pleasure, glad you liked them!

I just realized I haven't included any pics of Lake Mead (besides the ones w/ the Hoover Dam intake towers)...

vievetrick · 03-09-2009, 06:06 AM

wish I could add more to what was said already. Great series and something you don't think you will get when you see Vegas in the title. Nice work.

ve2vfd · 03-09-2009, 06:12 AM

Gee, and I was expecting to see pictures of a Chevy Vega!

But seriously....

My faves are #1, 2 and 3, they are so surreal!

Pat

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03-08-2009, 01:03 AM	#23
mike.hiran Site Supporter Join Date: May 2007 Location: portland Photos: Albums Posts: 1,491 Original Poster	Originally posted by gawan Great series! I like them all, but the first and the last ones in the first set are my absolute favourites! Thanks; glad you liked them! Originally posted by rfortson Wonderful shots! The first one is stunning. I really like the colors and saturation. The shots of the dam are nice as well (being an engineer, I love dams anyway). Great shots! You would have loved the tour of the generators and the air vents down in the depths of the dam too... I'm no engineer, but found the engineering solutions needed for something of this scale fascinating. Thanks for mentioning the color and saturation... the pictures I posted so far were the ones that I thought were ok in this regard (except for the last pic of the 2nd set... thought I'd play with the cross processing feature a bit). Originally posted by Damn Brit Stunning is the right word for that first shot. Excellent series. Thanks much... Red Rocks is a stunning place and I got lucky with the clouds. Really a perfect place for people who like to shoot wide, which I do. Originally posted by KrisK10D Great idea getting away from the strip. I imagine we've all seen the neon before As with most folks, I've fallen for the first and last shots in the first series. Fantastic exposures! The landscape is sharp as a tack and the colours are simply beautiful. The texture of the last and the lines featured throughout are fabulous. I would love to use it as a background texture on a poster I'm glad I decided to get away from the strip... there is so much other stuff to see and photography is much more rewarding out there too (let alone tolerated as many casinos probably don't care for DSLR's for security reasons). Thanks for your comments! And in case you were wondering, that last picture of the first set is a door ; as I was leaving the building, I really liked how the light was passing through it, so good fortune was with me even if I wasn't gambling. ---- Well since I'm writing this and I've post processed quite a few pictures today, may as well post a few more... How do you like my faux macro? Last edited by mike.hiran; 03-08-2009 at 01:15 AM.

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03-06-2009, 01:05 PM	#16
mike.hiran Site Supporter Join Date: May 2007 Location: portland Photos: Albums Posts: 1,491 Original Poster	Originally posted by juanraortiz Fantastic series. All the pictures are great, but the first one is impressive, a PPG member for sure. Viva Las Vegas!! Thanks much! I still want to see if I can make the foreground bush a bit more vibrant... looks like a good chance for me to learn how to use layers. Originally posted by daacon Well done - for all the times I have been to Vegas I have yet to venture too far off the strip - this year that is my plan. I love #1 what a shot. I've been meaning to go for a while too... at first this trip was going to be a mix of gambling and scenery, but I was so struck by it, I devoted the rest of the trip to the outdoors. And this time of year was perfect... highs of 70's, lows in the high 40's. In a couple weeks, there might have been more cactus blooms though... those flowers are amazing! Originally posted by axl nice series, but the first one steals the show.... BR Thanks much! Originally posted by kenemore I really like all of them, but #1 and #4 are my favorite. Gotta love vegas. Hoover Dam was very nice too... took the long tour and it was pretty interesting. I wish I could have stayed to see a sunset there, but had to go. Thanks for commenting!

03-06-2009, 01:58 PM	#17
mike.hiran Site Supporter Join Date: May 2007 Location: portland Photos: Albums Posts: 1,491 Original Poster	Originally posted by drmartin Magnificent landscape! It really is incredible at Red Rocks and the Valley of Fire... I could spend weeks there getting to hike all the different trails. Originally posted by scott-devon Very nice, I've been kicking myself for not getting out to Red Rock Canyon on my one trip to Vegas. It looks beautiful. If you do go, go early in the day... very few people and the light is much better too. I would say sunsets would be amazing too, but if you're up a trail, the dark could make getting back a bit difficult Originally posted by xs400 I like'em. Excellent colors. Well done. Thanks! But getting back to Portland was very nice too... seeing lots of green around seems much more soothing. Originally posted by sawtooth235 I agree with number 1 and 4 being my favorites as well. Nice series. Ray Thanks much! Originally posted by Jimbo WOW.. nothing else to add. JIM Thanks a lot Jim!

03-07-2009, 01:11 AM	#18
mike.hiran Site Supporter Join Date: May 2007 Location: portland Photos: Albums Posts: 1,491 Original Poster	The post processing continues... here's a couple more.

03-07-2009, 01:09 PM	#19
gawan Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Helsinki Photos: Gallery Posts: 5,400	Great series! I like them all, but the first and the last ones in the first set are my absolute favourites!

03-07-2009, 01:43 PM	#20
rfortson Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Houston TX Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,129	Wonderful shots! The first one is stunning. I really like the colors and saturation. The shots of the dam are nice as well (being an engineer, I love dams anyway). Great shots!

03-07-2009, 05:14 PM	#21
Damn Brit Guest	Stunning is the right word for that first shot. Excellent series.

03-07-2009, 05:50 PM	#22
KrisK10D Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Sydney, Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,274	Great idea getting away from the strip. I imagine we've all seen the neon before As with most folks, I've fallen for the first and last shots in the first series. Fantastic exposures! The landscape is sharp as a tack and the colours are simply beautiful. The texture of the last and the lines featured throughout are fabulous. I would love to use it as a background texture on a poster

03-08-2009, 09:57 AM	#24
ll_coffee_lP Inactive Account Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,972	Awesome series! c[_]

03-08-2009, 10:18 AM	#25
Scottnorwo Millionth Poster! Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Stafford, New York Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,086	Wow great series. Number one is the one I like best

03-08-2009, 05:44 PM	#26
Modus Operandi Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Belle River, Ontario, Canada. Photos: Gallery Posts: 111	Most impressive!

03-08-2009, 06:01 PM	#27
khardur Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: NW Massachusetts Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,560	first one does it for me - wow that's spectacular. The the dam and the abstract one are my other faves. Very cool, thanks for sharing.

03-08-2009, 11:16 PM	#28
mike.hiran Site Supporter Join Date: May 2007 Location: portland Photos: Albums Posts: 1,491 Original Poster	Originally posted by ll_coffee_lP Awesome series! c[_] Thanks! Originally posted by Scottnorwo Wow great series. Number one is the one I like best Thanks for commenting... I see a consensus on pic #1. Can't wait to see what the reaction to it after I learn to do some layers. Originally posted by Modus Operandi Most impressive! Much appreciated! Originally posted by khardur first one does it for me - wow that's spectacular. The the dam and the abstract one are my other faves. Very cool, thanks for sharing. My pleasure, glad you liked them! I just realized I haven't included any pics of Lake Mead (besides the ones w/ the Hoover Dam intake towers)...

03-09-2009, 06:06 AM	#29
vievetrick Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Easthampton - Massachusetts - USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 5,183	wish I could add more to what was said already. Great series and something you don't think you will get when you see Vegas in the title. Nice work.

03-09-2009, 06:12 AM	#30
ve2vfd Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Montreal, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,433	Gee, and I was expecting to see pictures of a Chevy Vega! But seriously.... My faves are #1, 2 and 3, they are so surreal! Pat