The other day a friend of mine was helping me work on my Mazda RX-8, he works on the south end of the Las Vegas strip. We were talking about God knows what when he starts telling me how he was watching construction workers tear down the fences at the City Center. If you are unaware of what this is, its a $7 billion city within a city. When he told me this I knew I had to go down there and be one of the first persons to shoot the new City Center.

What my friend had forgotten to mention was that part of it was still under construction and the upper half is still closed off. It’s supposed to open in the beginning of December but it will never be completely finished in time. The owners must plan on opening the complex in sections. I did take advantage of what I could shoot while I was there.

Looking up at this thing is almost overwhelming. Its huge, and that’s an understatement. Several high, crooked towers, some made all off glass while others have no widows, or a strange covering.

Camera: Nikon D200
Exposure: 0.002 sec (1/640)
Aperture: f/4.5
Focal Length: 12 mm
ISO Speed: 100

Camera: Nikon D200
Exposure: 0.003 sec (1/320)
Aperture: f/4.5
Focal Length: 12 mm
ISO Speed: 100

Camera: Nikon D200
Exposure: 0.008 sec (1/125)
Aperture: f/4.5
Focal Length: 12 mm
ISO Speed: 100

I finally came across some stairs and escalators. Since the walkway was closed off due to construction I was forced to go up. When I reached the top of the stairwell I came across a wall of reflective blue windows. They were of all different shades of blue, yet it was mesmerizing.

Camera: Nikon D200
Exposure: 0.002 sec (1/640)
Aperture: f/4.5
Focal Length: 12 mm
ISO Speed: 100

Camera: Nikon D200
Exposure: 0.001 sec (1/1000)
Aperture: f/4.5
Focal Length: 12 mm
ISO Speed: 100

From these next few photos you can still see that there is plenty of construction going on.

Camera: Nikon D200
Exposure: 0.001 sec (1/800)
Aperture: f/4.5
Focal Length: 12 mm
ISO Speed: 100

Camera: Nikon D200
Exposure: 0.002 sec (1/640)
Aperture: f/4.5
Focal Length: 12 mm
ISO Speed: 100

Camera: Nikon D200
Exposure: 0.001 sec (1/800)
Aperture: f/4.5
Focal Length: 12 mm
ISO Speed: 100

Across the street and over the walkway I find myself shooting as much of the City Center I can with my wide angle.

Camera: Nikon D200
Exposure: 0.001 sec (1/1250)
Aperture: f/4.5
Focal Length: 12 mm
ISO Speed: 100

On my way back to my car I shoot this last shot.

Camera: Nikon D200
Exposure: 0.001 sec (1/1600)
Aperture: f/4.5
Focal Length: 12 mm
ISO Speed: 100

Thanks for checking out my photos of the new City Center. Come back often for more updates and photos, and I will leave with this panoramic photo of the CIty Center.

- Travis Sackett