Serendipity. I jumped into a cab at the Vegas airport to head to the hotel, and pulled one of those ad booklets from the pocket of the front seatback that have all the current attractions going on. I opened it at random and almost stopped breathing. The Venetian has an exhibit going on, 50 Greatest Photographs, an exhibition from National Geographic. The exhibit features these 50 most celebrated photographs from its 125 year history, and includes documentary and videos of the stories behind the photos and the photographers. I was there the next day! Had I not opened this booklet, I never would have known about it.
The exhibition was fascinating and featured photos from Steve McCurry, Sam Abell, Bill Allard, Joanna Pinneo, and David Alan Harvey just to name a few. I spent two hours in the gallery, mesmerized by it all. The photography shown here is incredibly amazing. I studied each and every one, and went back around and did it again. My favorites were by the photographers mentioned above. The photograph that evoked the greatest emotion, bringing me to tears, was one by Bill Allard, of a Peruvian boy crying after his sheep herd had been smashed into by a cab, killing multiple animals. I surprised myself by really falling in love with the work of Sam Abell and his photography of the American West; there is one photo of a cattle branding scene where I learned about “layering” in a scene photographed.
There were no photos allowed in the gallery, I really had to restrain myself; but, after coming out of the gallery, I took a few photos of the ceilings in the Venetian’s main foyer.
Vegas is such an incredible place.
Click on a photo to start the slideshow.
AngelineM's Blog 
Brilliant shots of the ceiling, Angeline!
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Thanks. They are really something!
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The exhibition sounds fantastic, Angeline, but I don’t know – from the almost hyper-reality of Nat Geo cover shots to the completely OTT romanticised world of Vegas … mind-boggling 🙂
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The diversity of what goes on in Vegas is indeed mind-boggling. Who would ever believe that things like this could co-exist in the same place. I’ve been to Vegas enough to know that it’s not all about booze and gambling, and the faux glitz, and shallow lifestyle.
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hi Angeline … i would have loved to see this exhibit as well, but there was a different one. i remember watching the documentary on the Nat Geo channel about the photographer’s search for his “model” … it was amazing! saw these lovely ceiling and was so awed by their gleaming beyond bright colors … funny, i had the same feeling when i saw exactly the same grandiose in its Asian counterpart in Macau 😉
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I’ll have to remember to tune in to the Nat Geo channel more often. I don’t watch much TV, but this is one channel that I love.
I didn’t know there was an Asian counterpart to the Venetian….wow! I just googled it!!! Those ceilings are truly beautiful!
Thanks for stopping in to chat April. Appreciate it.
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Hi Angeline, speaking of ceilings, i guess you have seen the beautiful glass masterpieces of Dale Chihuly over at the Bellagio … take a lot of photos! thank you for the follow, honored with the privilege 🙂
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Hi April, I returned home last week, but I did get over to the Bellagio! I’ve made many trips to Vegas, so didn’t take any photos of the ceiling this time. I did get some in the conservatory…that coming up soon 🙂
It’s nice to connect here!
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Wow! Those ceilings are fantabulous!
It must have been amazing to see the collection of photographs. The one in your first photo I recognise.
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The ceilings at the Venetian are incredible. I know they’re just replicas, but displayed so well here.
The first photo at the top of my post, the sign for the exhibit, is by Steve McCurry. He took this iconic photo, and then went back some years later looking for this woman to know that she was still alive or not…..she was!
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50 Greatest Photographs in Vegas?!!
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Yes!!!! I was so thrilled and excited! The gallery the exhibition is displayed in is lovely, all wood floors, dim lights with the photographs enlarged and lit on the walls. Absolutely a must see if you ever have the chance.
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Wow! Thank you for the info!
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You’re quite welcome; hope you get to see it. I’m not sure where else it is supposed to travel to after Vegas.
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So envious Angeline! 🙂
Steve McCurry I am familiar with. Just googled Bill Allard and that photo you mention is indeed heartwrenching. Geniuses aren’t they?
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Oh, Madhu, if this exhibition every comes anywhere near you, go and see it. Incredible!
I never thought to go to google or Wiki to show the photos on my post. I’m glad you looked it up.
They are all creative geniuses.
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Oh!!! You were very very lucky!!! And you were staying at the Venetia Hotel??? I loved it”!!!
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Yes, Ilargia, lucky to have found out about it by chance, and lucky to see it.
No, we stayed at Mandalay Bay, that’s our favorite place in Vegas to stay at, it’s a little more laid back and quiet.
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We stayed at MGM, but we saw all of them…I could never imagine the hotels were like that…!!!!
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Really something, aren’t they? We had lunch at the Venetian, saw the exhibit, walked around the place a bit, and it was just to hyper there…we were glad to get out of there.
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