Strip joint
Las Vegas on film by Hunter Barnes
My publisher’s nephew owns a cigar lounge, where some of the old timers of Vegas prefer to hang. He said I should fly out and see what I think of a project based around Old Vegas. Places like this, where you get just off the strip, is where you find the true characters that reside in Old Vegas. I knew, after sitting in the lounge for five minutes, that I needed to do this project. My favourite part of this project were the people I met and my experience in Vegas. It was a glimpse into a world that has greatly changed in a relatively short time span. I met everyone featured in the project through each other – I asked each of them what they thought was ‘real’ with regards to Vegas as we drove through the old part of town. What was real and remained of Old Vegas style?
The list of shots in the book seemed to grow and change as I went along, but it was important for me to stay open to that process to make sure that what I documented was accurate. I wanted everything to stay true to that style.
All of the colour photos in the book were shot on a Nikon FM2 with a 50mm f/2.8 Nikon lens. I have had this camera by my side for going-on 20 years now. It’s my favourite; if I had to narrow everything down to one favourite piece of kit then that would be it; it is the most reliable and versatile camera I have come across; it’s straight-up got soul!
I trained in photochemistry and traditional photographic techniques, and shoot exclusively on film – the pace of analogue is in harmony with my approach. Fundamental to my work is the journey, the people, the place, and committing them to film before they are changed or disappear.
The main challenge of this project was filtering out what wasn’t true to the Old Vegas style. Not much remains, but part of the spirit is still there and always will be… just off the strip.
Off the Strip by Hunter Barnes is published by Reel Art Press £19.95/$29.95. For further information and full list of stockists visit www.reelartpress.com
The main challenge of this project was filtering out so much that wasn’t true to the Old Vegas style. Not much remains – but part of the spirit is still there