Reno

[Kirk Gittings]

I'm going to be in Reno (Sparks actually) for 5 days while my wife attends a chefs conference. I have a little bit of commercial shooting to do but have some time to look around. I'm more looking for odd (landscapes) and post apocalyptic (ruins) than pretty landscapes. What is close by?

[Allen Rumme]

Kirk,

If you can find time, and if it is still accessible, try to get to a place called American Flats. It is worth the trip. It is near Gold Hill, Nv which is south of Virginia City. American Flats contains a bunch of abandoned mining structures and is the graffiti capital of that part of the world. I was just looking at it on Google Earth the other day. There is some information out on the internet that makes it sound as if it might get torn down, so one would have to check to see if it is still there. Someone on the forum probably has up to date information.

If you do a google search for american flats nevada you can see a bunch of images of the place. I would love to go back there.

[Kirk Gittings]

Sounds like my kind of place.

[Kirk Gittings]

Has it been torn down does anyone know?

[John Kasaian]

Lake Tahoe for mountain landscapes. Virginia City is a tourist trap so get there before the tour busses do. Genoa is a lot more laid back but not nearly as develped. The Truckee River is always nice.I'd bet Jim Galli could supply you with current info on ghost towns and such.

[Keith Pitman]

I'm going to be in Reno (Sparks actually) for 5 days while my wife attends a chefs conference. I have a little bit of commercial shooting to do but have some time to look around. I'm more looking for odd (landscapes) and post apocalyptic (ruins) than pretty landscapes. What is close by?

When I lived there in the 80's, we used to say, "Reno is so close to hell, you can see Sparks."

Virginia City and the vicinity is a good suggestion and pretty close to Reno/Sparks. There is a vintage cemetery at Virginia City that can be interesting and challenging.

[Merg Ross]

Kirk, you may want to take a look at Pyramid Lake. I used to camp and photograph there forty years ago, but it no doubt has changed. There were some strange outcroppings, and always the opportunity to do more than pretty landscapes. I know what you mean. Anyway, even without coming back with keepers, it might be worth a look. Not too far from Sparks.

http://www.google.com/search?q=pyramid+lake+nv+photos&hl=en&prmd=imvns&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=rEhUT4GCHvDZiALgwcG0Bg&ved=0CCEQsAQ&biw=873&bih=537

[Jim Galli]

lol, my kids live in Reno so I often take the camera....but rarely find anything to photograph. a "can't see the forest for the trees" problem I'm sure. I most often end up at the National Auto Museum when that happens. I DO have some nice things from back streets of Virginia City though. As always, the shots are where you find them. The salt flat desert east of Fallon might be productive.

[John Kasaian]

IIRC there is (or used to be) some big old empty hotel of historic interest alongside the Truckee River. I think it was famous for Marlyn Monroe spending time there for some residence requirement to get her Nevada divorce.
The old State buildings in Carson City are pretty nice, too, nestled amid cottonwoods (?) or whatever they are.

[Kirk Gittings]

Thanks all. Still curious about whether American Flats is still there and are there any prehistoric sites visually interesting near Reno?

[ROL]

I'm more looking for odd (landscapes) and post apocalyptic (ruins) than pretty landscapes. What is close by?

The Black Rock Desert, particularly the last week of August (BRC – very "post apocalyptic").:p

Be careful at Pyramid Lake, observe the latest tribal regulations and "quicksand" road shoulders. There is a mustang relocation center just north of Sparks east of the Pyramid Lake Hwy (no, not a prostitute societal re–entry program), which with a setting sun and rising moon, I recall once looking like a Marlboro ad or a scene from the "The Big Country".

[Drew Wiley]

"Close by" is relative in Nevada. If you want a lonely section of road with opportunistic open spaces, you could head out Hwy 50, but not much architectual until Austin halfway
across the state. If snow is still light and Hwy 395 is open, you can get to Bridgeport in
about 2 hrs with a fascinating old courthouse. Virginia City is a lot closer to Reno but a
tourist trap. Desertscapes abound in every direction except West toward Tahoe. Other than Fwy 80 just about any backroad can get interesting, and old shacks and mines are
everywhere, but not necessarily intact architecture. I'd ask J. Galli.

[Drew Wiley]

Just looked up the distance to Hawthorne, but it's two hours away too. More apocalytic than post-apocatlyptic. Tiny town on a huge desert lake with lots of military bunkers etc.
Under the right conditions the light can be reminiscent of NM. Wouldn't head out any of
those places without a slpg bag and extra food and water. Some of those roads get pretty
lonely but sure can be interesting. A lot of military stuff around Fallon too, a lot closer
to Reno, but I haven't personally checked into it. The Salt Wells whorehouse is pretty
bizarre - fancy little pink shack out on a bleak salt flat beside Hwy 50.

[Kirk Gittings]

Apparently American Flats is still there. I ran across some postings by a group of photographers who went there two days ago.

[brianam]

"Graffiti capital of that part of the world". So, would photos American Flat's mining structures end up really being photos of graffiti?

I'm sure we've all seen that - places that are known to be abandoned get tagged fast. (esp. here in California). Kind of a shame if you're just looking for dilapidated industry. :)
I guess that's where barns and wooden structures come out ahead subject-wise: it's harder to spray paint deteriorating wood.

[Keith S. Walklet]

Bump Pyramid Lake. Also, two hours east of Reno on 80 is Thunder Mountain. See http://thundermountainmonument.com/ a photographic Mecca of sorts in Nevada. Unique. If you're headed this weekend, keep going for another half-hour to Winneumucca, Shooting of the West is 3/7-11 (gotta like those dates in Nevada).

[Merg Ross]

Be careful at Pyramid Lake, observe the latest tribal regulations and "quicksand" road shoulders.

Good advice, especially be aware of the "quicksand". Last time there my van sank up to the differential and I hiked a long way for a tow (before cell phones and the visitor center). Be careful where you park!

[Terry Hayden]

Pyramid lake is an interesting place - the largest Tufa formations I've ever seen. Not as other worldly as Mono Lake, but really really big. If you go, do get your
day pass from the local tribe - they patrol the lake roads and check every car.

Hawthorne is unique as well - used to be a weekend ride destination for a motorcycle group I belonged to. Friendly casino, no crowds, cheap lodgings. The quanset hut architectural style is everywhere from the military presence. I remember them not being able to show a movie in the local theater until after
dark - too many holes in the roof letting light in...

[Kirk Gittings]

Never made it to Pyramid Lake-scheduling issue with the people we were visiting, but American Flats was truly amazing-well worth the trip by itself. I'm so glad I got to shoot there before it was torn down-which is just a matter of time. I went there two days. I'll get to pyramid on another trip. Also saw allot of interesting petroglyph sites-nothing too photographic.

Thanks all.

[Terry Hayden]

Kirk,

I'm going to be within driving distance of American Flats late next week - any more info you could give on access or directions would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Terry

[Drew Wiley]

I was lucky enough a number of years ago to do a full portfolio of a similar structure prior
to any vandalism. Ironically, it was the eventual property owner who messed it all up with
giant "No Trespassing" paint. Lots of fascinating structures in the Gold Country here have been totally destroyed one way or the other, either by being outright bulldozed or by being faux gussied up to attract tourists. The sad thing, just like I mentioned in a previous
post regarding archaeological sites, is that if property owners don't want anyone snooping
around, they will deliberately destroy any historic or prehistoric evidence in sight. Dyanmite
craters go well with goats and chickens and elvis rugs airing out over the mobile.

[Kirk Gittings]

Terry,

Best light is in afternoon, but I went there both morning and afternoon and found plenty to photograph. If it has been raining allot or snowing the very last leg (a 1/8-1/4 mile) will be a little sketchy but doable.

Going downhill south out of Gold Hill (south of Virginia city) first right possible on well maintained dirt road. Sign on the right just after turn-something about Comstock mining-keep going uphill round to the right crest hill going east now-come to big open area with new mine operation in the distance to the right and large flat circular tailings plie below you and to the left of the road you are on. AFs is below the circular flat tailings pile to the south. Keep on the large dirt road-it will look like you are going to the new mine, but follow road to the left and south just before the new mine. You are following the curve of the tailing plie. Take the dirt road that heads directly south and continues to lead you around and below the the tailing pile. You don't need a 4WD if it is dry but take it easy anywhere on this trip, but be careful here if car doesn't have much clearance. You will see a creek and cottonwoods on your right-keep going. Stay to the left and come to a parking area with entry gap through the fence. You can see the upper ruins from here. Park and walk through and go uphill (left) to a series of large structures (and the single largest structure-the most interesting-a ruined cathedral to the industrial age). Or go right and downhill to some interesting structures. Both areas are of interest. If you go up and to the upper structures-that route has no surviving "postings"- plausible deniability;). BLM land but I'm sure they have more important priorities. I got my directions from a group of photographers who had been there the week before and posted such online.

Hope you like graffiti-this is the "mother-load"-very post-apocalyptic "road warrior" type of ruin. Look online-there are lots of photos that show the graffiti. Be careful lots of places to trip and fall and this was a an arsenic gold leaching facility so take a shower when you get out of here. It has been abandoned since '27 but I'm sure there is still lots of nasty crap in the dust there.

[Kirk Gittings]

Starting to post some of the images from AFs on this thread: http://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/showthread.php?89013-Post-Your-Stitched-B-amp-W-Digital-Files