La Palouse, Washington

Located just south of Spokane, in Washington state, The Palouse is a rich farming area of some 3,000 square miles. It is somewhat reminiscent of Tuscany, in Italy, except instead of vineyards the main crop here is wheat and rapeseed (Canola). The Palouse is a photographically exciting area to explore, in large measure because it is comparitively unknown. The origin of the name "Palouse" is unclear. One theory is that the name of the Palus tribe (spelled in early accounts variously Palus, Palloatpallah, Pelusha, et cetera) was converted by French-Canadian fur traders to the more familiar French word pelouse, meaning "land with short and thick grass" or "lawn." Over time, the spelling changed to Palouse. Another theory is that the name was in the first place a French word, describing the area which was then applied to the indigenous people inhabiting it. The peculiar and picturesque silt dunes which characterize the Palouse Prairie were formed during the ice ages (Alt and Hyndman 1989). Blown in from the glacial outwash plains to the west and south, the Palouse hills consist of more or less random humps and hollows. The steepest slopes, which may reach 50% slope, face the northeast. The highly productive loess ranges from 5 to 130 cm (2 to 51 in) deep. Large areas of level land are rare. The weather was bitterly cold in December during this photoshoot ranging between 10 and 1F with winds of up to 20 mph. The view from Steptoe Hill State Park is breathtaking and provides a unique vantage point over Washington, Idaho and Oregon. Shot December 28-31 2014.

Painted Hills
Located just south of Spokane, in Washington state, The Palouse is a rich farming area of some 3,000 square miles. It is somewhat reminiscent of Tuscany, in Italy, except instead of vineyards the main crop here is wheat and rapeseed (Canola). The Palouse is a photographically exciting area to explore, in large measure because it is comparitively unknown Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III EF24-70mm f/2.8L USM ¹⁄₂₀₀ sec at ƒ / 7.1 @ 200 ISO 12/29/14 4:02:14 PM ©savoyeimages.com
La Palouse, WA
Located just south of Spokane, in Washington state, The Palouse is a rich farming area of some 3,000 square miles. It is somewhat reminiscent of Tuscany, in Italy, except instead of vineyards the main crop here is wheat and rapeseed (Canola). The Palouse is a photographically exciting area to explore, in large measure because it is comparitively unknown Canon EOS 5D Mark III EF70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM ¹⁄₆₄₀ sec at ƒ / 5.0 @ 200 ISO 12/29/14 3:39:07 PM ©savoyeimages.com
Freeflow
Sage road near La Palouse, Washington. Free flowing weeds against the hardness of barbed wire. Canon EOS 5D Mark III EF24-70mm f/2.8L USM ¹⁄₁₀ sec at ƒ / 20 @ 100 ISO 12/29/14 12:05:07 PM ©savoyeimages.com
Trees on a Hill.
The best view in the house. La Palouse WA Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III EF70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM ¹⁄₂₅₀ sec at ƒ / 5.0 @ 100 ISO 12/30/14 3:33:28 PM ©savoyeimages.com
Caked in Ice
la Palouse Falls, Washington Canon EOS 5D Mark III EF16-35mm f/2.8L II USM 30.0 sec at ƒ / 22 @ 100 ISO 12/31/14 1:11:05 PM ©savoyeimages.com
Farm Near Dusty
Empty barns on a cold winter day Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III EF24-70mm f/2.8L USM ¹⁄₂₅₀ sec at ƒ / 6.3 @ 200 ISO 12/29/14 3:35:58 PM ©savoyeimages.com
Red Barn
Red Barns are famous landmarks in La Palouse Canon EOS 5D Mark III EF24-70mm f/2.8L USM ¹⁄₂₅ sec at ƒ / 16 @ 160 ISO 12/30/14 2:34:17 PM ©savoyeimages.com
La Palouse Sunset
Located just south of Spokane, in Washington state, The Palouse is a rich farming area of some 3,000 square miles. It is somewhat reminiscent of Tuscany, in Italy, except instead of vineyards the main crop here is wheat and rapeseed (Canola). The Palouse is a photographically exciting area to explore, in large measure because it is comparitively unknown Canon EOS 5D Mark III EF70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM ¼ sec at ƒ / 20 @ 400 ISO 12/29/14 5:06:18 PM ©savoyeimages.com
Patterned Hills
Located just south of Spokane, in Washington state, The Palouse is a rich farming area of some 3,000 square miles. It is somewhat reminiscent of Tuscany, in Italy, except instead of vineyards the main crop here is wheat and rapeseed (Canola). The Palouse is a photographically exciting area to explore, in large measure because it is comparitively unknown Canon EOS 5D Mark III EF70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM 0.5 sec at ƒ / 20 @ 400 ISO 12/29/14 5:09:22 PM ©savoyeimages.com
Nightscapes
Cloudy night over La Palouse along SR195 between Pullman and Colfax. Very cold night with temperature below 5F. Canon EOS 5D Mark III EF16-35mm f/2.8L II USM 30.0 sec at ƒ / 2.8 @ 1600 ISO 12/30/14 11:55:12 PM ©savoyeimages.com
Nightscapes
Cloudy night over La Palouse along SR195 between Pullman and Colfax. Very cold night with temperature below 5F. Canon EOS 5D Mark III EF24-70mm f/2.8L USM 30.0 sec at ƒ / 2.8 @ 1600 ISO 12/30/14 11:48:25 PM ©savoyeimages.com
Icy Road near Colfax, WA
La Palouse looking over to Idaho Canon EOS 5D Mark III EF70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM ¹⁄₈₀₀ sec at ƒ / 18 @ 400 ISO 12/30/14 11:33:07 AM ©savoyeimages.com
Lone Telegraph Pole
La Palouse Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III EF70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM ¹⁄₁₂₅₀ sec at ƒ / 7.1 @ 100 ISO 12/30/14 1:37:03 PM ©savoyeimages.com

Patterns in Snow
Located just south of Spokane, in Washington state, The Palouse is a rich farming area of some 3,000 square miles. It is somewhat reminiscent of Tuscany, in Italy, except instead of vineyards the main crop here is wheat and rapeseed (Canola). The Palouse is a photographically exciting area to explore, in large measure because it is comparitively unknown Canon EOS 5D Mark III EF70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM ¹⁄₆₄₀ sec at ƒ / 5.0 @ 200 ISO 12/29/14 3:38:47 PM ©savoyeimages.com
Trees on a Hill.
Rolling hills of Eastern Washington Canon EOS 5D Mark III EF24-70mm f/2.8L USM ¹⁄₃₀ sec at ƒ / 22 @ 160 ISO 12/30/14 2:56:43 PM ©savoyeimages.com
Curves
Located just south of Spokane, in Washington state, The Palouse is a rich farming area of some 3,000 square miles. It is somewhat reminiscent of Tuscany, in Italy, except instead of vineyards the main crop here is wheat and rapeseed (Canola). The Palouse is a photographically exciting area to explore, in large measure because it is comparitively unknown Canon EOS 5D Mark III EF70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM ¹⁄₁₆₀ sec at ƒ / 18 @ 400 ISO 12/29/14 12:40:27 PM ©savoyeimages.com
Scablands
Located just south of Spokane, in Washington state, The Palouse is a rich farming area of some 3,000 square miles. It is somewhat reminiscent of Tuscany, in Italy, except instead of vineyards the main crop here is wheat and rapeseed (Canola). The Palouse is a photographically exciting area to explore, in large measure because it is comparitively unknown Canon EOS 5D Mark III EF70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM ¹⁄₁₆₀ sec at ƒ / 18 @ 250 ISO 12/29/14 12:43:17 PM ©savoyeimages.com
Sentinel Bluffs
Basalt canyons & a 198-ft. thundering waterfall The official waterfall of Washington Canon EOS 5D Mark III EF16-35mm f/2.8L II USM ¹⁄₁₅ sec at ƒ / 22 @ 100 ISO 12/29/14 1:53:35 PM ©savoyeimages.com
Agricultural Patterns
La Palouse Canon EOS 5D Mark III EF70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM ¹⁄₂₅₀ sec at ƒ / 20 @ 160 ISO 12/30/14 11:38:57 AM ©savoyeimages.com
Together we stand
La Palouse Canon EOS 5D Mark III EF24-70mm f/2.8L USM ¹⁄₁₀ sec at ƒ / 22 @ 160 ISO 12/30/14 3:46:05 PM ©savoyeimages.com
Sunset on Ice
Located just south of Spokane, in Washington state, The Palouse is a rich farming area of some 3,000 square miles. It is somewhat reminiscent of Tuscany, in Italy, except instead of vineyards the main crop here is wheat and rapeseed (Canola). The Palouse is a photographically exciting area to explore, in large measure because it is comparitively unknown Canon EOS 5D Mark III EF70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM 10.0 sec at ƒ / 22 @ 400 ISO 12/29/14 5:30:06 PM ©savoyeimages.com
La Palouse, WA
Located just south of Spokane, in Washington state, The Palouse is a rich farming area of some 3,000 square miles. It is somewhat reminiscent of Tuscany, in Italy, except instead of vineyards the main crop here is wheat and rapeseed (Canola). The Palouse is a photographically exciting area to explore, in large measure because it is comparitively unknown Canon EOS 5D Mark III EF70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM 20.0 sec at ƒ / 22 @ 400 ISO 12/29/14 5:31:08 PM ©savoyeimages.com
La Palouse, WA
Steptoe Butte State Park Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III EF70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM 25.0 sec at ƒ / 8.0 @ 100 ISO 12/30/14 5:58:19 PM ©savoyeimages.com
Fast Skies
Cloudy night over La Palouse along SR195 between Pullman and Colfax. Very cold night with temperature below 5F. Canon EOS 5D Mark III EF16-35mm f/2.8L II USM 30.0 sec at ƒ / 2.8 @ 1600 ISO 12/30/14 11:56:48 PM ©savoyeimages.com
Barn. La Palouse WA
Canon EOS 5D Mark III EF24-70mm f/2.8L USM ¹⁄₆₀ sec at ƒ / 18 @ 160 ISO 12/30/14 1:11:22 PM ©savoyeimages.com