Salton Sea images - DPChallenge Forums

Panasonic LUMIX DMC-LX100

01/19/2011 02:36:10 AM · #1

Last weekend I joined a group of 15 people and went to the Salton Sea on a photo excursion. An amazing, and amazingly bizarre place, it is awesome for photography. I've uploaded just a handful of my (700+) images from the day to Flickr - although I'm putting some of the monochrome into the b/w sc. Would love some feedback.

There will be more - I took my very first images for attempting HDR. Lord have mercy...

spiritualspatula

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

01/19/2011 02:52:33 AM · #2

Very cool. Ever since I heard about it, I've wanted to go there.
I put some comments on there for you. Curious to see some of the others.
Overall, I think you've done a good job, and the BW conversion is very nice. The blue/colored shots have an altogether different but effective mood to them. Though it works in a slightly different fashion, it goes in the same direction as the other shots, and works well together.

Pentax DA 18-135mm F3.5-5.6ED AL [IF] WR DC

01/19/2011 03:12:04 AM · #3

Thanks Derek. Yeah, I went dark and moody with some of them. It just called to me, even though the day was incredibly bright and pale.

tnun

Ricoh GR III

01/19/2011 03:51:13 AM · #4

Thank you.

citymars

Nikon D700

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

01/19/2011 11:41:42 AM · #5

Very good photos in that Flickr collection, Johanna.
FYI, the one you titled "Remains" displays some very strong banding in the sky, at least on my monitor. The others all look great.

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

01/19/2011 11:48:51 AM · #6

I've spent a lot of time there over the years; it gets more bizarre every year. I assume, since y'all took the trip, you informed yourselves beforehand of the history of the place? It's one of the great environmental cautionary tales to come out of Southern California.

Nice shots :-)

R.

sfalice

Canon PowerShot SX60 HS

01/19/2011 11:49:41 AM · #7

Lovely pictures,

tanguera. They bring back strong memories of this bleak, but beautiful, place.

zeuszen

Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

01/19/2011 01:14:10 PM · #8

I envy you for the opp. to shoot such a shrine. It's been on top of my list for places to capture for years. Just as well you went. You did a fine job of it.

slickchik

OM System OM-1

Olympus 12-40mm f/2.8 Pro

01/19/2011 01:18:23 PM · #9

wow, what a great place to take pics!!

slickchik

OM System OM-1

Olympus 12-40mm f/2.8 Pro

01/19/2011 01:24:07 PM · #10

so tell me, were you able to park and walk around just about anywhere you wanted over there or did the group you went with have special access to some parts?

SaraR

Sony Alpha a7R III

Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM

01/19/2011 01:29:43 PM · #11

I had never heard of this place, but one of my Flickr contacts posted a photo from it today - small world! Can you tell me more abut the place? I am certainly intrigued!

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

01/19/2011 02:36:09 PM · #12

Originally posted by SaraR:

I had never heard of this place, but one of my Flickr contacts posted a photo from it today - small world! Can you tell me more abut the place? I am certainly intrigued!

Overview here.

It's a fascinating place. Colorado River diverted and flooded the valley (which is 200 feet below sea level) in 1905. Eventually land speculators started selling the environs as a desert resort paradise; fishing, water skiing, good times for all. Unfortunately, with no fresh water source on a regular basis and no drainage either, the sea stagnated and evaporated, becoming one of the most saline environments anywhere, as the shoreline receded miles from its previous bounds.

SlickChik, Last time I was there you could pretty much go anywhere with impunity, but that was 15 years or so ago. I know they are talking about bringing the area back to life now (though there have always been pipe dreams about that), SO I don't know if it's restricted now. If you decide to go there, make it in the "winter"; it'll scorch the life out of you in the summer. I used to have to do a lot of architectural photography in the general area (Palm Springs, Indio, Palm Desert, Barstow, El Centro, like that, and it can be HARSH.

R.

Message edited by author 2011-01-19 14:36:59.

Tamron AF 28-80mm f/3.5-5.6 Aspherical for Canon

01/19/2011 03:34:48 PM · #13

Everything Bear said. It's my first time there, and group members who'd be there before noted the amazing deterioration of elements they'd seen previously. It's in a constant state of transformation, which is what makes it so fascinating.

I could easily spend an entire week here, although I don't know that I would go all by myself (especially towards evening) simply because it does tend to attract a rather marginal element of society. You can go anywhere (as far as I can tell), and most of the areas were pretty deserted (except for where we kept meeting up with other photo groups out for the day - most notably Bombay Beach, of which I have not yet posted images). I can't imagine doing this in the summer, both for the weather, and the stench. Many portions have dead fish along the shore and it's NOT pleasant. My fish images is from the abandoned marina, and the sand is fish bones. Incredible, but can't image living near here...

I'd LOVE to see historic photos of the area in its heyday.

JokersSoul

Canon EOS-50D

01/19/2011 03:46:33 PM · #14

tanguera,

I found this link Historical photos from around the Salton Sea. Thought you might like to take a look at them.

Tamron AF 28-80mm f/3.5-5.6 Aspherical for Canon

01/19/2011 03:49:11 PM · #15

Oh wow! Thanks

jokerssoul!

JokersSoul

Canon EOS-50D

01/19/2011 04:05:32 PM · #16

Originally posted by tanguera:

Oh wow! Thanks jokerssoul!

You are most welcome. I love to do research and that one was a pretty quick find. I am at work and can't see your images (they won't let us have Flikr)... I can't wait to get home to see them!

Strikeslip

Canon EOS-5D

Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS

01/19/2011 04:11:06 PM · #17

Fascinating stuff!

Art Roflmao

Canon EOS-6D Mark II

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

01/19/2011 04:19:09 PM · #18

Some cool shots, Johanna! I saw a show on the Salton Sea on the History channel awhile back and was very intrigued. Thanks for sharing.

Originally posted by JokersSoul:

I found this link Historical photos from around the Salton Sea.

I love the tourist map drawn by Dr. Seuss! :P

Hipychik

Sony Alpha a6000

Sony 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 E-mount

01/19/2011 04:54:28 PM · #19

Really interesting and great photos! I would love to go there someday! Thanks for sharing!!