Hi, I'm taking a trip and want to try some slides. I'll be in Vegas doing some night photography and lurking about the casinos in lower light, no flash. I've been a fan of Kodachrome but am hearing the developing time is weeks to months. It may also be a little slow (iso wise) for my purposes. I'm imagining a faster yet still sharp chrome. I have more experience with some of the Ektachromes but it's been several years since I last used them. I'm a fan of Eggleston and some of the newer color street photographers if that helps, Thanks up front, W

-- Warren Allen (whatrix@home.com), January 02, 2002

Answers

Night photography in Vegas? Without flash, I presume?

Provia 400F!

-- Steve Hoffman (shoffman2@socal.rr.con), January 02, 2002.

I have a travelling suggestion. Some of the newer Ektachrome films are designed to be easily pushed 2-3 stops. I think its Ektachrome 200. Use this pushed 2 stops to 800 and don't worry too much about potential fogging at the airport X-ray. Better than bringing 800 film to the X-ray. It can also double as your daylight film too!

-- John Chan (ouroboros_2001@yahoo.com), January 02, 2002.

Yep, Vegas is well-lit at night, but you're going to need 400 or higher speed film for handheld candid shooting at night. Some casinos don't mind photography, some don't allow it. Be prepared to be thrown out if you get caught in the wrong place.

I like Kodak EPJ 320T pushed a couple of stops for color shooting at night.

-- Mike Dixon (mike@mikedixonphotography.com), January 02, 2002.

I would suggest you start with a Vodka Martini, dirty, with two olives, then go to...oh, wait.

Sorry...

As much as I like Kodachrome, I would go with something faster in the 400asa range, maybe even some 800asa print film.

feli

-- Feli di Giorgio (feli@d2.com), January 02, 2002.

Hi Warren I did a story about Shopping in Las Vegas last September. I shot 400F exposed at 640 ASA and pushed one full stop in the lab. Great results. Have fun in Vegas. Michael

-- Michael Wildi (michaelwildi@yahoo.com), January 02, 2002.

I agree with Mike Dixon. You'll run into a color-cast situation with daylight-balanced film such as Provia 400F, requiring color- correction filtration and the filter factors will reduce the effective speed of the film below 320T which will probably get you closer to the color your eyes see...although you still will get some cast because you've got a tremendous mixture of light sources...neon, incandescent, fluorescent, perhaps halogen and maybe carbon-arc or mercury-vapor. I normally shoot slides but for night scenes in the city color neg is certainly the easier way to go. Portra 800 gives you a true 800 and the color-cast can be fitered in the printing.

-- Jay (infinitydt@aol.com), January 02, 2002.

Warren: I lived for seven years in Las Vegas, and my hobby was shooting the neon signs, sidewalk nightlife, and casino interiors. I did use Kodachrome for the Neon. It was called Kodachrome-II back then (ASA 64). My basic exposure for a bright sign, like the Golden Nugget, was about 1/60 at f/4. Opened to 2.8 for a more average sign. I used "High-Speed Ektachrome" (ASA 160) for casino interiors. I would shoot about 1/30 at f/2.8. I would let the Leica hang casually by the neck strap, and click the shutter from waist level with a 35mm (Summaron) fitted. The results were pretty good, and if Epson evr gets that new 2450 scanner into the stores, I'll be able to show you . . .

These days I would still use Kodachrome 64 for exteriors, or maybe Fuji Provia F 100. Kodachrome 200 would do the job for sidewalk crowd shots at night, on Fremont Street. Probably should take advantage of Provia 400 for casino interiors.

It's a nice challenge. Have fun.

-- Bob Fleischman (RFXMAIL@prodigy.net), January 02, 2002.

Warren,

If you are going to shoot slides for the first time in Vegas, IMHO you might want to use the slower films. The first time I went and shot exteriors, I used Type A Kodachrome (35mm) and Tungsten 64 (120) at approx. 1/15 and/or 1/30th at F:4 hand held. I have a 24x30 enlargement from one of the 2 1/4 chromes. I found it essential NOT to use built in meters for exterior lights. On further trips, I shot daylight (100 speed) chrome....but I prefer the look of tungsten (after sundown).

For interiors, I have used tungsten 320 and it works well...but is a little grainy. I prefer tungsten 64 pushed a stop...and with a vibration free Leica M or Contax G you should get some great shots! Some of the guide books (Fodors) list some casinos that alow interior photography. I remember that Harrah's is one of them.

For outside nightime people shots you WILL need something faster...much faster as the only illumination will be the neon or street lights. Don't use flash for this, it will only call attention to you.

Have fun!

-- Todd Phillips (toddvphillips@webtv.net), January 02, 2002.

I have heard that many of the casinos dont' allow "photography" inside. But that many of them don't care about tourists with point and shoot cameras taking photos of their friends. So if you tried to look as much like a tourist as you could................

-- Josh Root (rootj@att.net), January 02, 2002.