Steptoe Farm at Sunrise

Steptoe, Washington

October 30, 2014

Nikon D3100: Tamron 19-270 at 130 mm: ISO 400: 1/50 sec.: f/8

One more shot of the sunrise from Steptoe Butte.

Colfax Codger Pole

Colfax, Washington

October 30, 2014

Nikon D3100: Tamron 18-270 at 50 mm: ISO 400: 1/25 sec.:f/7.10

In the middle of downtown Colfax stands the famous codger pole.  It is basically three tall totem poles with profiles of all the players from a big football rivalry game.  It was pretty cool and definitely unique.

Top 10 of 2014

Another year is coming to an end so it's time to post my top ten of the year.  As always, this is a wholly subjective list of my personal favorites and has nothing to do popularity or quality.  Check out my favorites from recent years: 2013 and 2012.  Hopefully, the images get better each year even if the places I am visiting aren't as exciting.  That tends to happen when new kids come and since we are having a new baby in January, 2015 will likely be more local shots.  2014  saw me head to Bryce Canyon, Grand Canyon, Boston and Washington.  Good thing I had some dedicated shooting time over Halloween in Washington as six of my top ten came from that weekend. Click on the links to see the details of the original post.

At number 10, this shot comes from the cemetery in Pullman, Washington.



At number 9, this abandoned barn off the highway between Pullman, WA and Moscow, ID.

At number 8, the Heidenreich Dairy Barn outside Colfax, Washington.

At number 7, the Manning-Rye covered bridge outside Colfax, Washington.

At number 6, Red Rock Canyon photographed from Turtle Head.

At number 5, the Navajo Loop at Bryce Canyon.




At number 4, the TA Leonard Barn in Pullman, Washington.

At number 3, some colorful fields just below Steptoe Butte, Washington.

At number 2, the Paul Revere statue in front of the Old North Church in Boston.

At number 1, my favorite shot from 2014 from the Grand Canyon.

10 Most Popular Posts

To celebrate reaching 10,000 views, I am posting my top 10 most popular posts from the beginning.  These have nothing to do with image quality or personal preference, it is solely based on number of views.  As one would expect, most come from roughly the same period--long enough for the blog to get some viewership but early enough that there has been time for more views.  I have included a link to the original post under each photograph.

At number 10, this shot of longtail boats in Phi Phi Leh Bay in Thailand from 2012.

Original post can be found here

 At number 9, this shot of  festival goes at the Hare Krishna Temple in Spanish Fork, Utah in 2011.

Original post can be found here

At number 8, this shot of Tumalo Falls near Bend, Oregon in 2012.

Original post can be found here

At number 7, this shot of Pastel canyon in Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada in 2013

Original post can be found here

At number 6, this shot of Windstone Arch, also in Valley of Fire, taken in 2013.

Original post can be found here

At number 5, this shot at the changing of the guard in Seoul, South Korea in 2012.

Original post can be found here

At number 4, this shot from Railey in Thailand.

Original post can be found here

At number 3, this image of a longtail boat at Phra Nang Beach in Thailand in 2012.

Original post can be found here

At number 2, the sunset at Ivanpah just south of the Nevada-California border from 2013.

Original post can be found here

At number 1, the most popular post comes from Krabi, Thailand in 2012.

Original post can be found here

Sunstar at Pullman Cemetary

Pullman, Washington

November 2, 2014

Nikon D3100: Tamron 18-270 at 18 mm: ISO 200: 1/125 sec.: f/16

Pullman Cemetary

Pullman, Washington

November 2, 2014

Nikon D3100: Tamron 18-270 at 30 mm: ISO 200: 1/30 sec.:f/11

After finishing up at the TA Leonard Barn, I headed pack to a cemetery I saw earlier the week and didn't have time for.  this cemetery is just across the street from Walmart, but is surrounded by farm land.  I loved the fall colors and fallen leaves over the cemetery.

TA Leonard Barn from the East #2

Pullman, Washington

November 2, 2014

Nikon D3100: Tamron 18-270 at 85 mm: ISO 200: 1/200 sec.: f/9

One more shot of the TA Leonard Barn from the East.

TA Leonard Barn from the East

Pullman, Washington

November 2, 2014

Nikon D3100: Tamron 18-270 at 35 mm: ISO 200: 1/80 sec,: f/14

After shooting the dilapidated barn off HWY 270, I took some country roads and ended up back on the Old Moscow Highway so I took a different viewpoint and started shooting this great barn again.

Old Barn off 270 #2

Pullman, Washington

November 2, 2014

Nikon D3100: Tamron 18-270 at 60 mm: ISO 400: 1/320 sec.: f/10

Here is a second shot of the old barn off the 270.

Old Barn off 270

Pullman, Washington

November 1, 2014

Nikon D3100: Tamron 18-270 at 38 mm: ISO 200: 1/80 sec.: f/14

Sunday morning we had a little time before our flight and my sister-in-law told me about this old barn right off Hwy 270 so I went out for an hour or so and shot this barn and then drove some country roads.  Thanks to the recent rain, I found some water in this ditch to add something else to the shot.

Red and White Barn on the Old Moscow Highway

October 29, 2014

Pullman, Washington

Nikon D3100: Tamron 18-270 at 42 mm: ISO 200: 1/40 sec.: f/11

Just down the street from the TA Leonard barn, I found this big red and white barn with a field that wasn't just mud and dirt.  It was difficult framing it without the house or power lines and required getting into the high grass.

TA Leonard Barn

Pullman, Washington

October 30, 2014

Nikon D3100: Tamron 18-270 at 120 mm: ISO 200: 1/80 sec.: f/11

This was probably my favorite shot of this unique barn.

TA Leonard Barn

Pullman, Washington

October 30, 2014

Nikon D3100: Tamron 18-270 at 65 mm: ISO 200: 1/60 sec.: f/11

In researching places to shoot around Pullman, I saw this unique barn multiple times, but I couldn't find any directions for it, other than off the Moscow Highway.  I had a an hour or so and thought I would just drive around the country and see what I found and luckily, I stumbled right into this.  It was really easy to find if anyone needs directions.

Old Barn off 195 West of Pullman

Pullman, Washington

October 30, 2014

Nikon D3100: Tamron 18-270 at 65 mm: ISO 400: 1/100 sec.: f/9

After my morning shooting at Steptoe Butte and around Colfax, I pulled off for this little barn on my way back to Pullman

Fields of Colors #3

Steptoe, Washington

October 30, 2014

Nikon D3100: Tamron 18-270 at 270 mm: ISO 200: 1/6 sec.: f/6.30

Heidenreich Dairy Barn #2

Colfax, Washington

November 30, 2014

Nikon D3100: Tamron 18-270 at 23 mm: ISO 400: 1/60 sec.: f/8

This shot would be much better if there was something in the fields and some color in the sky, but I guess the clumps of dirt are different at least.

Fields of Colors #2

Steptoe, Washington

October 30, 2014

Nikon D3100: Tamron 18-270 at 85 mm: ISO 200: .80 sec.: f/14

Another shot of the colorful fields from Steptoe Butte.

Manning-Rye Covered Bridge

Colfax, Washington

October 30, 2014

Nikon D3100: Tamron 18-270 at 60 mm: ISO 200: 1/4 sec.: f/22

In looking for things to shoot around Colfax, I found this old covered bridge.  To be honest, the photos I saw did not overwhelm me, but I had never shot a covered bridge so I decided to try and find it.  It took a while to find decent directions, but it was actually quite easy.  Take Green Hollow north out of Colfax and turn left on Manning and it is just a mile or so down the road.  I was happily surprised with how beautiful and peaceful the scene actually was.  I highly recommend it to anyone in the area.

sunrise over barn from Steptoe Butte

Steptoe, Washington

October 30, 2014

Nikon D3100: Tamron 18-270 at 78 mm: ISO 400: 1/40 sec.: f/7.10

This is the farmland I tried to capture all morning with the sunrise, but the sky was never working for me.  As I started driving back down the butte, I noticed it had opened up a little so I pulled off and shot a few handheld.

Fields of Colors #1

Steptoe, Washington

October 30, 2014

Nikon D3100: Tamron 18-270 at 140 mm: ISO 200: 1/10 sec.: f/9

While I was pretty bummed out after freezing for a couple hours trying to get the sunrise, I walked around the top of the butte and was excited to find this awesome view.  I am sure it is better in the spring, but I did love the contrast between the colors in the fields.

Sunrise from Steptoe Butte

October 30, 2014

Steptoe, Washington

Nikon D3100: Tamron 18-270 at 42 mm: ISO 200: 1/6 sec.: f/11

Finally, I got around to editing something besides barns!  I started my first morning in the Palouse by shooting the sunrise from Steptoe Butte.  True to my luck, the sunrise was very underwhelming.  Excited and not being able to sleep, I left the house nearly an hour early and found myself atop Steptoe Butte in the dark trying to decide where the sun would eventually rise.  I was not ready for the fierce wind and bitter cold.  It was a miserable couple hours spent on top of the butte waiting for something worth shooting.  When the sun finally did come out, it was hidden behind clouds and I never even got a view of it and the surrounding colors were underwhelming.  This was my best sunrise photo of the morning.  Luckily, the light did reveal some beautiful fields that I shot before leaving the made the hours in the cold almost worth it.

Barn in Colfax

Colfax, Washington

October 30, 2014

Nikon D3100: Tamron 18-270 at 60 mm: ISO 400: 1/80 sec.: f/8

I found this barn just off 272 about a mile outside of Colfax on my way to the famous dairy barn.

Heidenreich Dairy Barn

Colfax, Washington

October 30, 2014

Nikon D3100: Tamron 18-270 at 38 mm: ISO 400: 1/60 sec.:f/8

While I photographed many great barns in the Palouse, this was the only barn that made my pre-visit list of places to go.  It is just a couple miles outside of Colfax on the 272.  It was very easy to find and is set up for great photographs from the side of the road.  While I would have loved the sky to be doing something, I had researched before and knew the sunrise wasn't going to work so I just stopped by on my way back to Pullman after shooting Steptoe Butte and the Manning-Rye Covered Bridge.

Barn on Green Hollow Road

Colfax, Washington

October 30, 2014

Nikon D3100: Tamron 18-270 at 42 mm: ISO 400: 1/80 sec.: f/8

This barn is on Green Hollow Road maybe a mile north of Colfax on the way to the Manning-Rye Covered Bridge.

Red Barn in Fall

Colfax, Washington

October 30, 2014

Nikon D3100: Tamron 18-270 at 42 mm: ISO 400: 1/40 sec.: f/7.10

We visited family in Pullman, Washington for Halloween.  It was a great vacation.  The first morning we were there, I woke up early to go catch the sunrise at Steptoe Butte and then shot around Colfax.  The next few days I shot here and there around Pullman.  After catching the sunrise at Steptoe Butte, I went to shoot the Manning-Rye covered bridge.  On the way, I found this wonderful little barn.  This barn is located on Manning Road just after you turn from Green Hollow.

Gilcrease Orchard

Las Vegas, Nevada

October 11, 2014

Nikon D3100: Tamron 18-270 at 32 mm: ISO 100: 1/40 sec.: f/16

We had some family come into town so we looked for things to do with the kids.  Despite not looking like fall at all here, we decided to go to this orchard and check out the pumpkin patch.  We enjoyed some delicious donuts and pear cider before wandering the orchards.  Most of it had been picked clean and the lines to buy were very long so we didn't get anything, but the kids had fun playing.

Women's Ward

Boise, Idaho

August 31, 2014

Nikon D3100: Tamron 18-270 at 18 mm: ISO 400: 1/400 sec.: f/11

If you go to the Old Idaho Penitentiary, make sure to check out the Women's Ward.  It is a small building just outside the main grounds.  It is full of fun history about the former inmates.  For example, it was decided a separate women's ward was necessary after a cover-up was exposed where a secret abortion had been arranged for a pregnant inmate.

Pollinating Bee

Boise, Idaho

August 31, 2014

Nikon D3100: Tamron 18-270 at 270 mm: ISO 100: 1/500 sec.: f/8

The grounds of the Old Idaho Penitentiary were well manicured with beautiful flowers. This one was put to good use by this little bee.  I kept trying to get him to pull his head out, but every time he did, he flew away.

Jail Cell inside the Old Idaho Penitentiary #3

Boise, Idaho

August 31, 2014

Nikon D3100: Tamron 18-270 at 32 mm: ISO 100: 1/60 sec.: f/11: flash

The final composition of this shot.  To make up for not having a tripod, I decided to try using the flash to speed up the shutter and darken the bright light in the background to give the image a different feel.

Jail Cell inside the Old Idaho Penitentiary #2

Boise, Idaho

August 31, 2014

Nikon D3100: Tamron 18-270 at 18 mm: ISO 500: 1/16 sec.: f/6.30

I loved this set up and spent a few minutes trying to capture the depth along the row of cells.  I was running behind the family and was without a tripod, making it difficult to capture the image I wanted, but I came away with three shots I was at least satisfied with.  This is the Second.

Jail Cell inside the Old Idaho Penitentiary

Boise, Idaho

August 31, 2014

Nikon D3100: Tamron 18-270 at 18 mm: ISO 500: 1/15 sec.: f/6.30

I loved this set up and spent a few minutes trying to capture the depth along the row of cells.  I was running behind the family and was without a tripod, making it difficult to capture the image I wanted, but I came away with three shots I was at least satisfied with.  This is the first.

Inside the Old Idaho Penitentiary

Boise, Idaho

August 31, 2014

Nikon D3100: Tamron 18-270 at 18 mm: ISO 400: 1/15 sec.: f/6.30

One thing that was neat about the Old Idaho Penitentiary was each building was different as they were built at different times throughout the last century or so.  The funny part about this building was all the cells face one wall where the shower was located.  I can imagine taking a shower wasn't much fun in there.