Tag Archives: Palouse

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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Last of its Kind Standing

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“Barron Flour Mill”
Oaksdale, Washington

This old mill has quite a history. The mill was built in 1890 by J.G. Porter and sold to Harvey Gray. Joseph C. Barron, Sr. bought the mill from Gray in 1907 for $11,500. Joseph C. Barron, Jr. was born in 1909 and joined his father in the business. Junior took over the business and ran the mill until 1960 when he could not compete with the modern facilities. Barron then put in a small modern mill, capable of producing 500 lbs. per hour, in a small building behind his house. He ran the new mill until 1997. At the age of 88 he felt that it was time to retire and sell both his new mill and the old Oaksdale wooden mill to Mary Jane Butters. Mary Butters had worked with Barron for several years and is the owner of Paradise Farm Organics, Inc. which markets organic and heirloom grain products.

The Barron Mill is the only intact flour mill remaining in the Palouse. It has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. It is my dream to be able to tour the old mill some day in the future.

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Unusual Barn?

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T.A. Leonard Barn
The Palouse, Washington

The Thomas A. Leonard barn was constructed in 1917. The barn is a twelve-sided (round) shape. When built, it was considered as an economical construction method because it took less material to build. The longer term issue was that it was difficult to add on to and retain the shape. Approximately 20 round (polygonal) barns were constructed in Washington from 1890 to 1920. Two of the remaining barns are located in the Palouse.

T.A. Leonard Barn Closeup

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An Anomaly

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“Steptoe Butte”
The Palouse, Washington

The Columbia River Lava flows make up most of the bedrock of the Palouse. Fifteen to eighteen million years ago fissures in southeastern Washington, northeastern Oregon, and southwestern Idaho spewed out great lava flows over the Columbia Basin. Steptoe Butte created by a metamorphic rock protrusion 400 million years ago rises 1000 feet above the lava flows.

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Almost Missed

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“White Barn”
The Palouse, Washington

We were hot and tired after a morning photo excursion during a Palouse Photography Workshop with John Barclay. Driving along headed back to the hotel for a break and maybe a nap, I saw this lone white barn. We glanced back as we zipped bye the barn. “Should I stop or should we just go back to the hotel.” On I went, thinking, “I should have stopped, I should have stopped!” I dropped my ride partner off at the hotel and decided, I am going back. I am glad I did.

Lesson Learned: When I see something, STOP! It may or may not be worth creating an image, but at least the memory will remain.

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Exploring the Back Roads

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“Lonesome Road”
The Palouse, Washington

One of the things I enjoy the most is just driving around exploring the countryside. An old dirt road, rolling hills, puffy clouds puts my mind at peace. I stop in the middle of the seldom traveled road not worrying about another car or truck coming by. I pause and enjoy what I see around me and contemplate how this beautiful land has been used to support a long abandoned homestead and now as a section of a large mega-farm. Sometimes I create an image with my camera. Sometimes I just drive on with the image as a memory in my mind.

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Patience

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“Sunlight on the Curves”
Palouse, Washington

Springtime in the Palouse is a wonderful time to practice my skills using infrared photography. The bright green winter wheat and the great clouds add to the experience. It was a cool windy day with rapidly moving clouds. Patches of sunlight rolled along the hills. I spent about an hour and created almost 100 images trying to catch different patches of sunlight crossing the two curvy hills at the same time. Patience paid off as I was able to catch the bright strips of sunlight on the two ridges.

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