KLAS April Spotting 4/6 - 4/9/13 Image Heavy

**Aviation.High.Guy** · 2013-04-11, 01:51 PM

To say that the spotting experience in Vegas is awesome would really be an understatement. For me it's second only to SXM perhaps.
The place offers many locations and interesting juxtapositions. See http://www.nycaviation.com/spotting-guides/las/

(Usually) you can't beat the weather and great light there. I just happened to pick the 4 days that had one overcast and one with rain. Rain on the desert??

Met UK spotter Gerry L. out there. What a character and a heck of a nice guy. He's with BA maintenance at LHR when he's not out spotting around the globe. I'd also like to give a shout out to Steve F. for tipping me off to renting an SUV. Necessary for that over the fence shooting advantage. Aside from the inclement weather days, heat distortion was a minor issue. Mainly for those long distance shots with the casino backdrop. My suggestion if you are going there for that- avoid shooting during the summer months when heat distortion is at it's worst.

I'll be adding more images over the next week, or so as I process them.

The "tulip" lives!

You can smell the burning rubber when the wind is blowing in your direction.

**Delta777LR** · 2013-04-11, 02:09 PM

sweet shots Don!

**NIKV69** · 2013-04-11, 02:30 PM

Good to see you got some Runway 1 ops. Viva Las Vegas!

**Roush6NY** · 2013-04-11, 03:23 PM

Great set, well done !

**gonzalu** · 2013-04-11, 03:30 PM

The new Tower is looking good... I had no issues with Heat Distortion unless shooting on the ground across both runways towards the Allegiant ramps... never shot from the Parking Garage. The SUV is the best thing you can do aside from getting a ladder ... Wind can be a pain too on windy days standing on top of your car could be challenging. But man when the Virgin Atlantic 747 lands, sights and sounds are a joy

**Aviation.High.Guy** · 2013-04-11, 03:52 PM

Thanks guys

**Aviation.High.Guy** · 2013-04-11, 04:07 PM

Originally Posted by gonzalu

The new Tower is looking good... I had no issues with Heat Distortion unless shooting on the ground across both runways towards the Allegiant ramps... never shot from the Parking Garage. The SUV is the best thing you can do aside from getting a ladder ... Wind can be a pain too on windy days standing on top of your car could be challenging. But man when the Virgin Atlantic 747 lands, sights and sounds are a joy

Manny, Strangely, I only had a problem with heat distortion on the parking garage shots (casinos backdrop) not at ground level. The outer edges of the fuselage is where I noticed it most. Also, the window edges tend to get slightly wavy. This is with sharp focus, f/10+, and 1/1000 shutter. Subtle heat distortion, but enough that could mean the difference between acceptance and rejection. A local told me it's almost impossible to avoid heat distortion in LAS during the summer months.

**NIKV69** · 2013-04-11, 06:08 PM

Originally Posted by Aviation.High.Guy

Manny, Strangely, I only had a problem with heat distortion on the parking garage shots (casinos backdrop) not at ground level. The outer edges of the fuselage is where I noticed it most. Also, the window edges tend to get slightly wavy. This is with sharp focus, f/10+, and 1/1000 shutter. Subtle heat distortion, but enough that could mean the difference between acceptance and rejection. A local told me it's almost impossible to avoid heat distortion in LAS during the summer months.

Almost impossible? It is impossible LOL. You can see it as early as March from the garage but summer is downright crazy. I slept at Dave's once when I went in June and he thought I was nuts going out to shoot early one morning. He was right.