By Ted Grussing
… I actually liked the first five shots in this series I shot of a Red Tail Hawk finishing his fresh, range fed, natural food field mouse better than this, but taking the sensitivities of some into account we’ll leave you with this one and a final view of our unwilling meal slipping down the throat of the hawk … As I aptly described in the video “Sharing with …” on my website: www.tedandcorky.com/videos.html there are no grocery stores or restaurants for our wildlife neighbors. They eat fresh every day and I am pleased to see that my daily scattering of seed in the back is attracting more and more quail and doves as well as smaller birds. Hawks are returning as I believe in feeding the full food chain and once again I am getting shots of them. Since I throw it on the ground, probably getting some mice, rabbits and squirrels too, which will bring back more bobcats and coyotes … life is good for all … well mostly, unless you are food for someone up the chain :+)
I took this shot a little over a year ago whilst playing golf with my son-in-law on the Ocean Course at Half Moon Bay, California. It is an absolutely beautiful course and the Pacific Ocean is always in view. We were just going up to the tee box when I spotted this guy in the rough adjacent to the tee box polishing off his lunch. I had not planned on shooting wildlife on the round so only had my 24/70 lens on the camera, but he let me get close.
Went up to Flagstaff this morning to take care of a few things and on the way home it was near whiteout conditions on the freeway, traffic was bumper to bumper and moving about ten miles per hour, so I got off I-17 at the Sedona exit and headed down the canyon … several cars in the ditch and one upside down and first responders just arrived seconds before me; hope they are okay. Always give thanks when driving in conditions like this, that I grew up in Minneapolis and winter driving is a natural thing. Give equal thanks that I left that weather and spent twenty five years near the beach in Huntington Beach, Ca, before moving here twenty six years ago … geez, that is a few years.
Have a beautiful day today … smile … you are breathing … what a great way to start the day.
Cheers
Ted
May I not forget that poverty and riches are of the spirit.
Though the world knows me not, may my thoughts and actions
be such as shall keep me friendly with myself.
— 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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