X

Getting ready to raise the curtain at CES 2015 (pictures)

Before the laptops and the phones and the gadgets, CES is all hammers, forklifts and drills. Take a look inside CES before it opens.

James Martin
James Martin is the Managing Editor of Photography at CNET. His photos capture technology's impact on society - from the widening wealth gap in San Francisco, to the European refugee crisis and Rwanda's efforts to improve health care. From the technology pioneers of Google and Facebook, photographing Apple's Steve Jobs and Tim Cook, Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg and Google's Sundar Pichai, to the most groundbreaking launches at Apple and NASA, his is a dream job for any documentary photography and journalist with a love for technology. Exhibited widely, syndicated and reprinted thousands of times over the years, James follows the people and places behind the technology changing our world, bringing their stories and ideas to life.
James Martin
ces-setup-0215.jpg
1 of 30 James Martin/CNET

CNET at CES

In the South Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center, CNET is all set for CES 2015, which kicks off Tuesday.

Our reporters and photographers are on site early, ready to bring you all of the latest news from the gadget world.

Setup continues today as the convention center is built out, with cranes and forklifts moving all the pieces into place.

ces-setup-0215.jpg
2 of 30 James Martin/CNET

Las Vegas Convention Center

Outside the Las Vegas Convention Center on Sunday morning, setup is well under way.

ces-setup-0215.jpg
3 of 30 James Martin/CNET

CNET at CES

The CNET trailer, home base to all of your favorite CNET writers and editors for the next few days.

ces-setup-0215.jpg
4 of 30 James Martin/CNET

Booth builders

The showroom floor, which in just a few days will be packed with thousands of people, is a maze of crates and carpets, with forklifts zooming back and forth.

ces-setup-0215.jpg
5 of 30 James Martin/CNET

Open this side

Crates are stacked along the floor, as workers continue their round the clock set up leading to the CES show opening on Tuesday.

ces-setup-0215.jpg
6 of 30 James Martin/CNET

Rolling into town

Most exhibitors are rolling into the convention center today, setting up for the show.

ces-setup-0215.jpg
7 of 30 James Martin/CNET

CNET at CES

In the South Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center, CNET is all set for CES 2015.

Stop by our booth, front and center in the South Hall.

ces-setup-0215.jpg
8 of 30 James Martin/CNET

CNET at CES

Between the boxes, the convention center floor is a maze of materials today, with exhibitors planning their week.

ces-setup-0215.jpg
9 of 30 James Martin/CNET

Cutting and pasting

In the South Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center, workers continue setup for the big show, CES 2015, which starts Tuesday.

ces-setup-0215.jpg
10 of 30 James Martin/CNET

Unpacked and polished

In just a few days, the convention center will look perfect and polished, but today, it's a sea of cables, wires and workers.

ces-setup-0215.jpg
11 of 30 James Martin/CNET

Cameras and more

Looking under a ladder, and looking underwater.

ces-setup-0215.jpg
12 of 30 James Martin/CNET

Cleaning up

After all the unpacking, there's a lot to clean up before the show starts.

ces-setup-0215.jpg
13 of 30 James Martin/CNET

Looking down the long walkways

Looking down the long walkways inside the convention center, the paths are a jungle of pieces of booths yet to be assembled.

ces-setup-0215.jpg
14 of 30 James Martin/CNET

Unloading

Stacks and stack of crates show just how much stuff goes into this production.

ces-setup-0215.jpg
15 of 30 James Martin/CNET

Windex and energy drinks

Clean and polished, and a lot of energy -- it's the stuff that CES is made of.

ces-setup-0215.jpg
16 of 30 James Martin/CNET

CNET at CES

In the South Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center, CNET is all set for CES 2015.

The soundboard is all set to host four days of shows at the CNET booth, where we will have all the news you need from CES.

ces-setup-0215.jpg
17 of 30 James Martin/CNET

CNET at CES

In the South Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center, CNET is all set for CES 2015.

Our reporters and photographer are on site early, ready to bring you all of the latest news from the future of gadgets.

Setup continues today as the convention center is built out, with cranes and forklifts moving all the pieces into place.

ces-setup-0215.jpg
18 of 30 James Martin/CNET

Loading and unloading

Looking out into the yard where forklift and zipping in and out loading and unloading gear.

ces-setup-0215.jpg
19 of 30 James Martin/CNET

Cleaning and polishing

Dusting the walls soon to hold the latest and greatest.

ces-setup-0215.jpg
20 of 30 James Martin/CNET

CNET at CES

Our reporters and photographers are on site early, ready to bring you all of the latest news from the future of gadgets.

ces-setup-0215.jpg
21 of 30 James Martin/CNET

Loading in

Setup continues today as the convention center is built out, with cranes and forklifts moving all the pieces into place among rolling suitcases.

ces-setup-0215.jpg
22 of 30 James Martin/CNET

CNET at CES

In the South Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center, CNET is all set for CES 2015.

Our reporters and photographers are on site early, ready to bring you all of the latest news from the future of gadgets.

Setup continues today as the convention center is built out, with cranes and forklifts moving all the pieces into place.

ces-setup-0215.jpg
23 of 30 James Martin/CNET

CNET at CES

In the South Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center, CNET is all set for CES 2015.

Our reporters and photographer are on site early, ready to bring you all of the latest news from the future of gadgets.

Setup continues today as the convention center is built out, with cranes and forklifts moving all the pieces into place.

ces-setup-0215.jpg
24 of 30 James Martin/CNET

Before the action

Before the action, a lot happens behind the scenes. Connection are made, wires clipped, and everything is put in place. It's the chaos before the storm.

ces-setup-0215.jpg
25 of 30 James Martin/CNET

Working on the big show

In the South Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center, CNET is all set for CES 2015.

ces-setup-0215.jpg
26 of 30 James Martin/CNET

Unpacking

Empty equipment crates are stacked up waiting to transform the Las Vegas Convention Center into a magical gadget playland.

ces-setup-0215.jpg
27 of 30 James Martin/CNET

Rolls of carpets

Rolls and rolls of carpet are stacked inside the South Hall, waiting to cover some of the 3.2 million square feet of the Las Vegas Convention Center.

ces-setup-0215.jpg
28 of 30 James Martin/CNET

CNET at CES

In the South Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center, CNET is all set for CES 2015.

Our reporters and photographers are on site early, ready to bring you all of the latest news from the future of gadgets.

Setup continues today as the convention center is built out, with cranes and forklifts moving all the pieces into place.

ces-setup-0215.jpg
29 of 30 James Martin/CNET

CNET at CES

In the South Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center, CNET is all set for CES 2015.

Inside the booth, the video team is all set for a long week of shows. Tune in!

ces-setup-0215.jpg
30 of 30 James Martin/CNET

Snacks and sustenance

There's a lot happening at CES, and the CNET team is going to see it all.

We'll only get a little bit of sleep, and we'll need a lot of energy, so we stocked the trailer (and we brought along a massage chair, too).

More Galleries

My Favorite Shots From the Galaxy S24 Ultra's Camera
A houseplant

My Favorite Shots From the Galaxy S24 Ultra's Camera

20 Photos
Honor's Magic V2 Foldable Is Lighter Than Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra
magic-v2-2024-foldable-1383

Honor's Magic V2 Foldable Is Lighter Than Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra

10 Photos
The Samsung Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus Looks Sweet in Aluminum
Samsung Galaxy S24

The Samsung Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus Looks Sweet in Aluminum

23 Photos
Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra Now Has a Titanium Design
The Galaxy S24 Ultra in multiple colors

Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra Now Has a Titanium Design

23 Photos
I Took 600+ Photos With the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. Look at My Favorites
img-0368.jpg

I Took 600+ Photos With the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. Look at My Favorites

34 Photos
17 Hidden iOS 17 Features You Should Definitely Know About
Invitation for the Apple September iPhone 15 event

17 Hidden iOS 17 Features You Should Definitely Know About

18 Photos
AI or Not AI: Can You Spot the Real Photos?
img-1599-2.jpg

AI or Not AI: Can You Spot the Real Photos?

17 Photos