Photos of Bombay Beach
About Bombay Beach
Bombay Beach is a half-empty town on the eastern shore of the Salton Sea, that is now an incredible shooting location. It was originally built as a lakeside resort until storms in the late 1970s flooded the waterfront and rising salt in the lake killed off the fish, so most people left. The old beachfront still sits along the long gone shoreline with its bleached ruins, rusted trailers, boat ribs and crusts of white salt where the water used to be. Since 2016 an annual art event has filled the empty lots and the shore with permanent pieces built from scraps salvaged from the area. The Drive-In is the biggest one where a row of rusted cars are parked in rows all pointed at a screen. Out on the shore a concrete star and a swing set (moved every so often to stay at the water's edge) sit among smaller pieces. The lake is to the west, so sunset drops straight into letting the colour in the sky reflect off whatever shallow water is there. Hard midday sun flattens the bleached ruins into plain white, so morning or evening light will bring out the texture in the rust and the salt crust. Make sure to take your time and explore the whole the grid of streets, there's art on nearly every block. A lot of the pieces are lit up at night so aim to stay well after sunset. People do still live here, so while you are shooting make sure to respect their space and privacy. (Bombay Beach, California, United States)
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