Palouse Prairie 360 Photo

Photographer’s Note

This is a very different image given the unusual mix of colors in one pallete, but I am hoping you will appreciate it once you read abit about it. We visited the Palouse Prairie region of eastern Washington this week and viewed the amazing landscape from Steptoe Butte on two successive days.

The peculiar and picturesque silt dunes which characterize the Palouse Prairie were formed during the ice ages. 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 soil ranges from 5 to 130 cm deep. Large areas of level land are rare.

Steptoe Butte itself is a quartzite island jutting out of the silty loess of the Palouse hills. The rock that forms the butte is over 400 million years old. Steptoe Butte is currently recognized as a National Natural Landmark because of its unique geological value. It is named in honor of Colonel Edward Steptoe. Elevation: 3,612 feet (1,101 m), approximately 1,000 feet (300 m) above the surrounding countryside.

Both my wife and I have prairie / farming roots so scenes like this brought back many fond memories and was an enriching experience for us. I only wished I could have pressed a little button somewhere and scrolled these views through the four seasons of the year! Needless to say, in Palouse Wheat Is King! Enjoy.

danielswalsh, naznaz567, phwall, jjcordier, Muse, fulvio52, westozman, Cretense, fayeulle, dareco, gunbud, Cricri, Nelu_Goia, alexisborel, mortijo, Wahclellaspirit has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

danielswalsh (13350) 2008-10-15 18:15

Great shot Gerald;

Love the swirling browns and hints of green- kind of like a painting. You have a nice defined diagonal which adds to the shot. Sharp detail and an interesting frame.

Well done!
- Dan (56 days)

naznaz567 (344) 2008-10-15 18:19

Really interesting image visually, and the frame works so well with it.
Thanks

phwall (5974) 2008-10-15 18:59

Fantastic shot Gerald,
The brown earth looks almost unreal. The swirl patterns look just amazing, accentuated by the beautiful light.
Superb colours, pardon the pun but very earthy looking.
Wonderful image and note, thank you for sharing, it looks brilliant.
Regards
Peter

PJE (19591) 2008-10-15 21:30

Good Evening Gerald. The timing of light capture is stunning and the swirl of land patterns very attractive to the senses. This world is such an incredible place and seeing this place beckons me to see it for myself. Thanks for sharing....this is excellent work Gerald....

Morac (21943) 2008-10-15 22:00

Bonjour Gérard,
Ce paysage rural est superbe.
Les couleurs sont chaudes et belles.
Je trouve que l'encadrement est trop marqué et désavantage la photo.
Amicalement
Marc

jjcordier (26278) 2008-10-15 22:05

Gerald
Quelle vue fantastique! Cet aspect "vu d'avion" et ces couleurs chaudes créent vraiment une incroyable atmosphère, en particulier sur ces dunes au premier plan au pouvoir graphique important.
Amicalement
JJ

totoamoto (2312) 2008-10-15 22:53

Salut Gérald..
Quel super tableau.. Les couleurs se mélangent magnifiquement..
Bien vu
Cyril

Muse (31498) 2008-10-15 23:26

Bonjour Gerald,
De magnifiques couleurs et une très belle lumière.
Superbe effet de ces différentes textures et un pov qui donne beaucoup de profondeur.
Best regards
Denise

Stepan (27181) 2008-10-15 23:29

One of the most mysterious landscape compo I've seen for a while. Before opening the thumbnail, I thought it was a desert !!
The brown tones and lines are really striking and beautiful. A strong visual impact. Natural landart, in a certain way !!
Stéphane

Nicou (47593) 2008-10-16 2:01

Hello,

quelle vue, ce ligne ces courbes, ce graphisme avec ces couleurs jaunes, cette immensité, de toute beauté. mangigique détail.

Bravo et amitié

Nicou

fulvio52 (8314) 2008-10-16 4:46

Hi Gerald,
it looks like a painting, simply SUPERB!
Wonderful, soothing sight of this unique praire : those golden browns and greens are a total pleasure to look at.
I'm happy to see the road is treating you good!!!
Have fun, see ya soon.
Fulvio.

westozman (2966) 2008-10-16 4:47

G'day Gerald!
A very different image from you - but nonetheless eyecatching! Almost Salavador Dali in some of the patterns and colours: good stuff!
best wishes,
Jeff

Cretense (58913) 2008-10-16 5:19

Hi Gerald!

Amazing landscape photography, fantastic patterns, colours and textures like a natural sculpture! Fantastic high POV, excellent framing and composition, that gives an almost abstract result! Congratulations!

Hercules

zmey (7296) 2008-10-16 7:32

breathtaking view gerald - the golden/brown ocean of rolling shapes. the prairy-land of the US is definitely on my 'to-see' list. one day, one day i will :)

thanks for sharing
kristaps

jonathan_hart (22926) 2008-10-16 8:50

busy graphics, interesting relief, patterns, colored forms, nice view well framed without the sky
regards
jc

fayeulle (26547) 2008-10-16 9:52

Hi Gerald
Amazing landscape with stunning colors. It's look like a painting.
Cheers
JP

dcawker (5703) 2008-10-16 9:55

Just beautiful! I love your composition here as well. Regards, Doug

estan (1279) 2008-10-16 12:42

Hi Gerald

Very good shot, very interesting. Bright colours, good sharpness and extraordinary contrast. What a fabulous landscape. I'll put it in my favorite. Thank for sharing.
See you
Pascal

dareco (17104) 2008-10-16 16:39

WOW!!!! Amazing shapes and colors. Artistic and gorgeous. Very nice depth. I love it! TFS

gunbud (28813) 2008-10-16 18:02

Hi Gerald,
Fantastic lines and textures to these swirling dunes.
The varying shades of gold contrast brilliantly with the dusting of lush green.
Wonderful light management renders lovely varying shades and tones to this uniquely beautiful landscape.
Regards, Tom

Cricri (45241) 2008-10-17 11:08

Hi Gerald
Assez incroyable ce paysage que donne les couleurs, yes tout comme une peinture trés jolie a regarder
Good evening for you
cricri

devimeuxbe (56598) 2008-10-19 13:51

Hi Gerald
you get so beautifull landscape in your galery.
This one is really amazing. Colors are beautifull. The perspective is great
Well done
Bertrand

Nelu_Goia (2868) 2008-10-19 17:01

Hello Gerald,
I think this photo would be more suitable for trekMARS than trekEarth:)
The landscape is quite special and mostly I like the fact that you composed it so that the sky is not visible and the whole emphasis is on the ground.
It`s a special,outstanding composition Gerald.
Congrats!
Nelu

Waylim (11943) 2008-10-20 19:54

Okay, so over the hills there are even more hills and valley and a beautiful one with big open field. beautiful golden brown colors with some many layers of lands. Wonderful warm colors and light. Thanks Gerald.
Way

giorgimer (22446) 2008-10-21 0:10

Hi Gerald,

here it is the shot you wrote me about. It is absolutely GREAT! I think we can share similar views from Italy and USA if you like this kind of images too. I created a theme with mine. I like a lot the filds shapes and the wonderful colors.

Very well done!

Gio

danyy (70659) 2008-10-22 23:30

Bonjour Gerald,
un encadrement qui colle bien avec le contenu, j'aime beaucoup les couleurs et leur dispersion sur la photo. Beaucoup de profondeur aussi. J'aime beaucoup cet effet de vagues.
Regards
Daniel

delkoo (35642) 2008-10-23 4:21

hi gerald,
Interesting image with a very well observed POV, spot on with the exposure, colours and composition .

regards
didier

Dyerco (9640) 2008-10-23 19:08

Hi gerald
I see you have been to the Palouse. Great shot with lots of golden tones this time of year. I especially like the blending of browns and greens.
TFS
Phil

Senk (2033) 2008-10-24 10:28

hi
very good picture and I like a lot just the color and how sharp it is , and your pictures so perfect

thank you for sharing

Seng

alexisborel (751) 2008-10-29 7:57

Hi Gerald
and thanks for your critic.
The first second, on thumbnail, i had believe it was a desert picture but now, i'm well surprised it'a prairie. Colours are amazing, it seems it was early in morning or before sunset.
A beautifull landscape with high range of tone.
Have a good day

Alexis

sacavem (9007) 2008-11-06 6:39

Olá Gerald,

A lovely picture of this place. Good exposure and nice colours.The background it's beautiful. Excellent colours, details with superb POV. Nice work and thanks for sharing.

Greetings,
Filipe

mortijo (12693) 2008-11-26 6:37

Hi,
There is a golden diagonal running through this amazing landscape. You are in an outstanding position to take this picture.
Great sharpness and colors.
Regards
John

Wahclellaspirit (3075) 2008-12-12 17:06

Hello Gerald,
A grand view of the Palouse indeed! The multitude of line, shape, and color makes the Palouse a natural wonder in itself as each day, each hour, brings out different shapes and colors. The harvest time at early morning and evening are the best overall times to catch the pink's and purple's glazed across the fields from the reflections of the sky.
Excellent work,
Have A Great Weekend...
Steve