Scenes from the otherworld
Great Salt Lake, last remnant of an ancient interior sea, is stunning and severe. The lake’s high desert environment, open distances, and perfectly flat water conspire with light and atmospheric conditions to produce surreal effects at times. Artist Alfred Lambourne described the lake as “the savage poem around me.” Writer Dale Morgan described Great Salt Lake as an “ironical joke of nature - water that is itself more desert than a desert.” Despite its savage reputation, Great Salt Lake is intensely alive - an ecological marvel bursting with life and color - and this is the side of the lake that I try to portray. This collection juxtaposes the vibrant bird life of Great Salt Lake with its otherworldly landscapes.
An American Avocet on Great Salt Lake during a break in the stormy conditions at sunset. The Wasatch Mountains can just be seen through the mist in the distance.
An American Avocet feeds in the deep blue hour before sunrise at Great Salt Lake. Avocets share the lake with over 2 million people living on its shores. Here, city lights on the opposite shore create a colorful bokeh in the distance.
A Green-Winged Teal disturbs the lineup with a wing flap. The Wasatch mountains are in the background.
American Avocets cross paths while foraging at Great Salt Lake.
Eared Grebes during a fiery sunset.
A lone Eared Grebe on the lake. As many as 3-4 million Eared Grebes stop to feed at Great Salt Lake on their way south for winter, staying for several months until the gain the fat reserves needed to complete their migration.
Northern Shoveler ducks glide through rays of sunlight streaming over the Wasatch Mountains and reflecting off the surface of Great Salt Lake. Up to 4 million waterfowl visit Great Salt Lake during spring and fall migration annually.
Lesser Scaup at sunset at Great Salt Lake. The lake is so large that the horizon disappears at some points due to the curvature of the earth. On windless days, it can result in surreal effects.
American Avocet feeding in the deep blue hour with the lights of the distant city creating a colorful bokeh.
A Northern Shoveler duck paddles across Great Salt Lake in a reflected scene of clouds and the Wasatch Mountains rimming the lake. These mountains provide most of the lake's water in the form of snowmelt.
An Eared Grebe paddles under darkening clouds toward a spit of land jutting into Great Salt Lake. The scene is perfectly reflected in the still water of the lake.
American Avocets stand in colorful ripples at Great Salt Lake.
A Green-Winged Teal with lights of the city creating bokeh in the distance.
Tundra swans fly over the mountains surrounding Great Salt Lake during a storm.
American Avocets fly across Great Salt Lake at sunrise. Low-lying clouds and create a surreal scene.
