When you get bored...

Actually, it is quite cool on Mount Charleston during the summer, and its less than an hour drive, using $4.50 per gallon gas, while blasting the air conditioner.

I live where it's green and would love to come out there! Big sky, sweeping panoramas. It's almost impossible to find some natural area not spoiled by a house in the middle of it or unwanted people in the scene. When I get stuck creatively I go macro. Not insects or animals but look for patterns in plants, rocks, erosion etc. What about cactus? Old rusted machinery, many things can be interesting up close enough. You could also try doing figures, portraits or even self-portraits.

There's always Lake Mead; the canyons are magnificent, the girls and guys are overexposed, and nothing beats a quick dip to cool your burning - uh, feet.

Right now you have a nearly full moon, and the cool desert nights are perfect for star trails and moonlight landscapes. The deserts are beautiful at sunrise, and you can be back to air conditioned civilization before the temp goes over 80.

I ♥ deserts.

You can go to the Strip and do street photography.

You can go to the Bellagio botanical gardens and check out the latest display.

You can go across the street and watch people make fools of themselves in front of the Paris fountains.

You can check out the flamingos down the street.

Have you checked out Sharks Reef at Mandalay Bay? I did some low-light shooting there to test out my new camera.

You can check out the gondolas at the Venetian.

The nice thing about the strip is that there is always something going on and if you get too hot you can always duck into a casino to cool off.

Nudes.

Grab a human, any human. Find a window with a gauzy white curtain. Grab a piece of white foamcore or cardboard for a reflector to fill shadows. Work on sculpting light around facial contours. Or, set up a dozen rocks on your kitchen table, and turn it into a depth of field labratory.

[[Actually, it is quite cool on Mount Charleston during the summer]]

Indeed. And even better at night. That area is pretty decent for long-exposure night photography provided you're looking any direction but east :) We just went up Lee Canyon Road and parked near where it turns into Deer Creek I think (this was a few years ago.)

Thats funny I live near the Ocean and I'm tired of costal pictures.

I havent gone to Vegas since I got my DSLR but I've always wanted to take the $30 elevator ride to the top of the Stratosphere and take the picture of the strip thats been taken so many times, and be able to say I took it.

The sun setting behind the luxor, or a long exposure of the 15 with all the casinos in the backround.

Last time I was there the Tropicana had bikini contests in the summer that could be fun.

If anything you are in the best city you can be in to experiment with light.

WOW! Thanks for all the responses. The only thing about going to the strip/mt charleston/lake mead is that gas prices ARE ridiculous here and they are long rides. I love Mt. Charleston though, I actually got married up there and have some beautiful pics that my photographer took :) I would feel so touristy going to the strip all though I have to admit I haven't really done any shots there, so I need to go!

Richard, I'm so bored because i haven't gotten my macro lens yet! I'm waiting (impatiently) for it to arrive. I think when I get that I won't be lacking inspiration lol.

John, the only person around for nudes is my hubby....he's not interested :)

Matt, cool idea I'll try it.

Cisco, Let's switch, I'll go to the beach you come here....deal?