By Ted Grussing
… people do what they do? In my case this photo gives you as good an idea as I can ever put into words. I took this shot early May and it was one of those miraculous mornings with crystalline air quality, low clouds with patches of light and shadow spread over the entire area of the Village, Sedona, Sycamore Canyon the Verde Valley and beyond as far as one could see … One might have been able to see further methinks as she is not hindered by typical human limitations.
I was roughly over the upper end of Jacks Canyon which turns NW north of Pine Valley and terminates above Oak Creek/Munds Canyons. The dirt road in the lower right portion of the photo is Schnebly Hill Road and not nearly as benign as it appears from this vantage point. Beyond it are the Mittens and above them you can see SR89A wending its way along Oak Creek from mid-right edge of the photo to the left and down through Uptown left side and above uptown you see a portion of West Sedona, Wilson Mountain is above the creek right side, and a lot of the named rocks and on high left close is Thunder Mountain and beyond the mid formations is Long Canyon and the canyons that go off from it. Beyond Long canyon is the edge of the Colorado Plateau and upper left on the edge is Black Mountain to the right of it is the gap and you are looking into Sycamore Canyon and to the right of it Casner Mountain.
What is especially neat about this shot is that it is a vantage point not normally seen and you have the beautiful soft morning light on the rocks. Most shots I have taken are from the S SE or SW to get the Peaks in the image and late afternoon lighting. I love this view even more I think and it is full frame and not cropped. The original file is 54MB and without any up-sampling the image is just under 20’ x 30’ so if you would like a very large print of this the quality will be unbelievable. I like the places I can go with my tripod with wings!!!
Today was a fun day, rain so no flying, but the rain is taking all the aerial garbage out of the air so when it does clear the air quality should be fantastic for a while and hopefully no more prescribed/managed fires for a while.
So into the weekend we go … the 4th no less … independence from an oppressive government … I like that thought!
Have a wonderful weekend and enjoy the days, especially the one you currently find yourself in. I love the plans I have for tomorrow, but all I ever find myself in is today, so that is where I live … keep breathing and you will have another today.
Cheers
Ted
Though work bring naught of power nor wealth
Spare me from want of common needs, and give a share of manly health,
A few good friends of honest deeds;
And till death’s peaceful slumber nears, a life of undishonored years.
— 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.
