Blue Cortez, a photo from ネバダ, West

Photographer's Note

I spent a number of days in Las Vegas back in Sept 2018, and for some reason I have only posted four or five shots...so its time I get back to Vegas.

Its also been awhile since i've posted some blue hour photos, so lets get back to that as well.

In the WS are two more variations...perhaps I chose the wrong one as the main post, but I picked it because it has the most reflections in the puddle of water.

This is the Freemont area of Vegas, its about a ten or fifteen minute drive from the popular Las Vegas Strip that you all hear about. Freemont has older buildings, its not as expensive to stay, and its somewhat seedier and much more grimey. Basically its the poor man's Vegas.

And of course there will ALWAYS be people who say THIS part of Vegas is way better than the new modern flashy Vegas - but I totally disagree. Nothing can beat the true Vegas glitz and glamour, but visiting Freemont for one evening for a few hours is fun, that's good enough for me.

Anyways, I hope you like this shot of an old run down but still operating Hotel, taken at blue hour.

ktanska, ikeharel, johnjmoe, PaulVDV, pierrefonds, Fis2, jean113, PiotrF, kasianowak, pajaran, papagolf21, dragonslayero, ChrisJ, jhm, Royaldevon, worldcitizen, mcmtanyel, Hansaphotos, COSTANTINO has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

holmertz (103520) 2019-10-27 7:47

Hello Craig,
I understand your reasoning as to which photo to use as the main upload. I agree totally that this one has the best reflections, while the WS is the best composition thanks to the "6th Street" sign. There are some persons better placed on the nearer side of the crossing in the WS, but this photo is blessed with the beefy guy standing under the El Cortez sign. The second WS I'm afraid is not quite up to your usual fine sharpness.
Best regards,
Gert

ktanska (45018) 2019-10-27 8:01

Hi Craig,
I can imagine the Strip looked pretty much like this before everything got bigger. Lower buildings still have those glowing neon lights that make Vegas so special. I really like those reflections and agree about the main upload.
Kari

Tue (93296) 2019-10-27 8:54

Hello Craig,
When I saw this photo, I already suspected that you'd gone back to Vegas with this post. The Freemont area was the first my dad and I visited two years ago, only the next day did we go to the Strip. Wonderful capture of this street corner with lots of neon signs, very nicely reflected in the wet street as well.
Lars

Silvio1953 (222747) 2019-10-27 9:32

Ciao Craig, fascinating nocturne shoot with fantastic reflections, splendid light, excellent exposureand wonderful colors, very well done, my friend, ciao Silvio

PaulVDV (63432) 2019-10-27 10:20

Hello Craig,
For sure the main picture has some vividly coloured reflections in the puddles.
But from where do those puddles come? Isn't Las Vegas a city in the desert? And you were there in September. Isn't it very dry then?
So this is an old run down hotel on the 'Freemont Strip'. On this picture the hotel looks fine to me. The area looks also very lively.
Certainly a very colourful picture while the blue hour adds a beautiful blue on top.
Best regards, Paul

pierrefonds (115408) 2019-10-27 11:17

Hi Craig,

I like the light reflections on the water. The point of view is showing the details of the neon signs. The ble hour light has a special effect on the colors. Have a nice day.

Pierre

Fis2 (171789) 2019-10-27 11:53

Witaj Craig!
NIce shot from Your archive.
Interesting scene from street.
Neons and puddle are impressive.
Good framing and colors.
I like this picture from daily life.
Nice new week.
Krzysztof

jean113 (28221) 2019-10-27 13:02

Hello Craig, this is the best of the three in my opinion; the reflection in the puddle is magic!
An excellent point of view that shows us so much.
The people across the road appear to be looking at you, but are probably just waiting to cross the road!
Fabulous colours, excellent management of the light.
Kind regards, Jean.

lousat (139906) 2019-10-27 13:15

Hi Craig.If they say that the old part is in very bad condition, they have never seen Italian cities ... hey ... it seems to me that everything works and even the streets are clean. And then the puddle is perfect for capturing colored reflections, in fact it is not easy to choose between the main photo and the first WS. Nice report from the poor Las Vegas neighborhood, and the choice of blue hour is always a winner. Thanks also for the comment on the human race on my last photo and good evening.Luciano.

PiotrF (55822) 2019-10-27 13:16

Hello Craig,
An interesting series of photos from this very colorful city.
Great reflections.I like wonderful colours , good sharpness and quality.
Fine presentation.
Regards
Piotr

jimmyjimmy (6164) 2019-10-27 20:32

Hey Mac

I like this post the best out of the three for the reflection and the lights as they trail down the road for more possibilities. The colors are vibrant and full of wanted confusion. I hardly ever look at the names when going through the thumbnails. For some reason I was not surprised when I saw your name in this mix. Making Diamonds out of the rough.

Cheers

kasianowak (17676) 2019-10-27 22:09

Hi Craig

Tut, tut, you must never leave your blue hour photos unposted for so long! ;-)

I absolutely love it for the colours and the reflection so I would also choose this one if I were you. But, like you, I also really like the street sign in the WS, it frames the image nicely.

The people are a great addition not only to keep Gert happy. ;-)

Greetings from Tajikistan
Kasia

pajaran (116915) 2019-10-27 23:56

pozdrav.
Interesantni i lepi pogledi, dobar tekst ...
Lepe svetlece reklame i arhitektura, lep deo grada.
Lepo pokazano, dobro uhvaceni trenuci.
Lepe fotografije u radionici.
Zelim vam sve najbolje.
Paja.

greeting.
Interesting and beautiful views, good text ...
Beautifully lit advertisements and architecture, nice part of town.
Beautifully shown, well captured moments.
Nice photos in the workshop.
I wish you all the best.

papagolf21 (152607) 2019-10-28 0:16

Bonjour, cher Craig,
Il suffit de regarder, tout est dit � travers cette prise de vue.
Une composition tr鑚 r騏ssie.
Amiti駸.
Philippe

jemaflor (148094) 2019-10-28 0:31

Hi Craig,
excellent effect with these colorful reflections, well seen and framed, good contrast management, tfs.

dragonslayero (3592) 2019-10-28 1:39

Hi Craig

I saw this photo the other day and just didn't have time to comment.
A really striking scene with the neon lights and what seems like still lingering daylight.
It might not be much, but the puddle in the foreground creating the reflections is a very nice touch. The tarmac itself would probably create a very negative space, but with the reflections it cancels that out.
Thanks for sharing.

OJJ

ChrisJ (172372) 2019-10-28 1:51

Hello Craig,

Astounding reflections in the small river of water traversing the street. As Las Vegas is in a desert region, I wonder if a fire hydrant burst or leaked? Agreed, Freemont area was okay but felt kind of unsafe at night. I always felt safer on the main strip with lots of people around. But in the US these days nowhere is safe with the horrendous amount of mass shootings they have. I walked down past the Mandarin Hotel where one such mass shooting occurred :-( and into the Luxor Hotel.

jhm (211738) 2019-10-28 6:51

Hello Craig,

Reflection are really sticking, in foreground. .
Create nice depth and perspective.
Lovely composition, nice presentation too.
Very well done, TFS.

Best regards,
John.

gervaso (28381) 2019-10-28 7:19

Hello, Craig!

The colorful lights make the scene very attractive, but the most beautiful detail of this photo is the reflection of them on the puddle on the ground! The blue hour also gives beautiful colors to the image! Wonderful composition!

Royaldevon (86328) 2019-10-28 7:42

Hello Craig,

I understand why you had a little indecision, but I agree with your final choice for exactly the reasons you quote.
The reflections add even more glitz to the photograph, which is what Vegas is all about! It's there to wow you, to make you open mouthed at the unapologetic, displays of glamour, wealth and invitations for fun! My daughter loves to go here and has done three times!!
The w/s have their place and good points but this is the in-your-face gaudy, glitz and glamour.

My warm regards,
Bev :-)

mkamionka (75009) 2019-10-28 8:24

Hi Craig,
what a great blue hour capture, or even a whole series of great compositions.
This puddle of water is so great here I am a bit suspicious if you have caused a leak in the hotel to have the opportunity for this lovely reflection here? ;)
The water flowed so nicely and irregularly and the reflection in it is so clear and vivid.
Brilliant pic!
The big guy across the street looks at you as if he was not happy seeing you taking photos...
Excellent reportage, this looks so much like America to me!
M

rychem (72187) 2019-10-28 8:32

The neon signs are a little old stylish but very attractive and you have managed the light very well, it is late evening but we can see the city never sleeps
regards Ryszard

worldcitizen (16226) 2019-10-28 12:59

Hello Craig,
I think I prefer this main photo. The neon and colors are more in-our-face, and that puddle reflection is great, too. I looked at Paul's critique, and he had a good question: where did the water come from? Maybe they were cleaning the streets...

Miguel82 (47110) 2019-10-28 13:01

Craig, nice photo taken at the blue hour. Beautiful street corner illuminated by night. The neon signs are reflecting on the puddle of water. Fine colors, good image quality and excellent light management, interesting photo note, regards.

mcmtanyel (69063) 2019-10-28 21:13

Hello Craig,
I love the light and the colors. The reflections from the puddles are the icing on the cake! 👍🏻👍🏻
Regards,
MT

Hansaphotos (11381) 2019-12-03 7:38

Hello Craig

This is a very attractive night shot. It looks like a scene from a film set. Splendid effect of all the neon lights, and you really got maximum effect of that puddle. Splendid pictures all three, but I like this the most. Excellent:) TFS.

Greetings, Erling

COSTANTINO (117652) 2020-09-30 22:34

Hello dear friend and have a nice day
impressive phto with hundred of
colors,interesting details,
beautiful reflections creating
a vivid and pleasant atmosphere...
I have never visited Las Vegas
so I cannot say if this part
of vegas is better that the new moder,,
may be yes...or may be not....
welldone
regards
Costantino