Ten of my photos were featured in a solo exhibition at the Leica Store at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. Titled “Monochrome Vegas,” the large photo prints were displayed there from August 2017 through August 2018.
Below, you can see the photos that were shown there. I’ve also included the accompanying descriptions.
End of Day
In April 2013, I visited the NAB tradeshow at the Las Vegas Convention Center. At the end of the day, I saw these long shadows cast by the attendees as they headed back to their hotels. This one was shot with an M Monochrom and 16-18-21mm Tri-Elmar-M lens (it was set for 16mm). I used an Epson SureColor P800 printer and Hahnemühle Photo Rag paper for the print.
Circus Performer #3
This is an older image from April 2011 that was shot with an M9 and 24mm Summilux-M lens. She was one of the performers at Circus Circus. The challenge was to capture her grace and presence during her onstage routine. Notice how the McDonald’s arches in the background echo her outstretched arms. I used a Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-1000 printer and Hahnemühle Photo Rag paper for the print.
Aria #1
The Aria lobby offers a different sort of photographic reward. When the light is right, the patterns in the architecture will ripple across the floor. I waited for someone to walk into a spot that would complete the composition and bring scale to the surroundings. It was shot in June 2014 with an M Monochrom and 24mm Elmar-M lens. I used a Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-1000 printer and Hahnemühle Photo Rag paper for the print.
Cosmopolitan Lobby #14
There’s almost an endless variety of visual permutations that you can see in the Cosmopolitan lobby. The LCD monitors and mirrors create a repetitive and reflective space that’s constantly shifting. Occasionally, everything will sync to provide a multifaceted shadow play. It was shot on February 2017 with an M Monochrom and 21mm Super-Elmar-M lens. I used an Epson SureColor P800 printer and Hahnemühle Photo Rag paper for the print.
Aria Hallway #1
There’s a spot in the Aria where you can look down onto a long hallway below. From that perspective, you can see the patterns embedded into the floor. Here a lone figure seems to be calmly walking upstream against a turbulent river. This photo was shot in January 2015 with an M Monochrom and 50mm APO Summicron-M lens. I used an Epson SureColor P800 printer and Hahnemühle Photo Rag paper for the print.
CES Booth #2
Sometimes you can encounter something out of the ordinary just by walking around. This is a scene from a booth at the CES tradeshow. The light patterns were swimming across the wall, creating a dreamlike effect. This photo was shot in January 2013 with an M Monochrom and 18mm Super-Elmar-M lens. I used a Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-1000 printer and Hahnemühle Photo Rag paper for the print.
Cosmopolitan Lobby #2
The Cosmopolitan lobby has a surprising amount of spatial depth due to its ceiling-mounted mirrors, LCD monitors, and semi-reflective surfaces. Here the people waiting to check in are seen upside down, because the camera is tilted up towards the ceiling. This one was shot in June 2014 with an M Monochrom and 24mm Elmar-M lens. I used a Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-1000 printer and Hahnemühle Photo Rag paper for the print.
Gehry Ceiling
The Event Center in downtown Vegas was designed by architect Frank Gehry. It has 199 windows, and each window is different. This interior view was shot in February 2017 with an M Monochrom and 21mm Super-Elmar-M lens. The 21mm wide-angle lens allowed me to capture an Escher-like perspective of this incredible ceiling. I used an Epson SureColor P800 printer and Hahnemühle Photo Rag paper for the print.
Circus Performer #7
The performers at Circus Circus are always worth a visit. The stage is a microcosm of contrasts, especially when viewed against the patterns in the carpet, which seem almost alive with movement. Here I was able to catch the hat and performer’s gaze at the optimal moment. It was shot in January 2013 with an M Monochrom and 18mm Super-Elmar-M lens. I used an Epson SureColor P800 printer and Hahnemühle Photo Rag paper for the print.
Cosmopolitan Escalator
This photo from the Cosmopolitan has three main compositional elements. The escalator provides leading lines that guide you to the center. The ceiling lights add countervailing spiral/circular patterns. And the couple centers and reconciles the two types of geometric forms. It was shot in April 2014 with an M Monochrom and 24mm Summilux-M. I used an Epson SureColor P800 printer and Hahnemühle Photo Rag paper for the print.