Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Photography :: Salton Sea

Last year we vowed never to go back to this place again. Not because it wasn't an awesome place to shoot that was filled with everything decaying that you could think of, but because we had been there so many times before that we failed to see what else we could get out of the vast wasteland that is Salton Sea. When I was a kid, we used to go fishing here, so I have some fond memories of the place. However, fast forward 24 years (I hope you didn't just do the math on that!) and it has changed tremendously. My memories of Salton Sea are scattered with words like cold, barren, and littered. I remember a lot of trash being left behind by people who went there for fishing and recreation. Now it's littered only with debris (old trailers and discarded furniture to name a few)in a few spots. The yacht club that was a favorite spot to shoot has undergone a major overhaul. It is now newly remodeled, with a hint of vintage in it as a nod to the yacht club of a once thriving Salton Sea. Even though I was hesitant, I was still pleased with what we came away with. It also doesn't hurt to have some great company on a mini road trip! :o)

First stop - the yacht club. They even have benches now!

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old storage areas...we were probably trespassing hehe...

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You can't go to Salton Sea without hitting up Salvation Mountain...you just canNOT take a bad picture of this place. It's virtually impossible.

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I've always noticed the "yellow brick road" of Salvation Mountain, which in turn reminds me of "Wizard of Oz". I can't help but think that Leonard Knight (the creator of Salvation Mountain) had that movie and it's underlying themes in mind when he built the mountain.

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Leonard can usually be found sitting at the back of this car. He's there ready to talk about his work with visitors always with a smile.

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The "three sisters" (in this picture, only two sisters haha) at Redhill Marina...

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Last stop - Bombay Beach. Only if you've been here can you really understand what I mean when I say that the sunsets here are like nothing else. It always seems like the sky and water are seamless. The water is so still, especially when it's hot and humid in the summer, that it's a mirror image of the sky. Just gorgeous.

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Happy Wednesday everyone! :o)

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