Where were the photos taken for Pink Floyd's "Wish You Were Here" album art?

Question

Specifically, I'm interested in the location for the picture of the guy standing on his head in the water.

Answer 1

I think it was mono lake near Yosemite National Park.

I just looked it up:

The packaging for the original vinyl release was intended to be shrouded in an anonymous, all-black plastic wrapper. This idea was rejected by the record companies, who were appalled at the suggestion that they deliberately hide their product, so an additional image featuring the band name over top of two robotic hands in front of the four elements was included as a sticker on top. Removing this outer wrapper then revealed the proper artwork with its now-famous cover: the flaming businessman, shaking hands with his counterpart (as in the robot image). Three other photographs on the back and inner sleeve represented the remaining elements: a faceless salesman selling Pink Floyd products in the desert (earth); a naked female figure in a grove, barely visible behind a windswept red veil (air); and a splash-less diver half submerged in Mono Lake (water). All four photos in this design appeared to have each element 'breaking' (or burning) into the surrounding white margins.

Answer 2

Animals, Meddle or The Wall are my favourites. As for the ones 2, it's tough however I might say Wish You Were Here. Dark Side of the Moon is excellent, however it's too industrial for my likings and after a whilst it will get dull and worn out. Plus I cannot move up an album that's an complete Syd Barrett tribute. I rather love the Wall because it tells a deep tale in some way that's distinct and groundbreaking. The instrumental elements upload up to what's, in my view, a modern-day masterpiece. Animals once more is amazing instrumentally and tells a metaphorical message in probably the most tounge-in-cheek of approaches. As for Meddle, this is a excellent album instrumentally, that is what it has going for it predominately and began to sign the begin of Floyd going into new musical territory.

Answer 3

Yep, Mono Lake, near Yosemite National park in eastern-central California