Giant Cinnamon Rolls
Missoula, Montana
2012

I’m not sure what they were actually preparing late at night at this bakery, but in my mind I was imagining giant cinnamon rolls for the next morning.

Can’t say I disagree: http://dearphotographer.com/post/22724307827/do-what-you-love

Watching Me Watching Him
Missoula, Montana
2012

You never know who might be stalking you behind your back, but you don’t have to worry as long as you’ve got your watch-wolf looking out for you.

Shut-Up and Deal
Missoula, Montana
2012

While in Missoula last week for the Montana Triennial 2012 art exhibit at the Missoula Art Museum (which included four of my photographs), I went out walking and looking for good photo-ops for an hour on Thursday night and then again for three hours the next morning. Occasionally I have periods of time when–as I like to put it–everything looks like art to me. This altered state of mind, often the result of viewing art in a museum or gallery, puts me into a highly creative mode photographically and I get a higher number of interesting photos than I normally do in such outings. This was the case both times I went out in Missoula. So for the next little while, POTDs will be from those Missoula moments.

Friday night was spent mostly walking around in a gentle rain and playing the (benign) voyeur, shooting scenes through windows and such, such as these poker players in a bar downtown.

The Bucks Stop Here
Las Vegas, Nevada
2012

On most of the strip it’s hard to tell that Las Vegas was hit really hard by the so-called Great Recession as everything is so vibrant and busy. But a peak through a broken down wooden fence on the north end of the strip shows a major case of arrested development–a huge mega-development stopped in mid-construction with no cranes, no construction trailers or other signs of recent activity. Not only do the bucks stop here, but so does this series of photos from Las Vegas. Tomorrow on to something else.

Patriot’s Dream #31
Las Vegas, Nevada
2012

Hot babes direct to you–complete with promises to make your American Dream come true no doubt.

Patience and Other Virtues
Las Vegas, Nevada
2012

For those too cheap to pay for tickets to a big name show in Vegas (e.g. moi), there’s always the option of the free outdoor entertainment at various hotels along the strip. We waited in front of Treasure Island in increasingly sardine-like conditions for over an hour to see the pirate show. For this young girl it was an exercise in patience, which she handled admirably. For me it was an exercise in self-control. I guess I did admirably as well–at least I didn’t go running and screaming away from all that gathering humanity. Was the wait and the crowd worth it? I knew going into it that it was likely to be worth the price of admission and it almost was.

You Have the Right to Remain Silent
Las Vegas, Nevada
2012

I’m pretty sure this guy is no tourist. If the suit doesn’t give him away, that radio earpiece in his left ear sure does. I couldn’t tell exactly what was going on, but it looks like maybe Lady Luck’s luck just ran out.

Snake Charmer
Las Vegas, Nevada
2012

Perhaps a big old snake should be a good enough gimmick in and of itself to attract a lot of people, but over the course of a couple of days I passed this young woman and her snake a number of times and never saw them do anything other than what you see in this photo–and she never had much of an audience. Her “act” might play well elsewhere, but the general nature of attractions in Vegas seems to demand something more.

Meet the Beatles
Las Vegas, Nevada
2012

A street artist explains his work to a passer-by. I was wondering what he was using for a model, he had no photo of the Beatles I coud see and there were no tribute bands playing on the street either.