For centuries, San Francisco's Bay Area has been a center for salt extraction, causing striking, unnatural colors to form. These caught the eye of local photographer Barbara Boissevain, whose new book "<a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.kehrerverlag.com%2Fen%2Fbarbara-boissevain-salt-of-the-earth-a-visual-odyssey-of-a-transforming-landscape" target="_blank" target="_blank">Salt of the Earth: A Visual Odyssey of a Transforming Landscape</a>" published by Kehrer Verlag documents changes in the area. (Image title: From Sky to Salt Aerial XII, 2015)
For centuries, San Francisco's Bay Area has been a center for salt extraction, causing striking, unnatural colors to form. These caught the eye of local photographer Barbara Boissevain, whose new book "Salt of the Earth: A Visual Odyssey of a Transforming Landscape" published by Kehrer Verlag documents changes in the area. (Image title: From Sky to Salt Aerial XII, 2015)
Barbara Boissevain
In 2003, a project was launched to restore 15,000 acres of salt ponds to their natural state of wetland and marshland habitat. Taking photos of the salt flats from above over more than a decade, Boissevain has been able to capture the gradual restoration. (Image title: Industrial Salt Production II, 2011)
In 2003, a project was launched to restore 15,000 acres of salt ponds to their natural state of wetland and marshland habitat. Taking photos of the salt flats from above over more than a decade, Boissevain has been able to capture the gradual restoration. (Image title: Industrial Salt Production II, 2011)
Barbara Boissevain
The water's salinity is what causes the rich, unnatural colors. An alga that produces beta-carotene, a red-orange pigment present in carrots and pumpkins, thrives in salty environments. (Image title: From Sky to Salt Aerial XVIII, 2016)
The water's salinity is what causes the rich, unnatural colors. An alga that produces beta-carotene, a red-orange pigment present in carrots and pumpkins, thrives in salty environments. (Image title: From Sky to Salt Aerial XVIII, 2016)
Barbara Boissevain
Slowly but surely, as man-made levees used for harvesting salt have been removed, tidal systems have infiltrated once more, and the bright colors have dissipated. "Green ribbons of life" seep back into the ponds, says Boissevain. (Image title: Tidal Salt Marsh, Aerial, 2017)
Slowly but surely, as man-made levees used for harvesting salt have been removed, tidal systems have infiltrated once more, and the bright colors have dissipated. "Green ribbons of life" seep back into the ponds, says Boissevain. (Image title: Tidal Salt Marsh, Aerial, 2017)
Barbara Boissevain
Boissevain's new book features a variety of imagery, ranging from abstract aerial formations to macro, landscape and underwater shots. (Image title: Ravenswood III, 2022)
Boissevain's new book features a variety of imagery, ranging from abstract aerial formations to macro, landscape and underwater shots. (Image title: Ravenswood III, 2022)
Barbara Boissevain
Unable to fly during Covid-19, Boissevain experimented with shooting at ground level -- capturing the salt crystallization process up close. (Image title: Alien Saltscape III, 2022)
Unable to fly during Covid-19, Boissevain experimented with shooting at ground level -- capturing the salt crystallization process up close. (Image title: Alien Saltscape III, 2022)
Barbara Boissevain
Other images show remnants from the early years of the salt industry. (Image title: Ruins of Historical Salt Production Site I, 2023)
Other images show remnants from the early years of the salt industry. (Image title: Ruins of Historical Salt Production Site I, 2023)
Barbara Boissevain
Boissevain also wanted to show the extraordinary juxtaposition between the salt ponds and the mass development of Silicon Valley that surrounds them. Here, in a photo of Ravenswood salt ponds, the headquarters of Meta (the parent company of Facebook and Instagram) can be seen on the horizon. (Image title: Ravenswood Ponds Looking Towards Meta & Tricycle, 2020)
Boissevain also wanted to show the extraordinary juxtaposition between the salt ponds and the mass development of Silicon Valley that surrounds them. Here, in a photo of Ravenswood salt ponds, the headquarters of Meta (the parent company of Facebook and Instagram) can be seen on the horizon. (Image title: Ravenswood Ponds Looking Towards Meta & Tricycle, 2020)
Barbara Boissevain
On these photographic trips to the ponds, Boissevain has witnessed wildlife bouncing back. She says that Ravenswood ponds have become a haven for shorebirds. (Image title: Ravenswood XIII, 2021)
On these photographic trips to the ponds, Boissevain has witnessed wildlife bouncing back. She says that Ravenswood ponds have become a haven for shorebirds. (Image title: Ravenswood XIII, 2021)
Barbara Boissevain
Boissevain hopes that these striking images will raise awareness of the need to preserve the planet's natural spaces. (Image title: Alien Saltscape XI, 2022)
Boissevain hopes that these striking images will raise awareness of the need to preserve the planet's natural spaces. (Image title: Alien Saltscape XI, 2022)
Barbara Boissevain