Valley of Fire & Hoover Dam - DPChallenge Forums

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

07/09/2009 11:40:21 AM · #1

Heading to Las Vegas next week. Any must see points/spots to take pictures? It's going to be HOT. Going to try to hit the valley later in the evening. Hoover Dam during the day. If anyone wants to meet up, that would cool too.....Thanks..Ace

DJWoodward

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

07/09/2009 11:57:54 AM · #2

Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area is nice stop. I may not rank it as a must see but the convenient thing is that it's very close to the city and its a nice break from the strip.

RRCNCA

07/09/2009 12:36:46 PM · #3

Thanks DJ. Went up there a couple of years ago. Over cast sky, I might try to get back up there. It's a Great place.

njsabs

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

07/09/2009 05:05:11 PM · #4

Have a great time Joe. Look forward to seeing your pictures from there.

Message edited by author 2009-07-09 17:05:20.

Photologist

Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

07/09/2009 05:29:24 PM · #5

Death Valley National Park is just under two hours away by car.

(did I really need to specify "by car"?...as opposed to what? Donkey? Bicycle?) LOL!

07/09/2009 09:10:14 PM · #6

Thanks Jenn....I'll use this thead to post some images.

Hey Les....you almost need a car to get to one end of the strip to other, but a donkey would make a great shot :) Death Valley would be cool. Thanks

Originally posted by njsabs2323:

Have a great time Joe. Look forward to seeing your pictures from there.

see

Canon PowerShot S95

07/09/2009 09:17:54 PM · #7

No you only need tram tickets for the strip, oh and by the way, Death Vally will be "HOT".

07/09/2009 09:23:30 PM · #8

It's been a few years, they final got that tram completed...Cool....man it's going to be Hot all over. My wife said I'm on my own, she'll be laying by the pool most of the day...lol

Originally posted by alans_world:

No you only need tram tickets for the strip, oh and by the way, Death Vally will be "HOT".

see

Canon PowerShot S95

07/09/2009 09:27:36 PM · #9

Are you hanging out at the strip? I might have a Idea or two if your interested.

07/09/2009 09:50:33 PM · #10

We are staying at the MGM this time...what's you thinking?

Originally posted by alans_world:

Are you hanging out at the strip? I might have a Idea or two if your interested.

see

Canon PowerShot S95

07/09/2009 10:57:45 PM · #11

Move day is tomorrow, so Wife has me running circles. I will PM you some of my favorite places tomorrow early, "whisper" before she gets up.

07/09/2009 11:08:03 PM · #12

Today this thing said 124f...it's HOTTER then 'HOT'.... Get ready!

07/09/2009 11:14:22 PM · #13

Thanks alan...not taking off until Tuesday morning, coming back early Saturday.

Holy crap....I do have a back up plan. I know several places that it's 68 to 70 degrees day and night, but don't know if my cash will last that long..Lol. And there is always night shots too.

Has anyone been through the Valley of Fire? What I'v seen it looks like it will be worth it.

Originally posted by Blackbox:

Today this thing said 124f...it's HOTTER then 'HOT'.... Get ready!

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8G IF-ED

07/10/2009 06:47:48 PM · #14

I don't have any photos in my profile from Valley of Fire but what I do have is a link to my website. It's a bunch of trip reports from when I did a lot of camping with my telescopes and many of my trips were at Valley of Fire. I have loads of photos if you care to look. Just click on the photos from Valley of Fire.

Here's the link: StarNevada.info

I do have a photo of the landscape just north of Valley of Fire: it's very similar -

This was taken at Valley of Fire -

This is a photo of Hoover Dam that I used A LOT of noise reduction processing on. They are currently building a bridge that is much higher then the Dam - I've only seen it in it's beginning stages but it will surely be a feat of engineering rivaling the Dam itself.

If your interested, my portfolio has many images of Southern Nevada and the area around Las Vegas. Oh, it's only 106f today...

cdrice

Nikon D7000

07/10/2009 07:37:44 PM · #15

As someone who got stuck in that traffic a while back, I'd urge caution if you're thinking about Hoover Dam. With heightened security, they are (supposedly) inspecting all vehicles that cross it now, and delays getting to or across it are regularly measured in hours. And as hot as it's going to be, that would be a pretty miserable wait.

The new bridge, as

Blackbox mentioned is going to be AWESOME... when it's done. It's pretty awesome now, if you can get near it (which you really can't without wading into that traffic).

If you know any locals or get find a time to hit it when it's quiet, then by all means have at it; but I just know any time I'm in that area, I go out of my way to avoid the Dam traffic. (Dam traffic... har har har).

I see ads all the time out there for helicopter tours of the Dam (and I'm sure you can see lots of the new bridge construction) -- I can't say for sure as I haven't done one, but I'd bet that would be fun, and a lot less waiting around.

BrennanOB

Canon EOS-1D Mark II

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

07/10/2009 08:11:48 PM · #16

You can get a bus from your hotel to Hoover dam and skip the fairly boring drive time for about $60.00

07/10/2009 10:03:55 PM · #17

Originally posted by BrennanOB:

You can get a bus from your hotel to Hoover dam and skip the fairly boring drive time for about $60.00

...or you can save your money and enjoy the scenic ride and stop to take beautiful photos along the way...

Artifacts

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

07/11/2009 02:16:32 AM · #18

Originally posted by ace flyman:

I had planned to stay in Las Vegas a couple days recently and do night photography on The Strip as well as morning imagery at "The Valley of Fire". That fell through on that trip but I think they are both excellent photography choices. I plan on doing them in the near future. It is my understanding that "The Valley of Fire" might be better in the morning than at sunset, but I do not know that of my own experience. Getting it during good sunrise and/or sunset lighting and you will probably not be disappointed.

07/11/2009 11:11:07 AM · #19

Originally posted by Blackbox:

Originally posted by BrennanOB:
You can get a bus from your hotel to Hoover dam and skip the fairly boring drive time for about $60.00

...or you can save your money and enjoy the scenic ride and stop to take beautiful photos along the way...

07/11/2009 11:11:52 AM · #20

Originally posted by ace flyman:

Brad..those are some awesome telescopes you have, Great site. Would love to camp a couple of days up there. I'm on vacation so I'm in no hurry to get anywhere. Driving I can pull off and take shots. I do hate traffic ..Lol

Originally posted by Blackbox:

Originally posted by BrennanOB:
You can get a bus from your hotel to Hoover dam and skip the fairly boring drive time for about $60.00

...or you can save your money and enjoy the scenic ride and stop to take beautiful photos along the way...

07/11/2009 11:12:48 AM · #21

double post...hmmm

07/18/2009 05:27:46 PM · #22

Back from Vegas. Didn't win my retirement, but it was a great vacation. Didn't take any shots of down town. It was still a 100 degress at night, maybe 90. Lets just say it was Hot! I didn't make it to Hoover Dam either, next time. I did make it out to the Valley of the Fire. Got out there about an hour & half before the sun went down. It was amazing. The color as the sunset was just cool. I saved a couple that I might enter into the free study this month. Take a look what I've processed so far. Had to take it easy on the processing or the reds would jump out to much.

Valley of the Fire