Oct. 26, 2007 - Fire in the Sky

Canon 5D, 70 - 300 mm IS @ 85 mm, f/6.3, 1/60 sec., ISO 800

Even before moving to Las Vegas, one of my favorite spots was the observation deck / bar area on the 51st floor of the Rio Hotel and Casino. Since moving here, my wife and I have been up there a number of times, mostly to enjoy the view. On this particular evening (last night), the "view" included smoke and haze on the western horizon, drifting in from the California fires. As the sun set and the sky reddened, one could easily imagine the fires being just over the mountains that define the western edge of the Las Vegas valley. In reality, of course, the fires are hundreds of miles away.