Salty Wings: the duo behind those epic WA photos

By Carla Grossetti
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Meet the fine art photographers who, with a drone and a vision, started the Salty Wings brand by populating Instagram with a visual love letter to their home state.

Imagine a GoPro being held in the talons of a majestic sea eagle soaring high above the coastline and you will understand the inspiration behind the Salty Wings brand. Former Claremont locals Jampal Williamson and Michael Goetze started the @saltywings Instagram account in 2016, taking their followers hundreds of feet above the Earth to capture rich landscapes of red dirt, white sands and navy seas. And, just like the sea eagle, the account took off, transcending into an online gallery selling abstract and alluring images taken from above.

Saltywings duo with a helicopter, WA

The duo shot to fame by capturing eagle-eye images of WA using drones, helicopters and small planes.

“When we first started out, eight years ago, drone photography was not common and when friends or followers asked how we got the footage we told them we had trained a sea eagle to take the images for us with a Go-Pro. The sea eagle is definitely our spirit animal and was the inspiration for the brand. We also borrowed from the term ‘salty sea dogs’ used to describe fisherman," explains Goetze.

As early adopters of drones, which up until about 2013 had mainly been used by the military, for security and aerial mapping, Salty Wings has inspired its 161,000 followers to look at the Western Australian coastline a little differently.

“I grew up in Claremont, which is on the Swan River between Perth and Fremantle. The beach was a five-minute drive and every holiday was spent either at Rottnest or down south. My childhood was spent becoming very familiar with WA’s coastlines and beaches at eye level. Since then, we have travelled more than 20,000 kilometres to shine a light on the WA coastline," says Goetze.

Yallingup coast, WA

The Yallingup coast from the sky. (Image: @saltywings)

A quick scroll through the @saltywings Instagram feed will give you an indication of the compelling compositions and visual storytelling the pair specialise in. As well as sending drones into the sky, the pair occasionally hire light planes and helicopters to capture their mesmerising perspectives of the landscape. And the resultant stream of images is nothing short of hypnotic.

The other half of Salty Wings, Jampal Williamson, says drone photography has given Australians a new way of looking at WA. “It’s not just using the same vantage point from above. For example, in Broome, it’s those big blue skies against the red earth that are most striking. Our style is really like a curated love letter to the land."

Broome, WA

The swirling palette of reds and blues in Broome. (Image: @saltywings)

The dynamic duo met through mutual friends in 2013 when they discovered they shared a passion for photography and an ambition to become entrepreneurs. Goetze had experience building websites and Williamson was studying for a media and communications degree.

“I was halfway through my degree in 2013 when I saw a shaky old video of a drone floating through a forest. I had bought a drone and started posting photographs on my Instagram and I started selling a few prints. It was a lightbulb moment. When the choice came down to writing an essay or spending the day in nature, I chose photography," Williamson says.

When asked what images catapulted the two into social media superstardom, Goetze points to two shots in particular: a best-selling image of Shelly Beach (SW12), near Albany, and one of James Price Point (SW0375) north of Broome.

Esperance, WA

The arc of a wave in Esperance. (Image: @saltywings)

“The shot that put us in the spotlight was SW12. It blew up on social media because it looked like an abstract artwork, like it has been geometrically planned. The flow of the photo is what makes it so beautiful. The next one would be SW0375, which is the first red-earth-blue-water shot we posted," says Goetze.

Albany shot by saltywings

The best-selling aerial view of Albany. (Image: @saltywings)

Although the aerial photographers are currently based on the East Coast of Australia in order to further build on their portfolio, they aim to continue their jigsaw-like approach to capturing WA’s sweet spots from the sky. The abstract allure of the salt lakes in the Wheatbelt will, says Williamson, be the next piece to add to the puzzle.

Carla Grossetti avoided accruing a HECS debt by accepting a cadetship with News Corp. at the age of 18. After completing her cadetship at The Cairns Post Carla moved south to accept a position at The Canberra Times before heading off on a jaunt around Canada, the US, Mexico and Central America. During her career as a journalist, Carla has successfully combined her two loves – of writing and travel – and has more than two decades experience switch-footing between digital and print media. Carla’s CV also includes stints at delicious., The Sydney Morning Herald, and The Australian, where she specialises in food and travel. Carla also based herself in the UK where she worked at Conde Nast Traveller, and The Sunday Times’ Travel section before accepting a fulltime role as part of the pioneering digital team at The Guardian UK. Carla and has been freelancing for Australian Traveller for more than a decade, where she works as both a writer and a sub editor.
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Wonil Hotel Perth combines riverside living with a sense of purpose

    By Kirsty Petrides
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    Perched on the banks of Perth’s Swan River, the Wonil Hotel Perth pairs contemporary rooms and sweeping waterfront views with a sense of purpose that sets it apart.

    In a rare model for the hospitality world, Wonil Hotel Perth operates as a not-for-profit hotel, directing 100% of its net revenue toward medical and scientific research across Western Australia’s five major universities. So while guests enjoy the calm of riverside living, their stay also quietly contributes to the future of science, innovation and health in Australia. And it’s a refreshing stand-out in Perth’s hotel scene.

    Location

    an aerial view of Swan River, Perth

    The peaceful riverside hotel is set on the banks of the Swan River.

    Wonil Hotel Perth is located in the inner-city suburb of Crawley, a peaceful riverside locale about 10 minutes from Perth’s CBD. It’s positioned steps from Matilda Bay Reserve, where walking trails hug the shoreline and black swans glide along the water. From here, it’s a short drive or bike ride to Kings Park, Elizabeth Quay and the city’s arts and culture precincts. Though close to the action, the setting feels removed – quiet, leafy and surrounded by nature.

    Style and character

    the reception area at Wonil Hotel Perth

    The floor-to-ceiling windows offer a picturesque view of Matilda Bay.

    Named after the Noongar word for peppermint tree, of which there are many shading the riverbanks outside, Wonil Hotel Perth is the first Australian property in Accor’s Handwritten Collection. The overall style is minimal without being sterile – warm wood finishes, tactile furnishings and clever lighting create a relaxed, understated space that melts into its natural surroundings.

    The lobby is stunning, spacious and filled with inviting leather couches, well-stocked bookshelves and Indigenous art and sculpture work. The floor-to-ceiling glass doors open out onto a sheltered outdoor deck filled with tables and chairs overlooking the river. During the day this serves as the world’s most picturesque coworking space, but come 5pm, it’s where you’ll find most guests milling around, cocktails in hand.

    Facilities

    the library nook at Wonil Hotel Perth

    Spend time reading books in the cosy library nook.

    Wonil Hotel Perth leans toward a pared-back offering, focusing on what guests actually need. While there’s no on-site fitness centre, hotel staff can provide access to the nearby University of WA gym and pool. But why would you, when the hotel is in prime location for an outdoor workout. Walk along the trails that meander through Matilda Bay Reserve, run along the riverfront to the iconic Kings Park, or even tackle the nearby Kokoda Trail – a steep 150-step ascent designed to simulate the exhaustion and effort of the original Kokoda Track soldiers in WWII.

    The hotel includes West Kitchen & Bar, a small but well-curated restaurant, plus free Wi-Fi, meeting rooms and secure paid parking. Limited parking is available on-site with an advanced booking.

    Rooms

    the premier king room with river view at Wonil Hotel Perth

    Each room is sleek and spacious with views over the Swan River.

    The hotel’s 66 rooms range from Standard to Executive and Premium, many with balconies and uninterrupted views over the Swan River, and some with interconnecting options for families or groups. My room was a Deluxe King with a balcony and river view.

    the bathroom at Wonil Hotel Perth

    Bathrooms are luxe and spacious.

    The space somehow manages to be both modernly sleek and warmly inviting – textured grey walls illuminated by warm sconce lights, an exposed concrete ceiling offset by rich timber accents, and a black wrought iron balcony met with earthy-hued, upholstered leather furnishings. The spacious king bed, roomy shower with luxe Mr Smith toiletries, and complimentary coffee add a special touch.

    Food and drink

    the outdoor terrace at Wonil Hotel Perth

    Gather for sunset drinks on the outdoor terrace.

    West Kitchen & Bar offers a truly local experience. When it comes to the drinks, you won’t find anything – wine, beer, spirits – from outside WA. Even the soda water hails from the west. The wine list sees big WA makers like Leeuwin Estate, Vasse Felix and Voyager dance alongside smaller producers like Ironcloud, Singlefile and LS Merchants; with beers from local legends Gage Roads, Little Creatures, Beerfarm and Eagle Bay Brewing.

    The dinner menu features seafood, steak and small plates designed for sharing, showcasing local producers. Standouts are the Rottnest kingfish with ruby grapefruit, the barramundi with Tuscan cabbage and the Harvey beef tri tip with smoked bone marrow butter and red wine jus. For dessert, a unique take on a classic – spiced red wine pannacotta, served with poached pear and fresh honeycomb.

    Come morning, the hotel offers a curated selection of buffet breakfast options including seasonal fruits, homemade granola, pastries and sourdough. Plus, guests also get a choice of one item from the à la carte breakfast menu – the tomato bruschetta with balsamic, basil, feta and poached eggs on rye was exceptional.

    Does Wonil Hotel Perth have access for guests with disabilities?

    There are accessible rooms to accommodate guests with accessibility needs.

    Is Wonil Hotel Perth it family-friendly?

    Yes – the interconnecting rooms make family stays appealing, and the vast grassland and river foreshore of Matilda Bay Reserve are a beautiful spot for kids to run, splash and play in nature.

    Best for: Couples, families, business travellers

    Address: 21 Hackett Drive, Crawley