Kolb Brothers: Grand Canyon Pioneers

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Discover Emery and Ellsworth Kolb, two creative photographers with successful careers at the Grand Canyon. These pioneers made a name for themselves in the photography business and were trailblazers of their time. The brothers gained popularity through their photographs of less traveled locations of the Grand Canyon. 

The brothers settled on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon in the early 1900s. They created their studio near Bright Angel Trail and remained in business for over 70 years. The studio had a divine location with exclusive views for travelers to experience through different excursions through the canyon. The Kolb brothers created the first motion picture of a Colorado River trek, which spiced up their business and brought more exposure to the brothers than ever before. 

Due to this explosive popularity, the Kolb brothers had to get creative when shooting and developing their images. They took journeys through the canyon to find scenic views that were unique and yet to be seen. They began to colorize their images to embody the beauty of the canyon and brighten the images. In this episode, experience exclusive footage of the Kolb brothers and the footage they shot and sold to tourists and visitors of the Grand Canyon.

Ted Simons, host and managing editor of

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