Taking Pictures in Las Vegas

[Please note that this thread is being posted in both
rec.photo.digital and alt.vacation.las-vegas]



Hi,


I hope that you fine folks don't mind two newsgroups
sharing this thread. Las Vegas offers a lot of unique challenges to
taking the perfect picture. Our last trip to Las Vegas, last
February, we had our digital camera for only six weeks. When we got
home I found out I had a lot to learn. Flaws that don't show up on
the camera's little screen come out when they're seen in all their
glory on the pc.

Night shots, Neon and Water: When the professional
photographers come in to take one of those great pics we see online or
in some tourist mag --- some guy from the casino comes out and hits a
'pause' button for the sign. Right? Almost all of my night shots
show a sign in transition. Should I accept an underexposed pic and
cuss at it with imaging software when I get home? I have no mercy
while on the road, if a pic looks bad on the camera's screen I delete.
Water. The Fountains and the Bellagio, I took over 200 pics and
about 30 made the cut and came home. Not one of the night shots was
worth a cup of spit.
High shots looking down on the Strip. Where should one go
to get the best shots looking down on the Strip? We got our best open
air shots off the top floor of the parking garage next to the UA
Showcase theater. Where else can one take a high up open air pic?


I guess I should ask where one should not try to take a
pic. A lot of the casinos seem to allow pics. Where should I not
even think of even taking my camera out, let alone turn it on.

What casinos are the most camera friendly? Is there such
a thing as casino photo etiquette?

What else am I missing? We hope to be in Las Vegas next
month. I want to take pics worthy of sharing with all you great
people.


-Steve

Steve:

The Mandalay Bay or the Tropicana would be good places on the
southern end of the strip to get some shots. The Trop has 2 tall
towers; the Island Tower and the Paradise Tower. One of them, I
forget which, has windows in the hallways so you can see out without
going inside a room. Of course, on the northern strip you have the
Stratosphere.

You need to do a little preparation. No matter where you live,
there must be a fairly large city somewhere nearby. Go there and
practice getting some night shots. See what works and what doesn't.
Good luck.

Bob C.

I'll let the photo guys take care of the technical tips. A few notes
on Vegas:

Officially, there are no pictures allowed in the casinos. But as
you've discovered, as long as you are discrete and taking panoramic
shots of the whole area, 90% of the time they don't care. The other
10% they will politely tell you to put the camera away.


You asked where not to take the camera out. There are really only a
few things that can get you in trouble. The big no-no's would be
pictures of specific patrons gambling (unless its someone in your
party) casino personnel (unless you get permission - the CW's can be
especially touchy about getting their picture taken without
permission) and the obvious stuff (don't take pictures of security
personal or anything involving money such as the cage).

As for spots, you've discovered one of the best - the tops of parking
garages. The best are often not on the strip, but at the near strip
casinos - the Palms has some nice views.

"Steve" wrote in message
m...
[Please note that this thread is being posted in both
rec.photo.digital and alt.vacation.las-vegas]



Hi,


I hope that you fine folks don't mind two newsgroups
sharing this thread. Las Vegas offers a lot of unique challenges to
taking the perfect picture. Our last trip to Las Vegas, last
February, we had our digital camera for only six weeks. When we got
home I found out I had a lot to learn. Flaws that don't show up on
the camera's little screen come out when they're seen in all their
glory on the pc.

Night shots, Neon and Water: When the professional
photographers come in to take one of those great pics we see online or
in some tourist mag --- some guy from the casino comes out and hits a
'pause' button for the sign. Right? Almost all of my night shots
show a sign in transition. Should I accept an underexposed pic and
cuss at it with imaging software when I get home? I have no mercy
while on the road, if a pic looks bad on the camera's screen I delete.
Water. The Fountains and the Bellagio, I took over 200 pics and
about 30 made the cut and came home. Not one of the night shots was
worth a cup of spit.
High shots looking down on the Strip. Where should one go
to get the best shots looking down on the Strip? We got our best open
air shots off the top floor of the parking garage next to the UA
Showcase theater. Where else can one take a high up open air pic?


I guess I should ask where one should not try to take a
pic. A lot of the casinos seem to allow pics. Where should I not
even think of even taking my camera out, let alone turn it on.

What casinos are the most camera friendly? Is there such
a thing as casino photo etiquette?

What else am I missing? We hope to be in Las Vegas next
month. I want to take pics worthy of sharing with all you great
people.


-Steve

When in doubt about photography in a casino seek out a security guard and
ask. That said, most casinos allow photography of their "decor-" most frown
on pics. of the gaming areas.

I have gotten some really great photos of Luxor-no flash-just ambient light
(my preference). Since I don't use the flash it's not real noticeable when I
take a pic. I didn't even turn on the flash during the trip. I use my
Olympus C-74 Ultra Zoom on auto 90% of the time. I've had the camera for a
year and am still learning about it! ;-)

Have fun!

jill in NH

"Steve" wrote in message
m...
[Please note that this thread is being posted in both
rec.photo.digital and alt.vacation.las-vegas]



Hi,


I hope that you fine folks don't mind two newsgroups
sharing this thread. Las Vegas offers a lot of unique challenges to
taking the perfect picture. Our last trip to Las Vegas, last
February, we had our digital camera for only six weeks. When we got
home I found out I had a lot to learn. Flaws that don't show up on
the camera's little screen come out when they're seen in all their
glory on the pc.

Night shots, Neon and Water: When the professional
photographers come in to take one of those great pics we see online or
in some tourist mag --- some guy from the casino comes out and hits a
'pause' button for the sign. Right? Almost all of my night shots
show a sign in transition. Should I accept an underexposed pic and
cuss at it with imaging software when I get home? I have no mercy
while on the road, if a pic looks bad on the camera's screen I delete.
Water. The Fountains and the Bellagio, I took over 200 pics and
about 30 made the cut and came home. Not one of the night shots was
worth a cup of spit.
High shots looking down on the Strip. Where should one go
to get the best shots looking down on the Strip? We got our best open
air shots off the top floor of the parking garage next to the UA
Showcase theater. Where else can one take a high up open air pic?


I guess I should ask where one should not try to take a
pic. A lot of the casinos seem to allow pics. Where should I not
even think of even taking my camera out, let alone turn it on.

What casinos are the most camera friendly? Is there such
a thing as casino photo etiquette?

What else am I missing? We hope to be in Las Vegas next
month. I want to take pics worthy of sharing with all you great
people.


-Steve

When in doubt about photography in a casino seek out a security guard and
ask. That said, most casinos allow photography of their "decor-" most frown
on pics. of the gaming areas.

I have gotten some really great photos of Luxor-no flash-just ambient light
(my preference). Since I don't use the flash it's not real noticeable when I
take a pic. I didn't even turn on the flash during the trip. I use my
Olympus C-74 Ultra Zoom on auto 90% of the time. I've had the camera for a
year and am still learning about it! ;-)

Have fun!

jill in NH

"Steve" wrote in message
m...
[Please note that this thread is being posted in both
rec.photo.digital and alt.vacation.las-vegas]



Hi,


I hope that you fine folks don't mind two newsgroups
sharing this thread. Las Vegas offers a lot of unique challenges to
taking the perfect picture. Our last trip to Las Vegas, last
February, we had our digital camera for only six weeks. When we got
home I found out I had a lot to learn. Flaws that don't show up on
the camera's little screen come out when they're seen in all their
glory on the pc.

Night shots, Neon and Water: When the professional
photographers come in to take one of those great pics we see online or
in some tourist mag --- some guy from the casino comes out and hits a
'pause' button for the sign. Right? Almost all of my night shots
show a sign in transition. Should I accept an underexposed pic and
cuss at it with imaging software when I get home? I have no mercy
while on the road, if a pic looks bad on the camera's screen I delete.
Water. The Fountains and the Bellagio, I took over 200 pics and
about 30 made the cut and came home. Not one of the night shots was
worth a cup of spit.
High shots looking down on the Strip. Where should one go
to get the best shots looking down on the Strip? We got our best open
air shots off the top floor of the parking garage next to the UA
Showcase theater. Where else can one take a high up open air pic?


I guess I should ask where one should not try to take a
pic. A lot of the casinos seem to allow pics. Where should I not
even think of even taking my camera out, let alone turn it on.

What casinos are the most camera friendly? Is there such
a thing as casino photo etiquette?

What else am I missing? We hope to be in Las Vegas next
month. I want to take pics worthy of sharing with all you great
people.


-Steve

When in doubt about photography in a casino seek out a security guard and
ask. That said, most casinos allow photography of their "decor-" most frown
on pics. of the gaming areas.

I have gotten some really great photos of Luxor-no flash-just ambient light
(my preference). Since I don't use the flash it's not real noticeable when I
take a pic. I didn't even turn on the flash during the trip. I use my
Olympus C-74 Ultra Zoom on auto 90% of the time. I've had the camera for a
year and am still learning about it! ;-)

Have fun!

jill in NH

"Steve" wrote in message
m...
[Please note that this thread is being posted in both
rec.photo.digital and alt.vacation.las-vegas]



Hi,


I hope that you fine folks don't mind two newsgroups
sharing this thread. Las Vegas offers a lot of unique challenges to
taking the perfect picture. Our last trip to Las Vegas, last
February, we had our digital camera for only six weeks. When we got
home I found out I had a lot to learn. Flaws that don't show up on
the camera's little screen come out when they're seen in all their
glory on the pc.

Night shots, Neon and Water: When the professional
photographers come in to take one of those great pics we see online or
in some tourist mag --- some guy from the casino comes out and hits a
'pause' button for the sign. Right? Almost all of my night shots
show a sign in transition. Should I accept an underexposed pic and
cuss at it with imaging software when I get home? I have no mercy
while on the road, if a pic looks bad on the camera's screen I delete.
Water. The Fountains and the Bellagio, I took over 200 pics and
about 30 made the cut and came home. Not one of the night shots was
worth a cup of spit.
High shots looking down on the Strip. Where should one go
to get the best shots looking down on the Strip? We got our best open
air shots off the top floor of the parking garage next to the UA
Showcase theater. Where else can one take a high up open air pic?


I guess I should ask where one should not try to take a
pic. A lot of the casinos seem to allow pics. Where should I not
even think of even taking my camera out, let alone turn it on.

What casinos are the most camera friendly? Is there such
a thing as casino photo etiquette?

What else am I missing? We hope to be in Las Vegas next
month. I want to take pics worthy of sharing with all you great
people.


-Steve

When in doubt about photography in a casino seek out a security guard and
ask. That said, most casinos allow photography of their "decor-" most frown
on pics. of the gaming areas.

I have gotten some really great photos of Luxor-no flash-just ambient light
(my preference). Since I don't use the flash it's not real noticeable when I
take a pic. I didn't even turn on the flash during the trip. I use my
Olympus C-74 Ultra Zoom on auto 90% of the time. I've had the camera for a
year and am still learning about it! ;-)

Have fun!

jill in NH

On 5 Dec 2004 06:58:34 -0800, (salmoneous) wrote:

I'll let the photo guys take care of the technical tips. A few notes
on Vegas:

Officially, there are no pictures allowed in the casinos.

No longer true, and hasn't been for some years now.
Some are posted (the Venetian is one; the notices are pretty visible),
but most allow both still and video, as long as you don' tinterfere
with the other people.
I know, because I've had several people complain to security, and be
told just that.
But as
you've discovered, as long as you are discrete and taking panoramic
shots of the whole area, 90% of the time they don't care. The other
10% they will politely tell you to put the camera away.


You asked where not to take the camera out. There are really only a
few things that can get you in trouble. The big no-no's would be
pictures of specific patrons gambling (unless its someone in your
party) casino personnel (unless you get permission - the CW's can be
especially touchy about getting their picture taken without
permission) and the obvious stuff (don't take pictures of security
personal or anything involving money such as the cage).

As for spots, you've discovered one of the best - the tops of parking
garages. The best are often not on the strip, but at the near strip
casinos - the Palms has some nice views.

--
Bill Funk
Change "g" to "a"

On 5 Dec 2004 06:58:34 -0800, (salmoneous) wrote:

I'll let the photo guys take care of the technical tips. A few notes
on Vegas:

Officially, there are no pictures allowed in the casinos.

No longer true, and hasn't been for some years now.
Some are posted (the Venetian is one; the notices are pretty visible),
but most allow both still and video, as long as you don' tinterfere
with the other people.
I know, because I've had several people complain to security, and be
told just that.
But as
you've discovered, as long as you are discrete and taking panoramic
shots of the whole area, 90% of the time they don't care. The other
10% they will politely tell you to put the camera away.


You asked where not to take the camera out. There are really only a
few things that can get you in trouble. The big no-no's would be
pictures of specific patrons gambling (unless its someone in your
party) casino personnel (unless you get permission - the CW's can be
especially touchy about getting their picture taken without
permission) and the obvious stuff (don't take pictures of security
personal or anything involving money such as the cage).

As for spots, you've discovered one of the best - the tops of parking
garages. The best are often not on the strip, but at the near strip
casinos - the Palms has some nice views.

--
Bill Funk
Change "g" to "a"

On 5 Dec 2004 06:58:34 -0800, (salmoneous) wrote:

I'll let the photo guys take care of the technical tips. A few notes
on Vegas:

Officially, there are no pictures allowed in the casinos.

No longer true, and hasn't been for some years now.
Some are posted (the Venetian is one; the notices are pretty visible),
but most allow both still and video, as long as you don' tinterfere
with the other people.
I know, because I've had several people complain to security, and be
told just that.
But as
you've discovered, as long as you are discrete and taking panoramic
shots of the whole area, 90% of the time they don't care. The other
10% they will politely tell you to put the camera away.


You asked where not to take the camera out. There are really only a
few things that can get you in trouble. The big no-no's would be
pictures of specific patrons gambling (unless its someone in your
party) casino personnel (unless you get permission - the CW's can be
especially touchy about getting their picture taken without
permission) and the obvious stuff (don't take pictures of security
personal or anything involving money such as the cage).

As for spots, you've discovered one of the best - the tops of parking
garages. The best are often not on the strip, but at the near strip
casinos - the Palms has some nice views.

--
Bill Funk
Change "g" to "a"