It’s been 10 years since I first started visiting the Salton Sea in California and there have been some big changes.

Back in the day, the shore used to be bustling with pelicans, and I would spend hours taking photos of them as they headed north at sunset. Sadly, the tilapia that used to live in the sea can’t survive the high salt levels anymore, which means the pelicans have moved on too.

However, there are still some small crustaceans that support a variety of smaller shorebirds. And while there are a lot fewer birds now, there are still a lot of interesting things to see.

During my last visit I decided to focus on aerial photography which has become a new passion for me. 

Using drone photography at the Salton Sea, I was able to capture vibrant colours and unique layers of vegetation, barnacles, and mud in a way that I couldn’t from the ground. And if you look closely, you might even spot some of those shorebirds I mentioned earlier.

When making photographs with the aerial perspective, I like to emphasize lines and patterns to create interesting compositions. 

From the winding curves of the shoreline to the geometric shapes of the surrounding landscape, there are endless opportunities to capture interesting patterns and shapes from above.

And of course, there are still stunning sunsets here! I love using the drone to get a little elevation which really helps expand the reflection of the sunset in the water.

I enjoy making videos as well as photos with the drone, so please check out my latest drone video from Salton Sea.

To get the best shots, I often explore and practice with my drone during the day and make a shot list of the kinds of shots I want to get – both stills and video. Then I return during golden hour, when the light is soft and the colours are vivid, to make the final images.

The Salton Sea might have changed, but it’s still a fantastic place to explore and capture some amazing photos.

The images and video were made with a DJI Mavic Mini (1st generation).