Ian and I just returned from WPPI – the Wedding and Portrait Photographers International convention in Las Vegas.  Wow, what a wonderfully overwhelming experience it was!  There were informative classes with world renowned speakers, hands on location shoots, and a trade show to make any photographer swoon and go crazy with desire.  We woke up at dawn and spent long days and nights learning, absorbing, and yes, even partying. 

If the great and enlightening experience of a photographers convention weren’t enough, there’s also the excitement of “the strip” and the crazy assortment of hotels.  While we didn’t gamble a dime, we did enjoy walking through the various casinos, and dining in some pretty awesome restaurants.

I know I should be posting pictures of neon signs, street entertainers, and the fabulous hotel architeture  – but that wouldn’t be quite my style. However, sharing some wonderful images from nature would be.   Ian and I grabbed an extra day on the tail end of our trip and decided to hike Red Rock Canyon.  Now, THAT was something truly amazing.  The colors of the canyons blinded us with flaming reds, oranges, and yellows.  The midday sun forced deeply intense magenta shadows into crevices and cracks everywhere.  The wind kicked up to 30 miles an hour and gave us moments where we checked our balance as we navigated the massive boulders.  As the sun set we watched the shadows lengthen along the darkened sides of the canyon walls.  We listened to the silence as a fierce chill arrived with greater gusts of wind.  We sat and watched the ending of a day and the beginning of a night.  We marveled at how this natural and silent beauty could stand so tall and impressive, and so close to the chaos of the city.   Sadly, we were told, so few visitors ever drive out to see it.  Happily for us, this is one extra memory we’re glad we made.

Enjoy…. Robin