Salvation Mountain
Salvation Mountain (#112) -- by Joe Reifer
Leonard Knight is the amazing folk artist who built Salvation Mountain in Niland, CA -- not far from the Salton Sea. There's a great documentary called Plagues and Pleasures on the Salton Sea, which has a segment on Salvation Mountain.
I was planning a road trip to Anza Borrego for December, and got fired up to visit the Salton Sea after seeing the documentary earlier this year. I had seen Mark Tucker's dreamlike, weathered Salton Sea photos some time ago. My original introduction to the Salton Sea was through my friend Troy Paiva's essential night photography book, Lost America.
Last week I spent a few hours in the beautiful late afternoon light photographing Salvation Mountain, and hanging out with Leonard Knight. Salvation Mountain is an amazing place, built by an amazing man.