Monthly Archives: June 2017

 

 

 

 

The Palouse region of Southeastern Washington State is among the most breathtaking landscape locations in the lower 48 states.  This year a combination of factors has changed the overall appearance.  A long snowy winter that did not let up until well into spring and falling wheat prices has led to the farmers decision to not plant about 40% of the fields.  The result?  Lots of the images that show endless folds of lush green fields now show a patchwork of brown and green and the green is behind the usual growth rate and in some cases looks thin compared to this time of the year’s usual appearance.  Still this is a beautiful place and we had lots of opportunities to capture the beauty.  It has been non-stop so I apologize for not posting sooner, but here are some of my favorites!

 

 

Blessings,

 

the pilgrim

 

Lens info:

 

All shots of Palouse from Steptoe Butte & Sunrise clouds   100-400  (Hand held)

• Because of stiff winds, removed lens shade and used OIS plus High ISO and shutter speed.

Granary in Acros   100-400

American Flag   100-400

Cremo Cigar wall   18-55

Always 5 cents    100-400

Crossland Turkey Farms Truck  18-55

Red Barn  18-55

Full Service Gas sign  18-55

 

 

 

Be Prepared!  That is the Boy Scout’s Motto and as a photographer you have to live by that motto too!!!  Jack and I arrived in the Palouse to a surprise, less risk green fields than I’ve ever seen!  It seems the winter was long and hard and the price of wheat has also dropped, so less fields have been planted and lots of ground lies brown and bare.  The long fields of view with rolling green hill after hill are simply not here, this year.  What to do?  Thankfully  Jack and I are prepared and with a lot of scouting have still found enough lush fields, old rustic barns and Americana to produce some great images.

 

My point to this blog entry is not to boo hoo about the less than ideal conditions, but to make the point that as a shooter, you have to learn to make lemonade out of lemons!  This is still a strikingly beautiful place with lots of very interesting things to compose and photograph.  The next time you find yourself challenged by conditions, step up to the plate and find a way to make it work for you!

 

 

 

 

One of the biggest impediments to good photography is “expectations”!  We go to a location expecting to see something we are familiar with,  and it throws us when that’s not what we see.  When you don’t see what you were expecting, expect to find something you never expected!!!! (lots of expecting words!)  It’s disappointing to not get what we want, but sometimes if it offers a great opportunity to prove you are truly a shooter and you can find something you may like even better!  Kicking and screaming won’t change the circumstances, but putting on your thinking cap may well produce unexpected, but wonderful images.  I certainly intend to prove that this week!!!  Come along and we will see!  My bet is we will!!!

 

 

 

 

Blessings,

 

the pilgrim

 

….and laugh!

 

 

 

 

This isn’t easy, in fact it’s impossible, but I have to try.  Don Nelson was one of my very best friends of a lifetime.  Don was, and is, a legend in the photo business, the workshop field and as an all around great guy!

 

Let me start at the beginning.  I met Don Nelson when the Nikon F3 camera was released. I drove to Kingsport, Tennessee, to see the new camera.  Don was a salesman for Nikon and their best, many times the President’s Award Winner!  He showed me the camera and we visited for several hours, few other folks showed up!  From that day on Don and I became friends and had a friendship that grew deeper.  He introduced me to many of his friends, most of them movers an shakers too!  He was the chairman of the biggest photojournalism conference in America, The Southern Short Course and he invited me to speak there, where I met some of the legends of the photography world.  I was invited back to be the Master of Ceremonies for several more years, where I met even more legends.  Thanks to Don, many door were opened to me that would have never been opened without his friendship.  He was with me at the beginning of workshop career, helping me, as usual, with things I needed a lot of help with!!!!

 

Don introduced me to Hugh Morton and the entire Grandfather Mountain family, further widening my horizons.  We did many events together and had more fun than you can imagine.  When the sideline photographer for the Washington Redskins was injured, Don got me the official photographers position for a short while!!!

 

More than any of that, Don was a real friend, I loved him like a brother and appreciated so many things about him.  Don was a true legend and everyone that knew him knew that!  A few years back Don was diagnosed with Lymphoma and he fought a long battle and survived it, but was very weakened but the treatments.  Still he was well on his way back when his wife Chris was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.   She lost her battle and Don started to go down hill, eventually moving into an assisted living facility.

 

On Friday Don got his reward and went on to be with the Lord and Chris and many other friends we’ve lost and that are now in Paradise.

 

I’m not sure if you can see anything going on down here in Heaven, but if you happen to read this entry here goes;

 

Don,

Thank you for being such a wonderful friend, for making me laugh until my sides split, for sharing so generously all the people whose lives you touched and allowed me to know them too.  Thank you for the countless ways you made me a better man, built my confidence and made me so thankful we met.  I will be along in a while, and I can’t wait to get another of your famous bear hugs and share old stories!  If it’s not too much to ask could you meet me at the gate and show me around, if I know you, and I do, you will have it all down pat!  I love you Don, thanks for all your kindness, compassion and teaching me so much.  Hug Chris for me and all those friends of ours that are there with you. I’m thankful that your earthly trials are over now!  You were one of the best we ever had down here!  Until later,

 

Your friend

 

Bill

 

 

P.S.  I did not have a photo of Don in my files as I am traveling, the flag says everything good about you, hope that works!?

 

 

 

The end of a stellar week with a great group and good things to shoot!  When I get into the Newport Harbor I had  a lot of fun turning on my inner Jay Maisel!  O.K. nobody is Jay except Jay, but I love his style of shooting and love to try and see the way think he sees!  Here are my attempts!  Enjoy!

 

 

….and one color for color sake!

 

 

May we all see graphics and color a little more like Mr. Maisel!

 

Blessings,

 

the pilgrim

 

 

Our best from Jack and Bill!!