Las Vegas, Nevada

November 29-December 1, 2004

While Dana was dutifully doing business at Autodesk University, I was "along for the ride" in Las Vegas. Not being a gambler, I spent my time reading and walking around, taking pictures along the way. (I also spent about half a day hanging out at the Star Trek Experience at the Hilton.)

The pictures I found myself drawn to were those involving textures of architectural design, and involving the juxtaposition of disparate elements into interesting combinations.

From the MGM Grand where we were staying, this was the view West on Las Vegas Blvd., taking in the Excalibur, Luxor and Mandalay Bay hotels. (Not being afraid to use technology to create revisionist art, I Photoshopped out the distracting Arco sign that exists just above the Chippendale's billboard. You can compare it to the original.)

Day moon next to the Luxor's black glass pyramid.

Another angle of the day moon.

I liked the wrinkled reflection of the horizontal roofline against the side of the pyramid.

Luxor hotel: stair-step design and its reflection in the glass.

I liked the image of the Statue of Liberty coiled up in roller-coaster tracks and snared by electrical wires, in front of New York New York.

I am sure the designers of this hotel have breathed sighs of relief that they chose not to incorporate the WTC towers into the hotel's design. The Empire State Building and Chrysler Tower are both integral components.

The underside of the Eiffel Tower replica at the Paris hotel.

Here I liked the three layers juxtaposed next to each other: the distinctive tan stone in front, then the Eiffel framework, and then the more generic hotel backdrop. Suger's statue gets a context.

I liked the little statue crouched behind the Statue of Liberty. "Pull my finger!"

From here on out, with apologies to my wife, it's all pictures of girls at the Star Trek attraction...everyone knows that ships are female, and here are lots of pictures of pretty females showing what they've got.

Saucer section of the Enterprise D.

Up closer, with better light.

A nice rear-quarter shot, looking up this girl's skirt.

And just because I have Photoshop and can do it, here's the same shot with stars copied in and populating the area underneath the ship, as if she's actually among the stars.

I love technology...