The winners of the ISSLR Photo Competition were announced during the opening ceremony of the 15th ICSLR (November, 4). The announcement was a highlight of the event, showcasing the talent and creativity of the winning photographers.
Mother Nature’s Creatures
The winner
I Am Not Alone / Yongjie Lin. The photograph captures a serene moment by the salt lake of Namtso, located at an altitude of 4,718 meters on the Tibetan plateau, where a white yak gazes at its own reflection in the still water. The title “I Am Not Alone” reflects the quiet connection between the yak and its mirrored image, symbolizing a sense of companionship and harmony with the natural world. The scene evokes feelings of solitude yet peaceful coexistence, reminding us that even in the vastness of nature, such as the pristine environment of Namtso, we are never truly alone.
Runner-up
Salt Lake Snails / Pery Coleman. Drifts of Coxiella snails, a salt lake specialist, accumulate along the edges of ephemeral salt lakes in Southern Australia.
Landscape
The Milky Way / Kelly Hannah. Exposed microbialites reaching toward the heavens from the waters of White Rock Bay, Antelope Island, Great Salt Lake, Utah.
Runner-up
Salt and Snow / Fernando Useros. In the arid expanses of the Atacama Desert (Chile), “Salar el Laco” mirrors the snow-capped volcano “Cerro el Laco”, while a flock of andean flamingos (Phoenicocaparrus andinus) feed on the microorganisms and invertebrates that inhabit the salar.
Human Interconnectedness
Man Watches as Nature’s Drama Unfolds / Caroline Hung. A man walks the exposed lakebed, a stark testament to the sea’s ongoing recession. The person’s presence provides scale, emphasizing the vast expanse of newly revealed terrain. As he walks, he examine the complex tapestry of exposed mud and gypsum crusts. These features tell a geological story of the lake’s changing chemistry and water levels. Looming in the background, a thunderstorm rolls in its dark clouds a dramatic counterpoint to the arid landscape. This approaching storm highlights the area’s unpredictable weather patterns and the crucial, yet rare, role precipitation plays in the Salton Sea’s delicate water balance. The distant mountains, visible through the storm’s haze, frame the scene and reveal the unique topography of the region. These surrounding elevations create a natural wind tunnel effect, significantly influencing the local meteorology. This geographical feature plays a crucial role in shaping the lake’s wind patterns, which in turn affect its circulation and wave dynamics.
Runner-up
Utah Juice / Kelly Hannah. A railway car tagged as “Utah Juice” travels across the The Union Pacific Railroad Causeway that bisects Great Salt Lake into two distinct bodies of water.