The Salton Sea Experience

I was planning to drive down to Salton Sea for a while and once Southern California received a fair amount of precipitation in February 2023,  there could not be a better time. In the recent years, the water level at the lake has receded due to a variety of natural and man-made causes, and the rain this year has helped to elevate the level. A three and half hour drive from the Los Angeles area, I started my day pretty early at 6 AM. 

A semi-abandoned RV, Nikon F3 + Voigtlander 58mm at f16

It was a relatively sunny day with pockets of clouds and when I am shooting analog, I do not mind the bright sky against a desert backdrop. I scouted the place for a bit, getting familiar with the locations I want to shoot later in the day and also visited the nearby town of Slab CIty.

Residence at Salton Sea, Nikon F3 + Voigtlander 58mm at f16

The Poetry House, Nikon F3 + Voigtlander 58mm at f11

Legs, Slab City, Nikon F3 + Voigtlander 58mm at f4

Heads, Slab City, Nikon F3 + Voigtlander 58mm at f4

There is a plethora of unique structures along with old abandoned vehicles all over the place, which might look a tad too much to absorb in just one day, and might be even overwhelming for a photographer to guide the reality of it through their creative channel.

Bombay Beach buses from yesteryears, Nikon F3 + Voigtlander 58mm at f11

Bombay Beach Drive-in abandoned cars, Hasselblad 503cw + 80mm CF at f4

Computer World, Hasselblad 503cw + 80mm CF at f11

Another abandoned vehicle at the Drive-in, Hasselblad 503cw + 80mm CF at f11

Portable Homes, Hasselblad 503cw + 80mm CF at f11

The Nest, Hasselblad 503cw + 80mm CF at f11

The shots below are taken at Bombay Beach where artists from different parts of the world come together and show their fantastic creativity bringing in more tourists into this area. The conceptual work displayed here probably serves as a symbolism of what this area has gone through over the past few decades., or maybe life in general. What many communities will go through over the next few decades, Salton Sea probably provides a contemporary example of the same.

Free Love, Hasselblad 503cw + 80mm CF at f11

The Porch, Hasselblad 503cw + 80mm CF at f11

The Dishwasher, Nikon F3 + Voigtlander 58mm at f4

The Swing, Hasselblad 503cw + 80mm CF at f11

Despite all the decadence I saw around, there is a strange sense of life and character the community still upholds. Will it revive to see better days is something time will tell, but I am glad I could capture this moment in time through my lenses and use my perspective to document this fascinating story.