23rd Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Drone/Aerial
Where Color Takes Flight

If you’ve flown into SFO, you’ve likely seen these vivid salt ponds. I’ve photographed them often—their colors and patterns shift with microorganisms and salinity. Together they yield over 500,000 tons of sea salt each year.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 09.2023
Date Uploaded: 12.2025
Photo Location: California, United States of America
Camera: NIKON D810
Copyright: © Jassen Todorov