By Ted Grussing
It cleared up this afternoon, so I headed up to the airport about 4:30P with a plan to be in the air by 5:30P and make a beeline for the peaks … wheels up at 5:20P and a fast climb and flight NW to the west side of the peaks … climbed through 9,000’ crossing W of Wilson and leveled off at 10,500’and was absolutely astounded at the sight I was approaching. N and NE of the peaks the clouds were laying down on the ground or just above them; volcanic cones poked through the clouds and a pair of rainbows appeared to the NE of the peaks.
The angles for the light on the peaks was nearly perfect and this is one of the first shots I took as I approached them … probably ten miles out. What a treat to be back up there and because of all the rain the USFS will not be doing any burns for a while so the air is crystalline. Some close ups of the peaks, looking down the slopes with the aspen in full color above the clouds will be following.
Also neat is that I use the GPS function on the 5D MK IV to obtain accurate information on where I took the shot and it imbeds the location in the metadata … not too worried about someone going to the same location to get this shot so here it is: 35,16.2566N 111,47.8913W Altitude 11,819.9’- fun! Got 187 very good shots and will have to go through and reduce the number somewhat. Some great close ups and shots through the clouds close to the peaks looking down into the inner basin and captured some great color. I plan to be back in the air by 7A and with the sun in the east fly into the inner basin, the other side of these peaks – it is a volcanic caldera – the mountain was 6,000’ higher before the top blew off a very long time ago. The color looked like it is near if not peak color. The basin was filled with clouds so hopefully they will clear out by morning.
A wrap to a terrific day … hope yours was too … smile … we are breathing and capable of living, loving and appreciating the gift of life. Sometimes I think we are here so that there is a sentient life form to appreciate the billions of years of creating and sculpting this magnificent work of art we call earth … what a shame it would be if there was no one here to witness this … what a shame that so few actually do or care.
Cheers
Ted
A bird flies through the sky, and I fly with it. I am each pearl of moisture sparkling in the sun.
I lie lazy on the clouds. And I acknowledge my kinship with each winged thing.
I see all as one, and nothing repels me, as this new day climbs noiselessly out of the valley of the night.
Peace lies over the world and over the world of my soul.
— 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.
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