© Jason Hawkes / Barcroft Media
These incredible images show dazzling Las Vegas from the sky at night.
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For the first time ever incredibly detailed pictures depicting the glitzy location – using new technology that has only been developed in the past 18 months – have been brought together in a book, called Las Vegas at Night.
The stunning series was taken by renowned aerial photographer Jason Hawkes, from Henley-on-Thames, Ox., in March. In the past he has shot famous day-time pictures of London, and other major cities.
© Jason Hawkes / Barcroft Media
Photographers around the world have only recently been able to capture detailed aerial images after dark. Using a state-of-the-art gyroscopic mount, professionals like Jason are now able to shoot world locations from a circling helicopter at night and get mind-boggling results.
He said: “Previously, while you could do this kind of aerial photography in the day, it was too difficult at night because of the background ‘noise’ you would get in the images.
“With little light you had to use camera settings with very high film speed which created noise. It made the images grainy and pretty ugly.”
© Jason Hawkes / Barcroft Media
Advances in cutting-edge photography equipment mean that aerial specialists like Jason, 42, can now get crystal clear shots that show world landmarks as they truly appear.
The gyroscopic mount is essentially a tripod with six sets of spinning gyros, contained inside three egg-shaped cases, that rotate extremely quickly. Their movement cancels out the wobbles and shakes caused by the helicopter blades.
Using the new gear Jason was able to heavily reduce the film speed – producing luscious neon-lit images of the most famous entertainment city in the world.
© Jason Hawkes / Barcroft Media
Jason’s latest works show many of the desert city’s most famous casino landmarks including the fake Eiffel Tower at Paris Las Vegas, the giant pyramid at Luxor Las Vegas and the famed erupting volcano at Mirage.
It took him two weeks out in Vegas to put the set together. After nine flights and more than 15 hours of flying he was able to touch down having created a jaw-dropping visual feast.
© Jason Hawkes / Barcroft Media
“There’s so many weird and wonderful things about Vegas that it was a pretty incredible place to be shooting like this at night.
“You are allowed to fly very low over the city and it gives you a great perspective on some of their crazy architecture. Watching the volcano erupt was pretty spectacular from the air.”
Words by Liam Miller
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