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The 2013 Spring Palouse Guy Workshop is June 3-7. Save $100 if you sign up before April 5th! DETAILS & REGISTRATION
Posted in Workshops

Cutting the Wheat - ©Gary Hamburgh 2011 - All Rights Reserved
Last week I spent a couple of days at wheat harvest in the Palouse. The harvest is very late this year due to the weather we had last winter and spring. I visited an area that overlooked Lower Granite Dam on the Snake River to see the harvest in full operation. It was necessary to go farther south in the Palouse to this location because harvest occurs earlier in that area.

Combines Working Together - ©Gary Hamburgh - All Rights Reserved

A Pair of Combines - ©Gary Hamburgh - All Rights Reserved
As I arrived they were just finishing harvesting the winter wheat and the spring wheat was still too green for cutting. I am including images that give an overall lay of the land as well as the process of cutting and loading the wheat for transport to the grain silos on the river.

View from the Cab - ©Gary Hamburgh - All Rights Reserved

Loading a Truck - ©Gary Hamburgh - All Rights Reserved
The image below was taken as I was standing on the combine. The driver took me right over to the edge to see the view. They actually had just harvested from where I took this picture.

Overlooking Lower Granite Dam - ©Gary Hamburgh - All Rights Reserved
I hope this post has given you a view of the harvest and some of the terrain where it takes place. If you are interested in photographing the harvest this year, according to the farmers in the area we are still a couple of weeks away from harvesting spring wheat around Colfax and Steptoe Butte.
Posted in Palouse Landscapes, Photography Advice
Tagged agriculture, combine, farming, harvest, John Deere, landscape, tractor, wheat, wheat field

Ready for Harvest - Copyright Gary Hamburgh 2010 - All Rights Reserved

Combine at Work -©Gary Hamburgh 2010 - All Rights Reserved
As you prepare to go to this region for photos, plan ahead for the heat which can get into triple digits at times. In addition the conditions are very dusty during harvest in the dry-land farming areas so be prepared to protect your equipment. Even with some extreme conditions, I think you will be rewarded with great images, make new friends and have the opportunity to develop an appreciation for this beautiful region.
I know I will be going over so maybe we will run into each other.
Posted in Photography Advice
Tagged agriculture, clouds, farming, landscape, photography, wheat, wheat field

Sunlight Plays on the Hills - ©Gary Hamburgh 2010 - All Rights Reserved
I enjoy learning all I can about lighting. Recently, I have been interested in doing some portraiture both indoors and outdoors. My main goal is to include images of people into some of my landscape shots. As I have been reading and exploring various sources, I came across a book and DVD combination that I have found to be very useful and fascinating.
I purchased this kit that includes a book and dvd at a Kelby training seminar that I attended in Seattle a few weeks ago. It written, produced and marketed by Scott Kelby. The book is entitled “Photo Recipes Live: Behind the Scenes, Pt 2: Lighting Techniques. ” It is available at www.kelbytraining.com. The material presented is easy to understand, very informative and gives ideas about various lighting setups. Hints about how to provide lighting at a reduced cost are also provided throughout the book and accompanying dvd.
I feel anyone wanting to learn more about lighting from an author who is knowledgeable, as well as interesting to read and listen to, will benefit from this kit.
Posted in Palouse Landscapes, Photography Advice
Tagged clouds, landscape, Palouse, photography

Wheels in Winter - ©Gary Hamburgh 2004 - All Rights Reserved
I receive questions all the time asking “what is the best time to photograph in the Palouse?”. My answer is that it depends what type of images you are looking to capture. Each season has its own kind of beauty.
When I first began shooting in the Palouse, I didn’t enjoy the winter season because of the lack of color and textures. During winter the landscape can look very bleak and isolated. I gave myself a project to depict the winter landscape in a more meaningful way to me.
An example of this is the image at the top of this post. I used the leading lines of the irrigation equipment to take the viewer to the hills and sky. Also the equipment shows something which is very useful at times but is lying dormant during the winter season. The winter wheat in the area is also lying dormant in the ground waiting for spring.
I now really enjoy shooting during the winter season as I try to capture the beauty of that time. I would caution you as you travel the Palouse in the winter to be careful of the extreme cold that may be present. Consider how you will protect your equipment and yourself. Also consider your driving skills as the road conditions may be less than ideal.
Posted in Palouse Landscapes, Photography Advice
Tagged clouds, landscape, Palouse, photography, winter