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If you walk into almost any kitchen around the world, one item you are sure to find is salt. But while this common household item is used daily, most of us give little thought to where it comes from. This is where photographer Tom Hegen comes in. For many years he has been taking aerial photos of salt ponds around the world. And now, he's collected the abstract visuals into a new book, aptly titled Salt Works.

Hegen's series of images focusing on salt basins spun out of a project on the industrial scars that man has left on our planet. “We have left our marks on the earth's surface in order to meet our daily needs,” Hegen told My Modern Met in 2018. “I am trying to sensitize the viewer for those subjects by taking a look at the extraordinary forces impacting our environment.”

While the results are visually striking, it is also important to remember that these are not natural landscapes. Created by salt mining, they take on an otherwordly feel. The colors and geometry are striking but are also a manipulation. Through Hegen's lens, they seem to blur the line and become almost painterly.

“These abstract structures are a school for our understanding of vision. Viewers have to get involved with the perspective and complex scenarios,” shares Hegen. “They have to learn to read and decipher the images in order to understand what they are seeing. This engagement ensures that the images will remain in one’s memory for longer.”

Salt Works is divided into seven chapters with 167 color photographs. Each chapter provides background information about the production sites and three essays written by experts in the fields of salt, Anthropocene, and art history to give additional context to the images.

The standard and collector's edition of Salt Works is available on the photographer's website and selected bookshops.

German photographer Tom Hegen has been taking aerial photos of salt basins for several years.

These abstract landscapes blur the line between photography and painting.

Hegen's new book Salt Works pulls together over 160 color photos and essays by experts in the field.

Tom Hegen: Website | Instagram | Behance 

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Tom Hegen.

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Scottish photographer Nick Sidle loves the creative opportunities that aerial photography provides. And in recent years, he's become a fan of drone photography, which provides more flexibility than having to organize shoots from airplanes or helicopters. His success in the field is exemplified by a recent image, in which he captured a rare full-circle rainbow.

Sidle was up at dawn taking photos in the Scottish Highlands when the opportunity presented itself. “Although, in theory, all rainbows optically are full circles, the true full circle phenomenon I have been told is rarely seen,” he tells My Modern Met. “From the ground, this rainbow although appearing closer than average, only looked like the usual half-circle. Watching the feed from the drone as it climbed steadily, the lower half was revealed. Personally, this was a first, even from the air I had never seen a full circle, full-scale rainbow.”

As the rainbow was so close, it wasn't possible to fit it all into one shot. Not wanting to risk breaking the illusion by changing the angle or losing the view through the clouds, Sidle made the decision to take multiple images. Later, using Photoshop's Photomerge command, he sewed together 22 photos to create the final image.

So why are full-circle rainbows so rare? As it's an optical illusion, several factors need to line up for the circle rainbow to come into view. Rainbows form when sunlight is scattered through water droplets in a phenomenon called refraction. This breaks up the light into different colors. In order to see the part of the rainbow on the ground—the other half of the circle—we would need to see water droplets below the horizon. As that's not possible, rainbows almost always appear as arcs.

To see a true full-circle rainbow, you need to be up high. In fact, it's most often pilots that observe the entire circle, as their high altitude and large viewing window are ideal. They can also be viewed from very tall buildings or, in this case, from a drone. In fact, Sidle only saw the arc from his perspective on the ground. It was all thanks to drone technology that he then got a view of something even more special.

Nick Sidle: Website | Flickr

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Nick Sidle.

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Conservation photographer Paul Nicklen is a leader in using his art to promote change. His new series Delta is no different. At first glance, these spectacular aerial photos simply highlight the beauty of our planet. But upon closer examination, they also demonstrate climatic issues caused by humans.

The reality is that these photographs actually show the straggling remains of the Colorado River as it peters out before reaching the Sea of Cortez, which was once its final destination. The freshwater river flowed freely for millions of years, all the way to Baja, Mexico. Now, due to droughts and 14 dams that block the river, it dries up well before reaching the sea. What Nicklen has photographed is the dying remains of the delta, a place that used to nourish millions of birds that would migrate and feed on its lush green forest. All that is left behind is a salt marsh.

“The tides now, instead of going through old grassy fields, are going through salt and silt and carving their way through the sediment,” Nicklen tells My Modern Met. “They're showing that this is the hearts and the lungs and the trees of our planet, sort of carving and etching and reminding us of what once was in this beautiful delta.”

In these powerful images, taken from a two-seater plane, we see the spidering remains of the freshwater river. As it makes its way into this delta, rivulets appear as trees or lungs etched into the earth. For Nicklen, who often uses images of wildlife to illustrate stories of conservation, the decision to show the delta was easy.

“I want people to walk away and say, drought is not something that’s just happening in Africa or in Australia,” he shares. “It’s happening right here in our backyard, in the United States and Canada. Climate change is here, it’s real, and it’s affecting all of us.”

Paul Nicklen's series Delta is a powerful look at the effects of drought in the United States.

These aerial photos show the dried-up remains of the Colorado River, which once stretched to the Sea of Cortez.

The freshwater river now dries up hundreds of miles before its destination, leaving behind a barren salt marsh.

The area was once a lush green forest that nourished millions of migrating birds.

Paul Nicklen: Website | Facebook | Instagram

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Paul Nicklen.

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“Big Bang” by Armand Sarlangue. Photo of the Year.
“In the picture, a secondary fissure happening a few hundred meters from the main crater of Fagradalsfjall volcano during the very last eruptive phase. It was captured as a storm was hitting west Iceland, with rain and strong winds. Due to the difficult conditions, a drone capture like this is unique.”

Over the past decade, drones have become an increasingly popular tool for both professional and amateur photographers. By giving a unique aerial perspective, drones allow photographers to enhance their creativity and take to the skies with ease. And, thanks to the Drone Photo Awards, it's easier than ever to enjoy the creative magic that happens when a good photographer is paired with this incredible technology.

For the 2022 contest, 2,624 photographers from 116 countries submitted work. But, in the end, it was French photographer Armand Sarlangue who saw his entry named Photo of the Year. The mysterious photo, which shows a glowing orb against a dark background, looks like it comes from outer space, but it is set right here on Earth. Titled Big Bang, Sarlangue's award-winning photo portrays a secondary fissure happening a short distance from the main crater of Iceland's Fagradalsfjall volcano.

In addition to Photo of the Year, awards were handed out in eight photo and three video categories. New views of architecture, interesting looks at wildlife, and glimpses into different cultures are just some of the themes covered by the winners. All of the winners and runner-ups will see their work included in a special exhibit at the Siena Awards Festival in Italy, which will be held from October 1 until November 20.

Check out all of the winning photographs and selected finalists from all of the categories below.

Here are the winners of the 2022 Drone Photo Awards.

“Rooftops of Kartoffelraekkerne Neighborhood” by Serhiy Vovk. 1st Classified, Urban.
“Rooftops of Kartoffelraekkerne neighborhood, in Oesterbro. The neighborhood was built in the late 1800s for the working class families. Today, it is one of the most sought for in Copenhagen.”

“Abandoned Weather Station” by Dmitry Kokh. 1st Classified, Series.
“On a sailing trip to Chukotka and Wrangel Island, the photographer covered more than 1200 miles along the coast. One day, to shelter himself from the incoming storm, he approached a small island, Kolyuchin, a former meteorological station in the days of the Soviet Union. After seeing the strange movements in the windows of an abandoned village, he caught a glimpse of the faces of some polar bears through his binoculars! There were about twenty specimens, mostly males, who were wandering among the abandoned houses while the females remained on the sidelines with their puppies. Since it was too dangerous to land on the island, he decided to use a drone equipped with low-noise propellers to photograph the animals without disturbing them.”

“Sleeping on a Boat” by Anindita Roy. 1st Classified, People.
“Dhaka is located on the bank of the famous Buriganga river. Sadarghat river port of Dhaka is the busiest port in Bangladesh, with services to most of the districts in the country. People from both sides of the Buriganga river cross it using small boats. The boat men working on them, usually sleep at night on the boats themselves.”

“Collecting Dry Red Chillies” by Md Tanveer Hassan Rohan. Highly Commended, People.
“Women sorting dry red chilies in a red chili pepper dry factory to preserve them. They get nearly $2 (160 BDT) for 10 hours of work, and in some places, they get paid even less. Bogura's chilies are famous around the country.”

For this year's contest, 2,624 photographers from 116 countries submitted work.

“The Unicorn” by Shuai Wu. Commended, Abstract.
“Overlooking the unicorn hollow dome from the air. From above, the triangular shapes and the curvy lines create a geometrical and fascinating pattern. The viewer's eye gets lost in the movement of the image, as it was an optical illusion. The picture was taken at Unicorn Island, Chengdu, Sichuan China.”

“Salt Farm Workers Harvesting” by Saurabh Sirohiya. 1st Classified, Abstract.
“Some laborers at work in a salt pan where they move the salt to form circular lines allowing a slow evaporation under the hot sun. At the end of the day the salt will be collected in baskets: it's a really hard job!”

“Solidarity” by Mehdi Mohebipour. 1st Classified, Wildlife.
“Flamingos sleep together at night for greater security and stay close together during the day, thus protecting each other. In this crowd of bodies the colorful nuances of the plumage and the reflections of the light stand out.”

“Falling Skiers” by Daniel Koszela. 1st Classified, Sport.
“The photo taken in March 2022 shows the competitors of the annual ski event: Bieg Piastów held in Szklarska Poręba, at its 46th edition. Skiers whiz in their colorful clothing along the track surrounded by snow-covered trees.”

“After Sand Storm” by Yura Borschev. Runner Up, Urban.
“In the picture, a basketball court after a sand storm in the United Arab Emirates: the sand is partially covering the field, letting the viewer get a glimpse of its original shapes and colors. It is one of the greatest finds in the author's sport courts collection shot in 2021.”

All of the winners will see their work displayed in a special exhibition in Siena, Italy.

“Eye” by Matteo Originale. Commended, Wedding.
“The photographer tried to create an unusual image with the drone that made the water move around the bride and groom. He attempted to make a normal shot special: the result is beautiful.”

“Learning Life” by Florian Ledoux. Runner Up, Wildlife.
“A young polar bear, a yearling, is playing in the water testing the fresh ice and jumping back and forth in the water with his sibling, while their mother is resting nearby. This image is the result of 5 months in the field, living with and near the bears in a remote camp on the east coast of Svalbard.”

“Like a Painted Picture” by Krzysztof Krawczyk. 1st Classified, Wedding.
“The effect of the sun on the water, a felled tree and a brave bride lying on it: a magnificent picture drawn by nature. The surface of the water looks like a starry night sky, while the bride looks seems a dreamy princess.”

“Aftermath of La Palma’s Volcano Eruption” by Enrico Pescantini. Runner Up, Nature.
“The impressive eruption of volcano Cumbre Vieja hit the island of La Palma at the end of 2021. For 3 months the lava river destroyed over 3000 buildings, 90 kilometers of roads and endless hectares of banana plantations, leaving more than 2000 people homeless. The landscape changed completely.”

The winning images show the creative possibilities of drone photography.

“9 Unique Shaped Buildings” by Dimitar Karanikolov. Runner Up, Series.
“A series of aerial top-down photographs of 9 buildings around the world with unusual shape and rooftops. Dhamma Yazika Pagoda in Bagan, Myanmar.”

“Shadow Basketball II” by Kateryna Polishchuk. Commended, Sport.
“A shot in Urban park in Kharkiv, the best place to practice sports—or take drone pictures like this one. The light blue ball is standing perfectly on the centre of the orange crescent-shaped part of the field. The two colors create a beautiful contrast in the picture.”

“Meeting” by David Rouge. 1st Classified, Nature.
“This picture is the result of a dream come true: the meeting of the desert and the ocean. As the drone climbed higher, the photographer noticed a particular atmosphere, where the light highlighted the delicious shapes of these dunes flowing into the South Atlantic Ocean.”

Photographers competed in eight still photo categories and three video categories.

Drone Photo Awards: Website

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Drone Photo Awards.

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Lily Harvest in the Mekong Delta

Photographer Pham Huy Trung uses his craft to spotlight Vietnam's rich cultural history. Through his aerial photography, he shares his country's lush green landscape and colorful flowers. His work is a far cry from his former profession in telecommunications, which he left behind to pursue his passion for photography. Now, he's a renowned photographer whose work has been recognized by the Sony World Photography Awards, among others.

Whether he's sharing the colorful lily harvest on the Mekong Delta or revealing the mysteries of how coffee beans are dried, Trung uses his aerial photos to make Vietnam look its best. “Vietnam has Asian cultural characteristics which cannot be found in other countries, especially the landscape with its green colors, flowers, caves, and beaches,” he tells My Modern Met. “However, in the big picture, we can only recognize the difference in Vietnam's heritage with the bird's eye from above, so I usually use aerial photography to showcase the impression of the subject and my ideals.”

While the natural landscape is the protagonist of most of Trung's photographs, humans also play an important role. He notes that people in Vietnam tend to be welcoming and friendly, and farmers are particularly happy to have him photograph their land. In fact, a human presence is a welcome contrast in his photographs, even if they are just small dots in a vast green field or bobbing along in a fishing boat.

Trung hopes that his images will encourage people to pay Vietnam a visit and to discover firsthand the places that he photographs. For those who are interested in his work, he also offers prints and digital downloads via his website.

Aerial photographer Pham Huy Trung gives a bird's eye view of life in Vietnam.

Rice Paddies in Mu Cang Chai

Fishing Nets in Phu Yen

Countryside in Vietnam

Drying Coffee Beans in Gia Lai

In particular, his work focuses on the country's lush green landscape.

Tea Harvest in Bao Loc

Trang An

Grass Harvest in the Mekong Delta

Buffaloes in the Mekong Delta

His aerial photos also show how Vietnamese people interact with the natural world.

Fish Market in the Mekong Delta

Daisy Farm in Dong Nai

Basket Boats in Binh Thuan

Lilies in the Mekong Delta

Fishing net in Phu Yen

Pham Huy Trung: Website | Instagram

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Pham Huy Trung.

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We talk a lot about renewable energy sources and moving toward a greener future. And in those discussions, solar power is at the forefront. But what does it actually look like to use solar panels on a large scale? Aerial photographer Tom Hegen traveled to three countries to take a look for himself. The Solar Power Series is a look at solar plants and the manmade landscape looking to salvage our future.

Hegen, who takes his images from a helicopter, has long been fascinated by the human impact on the environment. And recently, this has included a deep investigation into alternative energy sources. As part of that look, Hegen was drawn to solar plants and how this new technology—if used properly—could keep the planet powered for generations to come.

“In a single hour, the amount of power from the Sun that strikes the Earth is more than the entire world consumes in a year,” the German photographer tells My Modern Met. “Saying this, the Sun‘s energy would be enough to keep the world running for at least the next five million years. The question here is can we make enough use of that energy?”

He was inspired to seek out these solar farms after encountering a cluster of solar fields near the French Alps. It struck him that they looked like endless waves on the hilltops and he set out to look for others. His journey took him to Spain and the United States. As always, the work was a challenge when attempting to create visual magic while photographing from the open door of a helicopter.

“I wanted the mirrors to reflect the morning sky, while the ground was still dark. Other images had been taken during harsh sunlight. Up in the air, it can be very cold. I have to stand against the wind of the rotor blades. It is hardly possible to keep the camera steady. It is actually the worst environment to take pictures. In the end, it‘s only a few seconds when everything comes in line. Often, we were looping around the structures at different heights to find the perfect angle.”

In the end, the effort paid off. The Solar Power Series is oddly mesmerizing, as the panels are laid out in concentric circles or neat rows. The repetitive pattern on the landscape is soothing yet also an odd transformation at the same time. The environment has been inextricably altered by man yet again, but perhaps this time for a greater good. It's an interesting question to grapple with as one is drawn into the work.

See more of Hegen's work, including his series on one of South America's largest lithium plants on his website and Instagram.

The Solar Power Series is a look at solar plants across three countries by Tom Hegen.

All the photographs were taken from a helicopter, with Hegen looking at how this technology is transforming the landscape.

“The Sun's energy would be enough to keep the world running for at least the next five million years.”

“The question here is can we make enough use of that energy?”

Tom Hegen: Website | Instagram | Behance 

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Tom Hegen.

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Photo: Google Earth

One of the beauties of aerial photography is the ability to see what's familiar in a whole new way. That was certainly true for photographer Pio Andrea Peri, who used his drone to photograph his hometown on the Italian island of Sicily. What he discovered was a delightful surprise that put his small town of Centuripe on the map.

The small village was already known for its wealth of Roman ruins and rare ancient sculptures, but Peri really spotlit its geography. After noticing its unusual shape on Google Earth, he decided to use his drone and see what he could find. He sent his drone as high as it could go and verified what he'd seen online—Centuripe looked like a human! With its five points that sprawl out from a central mass, the design of the village actually makes a shape that looks like a person.

Due to the limitations of his drone, Peri needed to stitch together several photos to fit in the entire village. When he posted the results online, he was delighted by the reaction. The images went viral and, all of a sudden, Centuripe was known as the town that looks like a human. And while some people accused the photographer of doctoring the image, a quick check on Google Earth verified that he had simply photographed what was there.

The ancient town was built on a hill, which gave it a good strategic position. The city was left in ruins in the 13th century, which means that its current design dates from the 16th century. Its tiny, winding streets lead down to terraced buildings; and today, around 5,000 people call Centuripe home. Now, thanks to Peri's photo, there is renewed interest in the village, with people traveling to take in the human-shaped town for themselves.

A local man caused a stir when he noticed that his small Sicilian town was shaped like a human.

Get another fantastic aerial view of Centuripe thanks to this drone footage.

h/t: [Oddity Central]

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We're used to seeing sparkling blue, green, and crystal waters, but sometimes, nature throws a curveball. Located on the west coast of Australia is a candy-colored body of water called Hutt Lagoon. It is a saltwater lake that derives its pink color from the carotenoid-producing algae Dunaliella salina, a food-coloring agent and source of vitamin A. Russian photographer Kristina Makeeva—who is known for her fairytale fashion photography—sought out this special sight and captured its pastel rosy beauty in a new series.

“I dreamed about the pink lake for a long time, and it turned out to be better than in my dreams,” Makeeva tells My Modern Met. “Pools with different shades of red, pink, and sometimes yellow and blue. Pink salt on the shore, which glitters like snow—it looks like abstract paintings. Nature and its colors, in this case, did the magic.” Some of her pictures feature a model, who gives scope to the size of this lake. It contains sections of pink, red, blue, and yellow, and appears to disappear into the horizon. Strips of sand divide and surround the parcels of water.

Makeeva highlights the surreality of the lake's colors letting the pigmented body of water fill the entire composition. This way viewers are immersed in the sumptuous hues of Hutt Lagoon and its ambiance. In fact, without knowing what the subject matter is, these images could be interpreted as fantasy environments or even avant-garde paintings. However, Makeeva also includes overhead shots of the landscape which put the lake, and all of its wondrous qualities, in context with the beach.

Scroll down to see more photography of the pink lake by Makeeva, and follow the artist on Instagram to keep up to date with her latest projects.

Russian photographer Kristina Makeeva captures the spectacular sight of the Hutt Lagoon in Western Australia.

It is a saltwater lake that receives its incredible pink coloration from carotenoid-producing algae Dunaliella salina.

Kristina Makeeva: Website | 500px | Facebook | Instagram

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Kristina Makeeva.

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Sulfur is a fascinating element. It is Earth's fifth most common element to be found in the natural world. It typically manifests as a mineral—a sulfide or sulfate. You may have smelled its presence in the “rotten egg” odor of certain natural mineral waters which bubble up from springs. Such springs have long been spa destinations for health and enjoyment, but they can offer incredible, barren beauty as well. Searching for beautiful colors with his infrared camera, photographer Jonas Daley has captured the sulfurous beauty of the Aiken Spring of the Gobi Desert in China's Qinghai Province.

Between northern China and southern Mongolia lies the Gobi Desert—from sand dunes to mountains to deep springs. The Aiken Spring is sometimes known as the “Devil's Eye,” and it lies in China's Qinghai Province. Its name may derive from its over 2,122-foot descent into the cracked earth, from which sulfurous water bubbles up. Its mineral content has kept the surrounding area barren. However, the minerals and their gentle wash across the earth have built painterly layers of bright colors. Earth tones are punctuated by shocking pinks and and brilliant sea greens.

Daley—a China-based photographer—is interested in more than capturing stunning aerial shots of sites such as the Aiken Spring, though. He describes his style as one of magical realism, with “a distinctive and independent color that uses rich imagination and artistic exaggeration to stage ‘special performance' of real life and turn the reality into a kind of ‘magical reality.'” He enjoys venturing into remote places which test the physical limits of the photographer in pursuit of colorful images. Infrared technology is particularly useful to his art, as the camera's sensor can capture infrared light not normally seen. To learn more about his stunning work and to explore more images, check out his website.

Photographer Jonas Daley photographed the beautiful sulfur water of the Aiken Spring in China's Gobi Desert.

He uses infrared photography to capture landscape and aerial images in the style of magical realsim.

The Spring, known as “the Devil's Eye,” is full of earth tones and brilliant colors.

Scroll down to explore more stunning images of this natural wonder.

Jonas Daley: Website | Instagram | Behance | Twitter

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Jonas Daley.

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For the past 12 years, travel photographer Florian Delalee has been constantly on the move. With his base in Shanghai, he's been able to trek to remote areas of Asia and document its landscape. But as 2020 was a year like no other, he was forced to get creative when he found himself having to stay in China. That's where his series The Beauty of China from the Air was born.

With his drone in hand, Delalee took his adventurous spirit on the road and explored China far and wide. Xinjiang, Tibet, Sichuan, Jiangxi, and Inner Mongolia were just some of the places that he visited. What he came away with is a wonderful portfolio of images that shows the full, rich beauty of the Chinese landscape.

Whether he was hiking on a remote section of the Great Wall, flying over the red forest in Anhui, or photographing a pink lake in Inner Mongolia, Delalee was always ready to fly his drone high and get unique imagery. This allows viewers to take the adventure with him and marvel at the different geographies found across China.

As the fourth largest country in the world, and nearly the size of the United States, it should come as no surprise that the Chinese landscape is full of diversity. But to see it so clearly on display is still a sight to behold.  For instance, the incredible rock formations of the Gansu Canyon and the sandy expanses of the desert contrast with the lush, green terraced landscape and stunning blue waterways.

For all of his travel, there are still five provinces that Delalee still needs to visit. As he continues to make his way around the country, he hopes that people will view these photographs and marvel at what one can see while in China. For him, the most interesting part was seeing the human impact on nature and how Chinese culture has worked with nature for centuries but also left many areas wild and untamed.

Travel photographer Florian Delalee spent the past year traveling across China.

His drone photos give an aerial view of China's diverse landscape.

From mountains to waterways to villages, he captured unique perspectives with his drone.

Florian Delalee: Website | Instagram | Behance

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Florian Delalee.

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