… every Valentines Day I send out a photograph of Sunset Crater … from the air and looking from the west to the east, the crater top appears to be a big beautiful valentine. So to you and yours from Mother Nature, One and myself, a very Happy Valentines Day and we’re wishing you every joy and blessing it is possible to have.
The photo below I call “Fish Hooks” and it shows the talons of an Osprey that we got close to whilst at Theodore Roosevelt Lake, NE of Phoenix last Friday … many great shots and worth the long trip for sure! The Osprey is the only raptor besides owls that has the ability to rotate one of its forward pointing toes backwards … this gives it the ability to grasp and realign the fish head forwards in flight (gets rid of the parasitic drag … more streamlined) and the pads on the feet are like a cats tongue which assists in gripping slippery fish.
Back to Lake Pleasant this week. a little more manageable at 11+ square miles of surface area compared to 31+ square miles for Roosevelt and about two hours less driving. Theodore Roosevelt Lake is the first lake of four formed by dams on the Salt River, next is Apache, Canyon and Saguaro; below Saguaro, The Verde River joins the Salt River after passing through two dams which form Bartlett Lake and Horseshoe Lake. Collectively these two watersheds provide Phoenix metro with most of its water supply. Lake Pleasant gets its water from the Agua Fria river (intermittent flow) and the Colorado River via the Central Arizona Project canals and most of the water release goes to agriculture.
Into a new and beautiful week … still breathing and still enjoying the life that has been given to me and the joy of family and friends. Smile, and have a delightful day and week 🙂
Cheers,
Ted
Though I know I shall sometime no more open my eyes to the night or day,
I am one who looks at the stars when unchained from the work-bench at nightfall.
They are a sign that I am not ephemeral, nor you, nor you, whoever you are.
The dawn comes and the dark and the sign sparkling in the brooding night forever and forever.
At Nightfall 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 …