iN VIDEO: Summerland drone operator gets surprise on dreary winter day

It was a dreary, snowless day in the Okanagan when Summerland resident Kyle Martens headed out for a drive on a whim and ended up at the sacred Spotted Lake in Osoyoos.

“It’s cloudy and gloomy here in the winter, it’s just months of grey so I headed out for something to do,” he said. “I’d never been to Spotted Lake but always heard about it.”

Despite the dreary weather that Sunday afternoon on Jan. 25, the hobby photographer decided to send his drone into the air and was surprised at what he saw.

“It looked totally different from above with all the green algae mixed with ice, it looked completely different from the air than it did from the road. I was so excited when I saw it,” he said.

Located in the South Okanagan Grasslands Protected Area on Highway 3 west of Osoyoos, spotted Lake is known for the unique spotted pattern on its surface caused by concentrations of rich minerals that include calcium, sodium sulfates and magnesium sulfate. The lake is a sacred place of healing for local First Nations communities who believe each different circle holds its own unique medicinal and healing properties.

In recent years more aerial drone footage is being collected showing much different perspectives of the natural wonder, where the spots can be seen from above in different shapes and sizes in green, brown, yellow and blue shades. 

With serene music playing, Martens’ video footage shows the spots frozen in ice.

“The lake was so beautiful, I spent hours looking for serene music that wouldn’t take away from the scenery,” he said.

It isn’t the first time the photographer has captured something beautiful when he wasn’t expecting it.

“Most of the best shots I’ve got were taken on days I wasn’t expecting anything, you never know what you’re going to capture unless you step outside your door,” he said. “Forcing myself to go out with the purpose of finding something beautiful has never disappointed.”