Spring in The Palouse

Palouse Wildflowers: Pentax K-5, Pentax DA* 16-50mm f/2.8

Please click on images to see larger versions. Spring is probably my favorite time to visit The Palouse.  The last week of May and/or the first week of June is usually best, with slight variation from year to year.  The greens of the early wheat fields are almost fluorescent under the right lighting conditions, and the lupines at Steptope Butte are magnificently abundant.  In addition to the obligatory scenes from Steptoe, this year, I drove around quite a bit looking for interesting compositions of farms. barns, and trees.  I hope you enjoy these images.  I plan to go back in the late summer when the wheat is golden brown.

In Between: Pentax K-5, Pentax DA* 16-50mm f/2.8

Old Friends: Pentax K-5, Pentax DA* 50-135mm f/2.8

Nestled in the HIlls: Pentax K-5, Pentax DA* 50-135mm f/2.8

Wheat Patterns: Pentax K-5, Pentax DA* 50-135mm f/2.8

Lone Tree: Canon 5D Mark II, Canon 800mm f/5.6L IS

A Fixer-Upper: Pentax K-5, Pentax DA* 50-135mm f/2.8

Follow the Fence: Pentax K-5, Pentax DA* 16-50mm f/2.8

Still Standing: Pentax K-5, Pentax DA* 16-50mm f/2.8

Whitman County Growers: Canon 5D Mark II, Canon 800mm f/5.6L IS

Tree in Wheat Field: Pentax K-5, Pentax DA* 16-50mm f/2.8

Bucolic: : Canon 5D Mark II, Canon 800mm f/5.6L IS. This is a stitch of 7 portrait oriented images (file size over 100 MP). The detail captured is pretty ridiculous. Below is a 100% crop to give you an idea.

100% crop from above panorama

19 Comments
  • Ray Still
    June 12, 2011

    Hey Mahesh

    Cool takeaways went by that way last week and yep Steptoe Butte has a Moose finally saw one of the offsprings right on the road on the way off Steptoe

  • Mahesh
    June 12, 2011

    Thanks, Ray. Wow…a moose at Steptoe! That’s awesome! How great would it have been to capture that with the wheat fields in the distance? I hope you got a good shot.

  • Aaron Cowan
    June 12, 2011

    Very nice images Mahesh. I’ve just spent the past 10 months in Moscow finishing my Masters (EE) and now I’m living in Pullman for work so I’m very familiar with the areas you took these images. The clouds in the B&Ws are excellent.

  • Mahesh
    June 12, 2011

    Thanks, Aaron! I think I remember your mentioning your studies in Moscow before. How lucky you are to live in such a beautiful place.

  • Bev
    June 12, 2011

    Great composition and light.

  • Kalpana
    June 12, 2011

    Beautiful!

  • Lisa
    June 12, 2011

    These landscapes are amazing, I love the bright colours and the clarity!

  • Ann
    June 12, 2011

    All of them are so beautiful, but the b/w fence leading to the barn w/stunning clouds behind really drew me in.
    thanks for sharing,
    Ann

  • Gary C.
    June 12, 2011

    Met you once at the ebike store…..I’m part time there. Eric sends along you’re photo’s. You have amazing talent. I have a photo interest also but alas no artistic eye. Greatly enjoy your work!

  • Karen
    June 12, 2011

    I hope this finds you well. : )
    Oh my, they are all awesome. The wildflower one is amazing. Thank you SO very much for sharing your beautiful work with us.
    You are truly gifted.
    Take care.
    Peace & Love,
    Karen

  • Tim ONeill
    June 12, 2011

    Lovely images Mahesh. I recognize some of the structures. I started looking in FM back in 2002 when you were indeed a starving student.

  • Rachael
    June 13, 2011

    i want to marry “tree in wheat field!”

  • linda lin
    June 13, 2011

    soooo peaceful!

  • Alan
    June 15, 2011

    Amazing photos, Mahesh! Great work!

  • colleen parker
    June 15, 2011

    thank you for sharing your zen-like images! i will be moving to Moscow Idaho soon and plan to explore the area with your images for photographic inspiration!

  • Sally Allison
    June 16, 2011

    Your photos always feed my soul! Love them! Thank you for sharing!

  • Tim ONeill
    June 17, 2011

    Great images Mahesh. I recognize a lot of scenes. I’ve been following your work in FM since 2002.

  • Ryan
    June 22, 2011

    Wonderful photos as always. It’s impossible to pick a favorite. — Which areas or roads over there do you find the most photogenic?

  • Charles Duncombe
    October 23, 2011

    I grew up in Moscow, ID and these are as lovely a set of images from the Palouse as I have seen. Brought me fond memories of my childhood. Thanks.

Write a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *