My drive back to LA saw me take the scenic route, below sea level, and a trip through the California Desert. As I made my way east I wound through some amazingly rocky hills as I descend below sea level. The size and sheer amount piled along the hills were something I’ve never seen in person. It was much different than the basalt columns i’m accustomed to in Washington. There wasn’t anywhere to pull off to take some photos, unfortunately.
I pulled off the main highway at El Centra because I wanted to see what was out here. This took me through some small towns with signs letting me know the town sat – 133′ below sea level. I noticed an interesting sign “Slab City – Last Free Place”. Soon I would find out what that meant. I stumbled on a place called Salvation Mountain when googling what to see on the route. I found this was the entry to Slab City.
Salvation Mountain is an art installation made by the late Leonard Knight. Its a vibrant colored mountain under the hot sun of the desert. I spoke with the caretaker of the mountain, he told me stories of him and Leonard working on the project. We talked about photography and my travels bringing me here to the desert from Washington. The mountain build by a man of fairth, a large wood cross sits on top of the man-made mountain. Vibrant painted messages of bible verses and messages of love. Slab City itself is an unincorporated area of people looking to escape the norms of society. RV’s and make shift living situations filled the concrete slabs left behind by the military. My understanding this off-grid community sees more visitors that arrive in the winter. I personally can’t imagine this level of isolation, no matter how much I love my solitude. The heat of the desert is it’s own beast as I dealt with brief moments of 100 degress or more temps as I took photos.
My next stop was at Bombary Beach, a small beach community. Once a large resort in the 50’s from my understanding before being mostly abandoned. The beach sits on the Salton Sea, the fish in the sea started to die off. Now the beach front and the city as a whole have become a large artist community. Wit Installations across the beach and throughout the town. Like Slab City I am amazed of the isolation I’ve found in the desert, just people living their life with the basic of necessities. In reading I see this brought me down to the 223 feet below sea level, the lowest community in the U.S.
The resort had so many cool pieces of art, I could only capture so many pieces and paintings. What brought me here was a post I saw online of the Bombay Drive In. An empty lot filled with a dozen or so cars lined up, facing a large white truck to show this theoretical movie. Using your imagination I could take me back to an old drive-in, maybe taking in James Dean’s Rebel Without a Cause. I thought this destination was perfect for the feeling I was trying to capture on this roadtrip.
Finally, I made it to LA around 8pm so much for my slow relaxing day, and short trip. I was on the road another 10 hours but saw a lot of cool parts of the desert. When I got checked in I saw some neon signs which I love. It’s very Americana LA to me. Across the street was “Johnnies,” an old diner from the 1950’s. I stop in for a burger and root beer float – still serving flame-broiled burgers for the last 70 years. Sitting outside enjoying a nice warm evening in Los Angeles. There were a few other restaurants / bars that had neon within walking distance that I needed to capture before I made my way back to the Hotel. Tomorrow I’m seeing some of my favorite punk bands and getting to take photos professionally at an iconic L.A. venue like the Hollywood Palladium is a highlight of my career.
