Near-Disaster with Extra Gaga

I'm very excited about my first Las Vegas Magazine cover. But, this was the photo shoot from hell and I must share this experience. Two lights out of five broke, then another wouldn't sync. Imagine five celebrity impersonators (Michael Jackson, Elvis, Lady Gaga, and two country singers I couldn't identify from the American Superstars cast), one makeup artist, one art director, two graphic designers, at least two PR people and another few Stratosphere execs stuffed into a studio while you're shooting... the main light won't fire four times out of ten and you have to pretend you aren't sweating through your shirt! A near disaster turned into a pretty good learning experience and, I think, a very nice looking cover shot. Many props to art director Erik Stein for making this look so snazzy and professional.

Meet the newest member of the American Superstars cast: Lady Gaga.

R.I.P. Tony Curtis

Actor Tony Curtis passed away last night. Here is a portrait I took of him inside his Henderson home in June 2007.
May he rest in peace.

Tanner

Today was the first anniversary of the shooting death of 15-year-old Tanner Chamberlain by Metro Police. His friends and family, including his mother Evie Oquendo who holds the dove in the top photo, gathered in Sunset Park, released doves, shared stories and held a candlelight vigil after dark. See the story and more photos here.

I Love Goats

I learned many lessons after photographing goats on a ranch last week:
- Goats are very photogenic. They will gladly take pause from their busy day and pose for photos.
- Goats are hungry and love the taste of a nice L series lens.
- I love goats.

The Delicious Bounty

   And yes, all of this beautiful produce was actually grown in Nevada.

Liberace Rally

Another day, another rally. This one had more puppets, hot pink clothing and sequins, however. Today was a rally to protest the closure of the Liberace Museum, which is set to shut its doors on October 17 after operating since Liberace opened it on April 15, 1979. It's a sad time for Las Vegas culture. But if they're going out, at least they will go out in style.

Dream Rally

Demonstrators took to the streets of downtown Las Vegas today in defense of the DREAM Act, a measure that would offer a pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants who entered the country as children and enroll in college or enlist in the military. The DREAM Act hit a snag today in Congress. Here are my favorite shots from the rally. See more photos and read Rich Coleman's story about the rally here.