Westgate Showgirl

An upper pool deck and a high vantage point got this Las Vegas model with the Westgate sign in the background. Hard to get a clean shot without background distractions shooting in bright sunlight. Had lots of fun picking up tips from professional photographer, Joe McNally. Joe was a longtime photographer for National Geographic and is well know for his knowledge of lighting. Again, here we were shooting the model in natural light, which turned overcast as we shot this scene.

Vegas Showgirl in White

Another shot taken on the Joe McNally photowalk. Like the last shot, this is in full sunlight with no modifier. The only way you can get this shot is to have the model look down, count to 3 and have her look up while you quickly take a shot. Otherwise it is squint city. Tough to blur out the background as well even at the lowest ISO, although I was only at 1/1000 at f5.6. I could have pushed it further. So, it is a busy shot with lots of distractions in the background.

Everybody Pees

Vegas Photo Shoot

While in Las Vegas at the WPPI conference I got to participate in a photo shoot with Joe McNally and some models. This was a practice shoot in full sun without and modifiers or shading. Tough light, even at 10am.

Las Vegas Monorail View of Westgate and Stratosphere

Nice view of the Convention Center area with the Westgate Hotel and the Stratosphere. Never been to this part of Vegas before. Not as much activity as down on the strip. The Monorail would be much more interesting if it went all the way to Downtown Vegas. As it is, it goes from SLS hotel to the MGM and if you are staying near the convention center, it is an cheaper way to get around. I was staying here as part of a trip that included the WPPI photo conference.

Old-time Shooter

This participant at the WPPI conference in Las Vegas was shooting an old fashioned polaroid-style, flash-bulb type camera. I didn't get a chance to speak with him, but you had to pop out the old flash bulb and pop in a new one and wait for the film to develop over 60 seconds. I am surprised that they still make those flash-bulbs!!!

Interesting Dude

I saw this interesting dude wandering around the WPPI photography trade show in Las Vegas a couple of times getting his picture taken but this time when I walked by I saw that he was standing in a single shaft of light deep in conversation with someone. Now, if you are at a photography show and you are standing in a beautiful shaft of light you really want your picture taken. So I raised by camera to take a candid shot but, ever watchful, he saw me, broke off of his conversation and turned to "strike a pose" and then immediately went back into his conversation. Quite hilarious. He was obviously there to get his picture taken but I have no idea why. So, I had to take his picture. Maybe he just likes fashion, as is printed on his shirt. He certainly was colorful.

Last Mountain (for now)

One last shot of the mountains in black and white before hitting Denver and the plains on the way to Chicago. Had fun shooting with the little Lumix DMC-ZS100 (where do they get these names?) out the window seat. Great fun little travel camera. If you want to see all the Fly Over shots, head to http://www.mdshotoftheday.com and select Portfolio Shots. Have them all there.

Squiggly Colorado River

The black and white river and mountain series continues with a very squiggly portion of the Colorado River. The river was definitely having too much fun in this portion of the landscape.

Man In the Moon...on Earth

Another surrealistic black and white close-up shot of the dry western part of the Rockies that looks like a ghostly skeleton's face to me, with empty eye sockets and long bridge nose. Maybe its just a Rorschech Test but that is what I see.

Moonscape

Dry conditions and a black and white take on this picture turns earth into the moon, with the face of a spooky ghost person in it, if you look close.

Otherwordly Black and White landscape from above

Took these shots out west flying to/from Las Vegas. These were in the Lake Mead area. I thought that they made interesting surrealistic black and white shots.

Lake. Mead area

On approach to Las Vegas you often get various views of Lake Mead. The white ring around the Lake indicates where the high water mark used to be. Not sure if the lake levels are still falling as drought in parts of the west has subsided somewhat. In any case, with the setting sun, the colors looked quite amazing.

Grand Cracks in the Earth

Flying over the Grand Canyon with a 25-250 Lumix point and shoot gives you quite the close up of whatever happens to be under the plane. In this case, the area around the Grand Canyon. Looks like a Martian landscape to me.

Grand Canyon area

Beautiful area near the Grand Canyon. Caught this view while on a flight to Las Vegas.

The Rockies from on high

The city of Denver lies in the foreground, just before the start of the Rocky Mountains. A bit hazy sky with one lone cloud in the middle distance brought out the blues. I had to dial down the blue slider as the little Lumix DMC-ZS100 (where do they come up with these names?), seems to favor the blue side of things in auto white balance.

Las Vegas Light Trails

Just got back from Las Vegas where I attended a photo conference (combined with some work meetings) and was able to attend a photowalk with some of the folks from Photofocus headed by the wonderful Levi Sim. Had a great time and brought along my tripod, which allowed me to get this light trail shot along the Las Vegas strip.

Sinister Ice Tree

Close up of a tree full of ice takes on a sinister tone, at least to me, after an ice storm hit Burlington Vermont  two weeks ago. The east coast is getting socked again. This winter the midwest has mostly missed the worst of the snow.

Icy Landing On Approach

It is always a treat when the captain says that we are going to ask the flight attendants to sit early as it is going to be a windy approach on an icy surface. Fun times last week but I survived.

Burlington Ice Factory

I found winter on landing in Burlington, Vermont a couple of weeks ago. Walking to the hotel was on a pure sheet of ice. Quite fun but very dangerous.

A view of the Adirondacks and Lake Champlain

Many of my shots are taken while going to or coming from meetings at financial advisor's offices around the country. This is a view of Lake Champlain and the Adirondack Mountains across the border from Burlington, Vermont, over in New York, This shot was taken from an advisor's office in Burlington. Nice view but I bet even a better one in the summer and fall.

Another dramatic light beam shot

It's raining sunbeams on approach coming through the clouds near Philadelphia. My seatmate on the flight must have thought something was wrong with me as I looked up and saw this light. I choked and was rushing and fumbling for the camera to catch the shot before the scene changed.

God Light in Philadelphia

Caught these sunbeams peaking through the clouds on approach in Philly last week.