Alchemy

Abstractions of Water and Time

Curated Collection 2026
by Michael Jurek

Alchemy
Abstractions of Water and Time


I captured these abstract patterns and surreal colours from a helicopter that had been specially prepared for this photography tour. The helicopter’s doors had been removed, and everything had to be stowed away absolutely securely.

Once you’re in the air, nothing separates you from the landscape and the open sky. At first, your senses are overwhelmed.

Aerial view of salt ponds with pink and red waters separated by roads and small islands, with some white salt deposits visible.

Salty Grid

The series of the salt pans in the Camargue is the portrayal of the earth's surface as an animated, colorful canvas. These images capture a slow, elemental alchemy. They are portraits of landscapes carved not just by space, but by time and evaporation. Step closer and lose your sense of scale.

The roar of the wind is deafening, and the air at this altitude feels raw and incredibly alive. The wind tugs violently at the equipment, and I realised immediately why it’s forbidden to change lenses and why a camera strap is compulsory.

For more than two exhilarating hours, the world unfolded beneath us like an endless gallery of living art.

Aerial view of a salt flat with salt formations, blue water, and patches of greenery.
Abstract aerial view of a landscape with salt flats, water, and exposed earth in shades of white, blue, and brown.

Crystalline

Salt efflorescence

Aerial view of colorful salt ponds with pink, red, green, and yellow hues, separated by white and gray borders.

Alchemy

Viewed from above, the Camargue reveals its full beauty, and it is a real challenge to cope with the sheer sensory overload. Every fraction of a second demands a decision: how tight should the frame be? How can I capture these flowing forms in a perfect composition before the helicopter changes direction?

You are forced to make aesthetic decisions in fractions of a second whilst hovering hundreds of feet in the air, balancing the intensity of the flight with the pursuit of perfect, serene geometry.

Aerial view of a landscape with pink, brown, and green areas separated by narrow roads and boundaries, with a small water body and patches of vegetation.

Pink Vein

Aerial view of a beach with colorful sand and a forested area at the shore.

Salty Peninsula

Aerial view of pink and purple salt evaporation ponds separated by roads and narrow strips of land.

Saltern Grid

An aerial view of a salt flat with colorful mineral deposits, featuring a central pool of salt water with red, white, and beige mineral layers surrounding it.

Saltern Pan

An aerial view of a desert landscape with a dry riverbed or canal running through it. The terrain includes sandy, reddish, and beige areas with patches of salt flats or dried lake beds.

Salty Milky Way

The photographs in this series are the result of this intense experience. The poetry of nature, captured in two hours filled with magic and joy. This series transforms saline landscapes into picturesque masterpieces – a fascinating collection for galleries and art collectors.

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AERIAL PORTFOLIO VIEW
A pink, curved sofa with a ribbed texture in a room with pastel-colored striped carpet and a large abstract painting on the wall. A green round coffee table with a closed book on top sits in front of the sofa, and a modern wall lamp with two circular
Modern living room corner with wooden console, abstract wall art, beige lounge chair, round wood side table, and windows
A modern interior with a gray concrete wall, a wooden bench on the floor, a decorative vase on the right, a tall green plant on the left, and a framed abstract painting with white, gray, and red colors hanging on the wall.