My Favorites - Various Locations: Mister Joe Lekas

Vertical Blend - Wells Street Bridge with the L Train at Night

joelekas@gmail.com (Mister Joe Lekas) — Fri, 22 Jun 2012 20:06:21 GMT

]]>This is a combination of exposures that captures Wells Street Bridge at night with the 'L' train speeding by over the Chicago River.

A Night in Times Square - Manhattan

joelekas@gmail.com (Mister Joe Lekas) — Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

]]>A combination of various exposures (12) to capture a bustling city night in Manhattan's Times Square.

The Cloud Gate / Bean at Last

joelekas@gmail.com (Mister Joe Lekas) — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 21:43:18 GMT

]]>I vowed to never do it - but I caved and created my spin on the bean / cloud gate.

Chrysler Building Aerial at Night - Manhattan

joelekas@gmail.com (Mister Joe Lekas) — Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

]]>A view of Manhattan's Chrysler Building at night from above. 8 exposures combined to maximize range and detail.

The Welder - Chicago

joelekas@gmail.com (Mister Joe Lekas) — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 22:10:44 GMT

]]>The workers at Finkl Steel were nice enough to let me observe them working. Giant glowing cylinders would drop from a machine, and then this guy would finish off the ends in a shower of sparks and molten metal. At one point a big burst of these sparks flew a bit close for comfort - almost burned my shoes.

Aerial Manhattan Northeast - above the clouds

joelekas@gmail.com (Mister Joe Lekas) — Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

]]>This is a night aerial view of a broad expanse of Manhattan, New York. It has been pieced together from 9 raw photographs. The view is Northeast. Times Square and the Theater District may be seen on the left, the Chrysler Building on the right, and 30 Rockefeller Plaza in the middle. The park in the center is Bryant Park.

The Mirage Volcano Erupting in Las Vegas at Night

joelekas@gmail.com (Mister Joe Lekas) — Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

]]>This is The Mirage Resort and Casino's Volcano erupting in Las Vegas.
The final image seen here was quite a challenge. I wound up creating about 16 different base hdr files in various exposure combinations in order to get each area right. The fire and lava all came from a separate 12 or so exposures that were taken with a higher iso.

1,353 Feet Straight Up 2 - Blue Hour

joelekas@gmail.com (Mister Joe Lekas) — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 23:32:26 GMT

]]>From the Sears / Willis Tower - straight down 1,353 feet.

Sailing Alcatraz Island - San Francisco

joelekas@gmail.com (Mister Joe Lekas) — Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

]]>This is Alcatraz Island with the remains of the famous prison still standing on its surface. "The Rock" was used as a federal prison from 1933 to 1963.

Blue City - Chicago Over the River Blue Hour

joelekas@gmail.com (Mister Joe Lekas) — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 21:26:36 GMT

]]>This was nine exposures shot vertically during blue hour. 3 views combined for a tall panorama.

Chicago Board of Trade at Night Glowing

joelekas@gmail.com (Mister Joe Lekas) — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 21:26:57 GMT

]]>My take on the famous view of the Chicago Board of Trade Building. This night shot is an hdr composited from 9 exposures. 3 vertical shots combined.

Looking over the Bay at Alcatraz - San Francisco

joelekas@gmail.com (Mister Joe Lekas) — Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

]]>This image is a blend of exposures taken from a vantage point on Van Ness Street. "The Rock" was used as a federal prison from 1933 to 1963.

Harold Washington Library Owls - Chicago

joelekas@gmail.com (Mister Joe Lekas) — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 22:10:22 GMT

]]>The Harold Washington Library is a rather ornate Chicago building. It was designed by the architectural firm of Hammond, Beeby and Babka in 1987. Large owls of "knowledge" and seed pods of "midwest harvest" adorn the roof.

Red Rocks Park 01 - Morrison, Colorado (Near Denver)

joelekas@gmail.com (Mister Joe Lekas) — Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

]]>Located in Colorado, Red Rocks Park is a large formation of red sandstone. An amphitheatre has been carved into the land for outdoor concerts.

Alamo Square Painted Ladies - San Francisco

joelekas@gmail.com (Mister Joe Lekas) — Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

]]>This is my take on the classic San Francisco shot of the painted ladies from Alamo Square.

Looking Up the Rookery Building Spiraling Staircase - Chicago

joelekas@gmail.com (Mister Joe Lekas) — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 16:26:48 GMT

]]>The famous spiraling staircase at the Chicago Rookery Building. It was finished in 1888 by John Wellborn Root and Daniel Burnham. It is the oldest still-standing skyscraper in Chicago. Up top, it is rumored, is a beautiful glass encased area that served as the offices for the architects.The lobby was re-done by Frank Lloyd Wright in the early 1900's. The Rookery is now a national historic landmark.What you are looking at isn't down - it's looking up the staircase with my tripod angled almost flat.

Gold City: Chicago Aerial View from the Hancock Observatory - 12 Long Exposures

joelekas@gmail.com (Mister Joe Lekas) — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 21:26:10 GMT

]]>This was a pain to take...got up to the Hancock observatory and was told...no tripods. So, I had to MacGuyver it and rest the camera on a tiny little ledge around the tower, prop it up in a shoe, on my bag, whatever I could - and used my remote cord to take the 12 long exposures used to make 4 vertical shots. Those 4 sets of 3 were then each fused together to make 4 hdr photos, which I then stitched together to make a monster. Whew!

A Twilight Slice of Chicago from the South

joelekas@gmail.com (Mister Joe Lekas) — Thu, 24 May 2012 17:25:36 GMT

]]>This is the result of several exposures blended together in various combinations. Each combination reflects a portion of the image - when composited, shows a view of downtown Chicago from the South. The yellow building near the center and in front of Willis Tower is The Metropolitan Correctional Center.

A 30 Exposure Impossible View of Wrigley Field

joelekas@gmail.com (Mister Joe Lekas) — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 21:27:14 GMT

]]>For those of you around here, you know that to get a view of Wrigley without cars, traffic lights, buildings, etc - you have to be right up at its doorstep. So that's exactly what I did.I shot six vertical shots from left to right to make this. And for each of the six, I shot 5 exposures. After blending each of the vertical shots to maximize dynamic range, I hand stitched the whole thing together.So this one was a lot of work that resulted in a 275mb tiff, that after being cropped is 32 inches by 17 inches at 300dpi. But at least I now have a shot of all of Wrigley Field without distractions!

1,353 Feet Straight Up Above Chicago

joelekas@gmail.com (Mister Joe Lekas) — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 21:29:40 GMT

]]>This must be what it's like to fly.Staring down below, notice the globe.From the Sears / Willis Tower's "ledge."

** This shot is a limited edition print only

Turning Day Into Night - L Train "S" Curve - Chicago

joelekas@gmail.com (Mister Joe Lekas) — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 21:30:08 GMT

]]>To achieve this long exposure during broad daylight, I used a 64x 1.8 neutral density filter, iso 100, and shot it at f16. This is an hdr with the longest exposure being 20 seconds. Pretty neat in bright light.This is the "s" curve in the Chicago "L" line by the Merchandise Mart in the loop.

Golden Navy Pier Monster Panorama - Chicago

joelekas@gmail.com (Mister Joe Lekas) — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 16:26:28 GMT

]]>I like the golden glow Chicago gives off. Full size is 10,518 by 4883 at 300dpi. I cropped off a little bit of the left and right, though. And it is 7 vertical shots across (5 exposures each) - totaling 35 exposures you're looking at.

Buckingham Fountain Yellow at Night - Chicago

joelekas@gmail.com (Mister Joe Lekas) — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 21:33:27 GMT

]]>Buckingham Fountain (lit yellow) in Chicago (Grant Park). I wanted to shoot at night because I find it far more interesting lit up in darkness, as well as being in the shadow of the loop's vast array of unique skyscrapers. To avoid the crowds, I went at night in the cold and rain.Modeled after Latona Fountain at Versailles by Jacques Lambert and statues by Marcel F. Loyau.

Metropolitan Correctional Center Prism - Chicago

joelekas@gmail.com (Mister Joe Lekas) — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 21:33:55 GMT

]]>A huge prison right in downtown Chicago. That explains the tiny windows. This grand triangular structure, sometimes referred to as "the prism," is named the Metropolitan Correctional Center. It is a vertical prison, and supposedly has this shape in order to reduce the time needed to patrol its halls. This brutalist 70's design struck me as a very odd building, indeed. But who knew it was a jail? There is rumored to be an exercise area on the rooftop. Once again, to be able to get a size I want and as much in the shot as possible, this is 3 vertical images stitched together, and 3 exposures for each image.

Hancock Beacon over Chicago (Aerial)

joelekas@gmail.com (Mister Joe Lekas) — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 21:35:23 GMT

]]>Here we are above Chicago, viewing the city loop at night. Visible are the Hancock Building (casting the strongest light), Trump Tower, 900 North Michigan Avenue, the United Building, the Tribune Tower, Marina City, and many more.

Soaring Over Golden Chicago (Aerial)

joelekas@gmail.com (Mister Joe Lekas) — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 21:34:30 GMT

]]>A golden glow night hdr over Chicago's skyscrapers. In this photo is the the circular top of the James R. Thompson Center, Daley Center, the Chicago Temple Building, Marina City, and more.

Brown Line L Train Passing Over Wells Street - Chicago

joelekas@gmail.com (Mister Joe Lekas) — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 21:43:14 GMT

]]>The "L" train zooming over the Chicago River via the Wells Street bridge.

Industrial Alley Inferno - Chicago

joelekas@gmail.com (Mister Joe Lekas) — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 21:45:14 GMT

]]>This is an askew alleyway leading to a bright welding / steel melting room on the North Side of Chicago.

Navy Pier Ferris Wheel and Swinging Chairs (wave swinger) Mashup

joelekas@gmail.com (Mister Joe Lekas) — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 21:56:50 GMT

]]>Lucky for me, the swinging chairs were off and perfectly still, while the ferris wheel moved behind it. A security guard opened a door and smacked me with it where I was squashed to get this angle.

3 Kings - Chicago

joelekas@gmail.com (Mister Joe Lekas) — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 22:00:38 GMT

]]>Contrasting architectural details.

Chicago Temple Building (Church on Top of a Skyscraper)

joelekas@gmail.com (Mister Joe Lekas) — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 22:00:52 GMT

]]>Church on top of a skyscraper?The Chicago Temple building houses the First United Methodist Church, which is Chicago’s oldest congregation. The main church occupies the first 3 floors. This top portion has something called the "Chapel in the Sky." The senior pastor lives up there, from what I've been told, and has a private balcony. Very interesting to see this on top of a skyscraper.It was the tallest building in Chicago when it opened in 1924, but the Chicago Board of Trade Building was built a tiny bit higher in 1930.

Inside Union Station - Chicago

joelekas@gmail.com (Mister Joe Lekas) — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 22:09:37 GMT

]]>9 combined shots (in brackets of 3) to make a vertical panorama inside Chicago's Union Station.

Industrial Panorama / See the Heat - Chicago

joelekas@gmail.com (Mister Joe Lekas) — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 22:11:38 GMT

]]>Inside the Frinkl Steel plant in Chicago - heat everywhere, machines constantly moving, molten things pouring....I respect these workers. There were many, but only one remained still and didn't turn into a blur of movement.

Aerial North Over the River from Willis / Sears Tower - Chicago

joelekas@gmail.com (Mister Joe Lekas) — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 22:17:49 GMT

]]>Looking North over Chicago we can see the Chicago River with a raised bridge, as well as both the Tribune and Sun Times buildings.

A Day in the Loop

joelekas@gmail.com (Mister Joe Lekas) — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 21:23:47 GMT

]]>9 Exposures around 6pm in Chicago's Loop.

Millennium Park Pritzker Pavilion Under a Dark Cloudy Sky

joelekas@gmail.com (Mister Joe Lekas) — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 17:02:23 GMT

]]>The Jay Pritzker Pavilion (in Millennium Park) was designed by Frank Gehry (winner of the National Medal of Art) and started construction in 1999. This outdoor venue holds 11,000 people or so. The brushed metal "ribbons" and blue lighting made for some high contrast.

Leaning Tower of...Niles - Just Outside Chicago

joelekas@gmail.com (Mister Joe Lekas) — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 20:49:09 GMT

]]>This massive Leaning Tower of Pisa replica resides next to a YMCA in Niles, Illinois off Touhy Avenue (15 min from O'Hare Airport). Odd, but very beautiful at night. Built in 1934, I believe it is 1/2 the actual size.

Aerial North Over the Merchandise Mart - Golden Chicago

joelekas@gmail.com (Mister Joe Lekas) — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 21:37:59 GMT

]]>This is 6 fused exposures of an aerial shot looking North over Chicago. The Merchandise Mart can be seen in the foreground with its peak lit red.

Art Institute Lion Looking Out

joelekas@gmail.com (Mister Joe Lekas) — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 00:14:30 GMT

]]>My take on the iconic view of the Lion and skyline at the Chicago Art Institute.

Hancock Beacon Blue

joelekas@gmail.com (Mister Joe Lekas) — Mon, 08 Nov 2010 22:55:44 GMT

]]>The last light of the day mixing with the night lights of the city - 2010

Lake Shore Drive 2

joelekas@gmail.com (Mister Joe Lekas) — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 17:54:38 GMT

]]>A revisit to Lake Shore Drive

Abandoned Chicago Loop During the Blizzard of Feb. 2011

joelekas@gmail.com (Mister Joe Lekas) — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 22:16:34 GMT

]]>Taken the 2/2/2011 under the "L" tracks in the loop, this photo shows how desolate downtown Chicago was during the blizzard.

70 Exposures - Massive Chicago Night Skyline Panorama (Near Adler Planetarium)

joelekas@gmail.com (Mister Joe Lekas) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 21:55:16 GMT

]]>This has taken me nearly a year to complete in pieces. The panorama combines around 70 exposures (11 vertial hdrs were stitched together to create the skyline in addition to varioius detail shots).
This was taken looking West along East Solidarity Drive near the Adler Planetarium and spans from The Field Museum to Navy Pier.
Image size: 19,953 by 3,990 pixels.
*Please see individual sections (next) to view larger

(01/03 - South Piece) 70 Exposures - Massive Chicago Night Skyline Panorama (Near Adler Planetarium)

joelekas@gmail.com (Mister Joe Lekas) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 22:08:44 GMT

]]>01/03

*This is the South piece of the Panorama, divided into thirds.

This has taken me nearly a year to complete in pieces. The panorama combines around 70 exposures (11 vertial hdrs were stitched together to create the skyline in addition to varioius detail shots).
This was taken looking West along East Solidarity Drive near the Adler Planetarium and spans from The Field Museum to Navy Pier.
Image size: 19,953 by 3,990 pixels.

(02/03 - Middle Piece) 70 Exposures - Massive Chicago Night Skyline Panorama (Near Adler Planetarium)

joelekas@gmail.com (Mister Joe Lekas) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 22:08:44 GMT

]]>02/03

*This is the middle piece of the Panorama, divided into thirds.

This has taken me nearly a year to complete in pieces. The panorama combines around 70 exposures (11 vertial hdrs were stitched together to create the skyline in addition to varioius detail shots).
This was taken looking West along East Solidarity Drive near the Adler Planetarium and spans from The Field Museum to Navy Pier.
Image size: 19,953 by 3,990 pixels.

(03/03 - North Piece) 70 Exposures - Massive Chicago Night Skyline Panorama (Near Adler Planetarium)

joelekas@gmail.com (Mister Joe Lekas) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 22:08:44 GMT

]]>03/03

*This is the North piece of the Panorama, divided into thirds.

This has taken me nearly a year to complete in pieces. The panorama combines around 70 exposures (11 vertial hdrs were stitched together to create the skyline in addition to varioius detail shots).
This was taken looking West along East Solidarity Drive near the Adler Planetarium and spans from The Field Museum to Navy Pier.
Image size: 19,953 by 3,990 pixels.

San Francisco Rooftop Skyline at Night from North Beach

joelekas@gmail.com (Mister Joe Lekas) — Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

]]>This skyline of San Francisco was shot from a rooftop in North Beach.

San Francisco Transamerica Pyramid and Bay Bridge at Night

joelekas@gmail.com (Mister Joe Lekas) — Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

]]>This is an exposure combination of San Francisco's Transamerica Pyramid Building and the Bay Bridge at night.

The Bay Bridge Towards Oakland at Night - San Francisco

joelekas@gmail.com (Mister Joe Lekas) — Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

]]>This is a blend of exposures of San Francisco's Bay Bridge taken on a foggy night. It was taken from the San Francisco side - looking towards Oakland.

Coit Tower Beacon on a Foggy Night - San Francisco

joelekas@gmail.com (Mister Joe Lekas) — Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

]]>This is a night exposure blend of San Francisco's Coit Tower atop Telegraph Hill. This 210 foot concrete structure was built in 1933 (designed by architect Arthur Brown, Jr.) at the bequest of Lillie Hitchcock Coit. She was a wealthy volunteer firefighter in San Francisco who wished to add something to the beauty of the city.
Coit Tower is often said to have been designed to resemble a fire hose nozzle, but this appears to be only speculation.
This was a difficult blend to get illuminated properly due to the lack of very bright light sources directly near the tower. I compensated for this by having my longest exposure timed at slightly over 4 minutes while I used my body to shield the tripod from the winds up on the roof I shot from.

The Embarcadero with The San Francisco Ferry Building at Night

joelekas@gmail.com (Mister Joe Lekas) — Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

]]>The Embarcadero is on the eastern waterfront of San Francisco. This was shot right before nightfall. The San Francisco Ferry Building can be seen on the right.

01/03 - San Francisco Foggy Night Panorama from Pier 14 - 01 LEFT

joelekas@gmail.com (Mister Joe Lekas) — Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

]]>01 of 03
This is the left segment of the San Francisco panorama that I have divided into three.
75 exposures were used to create this panorama, fusing sets of exposures in order to create each segment.
This is a shot of San Francisco's skyline from the end of Pier 14 on a foggy night.

02/03 - San Francisco Foggy Night Panorama from Pier 14 - 02 MIDDLE

joelekas@gmail.com (Mister Joe Lekas) — Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

]]>02 of 03
This is the middle segment of the San Francisco panorama that I have divided into three.
75 exposures were used to create this panorama, fusing sets of exposures in order to create each segment.
This is a shot of San Francisco's skyline from the end of Pier 14 on a foggy night.

03/03 - San Francisco Foggy Night Panorama from Pier 14 - 03 RIGHT

joelekas@gmail.com (Mister Joe Lekas) — Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

]]>03 of 03
This is the right side segment of the San Francisco panorama that I have divided into three.
75 exposures were used to create this panorama, fusing sets of exposures in order to create each segment.
This is a shot of San Francisco's skyline from the end of Pier 14 on a foggy night.

Manhattan Over the East River at Night

joelekas@gmail.com (Mister Joe Lekas) — Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

]]>25 combined exposures used to create a large panorama of the Manhattan skyline over the East River at night.

Original size at 300dpi is 8270px by 4807px.

Empire State Skyline at Night - Manhattan

joelekas@gmail.com (Mister Joe Lekas) — Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

]]>8 exposures were used to bring out detail in one of New York City's most striking skylines.

Soaring Over Manhattan at Night

joelekas@gmail.com (Mister Joe Lekas) — Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

]]>An Aerial view of Manhattan at night - multiple exposures.

"Unconditional Surrender" Sculpture in Times Square - Manhattan

joelekas@gmail.com (Mister Joe Lekas) — Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

]]>This shot was particularly difficult to complete due to the explosion of neon signs and movement in Times Square. I had to combine many renditions and shots to composite the image you see here. "Unconditional Surrender" is the name of this sculpture by Seward Johnson. The 25 foot piece is based on a famous photograph from Life Magazine celebrating the end of the war with Japan.

Brooklyn Bridge at Night

joelekas@gmail.com (Mister Joe Lekas) — Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

]]>The Brooklyn Bridge over the East River - Manhattan 2010

Facing Brooklyn Bridge at Night

joelekas@gmail.com (Mister Joe Lekas) — Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

]]>An iconic New York City shot on the Brookyln Bridge under a partially cloudy sky - fused exposures.

Boston at Night from the Christian Science Center Plaza Reflecting Pool

joelekas@gmail.com (Mister Joe Lekas) — Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

]]>This is a shot of downtown Boston at night as seen from the Christian Science Center Plaza's reflecting pool.

**This one was incredibly tricky as it was ghosting city. I had to create about 20 different HDRS based on different exposure combinations and then pick out the pieces that worked...even if it was for a single window or reflection.

Paul Revere's Monument with Old North Church - Boston

joelekas@gmail.com (Mister Joe Lekas) — Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

]]>This is the iconic monument of Paul Revere during his midnight ride in front of Old North Church in Boston, Massachusetts. This image is a combination of 12 exposures.

Boston Night 01 - Over Atlantic Avenue by the South Battery

joelekas@gmail.com (Mister Joe Lekas) — Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

]]>Facing West towards Boston at night over Atlantic Avenue near South Battery Harbor. The tower in this shot is the "Custom House Tower," now a Mariott.

Boston Slice - The Flour & Grain Exchange Building

joelekas@gmail.com (Mister Joe Lekas) — Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

]]>This is a slightly elevated shot of downtown Boston, Ma. The castle-like buidling near the center is The Flour & Grain Exchange Building (177 Milk Street). The building was completed in 1892 and features a Romanesque style. It orginally held the Boston Chamber of Commerce, so it is sometimes known as the Boston Chamber of Commerce Building.

Old and New: Trinity Church (Boston) and 500 Boylston Street at Night

joelekas@gmail.com (Mister Joe Lekas) — Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

]]>This is a view of the famous Trinity Church in Boston's Back Bay contrasting the Post-Modern 500 Boylston Street Building. Trinity Church was built from 1872 to 1877, while 500 Boylston Street was finished in 1985.

The Boston Public Library - 700 Boylston Street

joelekas@gmail.com (Mister Joe Lekas) — Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

]]>The Boston Public Library was established in 1848. It was actually the first library to publicly allow patrons to borrow books in the United States.
It is currently the second largest public library in America.

Rooftops in Boston - Daylight Skyline

joelekas@gmail.com (Mister Joe Lekas) — Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

]]>This skyline is a combination of shots from slightly before sunset taken on a rooftop in Boston.

Luxor Las Vegas at Night - Sphinx and Beam

joelekas@gmail.com (Mister Joe Lekas) — Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

]]>This is one of my favorite views of Las Vegas. This is the Luxor Hotel and Casino at night. The giant Sphinx that sits before the pyramid like a guard. At night, the infamous light beam atop the Luxor (at 42.3 billion candlepower) is the strongest light beam in the world. It is visible at least 10 miles into outer space.
This MGM operated casino is said to be the third largest casino on earth.

The Moon Over the Bellagio at Night - Las Vegas

joelekas@gmail.com (Mister Joe Lekas) — Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

]]>A moonlit night in front of The Bellagio Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The Cloudy Strip at Night - Las Vegas

joelekas@gmail.com (Mister Joe Lekas) — Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

]]>A 5 exposure fusion of the Las Vegas Strip at night - shot from the Bellagio walkway.

Las Vegas Monorail Station Entrance - Outside Bally's

joelekas@gmail.com (Mister Joe Lekas) — Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

]]>This is one of the monorail station entrances along the 3.9 mile track on the Las Vegas Strip.

MGM Giants

joelekas@gmail.com (Mister Joe Lekas) — Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

]]>This is 7 combined exposures that were taken outside the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Caesars Palace with Fountain, Las Vegas

joelekas@gmail.com (Mister Joe Lekas) — Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

]]>Multiple exposures were fused to bring out the tonal range here - Caesars Palace and the fountain were shot using a wide angle lens.

New York New York - Vegas Night

joelekas@gmail.com (Mister Joe Lekas) — Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

]]>This is a wide angle combination of many exposures in order to show the complex lighting and shapes that the New York New York Hotel and Casino displays at night.

Caesar Points - Las Vegas

joelekas@gmail.com (Mister Joe Lekas) — Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

]]>This was taken in front of Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas, Nevada (Fused exposures).

The Inn and Spa at Loretto

joelekas@gmail.com (Mister Joe Lekas) — Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

]]>A pueblo architecture hotel in downtown Santa Fe, New Mexico.

750 ft Underground: Carlsbad Cavern - The Big Room (New Mexico)

joelekas@gmail.com (Mister Joe Lekas) — Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

]]>This is a combination of long exposures in the dimly lit interior of the vast Big Room inside Carlsbad Caverns in Southern New Mexico. It is located 750 feet underground in the Guadalupe Mountains. This room is mostly limestone, 4,000 feet long, 625 feet wide, and 255 feet high at its peak. I believe it is the seventh largest cave chamber in the world. 6.2 football fields would fit comfortably down in the Big Room.

A Stream 750 Feet Underground - Carlsbad Caverns

joelekas@gmail.com (Mister Joe Lekas) — Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

]]>This is a combination of long exposures in the dimly lit interior of the vast Big Room inside Carlsbad Caverns in Southern New Mexico. It is located 750 feet underground in the Guadalupe Mountains.
This particular area was on interest to me due to the vibrant underground stream running through the cavern.

Desert Sunset in Northern New Mexico

joelekas@gmail.com (Mister Joe Lekas) — Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

]]>The sun spills over the sage brush as it sets over the desert of Northern New Mexico.

"Garden of the Gods" 2 - Colorado Springs, CO

joelekas@gmail.com (Mister Joe Lekas) — Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

]]>This is one of the natural rock formations inside the "Garden of the Gods" in Colorado (as seen from a neighboring mountain).

Red Rocks Park 02 - Morrison, Colorado (Near Denver)

joelekas@gmail.com (Mister Joe Lekas) — Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

]]>Located in Colorado, Red Rocks Park is a large formation of red sandstone. An amphitheatre has been carved into the land for outdoor concerts.

Denver Colorado - Holiday Union Station at Night

joelekas@gmail.com (Mister Joe Lekas) — Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

]]>Denver's Union Station at night - decorated for the holidays.

The Capitol Building of Denver at Night

joelekas@gmail.com (Mister Joe Lekas) — Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

]]>The capitol building of Denver is located at 200 East Colfax Avenue. This is 5 fused exposures taken at night.

Architectural Wings Open in Milwaukee Over Lake Michigan (Wisconsin)

joelekas@gmail.com (Mister Joe Lekas) — Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

]]>The vast wings of this art museum actually move, closing around the building at night. It is located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

A Panorama of Alaska's Summit Lake and Chugach Mountains

joelekas@gmail.com (Mister Joe Lekas) — Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

]]>This is a panorama of the Chucagh Mountains and Summit Lake near Moose Pass, Alaska. It is a combination of 22 separate exposures that were blended in order to maximize the visual tonal range present in this scene. This is located approximately 80 miles South of Anchorage and 45 miles North of Seward, Alaska.

Moose Pass, Alaska - Looking Out on Tern Lake

joelekas@gmail.com (Mister Joe Lekas) — Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

]]>This is a shot of Alaska while standing at the foot of Tern Lake in Moose Pass (about 2 hours South of Anchorage).

Sugar Creek at Sunset - Illinois

joelekas@gmail.com (Mister Joe Lekas) — Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

]]>Road trips allow for some new locations, and I found this spot called "Sugar Creek" about 5 miles off some small road near Lincoln, Illinois. The sunset over this creek and railroad tracks was quite a sight to behold. This is 9 exposures combined to bring out tonal range.

Mitchell Park Conservatory Domes - Milwaukee

joelekas@gmail.com (Mister Joe Lekas) — Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

]]>Situated in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, these " world's first conoidal domes" are a horticultural conservatory, housing a large variety of plants (tropical and native).

St. Louis Arch at Night with Spotlights

joelekas@gmail.com (Mister Joe Lekas) — Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

]]>A shot of the famous St. Louis arch at night with spotlights causing a prism effect on color as they criss cross the structure. This is multiple long exposures combined.

Architectural Wings Detail - Milwaukee Over Lake Michigan (Milwa

joelekas@gmail.com (Mister Joe Lekas) — Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

]]>The vast wings of this art museum actually move, closing around the building at night. It is located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Architectural Wings Closing in Milwaukee Over Lake Michigan (Wisconsin)

joelekas@gmail.com (Mister Joe Lekas) — Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

]]>The vast wings of this art museum actually move, closing around the building at night. It is located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Foreverton Panorama - Wisconsin

joelekas@gmail.com (Mister Joe Lekas) — Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

]]>A panorama of a sculpture/machine called "The Forevertron," near Baraboo, Wisconsin by "Dr. Evermore." This sculpture is rusting now, but I believe its original description involved propelling someone into space via the egg shaped capsule on top of the machine.

Forgotten Automobile Treasures

joelekas@gmail.com (Mister Joe Lekas) — Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

]]>A few abandoned old cars/trucks near Baraboo, Wisconsin. They are located in a field that serves as a sculpture park for "Dr. Evermore."

Bok Tower Carillon Over a Reflecting Pond - Bok Tower Sanctuary,

joelekas@gmail.com (Mister Joe Lekas) — Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

]]>Bok Tower Carillon, from Bok Tower Gardens near tampa, Florida in Lake Wales. One of the most interesting sanctuaries and gardens I've ever seen in my life. It is a National Historic Landmark.

Smoky Mountains, Tennessee

joelekas@gmail.com (Mister Joe Lekas) — Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

]]>A classic view of the lush mountain range taken from Gatlinburg, Tennessee.

Smoky Mountain Stream, Long Exposure - Tennessee

joelekas@gmail.com (Mister Joe Lekas) — Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

]]>Use of a ND filter to show movement of the water over about a 30 second exposure in broad daylight inside the Smoky Mountain National Park.

Old Gas Station Along Route 66 - Illinois

joelekas@gmail.com (Mister Joe Lekas) — Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

]]>A vintage gas station located along the infamous Route 66 in Illinois during sunset.

July Flooding Reflections 01

joelekas@gmail.com (Mister Joe Lekas) — Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

]]>Reflected trees in the still standing flood waters near the Morton Arboretum (Glen Ellyn, Illinois) in July 2010.

Bond Falls, Upper Peninsula of Michigan - Long Exposure (ND) Front View

joelekas@gmail.com (Mister Joe Lekas) — Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

]]>A cascading front view of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan's Bond Falls, a natural waterfall (enhanced by a dam) in Ontonagon County, Michigan. This is 9 exposures using a ND filter.

Millennium Bridge at Night HDR - London

joelekas@gmail.com (Mister Joe Lekas) — Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

]]>Under the Millennium Bridge in London, combining long night exposures to maximize tonal range.

Tower Bridge - London

joelekas@gmail.com (Mister Joe Lekas) — Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

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Somerset House - Night HDR - London

joelekas@gmail.com (Mister Joe Lekas) — Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

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Big Ben Glowing Gold Over the London Sky

joelekas@gmail.com (Mister Joe Lekas) — Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

]]>A shot of London's famous Big Ben clocktower on a cloudy day.

Dragon symbol of London, United Kingdom

joelekas@gmail.com (Mister Joe Lekas) — Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

]]>A shot of a statue of the winged dragon statue holding a shield in London, near the financial district.

Warwick Castle - England

joelekas@gmail.com (Mister Joe Lekas) — Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

]]>This is a medieval castle in the town of Warwick of Warwickshire, England. It was built in 1608 by William the Conqueror.

joelekas@gmail.com (Mister Joe Lekas) — Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

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Victoria Station - London

joelekas@gmail.com (Mister Joe Lekas) — Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

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Golden Hour Over the Thames - London

joelekas@gmail.com (Mister Joe Lekas) — Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

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Arenal Volcano Smoking 02 - Costa Rica

joelekas@gmail.com (Mister Joe Lekas) — Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

]]>Arenal Volcano is a constantly active and erupting volcano located in north-western Costa Rica in the province of Alajuela, canton of San Carlos, and district of La Fortuna. The last major eruption was in 1968 that destroyed the town of Tabacon.

Cellar Door

joelekas@gmail.com (Mister Joe Lekas) — Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

]]>The cellar door.

Golden Chicago Revisited

joelekas@gmail.com (Mister Joe Lekas) — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 19:59:38 GMT

]]>The first image I shot in my Chicago series has never quite satisfied me. So I went and reshot it.
This is a revisit to my "Golden City" shot. Instead of a shoe I used my backpack for a tripod this time...

The Chicago Board of Trade at Night Revisited

joelekas@gmail.com (Mister Joe Lekas) — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 20:33:31 GMT

]]>This is a revisit to one of my favorite views of Chicago: Down Lasalle Street towards the Board of Trade. I wanted to update this shot and incorporate more of Chicago's iconic bridges and vibrant surroundings. This is a combination of around a dozen exposures, but using various other ones to fit certain pieces into place that moved during long exposures.