Las Vegas in Black and White

First I want to thank everyone that commented on my last post. It really means a lot to me and I appreciate your support! Blogger used to email me all the comments so I could respond to them via email but now only about half the comments come to my inbox.

I've been going through my photos I took last year around the Las Vegas area and thought I would share. The desert landscape, canyons, lakes and such look so beautiful in black and white.

Around Red Rock Canyon

"I tried to keep both arts alive, but the camera won. I found that while the camera does not express the soul, perhaps a photograph can!" ~ Ansel Adams

The Lake Mead/Hoover Dam area.

 Mount Charleston

Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health - designed by Frank Gehry

Even the colorful Las Vegas Strip looks great in black and white. 

And for a little color,  a palm tree from my grandmother's neighborhood.

Leaving Las Vegas

The true beauty of the Vegas area lies outside the Strip. We took several day trips, the first one was to Red Rock Canyon. I had never been there this time of year and there was a lot of green. Beautiful!

I see a lot of faces in these rocks, do you?

This rock climber was far away. I would never do this, not in a million years.

I did make my mom climb up into a hole in the red rock.

Close by Bonnie Springs Ranch has an old timey town to explore and a small zoo.

Looks like it was built in the 1870's but was really built in the 1970's for tourists. Probably more fun for kids than adults. They had a staged 'neck tie party' as my grandfather used to call it.

Found a tree full of chickens and roosters.

Who wouldn't want one of these?

Cowboy alarm clock?

Beautiful lynx. I believe they are native to the area.



This strange critter is a Patagonian Mara. Looks like an alien to me!



A trip to Mount Charleston was next.

So beautiful and still a lot of snow on the ground.

Cars were pulling over to let their kids get out and roll in it. Very funny!

The houses and cabins nestled in the mountains were really neat.

Our third outing was to Lake Mead. We were lucky enough to get to go out on a houseboat.

 A great view of the Hoover Dam that most people don't see.

 After 9/11 you can't get up close.

 Loads of carp around the marina. People come to feed them popcorn.

Ducks on top of the fish even.

Pretty redhead duck I've never seen this type before.

View from a top Hoover Dam.

Back to Las Vegas, my Grandmother's husband had to show us the new Lou Ruvo Brain Institute.

It's not every day that one gets to see a Frank Gehry building! It looks like something from Dr. Suess.

The sunset from my grandmother's back yard.

On a separate note, I have finally reached 500 blog followers!

To celebrate I will be having a giveaway soon. More details to come.