During the pandemic years, Elliot Ross captured images of crows taking to the air from the roofs surrounding his apartment on Russian Hill in San Francisco, California. It became a contemplative piece of art about one of the most intelligent bird species in existence.

Crows Ascending is dedicated to the memory of Elliot's younger brother Michael. Michael had a profound intellectual disability caused by lifelong epilepsy. He survived a severe case of Covid-19 in 2020 only to die of Parkinson's-related pneumonia months later. It is also dedicated to the millions of others who have suffered or died in the United States - many due to government inaction - from Covid-19.