Category Archives: Landscape Photography

Bygone Days

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“Elberton Church”
The Palouse, Washington

The town of Elberton has as a history similar to many of the late 19th century towns in the Palouse. It flourished for a while, then went into an irreversible decline.

In the 1870’s Giles D. Wilber built a water powered sawmill which provided lumber for nearby farms and barns. The Oregon Railway and Navigation Company build a rail line through the valley in the early 1880’s. The town was plated in 1886 by Sylvester M. Wait and was named after his son Elbert. By the end of the decade, Elberton had a sawmill, flour mill, post office, two general stores, blacksmith and wagon shop, two grain warehouses, livery stable, and a church. During the 1890’s, the town continued to grow. Fruit trees were planted as a major crop. By 1900, the town had a population of 400.

After the turn of the century, the town began to decline. The sawmill moved to Idaho after all the nearby timber had been cut. The town experienced a devastating fire in 1908 and severe flooding in 1910. Elberton then rapidly declined.

During my little exploration, all I could see that remained of the town was the railroad trestle, the church, old building foundations, a few pieces of farm equipment, and several remains of old non-native landscape shrubs and trees. It was an interesting off the beaten path excursion.

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Last Days

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“Soon to be Demolished Barn”
The Palouse, Washington

On a midday wander along the little Palouse River, I spotted this old barn with a nice background of a railroad trestle and a stream. As I was photographing the barn, an elderly man walked up the road and stopped to talk. He said that he had been living in a little workers house just up the road around the corner. He had been asked to leave because the area was being plotted for a new housing development. He then told me that within the next month or two that this barn was going to be demolished for a home site.

It is sad to see the Palouse’s history fade away piece by piece. Part of my enjoyment of visiting the Palouse is to meet the locals and listen to their memories and experiences of the life in this beautiful area.

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The Palouse Sky

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“Two White Barns and Steptoe”
The Palouse, Washington

I started out searching for these iconic two white barns in the fields of the Palouse. I first focused my images on the two white barns. I wasn’t excited about what I had created. They were just nice photos of two white barns. I stepped back and asked myself why I was making the images. It was the wonderful Palouse sky and the quaint farm setting in the rolling hills around Steptoe Butte. I switched my perspective to the overall setting and away from the iconic barns.

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Contradiction

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“Thank You!”
The Palouse, Washington

Contradiction

Sun-fired billows top a melancholy base of grays and dull pinks.
Cool spring green alternates with curves and shadows.
One scene; infinite possibilities.

Mary Dahlin Graf

What a great way to end a wonderful day. The sun was on the horizon setting the clouds on fire. We gazed up and shouted “Thank You!” in unison.

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Memories of the Past

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“Old Skeen Schoolhouse”
The Palouse, Washington

Wandering country road, old farm equipment, and an old school house … how many memories do these represent? One hundred and fifty years of history have changed this area from sagebrush and native grasses to some of the richest dry land farming areas in the world. Decades of dilapidated used farm implements are scattered across the area. The old one room Skeen schoolhouse once served the children of the pioneer families.

As we were photographing, an old farmer who lived across the street came over to check up on us. What an opportunity would it have been to just sit down and and spend a couple of hours listening to him talk about the “Good Ole Times.”

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Celebrate Our Nation’s Birthday!

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“Evening Shadows on the Palouse”
The Palouse, Washington

I visualize future waves of grain rolling across these Palouse hills. We have so much to be thankful for in this beautiful country of ours. Roaming around our country side, there is so much to celebrate. It helps me focus on what is right about the world as opposed to the day to day issues I see in the news. And, from this perspective it is much easier to face and address the challenges that we all have in front of us.

Today is a day to celebrate our Country’s Birthday, enjoy the moment, and focus on what is right about our World. Have a great 4th!

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Sad…

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“Last Days”
The Palouse, Washington

For years, this tree was a cornerstone of a SW view from Steptoe Butte. It anchored a vignette of lush green (spring), golden tan (harvest), and contrasting dark and light browns (after plowing). I had last seen it during the fall of 2019, pre-Covid. It still had all its leaves and looked healthy (at least from a distance). When I saw it from Steptoe this spring during a severe draught, it had lost most of its leaves. I am afraid that this stately giant is in its last days.

On the last day of our workshop, several of us went out to photograph the tree up close. I made images from several different perspectives, but nothing seemed to express the sadness I felt seeing the tree in its dying state. Most of my images were of the lone tree against a background of rolling green hills and a cloud dotted sky. It seemed lonely, just left to die. Then I looked up and zoomed in to focus on the strong stately branches still reaching out. This is how I want to remember it.

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When You See Red … Shoot!

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“Red Barn & Winter Wheat”
The Palouse, Washington

A red barn, stately tree or two, shadows in the background, waves of wheat in the foreground, and sunlit ridges … sounds like a post card from the Palouse. Little vignettes like this are peppered all around the Palouse farmlands. As I drive around the country roads, I tend to stop for each one. I ask myself if there is something that is special. Is it the color, lines of the rolling hills, texture of the crops in the fields, light flowing across the landscape, or does it just catch my interest. Most, I just pause then drive on. A few, something inside says, “Take your time, wait for the shadows and highlights to flow across the scene to just the right position.”

And I recall John Barclay’s guidance, “When you see red, shoot!”

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Death Valley or the Palouse?

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“Wheat Dunes”
The Palouse, Washington

Conversation to myself: Squinting my I eyes I ask, “Where am I?” “Are these the rolling dunes of Death Valley? I thought I was in Eastern Washington. There are sand dunes in Eastern Washington. Aren’t there?” I slightly open my squint and see a shade of green. “No, this isn’t Death Valley.” I open my eyes further and see the textures of young winter wheat. “It’s the Palouse!”

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