Palouse Photography Workshop

Name: Palouse Photography Workshop <br>June 19-22, 2025
SKU: 76
Availability: InStock

The rolling, manicured agricultural fields of eastern Washington tap into some serious “Americana“. This area, often referred to as the “Palouse” is actually an expansive area filled with old farmsteads, dilapidated houses, farm equipment, and often dramatic skies. Come explore the rural landscapes of this scenic region! When you join my Palouse photography workshop, I will help beginning and intermediate photographers create wonderful images of this beautifully unique region. The workshop focuses on producing striking and powerful compositions, as well as telling a story with your photos. There is a strong emphasis on understanding your camera’s settings in order to use them creatively.

June 19-22, 2025

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SKU: N/A Category: Photography Workshops Tags: palouse photo workshop, palouse photography workshop, photo tour

Palouse Highlights

lone tree with milky way at night during Palouse Photo Workshop

A Focus on Astrophotography

The Palouse area offers many clear skies with lone trees, barns, and houses as subjects for night sky photography. We will have 1-2 nights of being out very late. Typical wake up for a sunrise is 3:30-3:45am, so sunrises may be optional with a quick return to the hotel to catch up on rest.

photographers over Palouse Falls canyon during photo workshop

Small Group Size

Our workshops are kept small and personable. You are sure to get ample time with the instructor over the course of the workshop.

Sunset over Palouse River during a photography workshop

A Focus on Composition

The Palouse region contains a wide variety of subject matter that can be challenging to compose compared to other types of landscape photography. We will focus on how best to compose use wide angle and strong telephoto lenses. We will discuss ideas such as repetition, creating depth, and visual flow during the course of the workshop.

Palouse Photo Workshop Information

Pricing Itinerary Topics Pack List About

Workshop Fee $1695 + $550 Lodging Fee

A $700 deposit is required to reserve your spot with the balance due 60 days prior to the start of the workshop.

What’s Included

3 nights single occupancy lodging with hot continental breakfast.
Quality, professional, 1-on-1 photography instruction on par with your level as a photographer.
Small group size of 5 or less.
Free shuttle from the airport (prior notice required).
Image critiques and post processing sessions.
Snacks throughout the workshop.
A fun, positive, interactive learning environment.

What’s Not Included

Transportation. While participants need to provide their own transportation during the workshop we will be carpooling as much as possible.
Meals, though the group often eats together throughout the workshop.
Trip Insurance: I highly recommend trip insurance due to unforeseen circumstances that may require your cancellation.

Cancellation Policy

Please view the cancellation policy here.

Getting to the workshop

This workshop is based out of Pullman, Washington, and ventures into the vast agricultural fields surrounding Palouse, Colfax, Garfield, Pullman, and more. We will use Pullman as our home base and have rooms reserved at the Hilltop which are included unless you opt out or choose to book elsewhere.

Our Eastern Washington Palouse photography workshop begins on Thursday afternoon where we will go over logistics and introductions before heading out to photograph sunset. Friday and Saturday will be spent photographing from sunrise until sundown with a mid-day break. The workshop wraps after sunrise on Sunday. Our weekend will be spent chasing clouds, photographing the fields, old barns and houses amidst the rolling agricultural lands around Colfax, Palouse, Pullman, and more.

This workshop is organized to take advantage of the best and most interesting locations in the Palouse region of eastern Washington. However, the exact itinerary and places we visit may change depending on the group and weather conditions.

Weather

Eastern Washington in the late spring can have cool and crisp mornings with temperatures in the mid 40s with average highs in the mid to high 70s, and sometimes into the 80s. There can also be a high chance of thunderstorms and high winds.

Palouse Photography Workshop topics include:

• Transforming your artistic vision into memorable photographs
• Aperture, Shutter Speed, and ISO – their relationship to one another and how to change them for exposure control
• Metering and getting a correct exposure
• Histograms, how to read them, and how to fine-tune exposure
• Creative depth-of-field effects using aperture control
• Capturing motion within your photos using different shutter speeds
• White balance and creative coloration
• Creating perspective, depth, and a sense of “being there” in your photos
• Creating powerful compositions with impact
• Composing to control your viewer’s attention in your photos
• Composition balance, tension, and visual flow
• How to use filters to capture dramatic light or create long-exposure effects
• Shoot planning and how to be at the right place at the right time
• Aspects of post-processing and digital workflow
• Shoot planning and how to be at the right place at the right time

Camera Gear

• Interchangeable lens camera: either mirror less or DSLR
• Lenses: Wide and ultra-wide angle lenses are highly recommended as are mid-range, medium telephoto, and possibly macro
• A sturdy tripod
• Circular polarizer and neutral density filters
• Rain fly
• Remote shutter release

Recommended clothing

Most participants will be comfortable with a jacket and hat for the mornings and evenings, and pants and a sweater during the day. For our late night and early morning shoots, we recommend a very warm jacket, hat, and gloves. A wide-brim hat, sunscreen and sunglasses, and a large water bottle will also be indispensable.

Fitness level

This workshop is appropriate for photographers of most fitness levels. We will walk approximately 1-2 miles over the course of the workshop over mostly even terrain. All participants are expected to be able to carry their own camera, personal gear, and water during the workshop.

Spectacular Locations
My workshops combine the very best scenery we can find along with in-depth knowledge of the areas we’re visiting. From the coast to the mountains to the desert, our workshops visit some of the most breathtaking landscapes you can imagine. And with hundreds of hours spent scouting and shooting in each location, I know the best times to visit, the best things to see, and the best shots to get. Plus I’m constantly adding new and exciting locations to our line-up so you can keep expanding your photographic horizons.

1-on-1 Instruction at Your Level
I take a three-tiered approach to my photography instruction: Philosophy. Theory. Technique. This means that no matter what level of photographer you are, you can expect to walk away from a workshop with your head bursting with ideas about how to refine your vision and find your own style, an understanding of camera techniques and composition concepts to springboard your photography, and the actual “How-To” of nailing a shot in the field. And with my relaxed, casual, 1-on-1 approach, you can soak up just the information YOU need to become a better shooter.

Small Class Size
My workshops insure you get ample one-on-one time, and the small group size also helps build camaraderie. Plus, we can go places big photography tours simply can’t.

A “Go Happy or Go Home” Attitude
I believe photography is as much about enjoyment as it is about scoring a keeper for your portfolio. I strive to create a fun and dynamic environment in which you meet other photographers, learn at your own pace, enjoy the beauty of nature, and have a great time while doing it.

I Never Stop Scouting
I’m never content to rest on my laurels. Before and after every workshop, I am scouting, scouting, scouting. Whether it’s to find new and exciting location to shoot or to provide a different view of the old icons, I strive to show you the absolute best places for photography.

Fully Insured and Permitted, Leave-No-Trace Advocates
My workshops are 100% above board, and I obtain all necessary permissions and insurances.

I am also a strong advocate of Leave No Trace (LNT) wilderness ethics. I teach responsible photography practices and never sacrifice the environment for the sake of a photo. My goal is to leave our photography workshop locations in better shape than how we found them.

Testimonials

As for highlights, some of my favorite moments were:

1. The evening at Palouse Falls when all the stars aligned perfectly: Amazing light, beautiful location, and practicing photography with awesome people.

2. Simply having fun exploring a new area with like-minded folks.

3. All the laughs/stories we had during our workshop.

4. Meeting some talented and nice folks from all over the US.

5. Bringing home “inspiration” to continue learning about the photography craft in the future.

Thanks so much Jim and Vinny! I seriously had so much fun with you all on the workshop!

Marco S."Palouse Photography Workshop"

More Photos in My Palouse Gallery

Your Instructor

Jim Patterson
I reside in the Seattle area of the Pacific Northwest and have made annual visits to eastern Washington for over a decade. Always scouting before and after workshops, I continually add new locations and ensure the classic ones are worth photographing. Through a combination of theory, philosophy, examples, and on-the-spot feedback, I strive to help students reach those “a-ha!” moments which take their photography to the next level.