There could be a time when a natural disaster that strikes America or a terrorist attack so bad that the survival of our citizens is very low. When and if that day comes FEMA will be prepared. If something horrible like this happened Americans will be rounded up by buses and trains and shipped to these camps all across the country. Chances are there is one near you. Once at these camps the citizens will be held here under martial law for an undetermined amount of time.

Now whether or not you believe in the conspiracies surrounding the government, 9/11, the Iraqi war, Bilderberg Group or anything else along those lines, you cannot deny that these places don’t exist. A lot of people believe that these places will be the next concentration camps. I am not here to persuade anyone into believe anything. I just documented my experience for you to make your own conclusion and understandings.

The place we shot is located at the end of Range Road, just past Nellis Air Force Base outside Las Vegas. You do have to go past the military base to get there! We went at nigh for some interesting night photography shots and to be less in sight. I did some research online to find the location and Rory studied satellite maps of the area so we could be as prepared as two “new to this” photographers.

A couple miles past the base on a secluded one lane, barely paved road you will cross some train tracks. Just after that you will come across what I have been calling “Processing Command Post  4″. This is where our photography takes place. But before we shot there we decided to head up the road some more to see what was up there. about a 1/4 mile past the guard towers we came across a huge gate lined with barbed wire that blocks the road and surrounding areas. If you look close enough you can see the fence in the background just past the telephone poles.

These photos are also some of my first work doing night photography using moonlight with long exposures. This photo is the first picture I shot when I arrived. You can see Las Vegas in the in the background. I used the Tokina 12-24 mm F4 because it didn’t really need to be focused, and if it did it could be done on the fly. Since I didn’t know what to expect, this was the perfect lens

Camera: Nikon D200
Exposure: 6
Aperture: f/5.6
Focal Length: 12 mm
ISO Speed: 200

This next shot is of the only sign in the area. This is why I call it what I do. I had to look it up when I got home but CP for military acronyms stands for Command Post. These photos were shot between 11:00 pm-Midnight.

Camera: Nikon D200
Exposure: 30
Aperture: f/5.6
Focal Length: 12 mm
ISO Speed: 200

The front gate. As you can see from the picture below, is large enough for a bus to pull in. The fence itself is very tall and to enter you have to go through three gates to get in as you can see. The whole presence of this place is just menacing.

Camera: Nikon D200
Exposure: 30
Aperture: f/6.3
Focal Length: 12 mm
ISO Speed: 200

Two guard towers, fenced off by themselves, overlook the area. Inside the fence are more fences blocking off certain sections and areas. It looked almost like a labyrinth. From what it looks like to me, a bus can pull in and drop people off. The people are then processed and segregated into several different groups according to whatever reasons or standards and grouped among others like them.

Camera: Nikon D200
Exposure: 30
Aperture: f/5.6
Focal Length: 18 mm
ISO Speed: 200

At the end I got ballsy enough to actually lean on the fence and take a picture.

We were scared away from what looked like walking flashlights from behind the gate walking towards us. Our time was done here and since we never felt welcomed, it was time to go. Also on a side note, there was a sign hanging off the gate. This sign is very familiar to me because it is also the same sign they have in front of the gate at Are 51. It states its a Nevada testing site, no photography and use of deadly force authorized. Nothing else states a brand or name anywhere around. One other thing. There were fiber optic warnings all around us stating that the fiber optics are running underground. Running to what? And for what? And from where? The closest place is the air force base.

On the way home we had past the recycling plant and an Ash Grove factory so I got to snap a couple pictures. Check then out.

Camera: Nikon D200
Exposure: 0.8
Aperture: f/6.3
Focal Length: 70 mm
ISO Speed: 200

Well all in all I hope you enjoyed this post, I know I did. Hopefully there will be more nighttime photo events like this with Rory. Check back soon.

- Travis Sackett