HELP! - Las Vegas by night for a novice!

jimihat

jimihat

Suspended / Banned
Messages
34
Name
Jim
Edit My Images
Yes
Hi

I've just got into photography and have a Digital SLR (Canon 350D); I am a total novice so please give me idiot proof help if you can.

I'm going to Las Vegas and want to know what kinf of setting I should use to get good quality photo's of the strip at night, neons etc all.

I have been over there before and used an old point and click camera and the night-time pics were useless.

Your advice would be appreciated.

Thanks
 
Welcome to the forums :)

If you have a large aperture lens like a 50mm f1.8 you can get away with hand held at 1600 iso - aperture priority set to 1.8. iso set to 1600. shutter speed set by the camera.

If you don't have a large aperture lens then a longer exposure time will be needed and that means supporting the camera - either on a tripod or held against a lamp post etc. Again as wide as you can with the lens aperture (lowest f number) Av mode. You could try 800 or 400 iso to reduce noise but 1600 may still be best. Shutter time set by the camera but may be up to 5 seconds or so - which is why you need support for the camera. OK for fixed subjects but traffic and people moving will be blurred - an effect you might like:)
 
This has come up at an awesome time, I`m going there for a week on the 28th!
 
I got married there in June & shot a few photos, mainly on a P&S though - I had other priorities ;)

I used a "Gorillapod" tripod which proved invaluable, lightweight, small & attaches to pretty much anything.

It can be difficult to avoid blowing highlights as there's so much contrasting neon light in some places, I'd suggest definitely shooting RAW & also it's worth bracketing (manually or automatically).

My favourite spot for night shots was around the Venetian

Have fun !!

Simon
 
Vegas...yeah Baby. Just got back 2 weeks ago 6th visit!!

If you are going to take on a good night photography session, you're going to need a mini tripod (ie one that fits in your cam-bag) and possibly a monopod. Don't take a tripod, I have heard quite a few stories of Casino / Security staff getting funny about them around Casino's and an absolute no no inside..

Around some of the classic photo spots, ie Bellagio, the 4 way junction of Las Vegas Boulevard and Flamingo, and near Mirage and Venetian, there are quite a few walls that lend themselves to a mini tripod very well.


For sharp pix use either a remote release or the self timer. get out of the Basic Zone and go creative. Using either Av or Tv modes. Get some traffic burrs, go for Tv at about 5 secs and whatever that aperture gives you. Bellagio fountains 2 secs gets some nice fountain blurs. All of these are of course tripod mounted. You can use Iso 100 or maybe 400 in this case.

Handheld maybe try 400 or 800 Iso but the higher the Iso the noisier the photo.

As suggested shoot Raw, in fact shoot Raw +Fine Large JPEG for more post production options. ie White Balance changes.

Take enough cards to wade your way through I would bank on at least 3GB ( I did about 4 last time)

Best of all have fun, review your photos on the screen with histogram too to avoid having to repeat your visiits to the hotspots.

Rent a car and head out to Valley of Fire, 1 hr North of LV, fantastic photographers paradise leave about 1pm spend a few hours and see the sunset, spectacular!

Any specific LV questions just ask< I'd be happy to talk about my equal favourite subject (along with photography) :

132803967-M.jpg


http://digital-images.smugmug.com/photos/132803930-M.jpg

http://digital-images.smugmug.com/photos/230523928-M.jpg
 
Any good camera shops there? I fancy a nose around. I`ve never been before, New Years eve should be good.
 
Avoid the ones on the strip. They are the typical foreign, (no offence intended but it a typical haggling type shop, but they are not so willing to sell for the price you want to pay :) )) owned operations tha don't have prices on anything....hmmmmm. Can they see you coming??

There is Frys South Las Vegas Boulevard, a camera shop on Sahara and on on Tropicana East. Names escape me, Just google them

Frys page http://shop1.outpost.com/category/Outpost/Cameras/Camera+Accessories?accipterAreaString=

Just halve the price on everything to get £'s (Don't forget around 7 or 8% Sales Tax)

BUT KNOW YOUR PRICES IN ADVANCE, don't get stung!
 
Wow - thanks guys. Invaluable advice; I'll still have to consult my "SLR Photography for Dummies" to know what you're talking about though :) - love the Caesers shot Matty, just what I'm after!

I have to admit to being a Vegas freak myself so feel free to mail me with any Vegas related (non photography) questions as I'm a bit of an expert.

Am hiring a car for a couple of days and going to Valley of Fire, can;t wait to get some shots there. Heading to the Hoover Dam too. Staying at Harrahs so dead centre of strip (loads of photo ops!) Can't wait!
 
I`ve got a room booked at the MGM. I`ve never been there, so not sure what to expect. It`s going to be great!
 
MGM Grand is amazing, it's the largest building I could ever imagine. Make sure ytou ask for a strip view when you check in, it's unlikely but well worth a punt! Check out tripadvisor.com for loads of traveller reviews on the MGM - including mine!

I styed there on my Honeymoon, very nice place. I recommend you check out a little restaurant in the forum shops at caesars too, it's called Cheesecake Factory - they do anything andf everything and it's really great food, looks fairly upmarket in there but it's really not.
 
I`ve got this itinery of things to do whilst I`m out there, shows, Grand Canyon, Hoover Dam and all sorts. Otherwise, I think I`d waste a lot of the time I have out there.
 
you need one too - if you do a helicopter to the canyon then Papillon are very good - book it there though as you will find money off coupons everywhere!
 
I agree entirely with all the advice given particularly Matty and Robert.

I would add, the best night time shots are generally just after dusk, when the lighting is on, but there is still detail in the sky.
 
When you check in don't forget the infamous "Twenty $ Trick". Well it's not really a trick, more of a tip cum bribe, but has been going on for years out there.

When you check in you need your credit card and ID. Just sandwich a nicely folded 20 in there and state quite clearly, "do you have any complimentary upgrades, perhaps a suite??"
One of two things can happen, worst is they say no sorry they are over $100 a night more, or I'll see what I can do.
You could get a suite or you could get an upgraded room with a fab view of the strip.

There is a website dedicated to the sucess rate of this at every casino.

http://frontdesktip.com/

Don't forget this isn't Disney or Park Lane, Vegas runs on tips, backhanders and something called "Juice" (Influence)

Good Luck

P&S Snap
230788964-M.jpg
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top