Condor’s Landing

Condor’s Landing, Yavapai Point, Grand Canyon – Steve Rutherford Landscape Photography

Condor’s Landing, Yavapai Point, Grand Canyon – Steve Rutherford Landscape Photography

This is an unframed, limited edition collection landscape photography print of only 25 units. It is printed on Hahnemuhle Fine Art Pearl papers, structured to refract the highest values in colour and detail. It’s high-quality ink absorbing layer enables exceptional image quality with enormously detailed sharpness, and a very broad colour range, providing archival permanency of your artwork for over 100 years.

On tripod, Canon 5DMk2, 28mm, 6 image stitch, F11, 1/4 sec, ISO 100, no filter, processed in Lightroom.

Captured from the literal edge of the Grand Canyon as I sat with my legs hanging off the edge, I watched a series of large birds gathering in the sunset. I was fascinated to watch as the sun-rays seems to entice these birds to play in the light, flying circles around each other. Once the darkness had arrived and headed back to the main lodge. I was later told by a local guide that what I saw were condors rounding up smaller birds and flying insects as their prey. Every sunset was a scene like this. Now have another look at the image and the size of the birds. Condors have wing spans up to 1.3 meters and are known as the largest flying land birds in the western hemisphere. This image not only puts the Grand Canyon into scale but also these incredible birds.

Condor’s Landing, Yavapai Point, Grand Canyon – Steve Rutherford Landscape Photography

Local guides and rangers are a wealth of knowledge when it comes to finding out about what you are exploring. A smart photographer always registers with the local ranger on hikes, but also befriends them. They will know the best places to access and to photograph from, as they are outdoors everyday. When travelling internationally and photographing a place you’ve never been, tell them your intentions, and that you are from overseas and unfamiliar wiht the area. They can quite often save you time, effort or maybe even your life.