PALOUSE HARVEST DAYS, 5-10 SEPT, 2021

PALOUSE HARVEST DAYS
SEPT 5-10, 2021

(6 DAYS/5 NIGHTS)

with Jeremy Woodhouse

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Sunset from Skyline Drive

Introduction

After having made 3 tours to the Palouse in as many months to record the change in the seasons and, most recently, to photograph the beginning of the annual wheat harvest, I felt that there was one more opportunity to round out the story.

I will be returning on 5 Sept, 2021 to witness events as the annual harvest wraps up. Things that you will expect to see (and photograph) will include the annual "Threshing Bee", where old fashioned combines drawn by up to 30 horses will harvest spring wheat.

We will spend the day with a farming family shadowing then as they get about their daily business. With any luck you will get to ride in a tractor of some sort—and these are serious machines.

There will be plenty of opportunity to photograph the landscape which will include some of the most iconic barns and grain elevators in the region. We will be up with the sun and will always try to have you somewhere photogenic for sunset.

To end the tour we will spend our final day at the Palouse Empire Fair finishing the day off at the Rodeo.


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Overhead View of Combine Harvesters

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Traditional Grain Elevator

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Sunrise from Steptoe Butte

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Combines at Work


Itinerary

Day 1: Sun, 5 Sept—Colfax
Meet at 5PM at the Best Western in Colfax, WA. For sunset, we'll head out for our first landscape shoot from the top of Steptoe Butte where you will have impressive 360º views overlooking the rolling fields. 

The Palouse has become one of the top destination locations in the world for landscape photography, shutterbugs from all over come to capture the raw, natural beauty that only the this region can offer, in all four seasons.

Day 2: Mon, 6 Sept—Colfax
We will leave well before dawn and return to Steptoe Butte to photograph the landscape in the best light as the sun rises.

After returning for breakfast we will once again head out head out again in search of barns, windmills, old abandoned cars, lone trees, winding roads, grain elevators and whatever else takes your fancy.

In the afternoon we will attend the annual "Threshing Bee", where old fashioned combines drawn by up to 30 horses will harvest spring wheat.

O/N Best Western Wheatland Inn

Day 3: Tue, 7 Sept—Colfax
We will spend the day with a farming family shadowing then as they get about their daily business. With any luck you will get to ride in a tractor of some sort—and these are serious machines.

O/N Best Western Wheatland Inn

Day 4: Wed, 8 Sept—Colfax
Today we will explore the surrounding area photographing barns, old cars, small towns—whatever takes your fancy

In the evening, instead of going to Steptoe Butte, we will go to a new spot where you will have different views of the landscape as the sun goes down. You will see Steptoe Butte in the background.

O/N Best Western Wheatland Inn

Day 5: Thu, 9 Sept—Colfax
Early wake up call for sunrise. After breakfast we will head on over to the Palouse Empire Fairgrounds where we will spend the day photographing "Americana" in this well established farming community, finishing the day off with a visit to the Rodeo.

Day 6: Fri, 10 Sept—Colfax
After an early morning sunrise session we will return to town for breakfast. We will head out to the airport at Spokane at around 8:30AM

END OF TOUR


Arrival, Departure

​Arrival & Meeting Place 
Meet on Sun, 5 Sept, 2021 at 5PM in Colfax, WA. You will either arrive in Spokane, WA or Pullman/Moscow regional airport and will stay at the Best Western Wheatland Inn (509) 397-0397. Lodging is not included in the workshop fee. 

We will spend as much time out in the field as you wish. The days will be long and you will probably need some downtime in the middle of the day. If you need assistance with downloads or some Photoshop-related issues, I will be available to do this.

​Departure 
The workshop will conclude by 9AM after our sunrise shoot on Fri, 10 Sept, 2021 after which you are free to return home or move on to your next destination.

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Weather

The most pleasant months of the year for Palouse are September, July and August. In Palouse, there are 4 comfortable months with high temperatures in the range of 70-85°. August is the hottest month for Palouse with an average high temperature of 83.6°, which ranks it as warmer than most places in Washington. January is the snowiest month in Palouse with 14.6 inches of snow, and 6 months of the year have significant snowfall. Days with noticeable humidity are rare throughout the year.


1 SPOT OPEN

TOUR COST: $1,795
6 DAYS/5 NIGHTS

GROUP SIZE: ONLY 6


Tour Price Includes

  • Ground Transportation
  • Steptoe Butte State Park Entrance Fees
  • In-Field Photography Instruction
  • Post-processing and Image Critique

Tour Price Excludes

  • Transportation to/from your home to Spokane or Colfax, WA
  • Entry fees to the Palouse Empire Fair
  • Entry fee to the Rodeo
  • Lodging
  • Meals and snacks
  • Beverages

    Lodging

    We will stay in the town of Colfax at the Best Western Wheatland Inn (509) 397-0397.

    You should make your own booking. Rates are at the following link. Please contact them directly to make your reservation from 5-10 Sept, 2021, (5 nights).


    Dress for the Weather

      Personal Gear List

      • Sunscreen, sunglasses, sun hat
      • Layers for cooler mornings
      • Waterproof Shell in case of rain
      • Sturdy hiking shoes

      Photo Equipment Checklist

      • Sturdy tripod and ballhead
      • Digital SLR or Mirrorless Camera Body
      • Wide angle lens in the 16-35mm range
      • Mid-range zoom lens in the range of 24-100mm
      • Long telephoto lenses in the 100-600mm range.  You will want a lens that is longer than 200mm for many of the locations we visit! A 100-400mm or 150-600mm will be perfect
      • Circular polarizer filters and ND filters for your lenses.  If you like shooting with grads, bring them along.  A 6 or 10-stop ND filter will be useful for creating very long exposures.
      • Backpack to carry your gear
      • Extra batteries, memory cards, and cleaning supplies
      • Laptop if you wish to backup your photos or follow along during the post-processing instruction.

        Covid-19 Precautions

        • Instructors will wear masks while teaching at close range
        • Clients are encouraged to wear masks whenever they are at close range
        • Where possible, we will practice social distancing. Tripods 6ft apart.
        • You are encouraged to wash hands frequently and use hand sanitiser. 

        Covid-19 Travel Hacks from Kayak.com

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