Any must shoot spot on the LA to Vegas Drive?

I've got a conference in Vegas in about 3 weeks. I haven't made that drive in about 10 years. Any must shoot spots?

Could be ghost towns, a solitary gutted out building, a particularly stunning stand of Joshua trees, or anything else it would be of unusual visual interest. I just don't know what, if anything, is out there.

I could even take a side trip off the freeway of about an hour each way to get the shot. So, if anyone else is familiar with that drive, let me know where your favorite subjects are?

Thanks in advance.

Rad

An hour or so is not much, but perhaps enough to have a quick look at Reck Rock Canyon a few miles before Las Vegas. Walk part of the small trails starting from the Visitor Center or take the full one-way scenic drive and stop at Calico 1 and Calico 2 to get close to the red rock face. Photo-wise, of course, all will depend on which light you hit when you get there.

Pedal to the metal and don't stop until you have a margarita in hand.

Hogloff wrote in post #18658768
Pedal to the metal and don't stop until you have a margarita in hand.

My approach would be the complete opposite.

I think that the things one may encounter along the way to Vegas may be quite interesting, and the search for such things would be exciting.

But the time in Vegas itself would be totally B - O - R - I - N - G.

Spend my time relaxing and sipping on some drink? . Sheesh - I would hate that. . Where's the challenge / adventure / exercise in creativity?

Relaxation really sucks. . Seriously, it does. . What a freakin' waste of time. . I think the OP has the right idea - spend most of the time out there adventuring, far away from the city, the people, and the godawful congestion.


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Tom Reichner wrote in post #18659550
My approach would be the complete opposite.

I think that the things one may encounter along the way to Vegas may be quite interesting, and the search for such things would be exciting.

But the time in Vegas itself would be totally B - O - R - I - N - G.

Spend my time relaxing and sipping on some drink? . Sheesh - I would hate that. . Where's the challenge / adventure / exercise in creativity?

Relaxation really sucks. . Seriously, it does. . What a freakin' waste of time. . I think the OP has the right idea - spend most of the time out there adventuring, far away from the city, the people, and the godawful congestion.

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To each their own. Time for both in my life. Actually heading to Vegas in November...picking up a car and going to Zion for some fall colour...but on the way back a couple days with my feet up and umbrella drink in my hand.

I travel extensively through foreign lands and I always plan some down time during my travels to just relax. Recharges the batteries and I'm more keen with my photography after the recharge. Mixing things up is good for the soul and mind.

All work and no play, out wandering the desert on your own away from people makes one B O R I N G...

Hopefully the heat isn’t scorching. If it’s not lots of desert and small towns to visit

Hogloff wrote in post #18659572
All work and no play, out wandering the desert on your own away from people makes one B O R I N G...

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But what you don't seem to "get" is that wandering the desert is play, not work. . And play is F U N, not boring.

Sipping a drink isn't play, and it isn't work .... it's just, like, nothing.


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Tom Reichner wrote in post #18659656
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But what you don't seem to "get" is that wandering the desert is play, not work. . And play is F U N, not boring.

Sipping a drink isn't play, and it isn't work .... it's just, like, nothing.

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Everything becomes work if you don't change things up. I too love to wander and take landscape photos...but if that is all I did on every trip I took, I'd get stale. I go to Kauai every year and there are days I'm up very early in the morning taking photos of the sunrise and other days I'm sitting on my deck with my coffee watching the sun rise...same goes with sunsets but my coffee is replaced with a Mai Tai. When I was in Vietnam I was out shooting street photos everyday for 12 hours for 2 weeks and finally changed things up and spent 5 days at a beach resort with my camera gear not leaving the safe.

I love photography...but it does not rule my life.

Vegas Airport. They have a dedicated parking area near the main strip in E Sunset RD.

There is a military base nearby and the I think the Blue Angels practice there. I was lucky and two Harriers (I think) took off from the airport on Sunset RD. That is my old 40D I think.

digital paradise wrote in post #18660581
There is a military base nearby and the I think the Blue Angels practice there. I was lucky and two Harriers (I think) took off from the airport on Sunset RD. That is my old 40D I think.

Wow, that is nice. What lens?

These two I got on my last conference over 10 years ago. The "California Hotel and Casino" has won me a few competitions.

Still looking for any other thoughts.

nordlysBW, are these Calico1 & 2 there in Red Rock, or somewhere else?

Rad

70-200 F4 IS and 1.4 II

"nordlysBW, are these Calico1 & 2 there in Red Rock, or somewhere else?"

Red Rock Canyon.

Download the map here:
http://www.redrockcany​onlv.org …09/Red-Rock-Trail-Map.pdf

It will show you where you have to look for a car park. One is actually quite large and right in front of the colourful rock face. It's at the beginning of the loop and you can decide, time permitting, if you want to shoot directly from the car park or access the short trail from there.

Thanks. I will look into that.