By Ted Grussing
… I love this place and it has been a while since I have been there, but a return will occur soon. The turquoise color comes from Blue Springs around 8 miles upstream from here which produces about 225 cubic feet per second and is a highly mineralized water with copper and calcium carbonates and other minerals; the copper gives the water the blue color. Currently there is a very minimal flow of water at Cameron about thirty miles upstream from here (the confluence of the Little Colorado and Colorado rivers) so it is likely I’ll get the color now.
After rains, the Little Colorado flows with very muddy water and obliterates the blue and you see a chocolate colored water merging with the deep green (possibly muddy) of the Colorado river which is currently flowing at a rate of about 12,000 cubic feet per second at the confluence.
The confluence marks the beginning of the Grand Canyon and the end of Marble Canyon. For now, the plans to build a resort dubbed Escalade and a tramway down to the confluence is at a halt; the developers have an idea to bring about 4,000 people a day down to this pristine place … lovely! My suggestion is to make sure they have large neon signs on either side of the river. One would be Welcome to the Grand Canyon from Coke and on the other side a Welcome to the Grand Canyon from Pepsi and maybe a banner stretching across the water with a welcome from Red Bull with daily base jumpers performing.
Presently, it remains a quiet place and hard to get to … on the ground. I shot this image from roughly two miles above the water … not much around there and not many tour planes or helicopters go there. It is maybe 10 miles upstream from Desert View? Solitude Point is below the photo and of course much higher up; it is about 4,000’ down to the water from the rim.
Have a beautiful day … I am planning a pretty quiet one with One … sorry, couldn’t resist. She is enjoying her outings and her timidity remains intact. She prefers the inside kingdom. Share a smile with someone today … more if you like.
Cheers
Ted
But from the brooding beauty of the night, and daily dancing shafts of golden sun …
The mystery and wonder of the world … that play the soundless music of the soul
And fill the heart with memory’s olden dreams … From these will come at last your faith in God.
— 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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