Loose in the Palouse: Early Impressions

The gorgeous shots you typically see from the Palouse are shot at a place called Steptoe Butte. But that’s not the only place you can find beauty.

Just getting there can be amazing. Coming from Portland, you need to drive up the Columbia Gorge, which is spectacular in its own right. I’ve done several posts on the region closer to home that are worth a look. But it ain’t too shabby on the eastern end either.

Cruising down the gorge, the landscape changes considerably. In the west, sheer, tree covered cliffs dominate. Waterfalls cascade here and there, some of which are enormous. But as you go further east, past the rain catcher called the Cascade Mountain range, things dry out. Substantial hills still exist, maybe not so perpendicular, but tall enough to take advantage of the natural wind tunnel that calls the gorge home.

(Click on any photo for a larger view. Especially as WordPress seems to want to shrink them to cell phone size…)

As we headed further east, the usual weather patterns turned on their ear. Rather than get clearer, it clouded up.

Wisps of rain thoughtfully fell on the horizon, rather than on us. Dark clouds claimed, “we’re much more interesting than boring bluebird skies!”

Even in black and white. I couldn’t decide which version I liked better.

We stopped at a highway junction to take in the drama, and a reminder that we were in farm country now.

The next day, the photography workshop began in earnest. Mornings were classroom. As all the participants were already handy with a camera, and more than a few had pro level gear, spending time on the basics was unnecessary. We all knew an F-Stop from ISO, and which end of a lens to screw onto a camera. Picture review and esoterica were the topics. In the afternoons, we cruised the countryside, looking for shots and shot opportunities. You’ve already seen some of the results of that.

It was spring – late April, early May. Some of the fields had been planted, and had early growth. Others were not yet planted, or had been so recently as to still be brown. This added contrast to the views – both in color and in black and white.

And, here and there, was evidence of past endeavors. Signs that man had been here for years, trying to eke out an existence. In good years, helping to feed the world. In bad years, struggling to feed themselves.

An old, broken down grain elevator

Spring Planting

Some farms looked as if they were doing well.

Some hills, like they had past glories as a screen saver for Windows XP. A top fashion model, in its older years. A few more bumps and bulges, the outlook a bit less clear.

And in the evenings, we usually went to Steptoe Butte. A high overlook, with 360 degree views, or view potential in any direction. Just the place to be in the warm, dappled light and shadows of late afternoon and evening.

But we’ll save that goodness for another post. For now, a teaser in black and white…

Advertisement