Double Jump This!

Backside of the Hoover Dam, September 2011 - Pentax K1000 w/ SMC Pentax-m 50mm f1.7 Ilford HP5+ ISO 400

Nobody ever remembers the back side of the Hoover Dam. I think its the more interesting side. Unfortunately, we are stuck in drought mode here in the southwest, and as you can see, the water level is WAY down. This is probably the best shot I have ever done to show great detail in a dark area.

The title for this picture was the working title when I turned this in for a grade. I took this shot with the camera I bought for my first photo class. Not long after I took the shot above (around 10 minutes) the gears for the shutter advance froze up leaving me without a camera in Vegas except my crappy point and shoot. Well.... I know how to have fun damn near anywhere I go, so I made the best out of the rest of the trip.

Random Photos from my Phone

On Sunday  while I was pulling my photos for the 11-11-11 set, I saw some of the other cool pictures I've taken with my phones camera. To be honest, I had my old phone for a whole year and didn't take a single picture for at least 8 months of getting it. I just thought it was some junky camera, and what the hell would I do with that? Well, as it turns out, you can do almost anything. Even with 3 megapixels, which the first six pictures are. Now, I'm a regular contributor to Instagram, which some of these shots were taken for.

The moral of this story is when you come face to face with natto, NEVER add all the mustard unless you know what you are getting yourself into. From Anaheim California, My name is Hardkoretom, Take care, and good night. **Queue the outro music**

Las Vegas Part 3: Major Signage

One of my favorite places to see in Las Vegas is the downtown Freemont Street Experience. I've seen the show on the canopy several times. Incredible is the main word that comes to mind. With all of the LEDs and the wonderful sound system. But this time I saw something that I've never seen there before.

The promenade also moonlights as an outdoor museum with all of the major historic signs on display. Most people have seen the marquees of places like these:

But the better ones are a little further down. I only took these pictures because I thought the signs looked bad ass. I wasn't going for anything artistic. Well anyways... Here they are. 

These last two are modern signs but thought they looked great too.

All in all, this reminded me of driving around looking at christmas lights on the houses. My short attention span loves all of the bright colors and the flashing lights. I would recommend a quick stop by here to check out this snapshot of history that has now been forgotten. I would fairly appreciate if you checked out my other two series from my 4 day trip to Sin City here and here.

In the very near future I will start writing more how to guides and useful information on commonly used tools processes and some history of photography. And I have a set of pictures from Universal Citywalk that have been through my first cut and will be editing fairly soon.

Las Vegas Part 2

For Part One, Click Here.

This is part two of my short trip to Las Vegas from a few weeks ago.I have an easy time trying to figure out what I can do there when I am still home, but when I get there it all goes right out the window. Most of these shots were from the 3rd day of hotel looking over by Caesar's Palace. Mostly of the Belagio and the newish hotel/city Aria. There are a couple from downtown, Excalibur and Planet Hollywood thrown in there too. Hopefully I can go back soon when I don't need to throw on copious amounts of sunscreen to survive outside.

I just remembered the other day that I do have a part 3, which is mainly Downtown and some of the old nostalgic signage from the old advertisements and hotels. I think I shall drop that one around Sunday. Also, check out my other pictures on Smugmug here. And please leave me your thoughts in the comments section below. Even if you think my pictures suck. I need some learning to do and that is the easiest way for me to get some improvement.Thanks for dropping by.