Love & Prosperity in 2019, a photo from ネバダ, West

Photographer's Note

Here is the larger version LOVE SIGN .

What is a world without Love? It's not a world I would want to be apart of. Love is what brings people together, love is the binding force which connects us to others.

Now its time for a funny story about my experience with this LOVE sign :)

As you can see in the WS photos, there is a long line up, which never seemed to end, and it kept getting longer and longer, for people to get a photo with their loved one with the LOVE sign.

So, I was sitting directly in front of the sign, as the composition is on the main post. Patiently waiting, and sometimes taking photos as well. The couple you see IN the photo kissing, were sitting beside me waiting too.

I asked them, would you like me to take a photo of you, then email it to you later. I could tell right away the husband was VERY hesitant. He said no. He told me that I'm going to take their photo, then demand money.

I reassured him several times that I an NOT a photographer looking to get paid. Then he pointed out why do I have all this Camera equipment. haha...its funny because 99% of everyone there were taking photos with their cell phones. I get it. I understand. I again reassured him I am asking just to be nice and I thought your wife would appreciate a photo of the two of you together.

The wife was the one who said yes, please go ahead. So, i directed them up to the sign, snapped off this photo you see here. Then later that evening I emailed it. In an hour they got back to me and were VERY appreciative and loved the photo :)

Its all about LOVE! Send somebody some love today :)

papagolf21, ikeharel, Fis2, snunney, pajaran, Royaldevon, holmertz, tyro, jhm, worldcitizen, alvaraalto, cornejo, mcmtanyel, ricardomattos, COSTANTINO, ChrisJ, adramad, jean113, claudeD has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

dkmurphys (79209) 2018-12-31 0:52

Hello,
Good idea for your New Year postcard. We hope we all will have so! Cheers!

D

mesutilgim (0) 2018-12-31 0:54

Hello dear Craig,
What an amazing scene ! Perfect observed and captured, a great message what we do neet the most in our troublesome World today.
TFS and a happy new year to you and all your love and beloved ones.
MESUT ILGIM

papagolf21 (152607) 2018-12-31 1:21

Bonjour, cher Craig,
L'oeil du photographe a frapp� � travers cette composition tr鑚 r騏ssie.
Bravo !
Bonne journ馥 et bonnes f黎es.
Amiti駸.
Philippe

Fis2 (170861) 2018-12-31 1:41

Witaj Craig!
Good papparazi ;)
Curious interior and scene.
I like framing and colors.
Well done.
Happy New Year 2019!!!
Krzysztof

Tue (92470) 2018-12-31 1:51

Hello Craig,
Of course, this could only be in Vegas, but it's the perfect photo for the new year, which needs lots of love. Excellent capture of the couple as well. Have a great New Year's Eve!
Lars
PS - there will be many more photos from Canada in 2019, but Toronto was at the end of our trip and as you know I'm still in New York. And there will be photos from Malta,too. That's where I am right now, I checked your photos for places I need to see.

snunney (130967) 2018-12-31 1:54

Hello Craig,
A lovely photograph and a delightful little anecdote to accompany it. Happy New Year 2019.

pajaran (115989) 2018-12-31 2:32

Pozdrav.
Lep pogled i trenutak, interesantan i dobar tekst ...
Lepo pokazano, dobar kontrast, lepe boje, lepo uhvacen trenutak.
Lepo mesto da se izrazi ljubav
Lepa skulptura.
Zelim vam sve najbolje.
Paja.

ikeharel (113427) 2018-12-31 2:38

You made me smile, Craig... a line to the LOVE sign.
Nice idea for the new year's greetings.
Cheers and a Happy new 2019 yewar.
Ike

Royaldevon (85932) 2018-12-31 2:53

Hello Craig,

A good story to accompany your photograph which clearly illustrates just how fearful we are of being exploited. We read about and see news reports of so many people being exploited that we think it is rife! It's probably just a few people hitting the headlines but because it's reported so explicitly, we imagine that it's much more frequent than it really is!

It's a beautiful photograph with an equally beautiful message!
I'm so glad you got a generous reply from the couple. You probably reinforced their faith in people!!

All the best to you and your family for 2019,
Bev :-)

holmertz (102774) 2018-12-31 4:23

Hello Craig,
I must admit that when I first saw the photo I thought those two were some kind of dummies put there by the hotel management to reinforce the message. So I read the note with increasing interest. Yes, why would anyone carry a lot of heavy and bulky photo equipment when there are cell phones with built-in cameras? ;-)
There's an amusing story behind this photo, and the workshops are also amusing. Of course they loved this photo, but did you tell them you would exploit them by showing them to the entire world? ;-)
Happy New Year,
Gert

tyro (30513) 2018-12-31 4:47

Hi Craig,

Three delightful and very well taken photographs which perfectly get across the message that we should all be more loving of our fellow human beings, as well as of all other creatures too. If we were all to take on this message, the World would be a happier and far less troubled place for all of us.

And of course, your story also outlines the worrying state in which we find ourselves in recent times - people are so worried about crime and hatred that they naturally become dreadfully suspicious of others, even when the others are trying just to be kind and thoughtful.

As keen photographers, I'm afraid that this is something we just have to tolerate these days. Gone are the days when you could walk down a street with your camera snapping pictures of people, take photos of children at play in a public park or even take pictures in some shopping malls, railway stations or airports, without the threat of some official reporting you or, worse still, being arrested by the police.

Snap away merrily with your mobile phone and no-one complains, but whip out your chunky old SLR and you're immediately labelled either a terrorist or a paedophile.

Anyway, rant over. This is a brilliant trio of pictures, you weren't arrested for taking them and the couple you photographed were eventually very happy to receive their photo! Nice one.

Excellent!

Kindest Regards and Very Best Wishes for a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year!

John.

Silvio1953 (221729) 2018-12-31 5:03

Ciao Craig, lovely composition forse greetings, excellent clarity, fine details and wonderful colors, very well done, my friend, Happy New Year, ciao Silvio

jhm (211736) 2018-12-31 5:55

Hello Craig,

Your favourite pictures with love forever.
Also a nice panorama image.
Composition and presentation are pleasant to look at.
Very well done. TFS.

Happy New Year - 2019
John.

carlo62 (81265) 2018-12-31 6:39

Ciao Craig
un amore grandissimo, proprio quello che servirebbe a questo vecchio e malato mondo....
Tre belle foto da dedicarci oggi.
Buon anno nuovo a te e ai tuoi cari
Carlo

worldcitizen (16104) 2018-12-31 8:34

Hello Craig,
This is a perfect message for the new year. :-) That couple is certainly engrossed in their kiss, and they were lucky to have a famous TE photographer take their photo at no cost. ;-) I like the people standing on the balcony, too. It looks like the giant, red letters have small arrows in them. Is that just a random thing, or is there some reason for the small arrows? I hope your new year is full of happiness, laughter, and, of course, love. :-)

emka (158204) 2018-12-31 9:32

hello Craig, I like such a note about the personal story or experience, not the very long text from Wikipedia (that I always skip, it is useless). This is quite funny. As to the camera, I have always a bigger camera on my neck but I prefer to take pictures with my Nokia Lumia, I use both all the time. The result is that then I have two long series of photos. To choose something or make an order is terrible.
Charming picture. But... I saw on the Facebook similar picture but with other people, the guy and the attractive lady in red Hahaha. Who made that photo?

Happy healthy prosperous New Year

MAlgo

Nicou (193806) 2018-12-31 9:55

Hello

merci pareillement bonne ann馥 2019 et quelle iamge d'amour une bel endroit pour s'embrasser quel coupe et ce Love sueprbe
Bonne ann馥 tous mes voeux de grand bonheur
Nicou

PiotrF (54788) 2018-12-31 10:18

Hello Craig
A very nice scene.
Happy New Year 2019
Regards
Piotr

alvaraalto (42804) 2018-12-31 10:44

Hello Craig,
A great series of photos and a good story to conclude the year with.
Hopefully 2019 gives good opportunities for love and prosperity and maybe we will meet again in Vancouver.
Best Wishes for 2019, groet Rob

cornejo (61504) 2018-12-31 11:12

Hello Craig, thanks for the good wishes. Good photograph of this interesting graphism dedicated to love, very well captured in this interesting image, with good sharpness, light, color and quality. Very good and interesting work perfectly done, my congratulations my friend. Thanks for sharing this beautiful work.

Good night and happy New Year 2019.
The best wishes for you and your family
Angel.

lousat (139332) 2018-12-31 13:21

Hi Craig,interesting and curious history about this pic and of the couple that i can see in a wonderful kiss inside the big O. A very original way full of hope and love for the new year wishes,i like the 2 different perspectives in the WS too. All the best to you too and thanks,Luciano

mcmtanyel (68623) 2018-12-31 19:23

Hello Craig,
Yes, the world is getting more hostile to photographers. I was once made to check my camera at a concert. Although they only said, "No flash photography," I was told they consider anyone who carries a DSLR to be professional.
Anyway, a lovely photo wish for the new year.
I wish you and your loved ones a Happy 2019, too!
MT

ricardomattos (17460) 2019-01-01 9:02

Hi dear Craig,

I wish you all the best in this new year! Great shot, moment and picture. That is all we need...

Cheers

Ricardo

ifege (48159) 2019-01-01 15:43

Only in Las Vegas Craig!
Cheers
Ian

Cricri (176) 2019-01-01 22:55

Hi Craig
Belle image de l'amour, le couple a bien choisi son endroit pour s'embrasser, c'est joli a voir, en plus c'est Las Vegas :-)
Bonne ann馥 2019
cricri

COSTANTINO (116580) 2019-01-01 22:58

Hello dear Craig and have a nice
time
and a happy new day
no more comments only
wishes becaise sometimes
one shot is one thousand words
egards
Costantino

mkamionka (74535) 2019-01-03 6:02

Hi Craig,
LOVE-ly story. I really like it.
Yes sadly people taking photos with cameras instead of the phones must be either perverts or trying to earn some money from it.
We had that discussion with CLODO under another photo...
On the other hand there are situations when people with cameras take photos and do demand money so I am not surprised. I would probably react as this guy did, I would rather refuse.

Beautiful work here!
M

ChrisJ (171884) 2019-01-03 6:02

Hello Craig,

Hope Santa left you a return airline ticket to somewhere exotic! Not your typical Las Vegas scene where money usually trumps love, but the kissing couple seem to have turned the tables, at least temporarily! Tfs!

adramad (73006) 2019-01-06 13:02

Hello Craig.
Curious and beautiful story that introduces the essence of why that photo. No doubt a nice memory for the couple, very well placed inside the letter O, people on the balcony of the upper floor seem to have fun.
A magnificent color that gives a lot of chromatic richness to the image.
Very good lighting management and very good sharpness.
Well done. I like it.
I wish you a pleasant week.
Very best regards.
Luis.

jean113 (27893) 2019-01-07 9:11

Hello Craig, this shot has much more meaning after reading your notes. I can appreciate the man's reticence and suspicions, but fortunately his wife obviously trusted you to be true to your word. Good shot.
Thanks for sharing, regards Jean.

claudeD (47754) 2019-01-08 5:20

Hello Craig,

very well choosen your picture for new year 2019! I wish you all the best especially good health. I like the shot very much.Very good light management and sharpness. TFS.

With regards from Luxembourg

JC

BennyV (34748) 2019-01-08 7:58

Hello Craig

Lovely shot and your note makes it even better. At first I was in doubt whether it was a real couple (you know, real humans) in the picture. I'm glad to read it was.

All my best wishes to you for the new year. Cheers!

Benny