California USA, 1 October 2016

With Jeni Bate of Skyscapes for the Soul.

.

If you have not read the previous post on the Salton Sea then you really should do so.  It contains images from similar places but also includes the ecological history of the Salton Sea and the way in which it represents a modern ecological parable.

(Click on any image for a larger view).

.

The sign is headed SCSB – could this be Salton City Surf Beach?  It goes on to say: Property/ Parking Lot/ XXXX (i.e. erased) & Jetty/ Open to Public Use/ Sunrise to Sunset.

.

This is the end, beautiful friend, this is the end my only friend, the end (Jim Morrison, not to be confused with Van Morrison).

.

Of course everyone knows that the camera presents a completely accurate representation of reality.

.

What is not so commonly known is that cameras have a mind-reading chip and really show what you see when you look at the subject.

.

This is why images commonly have more contrast, more saturated colours  and more pleasing renditions than reality.

.

It is also why most nude photographs you see are of people who had their clothes on at the time.  It just depends on how the photographer’s mind works.

.

One of my cameras is particularly honest and shows what I saw as I stood there in the searing heat with the agricultural toxins born on the wind slowly searing into my brain.

.

Sometimes it is night, sometimes it is day and sometimes in the day it is night.

.

We’re on a road to nowhere….

.

Perhaps this is an alien landscape with a dead robot trying to emerge from the primordial slime.

.

Here, though, Jools and Jeni are discussing what we can possibly say to the rental car company.

.

The reality is having an identity crisis.

.

It is changing before our eyes.

.

So back to normal reality.  Here we are at the North Shore Beach and Yacht Club, hoping for a swig or two amongst the jet-setters.

.

The streetlight is causing a total eclipse of the sun.

.

It’s gone now.

.

Ah, but it’s back again to normal daylight.

.

You may think they are giant mushrooms but I’m assured they are palm trees.

.

Notwithstanding what appears to be an orange jump suit, i can assure you this is not a person recently escaped from prison.

.

Fish and chips anyone?  (Fission chips may be another option but Diablo Canyon is hundreds of kilometres away).

.

I’m told the fishing has been better.

.

Purple haze all in my brain.  Lately things don’t seem the same….

.

The great desert paradise of Bombay Beach.  I didn’t manage to catch the frolicking Beach Boys at the time though.

.