… going through folders of shots today with the intent of wholesale deletion, and then I spotted this photo of a Great-tailed Grackle along with two others of it. Normally it would be a throwaway shot, but then I took a closer look and behold, it looked like a character out of Al Capp’s parody strip, Fearless Fosdick, of Chester Gould’s Dick Tracy with a hole in his head! The strip would appear in Al Capp’s Lil Abner. Yes I actually read all of those strips and comic books … we did not have a television set, but we did have comic books, listen to The Shadow on radio and play outside from morning until evening. Diamond Lake was just across the street and a huge slough owned by our neighbor Arnie Bogen was just a half a block away. We had imaginations and fun … a branch became a rifle and so it went! Arnie sold the slough to the city and it became Todd Park a thirteen acre park for all the residents … our forts were buried under all the fill!
I have no idea what happened to the Grackle, maybe he tried to steal a lunch from a hawk or eagle? No clue!
Below is a photo of a Great Egret rocketing into the sky from his perch on the branches immediately below him … love the body and neck shadow that is on the inside left wing going straight up to the real thing.
Have an absolutely wonderful day … smile, keep breathing and enjoy each day you are granted!
Cheers,
Ted
And whether or not it is clear to you, no
doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.
Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you
conceive Him to be. And whatever your labors
and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, keep
peace in your soul. With all its sham, drudgery
and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be
cheerful. Strive to be happy.
excerpt from Desiderata by Max Ehrmann
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The easiest way to reach Mr. Grussing is by email: ted@tedgrussing.com
In addition to sales of photographs already taken Ted does special shoots for patrons on request and also does air-to-air photography for those who want photographs of their airplanes in flight. All special photographic sessions are billed on an hourly basis.
Ted also does one-on-one workshops for those interested in learning the techniques he uses. By special arrangement Ted will do one-on-one aerial photography workshops which will include actual photo sessions in the air.
More about Ted Grussing …