Excursion Outline

The Palouse is a region in southeastern Washington characterized by gentle rolling hills covered with wheat and legumes fields. Standing above these rolling hills and subtle valleys is truly a sight to behold.

Palouse is often referred to as the “Tuscany” of the United States, but don’t be fooled, this land is 100% American. Cultivated for wheat, by hardworking men and women since the 1860’s this area is iconic in its own special way.

The hills were formed from wind blown dust and silt, called "loess", from very dry regions to the southwest. Achieving the picturesque scenes requires us to ascend to the highest hills in the area. The hills and rolling prairies resemble giant sand dunes, and were created in very much the same way.

June is an excellent time to visit. The hills will be covered in fresh greens and newly harvested golds. Wildflowers will also be nearby in the event that you’d like to photograph flowers.

Unlike any other area in the country, this unique landscape will offer you images that can’t be created elsewhere. We hope to host you as we capture, barns, rolling hills, farm equipment, and the essence of Palouse.

This workshop is appropriate for both advanced and new photographers.

Itinerary

All locations and times visited will be determined by the conditions given. The itinerary below is provided to give an idea of the flow of each day. Times and locations may vary. All elements are watched closely for the best photographic and learning experience. Being located on the west coast of the United States, sunsets will be a large priority to this workshop. During our first day we will cover camera settings, composition and guidelines. We will also spend time working on slow exposures and mastering the art of capturing water movement. This time in the field will be the foundation for the rest of our time together.

Bonus Session
We've listened to our guests and have implemented something that has been hugely beneficial in our time together. Each workshop group will be invited to a live, recorded, online critique and post processing session, a short time after the workshop. This makes way for more shooting in the field and the option to learn from the comfort of your home and the ability to refer to the recorded session for future reference.

Day One
It's day one and we can't wait to get started on our adventure with you! We'll meet at the hotel at 4:00 pm, go over the details of our time together, then head out and enjoy dinner together. We'll have a chance to get to know one another and discuss gear and the opportunities for the week. After dinner, we'll head out to a 360° viewing point, allowing us to watch the sun drop towards the horizon and chase long shadows stretching their way across the rolling plains. By the end of this first evening session, you’ll be fully knowledgeable of our “in field workflow”. Our focus for day one is to make sure you're fully equipped for the entire week.

Day Two
We'll be up before the crack of dawn and heading out to capture different angles and subject matters amidst the rolling hills. We're training our eye to see in a different way, and long lenses will be very important to us as we slow down and look for lines, shadow and details to enhance the story of our image. For those of you who are accustomed to capturing naturescapes with wide lenses, you'll find this workshop to be challenging but refreshing. After our sunrise session we'll return back to the hotel for breakfast and a short break.

We'll meet back up in the afternoon to capture old, rusted farm equipment, barns and silos. For sunset, we'll find ourselves with a high view of the surrounding countryside to capture the beautiful evening light, long shadows, and extraordinary vistas of the Palouse.

Day Three
The rolling hills, waves of wheat, and farmland awaits. This is a relaxed workshop and we'll enjoy driving on the back roads where every hill and every turn is a new surprise that awaits. After our sunrise session we'll return back to town for brunch followed by a post procession session at the hotel. In the afternoon we'll be heading out to spend the remainder of the day capturing lone trees standing solo in the midst of the rolling hills. For our sunset, we'll head out to Palouse Falls to capture the majesty of this magnificent waterfall at sunset.

Day Four
Our last morning together will find us photographing sunrise as we say goodbye to this beautiful part of America. Afterwards, we'll join for brunch at a local diner and recap on the lessons learned, trade contact information, and bid each other farewell.

june 19-22, 2022