Fallen

Burnt Offerings

FOR A HIGH RESOLUTION VERSION PLEASE CLICK ON THE IMAGE!

I have no funny stories to go along with this photo. On our way home from a family gathering in 2012, we came across a deserted town. The town was Geneva in either Iowa or Idaho. I think it was Idaho. But three days of driving left both of us a bit weary. We never really knew which state we were driving through.

I just want to wish every one a happy holiday time with family, with friends, alone. Whoever you are, where ever you are, make the best of it and smile!

Between now and the first of the year I will be re-posting a few old images on my personal blog, Photos By Emilio, that some of you might have missed. Please visit and leave a smile! Photos By Emilio is now just thirteen months old!

Haunts of the Rich and Famous

Black And White Photography, Emilio, Photography

For a high res split tone version, please click on the image

(Though the following history of the property is quoted directly from Wikipedia, it is definitely interesting and worth reading.)

Lake Las Vegas is a 320-acre man made lake surrounded by 3,592 acres developed by 5 companies.

When first opened in 2003, the area included several hotels and casinos including the Monte Lago Village Resort, the Westin Lake Las Vegas Resort, the Hilton Lake Las Vegas, and Casino MonteLago.

Lake at Las Vegas Joint Venture, LLC filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on July 17, 2008. Debts were estimated at between $500 million and $1 billion.

Lake Las Vegas emerged from bankruptcy in July 2010. The creditors have filed a lawsuit against the former insiders. In a related action, resort property owners are suing lender Credit Suisse as part of a multi-billion dollar lawsuit claiming the bankruptcy was caused by a scheme between the bank and resort developers.

The golf course was purchased by Nevada South Shore LLC, a Hawaii based corporation for $4.5 million on February 17, 2011.

The Ritz Carlton, Lake Las Vegas, closed after 8 years of operation on May 2, 2010.

The former Ritz Carlton was reopened on February 11, 2011. The property was renamed Ravella at Lake Las Vegas. On April 30, 2013, Kam Sang Co. announced that the Ravella would be renamed the Hilton Lake Las Vegas. The Hilton opened June 6, 2013. The casino closed in October 2013, as a result of a lease dispute between Kam Sang and the casino’s operators.

From a TripAdvisor.com review dated October 18, 2014:

“Ghost Town”

The golf course is closed, the casino is closed (“seeking a buyer”), the village is eerie and empty. There are “For Sale” signs on several properties around the area. Everything shut down when the economy crashed in 2008. Will not return any time soon.

Venetian Gothic

Black And White Photography, Emilio, Photography

Please click on the image above to see a high res version

Whenever I had a paper due in school I would plagiarize from the World Book Encyclopedia. Not much has changed except Wikipedia has replace the World Book. So let me just dive in as if I actually know what I’m talking about.

Venetian Gothic is a term given to an architectural style that originated in 14th century Venice with the confluence (I would have substituted a plain, ordinary, everyday word here because no one I know talks like that. Confluence? What the…?) of Byzantine styles from Constantinople, Arab, and early Gothic forms from mainland Italy. The most iconic Venetian Gothic structure, the Doge’s Palace, includes traits of Gothic, Moorish, and Renaissance architectural styles.

None of the above has anything to do with the image above, as the image above is a photo taken a few weeks ago in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. The new world! We in the new world have a habit of duplicating and replicating and basically just plagiarizing every other culture in the world. But it’s not our fault. See, as a nation, we are made up of a lot of different ethnic type people from every other culture in the world. So it’s understandable! At least to me.

Maybe I should run for congress.

While I decide what my platform will be, please visit Photos By Emilio. We have images in every color to suit every mood!

Kelso

Black And White Photography, Emilio, Photography

Please click on the image for a high res version.

One of the many ruins that dot the Mojave National Preserve. Situated close to the edge of a huge sandy area named the Devil’s Playground – dunes and salt flats that stretch over 40 miles and merge with several dry lake beds around Baker, CA. Kelso is a small settlement that looks as if it has been largely unchanged for many years. The town is built around a large Spanish-style building; formerly a railway depot. It now contains the Mojave National Preserve visitor center. Kelso once had a population of 2,000, and was at one time both an important railway stop, providing water for steam trains on the Los Angeles – Salt Lake City route, and a center for iron ore mining, but is now nearly empty.

Please visit Photos By Emilio for more of my work in color as well as black and white.

Just Drivin’ By … in Black & White

Black And White Photography, Laurie, Photography

Each time I drive up the dirt road to visit my friend Cherie, I look at this barn. I can’t tell you how often I’ve taken a shot and just how often it didn’t work. This time, though, the light was right. Check out the color version on Life on the Bike and Other Fab Things and let me know what you think.

Amargosa Opera House

Black And White Photography, Emilio, Photography

Just on the outskirts of Death Valley is the Amargosa Opera House, still in use today after being renovated and revamped in 1968 by Marta Becket, who has performed there since. Read her amazing story here and here.

Though we have eaten at The Amargosa Diner, and visited the adjacent motel, we never have stayed for a performance.

Photos By Emilio

That Night

Meho

He opened the door and a woman stood there on the porch with anxious eyes.

May I help you? Says the man.

Oh… I just want to see Eric.

Eric? There is no Eric in here

No Eric… ? Are you sure? Damn…

Of course I am…

She said nothing more, took two steps back and, just before he closed the door, he seen the depth of the inevitability in her face.

There was nothing to add. Nothing more to say. She had already thought of this possibility but wouldn’t believe it. What she feared the most in the last 6 years was now a reality….

Weathered Shadows

Black And White Photography, Photography

Weathered clapboards with peeling paint and two paned windows.

Nikon D90, 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 lens, extended to 48mm, 1/160 sec @ f/11, ISO 200

Weathered. Echoing with music … and footsteps of aspiring dancers.
Abandoned. Housing only shadows of times long past.

Visit visualventuring.com for more images from my camera.

Hangar

Meho

I’m very busy at this 2014 start of the new school year. I would like to be more present, give more feedback on your images and more answers to your comments, but we will have to resume it later!