Photographing The Salton Sea – Endangered Landscape

Salton Sea – Endangered Landscape Photography

  • Fast Facts: Largest lake in California – 35 miles long, about 43 feet deep at its deepest place.
  • Sits below sea level and right over the San Andreas Fault
  • Best times to visit: November- MarchBirders Paradise: Over 400 species of birds – but large groups of birds – the diversity only surpassed by Big Bend in Texas
  • Mudpots and mud volcanos – East side of lake.

Art – Outdoor Art installations-

Salvation Mountainhttp://www.salvationmountain.us/

Painted mountain – one man’s testament to his beliefs – verses painted on his mountain. Stay on the paths take nothing but photos.

Slab City – “The last free place in America”- an eccentric group that lives here

East Jesus – open sunrise to sunset 365 days – please be respectful of signed private areas – people do live here.

http://eastjesus.org/

Sculpture Garden from all kinds of recycled items- computer parts, bottles more

Needs: http://eastjesus.org/needs/

Tips for a day trip to Salton Sea area:

  • Lots of water-heat exhaustion
  • Snacks-power bars
  • Sunset photos near the geothermal plant – where there are some dead trees for sculptural interest
  • Sunrise – Red Hill Marina – walk out towards trees

Sonny Bono Nature Preserve-Birds- check their website for more details-

https://www.fws.gov/refuge/sonny_bono_salton_sea

Bombay beach – old boat pier-old crane- old pilings- be careful on where to park so as not to get stuck in the soft silty sand.

Suggested camera equipment:

  • Tripod – long exposures-night-light painting
  • Polarizer
  • Wide angle for nice large landscapes
  • 300-600mm or more for bird images – so you can keep your distance yet get in close to see details.

Rental Lenses: https://www.borrowlenses.com/

All around walk around lens for some of the Outdoor art installations at Salvation Mountain/East Jesus.

Flashlights for light painting-

Hoodman Loupe – view the back of your DSLR in daytime

http://www.optics4birding.com/hoodman-3-inch-hood-loupe.html

Sunscreen for yourself- some also like to wear a breathing mask due to the fine particles

http://tinyurl.com/yahmkxwq  (breathing mask)

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