Category Archives: Palouse Landscapes

Cloudy day can add vibrance to colors

Posted on August 10, 2009 | Leave a comment

Railroad Bridge in Palouse by Gary Hamburgh - All Rights Reserved

The idea that prompted me to write this post was taken from a short video by Scott Bourne who talked about shooting on a cloudy day. Many times the skies are not what we would like to include in the image so don’t.

An advantage of shooting on a cloudy day is that the sky acts as a giant diffuser. This controls the normal midday harshness and provides a softer more flattering light. With this softer light colors become more vibrant. In the photo at the top of this post, you can see the effect of the softer light even though this image was taken near midday.

This railroad bridge is near the entrance to the town of Palouse coming from Colfax, WA. I was standing on a bridge that is the main road into town as I took the photo. It is a convenient place to shoot as there is a place to park and you can shoot the creek from either direction.

Remember on a cloudy day be prepared for some beautiful, vibrant colors in your images due to the soft, diffused light.

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Posted in Palouse Landscapes, Photography Advice

Tagged clouds, landscape, Palouse, photography

Lentil Harvest in the Palouse

Posted on August 9, 2009 | 4 comments

Harvest has finally begun in the Palouse. Everything is several weeks later than normal but a visit now will allow you to see the harvest in full swing. Farmers work long hours each day to get the fields cut and the seeds into storage. In addition to the cereal crops of wheat and barley, lentils are also grown and harvested in the Palouse region.

Patterns of Rows by Gary Hamburgh - All Rights Reserved

Palouse farmers generally harvest lentils by mowing and swathing, or they may combine the crop. Swathing is often necessary to kill green weeds and allow them to dry so the lentils can be threshed efficiently. Plants are usually swathed when the pods turn a cream to golden color; then older pods will be dry and their seeds firm.

Lentil Patterns by Gary Hamburgh - All Rights Reserved

The images in this blog were all taken from Steptoe Butte in eastern Washington. This high vantage point gives an almost aerial view so the many patterns and contours of the land and crops can be appreciated. Lentil harvest provides beautiful colors and patterns to enrich the landscape in this picturesque region. Visit this region and come away with some truly unique and colorful images of the harvest.

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Posted in Palouse Landscapes, Photography Advice

Tagged agriculture, combine, farming, harvest, harvester, landscape, lentils, Palouse, photography, Steptoe Butte

Creating a mirror effect

Posted on August 5, 2009 | 1 comment

Windmills at Sunset by Gary Hamburgh - All Rights Reserved

Sometimes it is fun to manipulate an image to give an illusion of something different than what is seen in the original photograph. I came across this article by Rick Sammon and decided to try the technique with one of my Palouse images.

This technique as described by Rick is “creating the magical mirror effect”. I used one of my images that was shot of a wind farm near Walla Walla, WA at sunset. I followed the instructions provided by Rick and created the image at the top of this page.

This was a fun technique and creates an illusion that there is a lake reflecting the original image. Thanks to Rick Sammon for sharing this process.

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Posted in Palouse Landscapes, Photography Advice

Tagged landscape, Palouse, photography, sunset

Photomatix Pro – comparing tone mapping and blending images

Posted on July 16, 2009 | Leave a comment

Early Light on White Barn by Gary Hamburgh - All Rights Reserved

I have been using Photomatix Pro for several months to process HDR images. I have been very happy with the results for HDR but there is another option in the program that I had not tried until recently. Rather than generating an HDR and tone mapping, the other option is to create an image through exposure blending.

I tried this process and below is a comparison between the final images using HDR in the first image and exposure blending in the second.

Palouse Falls Canyon by Gary Hamburgh - All Rights Reserved

In this example my preference is for the image that was processed with tone mapping as it tends to show more detail in the shadows. Some of you may prefer the exposure blending so It is nice that this program does allow for options for combining and processing images with high contrast elements.

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Posted in Palouse Landscapes, Photography Advice

Tagged barn, landscape, Palouse, palouse falls state park, photography

Canon 5D Mark II – Tool for stills and video

Posted on July 9, 2009 | Leave a comment

Morning Sky in the Palouse by Gary Hamburgh - All Rights Reserved

I was interested in an article posted by Scott Bourne at photofocus.com discussing the convergence of stills and video and I thought I would share it with my readers as some food for thought. This article was written by Mitch Aunger the publisher at planet5D.com .

I own as one of my cameras the Canon 5D Mark II and have been experimenting a bit with the video. After reading this article I may need to get a bit more serious in learning to use it in my work. Your comments and responses are of interest to me.

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Posted in Palouse Landscapes, Photography Advice

Tagged Canon 5D Mark II, landscape, Palouse, photography, video

Shooting fireworks can be challenging and fun

Posted on July 3, 2009 | 2 comments

Farm Nestled in Textures and Patterns by Gary Hamburgh - All Rights Reserved

Since the 4th of July is tomorrow, I am planning on shooting some fireworks images. I really enjoy photographing fireworks but there are several things to keep in mind to get the best results. In the following article by Nicole Young a few useful tips are emphasized to help you create your best images. The article can be found at photofocus.com which is hosted by Scott Bourne.

I am heading to the Grand Coulee Dam in eastern Washington for their fireworks show tomorrow. I have heard it is a great display and will offer a different opportunity for me. I usually attend the fireworks display at Lake Union in Seattle but decided to try a new venue.

I hope you enjoy your holiday weekend and have fun shooting and experimenting using these tips.

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Posted in Palouse Landscapes, Photography Advice

Tagged fireworks, landscape, Palouse, photography

Day trip to the Dahmen barn is enjoyable

Posted on July 1, 2009 | Leave a comment

Dahmen Barn with Wheel Fence by Gary Hamburgh - All Rights Reserved

From time to time I like to just share another place that I enjoy shooting in the Palouse. One of my favorite areas is in the vicinity of Union Town. There are many barns and fields in this area that add to the photo opportunities. Union Town is located about halfway between Pullman and Lewiston.

One of the main attractions in Union Town is the Dahmen barn which has a famous wheel fence. Currently there are over 1000 wheels in the fence. I like to photograph in the early morning for the best light but any time of day provides an interesting attraction allowing for creativity in combining the fence with the barn.

Barn through the Wheels by Gary Hamburgh - All Rights Reserved

There is an art gallery in the barn which makes for an enjoyable way to see art as well as explore the barn. This is definitely a great area to visit and should be on your short list as you explore the Palouse.

If you would like more information about the barn and the activities that take place there follow this link Dahmen Barn.

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Posted in Palouse Landscapes

Use lines and patterns to move through an image

Posted on June 26, 2009 | 6 comments

Patterns in the Hay by Gary Hamburgh - All Rights Reserved

As you are composing your images look for elements to use as leading lines. in the image above I used the patterns in the hay to draw attention to the barns and lead you through the image.

In the second image the grass leads to the ramp and up to the door. It invites you to enter the barn as well as enter the image and explore.

Entrance to Old Barn by Gary Hamburgh - All Rights Reserved

In the final image below the diagonal line of the grass leads your eye to the barn and on throughout the image. The road also adds to leading you through the image by taking you to the stop sign in the distance.

Red Barn near Dirt Road by Gary Hamburgh - All Rights Reserved

These are just a few examples of using elements as you compose to add interest and provide an entry point and a way for your eye to move through the image.

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Posted in Palouse Landscapes, Photography Advice

Tagged agriculture, barn, clouds, farming, harvest, landscape, Palouse, photography

Preparation is a key to a successful image

Posted on June 24, 2009 | 1 comment

Ready to Work by Gary Hamburgh - All Rights Reserved

When you are going on a photo shoot be prepared. I will be traveling to the Palouse for a two day trip to shoot a specific barn that I have been scouting. My preparation for this trip includes the photo gear that will be required for the images that I intend to capture.

In addition to the actual gear, I have looked at sunrise and sunset times, moon rise and set times as well as the predicted weather for the next few days.. This information allows me to plan for the images that I will be taking. I have also contacted the barn owner to let them know I am coming and to check to see the growth in the fields and the colors that will be in the area surrounding the barn.

Since I have scouted this barn previously I am able to use the information I have collected and visualize the shot that I want to take. If all elements are in place as I have envisioned, I should get the opportunity for a good photo.

We can’t always control all the elements but planning definitely increases your chances for capturing a worthwhile and useful image.

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Posted in Palouse Landscapes

Tagged agriculture, farming, landscape, Palouse, photography, tractor

Clouds Can Be the Main Element

Posted on June 13, 2009 | Leave a comment

Clouds above the Landscape by Gary Hamburgh - All Rights Reserved

I mentioned in a post a few weeks ago how clouds can be an important compositional element to balance an image. As I was in the Palouse last week, I saw this cloud formation that I decided to shoot as the main object of an image. This was taken just before sunrise as colors were beginning to show at first light.

In this image the clouds reminded me of a fountain spouting from the rolling hills. The uncluttered landscape and skies are one of my favorite aspects of the Palouse.

A trip to this region of eastern Washington can allow you to experience this beautiful simplicity.

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Posted in Palouse Landscapes

Tagged clouds, landscape, Palouse, wheat field

Category Archives: Palouse Landscapes

Cloudy day can add vibrance to colors

Lentil Harvest in the Palouse

Creating a mirror effect

Photomatix Pro – comparing tone mapping and blending images

Canon 5D Mark II – Tool for stills and video

Shooting fireworks can be challenging and fun

Day trip to the Dahmen barn is enjoyable

Use lines and patterns to move through an image

Preparation is a key to a successful image

Clouds Can Be the Main Element

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