The Vegas Strip by night from a helicopter

[Snap Happy]

Thanks to whomever it was that reminded me about my little-used f/1.8 lens (the 50mm). It was the only thing in my bag fast enough to shoot these from a moving helicopter.

Camera: Nikon D300
Exposure: 0.005 sec (1/200)
Aperture: f/1.8
Focal Length: 50 mm
ISO Speed: 3200

Probably my fave just for the angle of the street (and the Bellagio fountains!):

No chopper - just a fave I took while waiting in line at dinner forever at Mon Ami Gabi across the street. The Bellagio and Caesars Palace:

Camera: Nikon D300
Exposure: 1.6 sec (8/5)
Aperture: f/2.8
Focal Length: 12 mm
ISO Speed: 200

 

[BoblyBill]

I like... but they all seem tilted. It's most evident in 2 and 4. The last shot is very good.

 

[tirediron]

Very nice captures, and agree with Bill's comment about the tllt.

 

[Snap Happy]

If you look at the first one, you can see the horizon's not tilted but you'd think it was from the angle of the buildings/street. 4 is a bit but not the rest - just appears that way due to the angle of the strip. Hard to level in a moving helicopter, but there wasn't much to correct when I got them downloaded. The last aerial shot is definitely not tilted, but shot out a side window as we're coming in at about a 45-degree angle to the Strip.

With a 50mm lens, the capture is so narrow (not exactly a panorama like my 11m would provide), fixing the 2-3 degree tilt would lop off detail. You'd hate the ones I have that are about 30 degrees tilted - on purpose. lol When the chopper is yanking & banking what you're seeing IS on a tilt - I like to reflect what I'm seeing. SO yeah, the shots I didn't post (mostly daytime) are very tilted. You two might want to set down the beers for those above.

 

[wmbeaver]

Nice pics, I like 1 the best. I think you did a good job of capturing the area outside of Vegas, too; because most people think there isn't much else to Las Vegas other than the Strip. I just got back from my Las Vegas trip 4 days ago, and we also went on a helicopter ride, but they didn't take us over the Strip, just to the Grand Canyon. It's also hard to get pictures because of the tinted windows in the helicopters