Alone at Steptoe Butte
If you are looking at this, you know where it is from. This is an image from the Palouse region of eastern Washington State. More specifically this is shot from Steptoe Butte. This was my first time to the Butte, it won't be my last.
We had been wanting to go here for a long time, but could never seem to carve out the time. This year, we were determined to make it out there in June, so the fields were green. However, this June has not been very sunny, in fact, its been quite the June-uary. We looked at the forecast and found what looked like a small window mid week. The COVID work-from-home actually worked in our favor here, I just worked on my laptop during the 6 hour drive there and back, while my fantastic wife drove. We only had the chance to stay one night, so I only had one sunset, and one sunrise. I did not have the luxury of waiting on the weather. All the other sites of the Palouse would have to wait for another trip, this trip was Steptoe only.
We got to the hotel, solid cloud cover. Near sunset, still solid cloud cover. Grrr. I set out anyway, Like everyone who comes here, we stayed in Colfax, 15 minutes from the Butte. My tripod monkey and I arrived at the Butte and it still looked bleak, but possible. The sky had some breaks here and there. So we set up the tripod and waited. I had read that the best images were not found at the top, but rather near the base of the hill. This way the images line up better with the hills.
I was feeling frantic, because I wanted to be in the right spot when the sun actually broke (if it was going to break). See, you need the sun to cast the shadows among the hills. Flat clouded skys are your friend at waterfalls, but not here. He who controls the skys did not have me wait long. No longer were we all set up and ready, the sun started to perform. We actually got about an hour and a half of good light that night. No crazy colorful sunset, but that was OK, we only needed the light on the hills.
There are a lot of great subjects here at Steptoe. The hills surround the Butte for 360 views. Naturally, to get the best shadows you go with something north of south of the setting sun. Most shoot the Whitman County Growers famous grain silos. I did too, though this little lonesome tree caught my eye. My wife is a sucker for a lone tree, and it certainly evokes an emotion.
I will probably post a few of the Palouse, I shot 32 gig of images. Let me know what you think.
Oh, and the title of the image is referencing the tree, not us alone at Steptoe. The Butte is never alone, the photography community would not have it. Especially in June.
Alone at Steptoe Butte
If you are looking at this, you know where it is from. This is an image from the Palouse region of eastern Washington State. More specifically this is shot from Steptoe Butte. This was my first time to the Butte, it won't be my last.
We had been wanting to go here for a long time, but could never seem to carve out the time. This year, we were determined to make it out there in June, so the fields were green. However, this June has not been very sunny, in fact, its been quite the June-uary. We looked at the forecast and found what looked like a small window mid week. The COVID work-from-home actually worked in our favor here, I just worked on my laptop during the 6 hour drive there and back, while my fantastic wife drove. We only had the chance to stay one night, so I only had one sunset, and one sunrise. I did not have the luxury of waiting on the weather. All the other sites of the Palouse would have to wait for another trip, this trip was Steptoe only.
We got to the hotel, solid cloud cover. Near sunset, still solid cloud cover. Grrr. I set out anyway, Like everyone who comes here, we stayed in Colfax, 15 minutes from the Butte. My tripod monkey and I arrived at the Butte and it still looked bleak, but possible. The sky had some breaks here and there. So we set up the tripod and waited. I had read that the best images were not found at the top, but rather near the base of the hill. This way the images line up better with the hills.
I was feeling frantic, because I wanted to be in the right spot when the sun actually broke (if it was going to break). See, you need the sun to cast the shadows among the hills. Flat clouded skys are your friend at waterfalls, but not here. He who controls the skys did not have me wait long. No longer were we all set up and ready, the sun started to perform. We actually got about an hour and a half of good light that night. No crazy colorful sunset, but that was OK, we only needed the light on the hills.
There are a lot of great subjects here at Steptoe. The hills surround the Butte for 360 views. Naturally, to get the best shadows you go with something north of south of the setting sun. Most shoot the Whitman County Growers famous grain silos. I did too, though this little lonesome tree caught my eye. My wife is a sucker for a lone tree, and it certainly evokes an emotion.
I will probably post a few of the Palouse, I shot 32 gig of images. Let me know what you think.
Oh, and the title of the image is referencing the tree, not us alone at Steptoe. The Butte is never alone, the photography community would not have it. Especially in June.