Conrad Tan wrote:
Beautiful set Steve! Love the rig too!
Thanks Conrad! This will be my year for taking Discovery out on long weekends and such. Nothing like spending the entire day out with the camera rig and coming back to a house on wheels with all the conveniences! What a change from the days when I would camp out in the back of my truck -- with a camper shell on it, of course.
jdc562 wrote:
Nice shots, Steve. Thanks for the updates. This is one of my favorite places to photograph, but as you pointed out, the loss of water is destroying the place.
---John
Thanks, John. You're right, the loss of water is destroying its fragile ecosystem, along with its increasing salinity and agricultural runoff that has nowhere to go but the Sea. There's not one Bad Guy here -- just a host of little ones. But then, the Sea was never meant to be there.
Thang wrote:
ref #1, that's one sweet setup you have there Steve
Thanks Thang -- and where have YOU been? Hope all is well, probably been busy with famiily...Yep, I love the Tundra/Discovery setup, and doing things like attaching truck to trailer, and backing up with truck and trailer, aren't as difficult as I thought. And it sure beats camping out of the back of my truck! My back thanks me.
PetKal wrote:
Steve, all beauties, but the Avocet takes the cake for me.
Thanks Peter, the Avocet was very accommodating, and -- I didn't entice him to fly! I just waited until he'd had enough of the little wetland pond he was in, and flew back to the Sea behind me.
Netgarden wrote:
Just got back too! I think i saw the same sunset. Fantastic place. Ive never seen so many birds! Nice shots you have.
Yep Linda, that was SOME sunset! I couldn't have asked for a better Returning Home present. And you're right, the number of birds was staggering. It's an amazing place.
Killer set by the Sea buddy
That Avocet is fantastic and wonderful detail on the Osprey
The Great Blue hangout is a cool shot but you slayed me with such a beautiful image of the Phoebe
Super documentary to accompany these terrific series as always
surfnron wrote:
A great set Steve. 3, 4, 5, and 8 stand out for me ~ Ron
Thanks Ron, if you haven't been to the Salton Sea yet you surely have to go...Just not in summer, when it REALLY smells and can get to be 125 degrees F -- in the shade!! Dont' forget it's about 230 feet BELOW sea level.
Schlotkins wrote:
Great shots... first time in 3 years I didn't make it back out to the sea. It's amazing (and sad) to see the changes.
Chris
Chris, I feel like I have to go at least once a year because who knows how much longer it will last. I mean, it certainly won't happen overnight, but the changes are undeniable. And with the campgrounds in the state recreation area on the north shore closing in July due to the state parks budget cutbacks, the time is now to enjoy it.
I'm amazed by the amount of wildlife. I thought the increased salinity made it more or less lifeless...shows what I know. I saw a documentary on the place once..quite interesting history.
Wonderful images!
Eric
Feb 10, 2012 at 04:45 PM
Charlie Shugart Offline Upload & Sell: Off
trailhiker wrote:
Thanks, John. You're right, the loss of water is destroying its fragile ecosystem, along with its increasing salinity and agricultural runoff that has nowhere to go but the Sea. There's not one Bad Guy here -- just a host of little ones. But then, the Sea was never meant to be there.
Best Wishes,
Steve
Steve- Thanks for pointing out that creation of the (below sea level) Salton Sea was unintentional. As you know, meddling with the lower Colorado River caused it to seek the lowest spot around until they could plug the breach. The Sea has been an interesting place for years. I, also, hate to see it dying.
About your post- they are excellent images, and incredibly interesting to me. Thanks for sharing them.
Charlie
Wonderful set! Love them all. Just a phoebe? No, this is a gorgeous shot, and I have always thought say's phoebes were really cool birds. I love the other shots too. The avocet in flight is impressive.