Thursday, March 15, 2012

Adventures in La-La Land and beyond

I recently visited the USA for the Wedding and Portrait Photographers International huge annual conference in Las Vegas.  What an experience it was - listening to talks from some of the American icons in wedding and portrait photography ( like Jose Villa who still shoots only with a film camera and Jasmine Starr as well as legendary Australian photographer Jerry Ghionis ) along with 15 000 other photographers.  Yes, that was FIFTEEN THOUSAND other photographers - and there were 2 000 photographers in Jose Villa's platform class with a queue of 600 people outside the door hoping to get in.  They certainly do it on a grand scale in Vegas!  I came back full of inspiration and ideas ...

It was a bit of a whirlwind trip in two weeks but we managed to see some of Los Angeles, Lake Tahoe and San Francisco as well as the Mojave desert around Las Vegas.  The following images were all edited on my iPad using two great little apps called Snapseed and Instant with no Aperture, Lightroom or Photoshop involved .....



First stop was Taipei, Taiwan.  I love this city - so untouristy and full of lovely friendly people ....

even if it was a bit wet!


Bundaberg steak in downtown Nankan!





next stop was Los Angeles - and Disneyland of course!




followed by a champagne breakfast on the Queen Mary at Long Beach


Next stop Vegas!  Loud, brash, tacky and everyone having fun - I loved it.


bling


even the Maccas sign is all sparkly ...



A great class on lighting at the Sony stand (sorry Nikon!) at the WPPI trade show




Red Rock Canyon near Vegas (someone suggested that Mr Chow may be in the boot - sorry 'trunk' - I hope not!)


the Valley of Fire - spectacular!




Sunset in the Nevada desert


A total change of scene - Lake Tahoe



there's bears in dem 'dere woods .....






Northstar skifields at Tahoe on a sunny winter's day


farewell Lake Tahoe - wish we could have stayed a bit longer ...


and hello San Francisco!

California poppies at Fisherman's Wharf




Clam chowder in a sourdough roll .... yum!


the Golden Gate Bridge and a freezing daughter!


yes, it is a waxwork!


I hope the San Fran equivalent of Energex/Zesa know what they are doing!



from the train into San Francisco from San Mateo - a very different view of the city


blossoms in an industrial area - there's beauty everywhere 














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