Tom Hegen’s Salt Series

I have a deep fascination with salt flats. And yes, these are indeed salt evaporation fields and not abstract paintings. I mean, how can you not be absolutely mesmerized by the vivid colors and geometric shapes of the under appreciated art of salt production? Similar to how photographers David Burdeny and Simon Butterworth have captured the same subject matter in the past, Tom Hegen has recently captured aerial shots of salt ponds throughout Europe for his latest body of work, The Salt Series - all with DJI Phantom 4 Pro drone.

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“The contrast and geometric shapes of the salt ponds remind me of abstract paintings. Our need to arrange everything geometrically in order to regulate and have control makes us all, in a sense, designers of our own environment”

- Tom Hegen

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These bright ponds get their saturated colors by microorganisms or micro-algae living within the man-made pans. The organisms change their hues as the salinity of the pond increases, which is why you see colors ranging from pink to orange and magenta to green. Fascinating, right?

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(more of Tom Hegen's photography here)

Leave a Comment

9 Comments

  1. Victoria wrote:

    This is so insanely beautiful!! Crazy that nature produces these colors all on its own.

    5.2.18
    Reply
  2. Quicha wrote:

    Giving me all kinds of Rothko vibes! Where I can buy a print?

    5.2.18
    Reply
    • Erica wrote:

      Rothko vibes, indeed!! I’m sure you can reach out to him via his website to purchase I print. Would be beautiful large scale!

      5.2.18
  3. Johns wrote:

    Amazing post !

    5.8.18
    Reply
  4. I’m sure you can reach out to him via his website

    5.8.18
    Reply
  5. Tim Presley wrote:

    I am amazed, thank you for sharing.

    5.10.18
    Reply
  6. Dr. Mary G. Padua wrote:

    Nice… reminds me of Bill Garnett

    5.10.18
    Reply
  7. Pam wrote:

    Fascinating!

    5.13.18
    Reply
  8. Randi wrote:

    Great stuff 🙂 !

    6.29.21
    Reply