Welcome to the Palouse, Washington—a region where artistry and agriculture meet in one of North America's most captivating and surreal landscapes. This photography tour and workshop is your invitation to explore a place often called the Tuscany of the Northwest, where gentle rolling hills, vibrant wheat fields, and historic rural scenes offer a dreamlike canvas for image-making.

Shaped by thousands of years of wind-deposited loess soil, the Palouse is a geological and visual wonder. These soft, undulating hills—formed during the last Ice Age—create rhythmic patterns that shift with every change in light. In fact, NASA has studied the area via satellite to better understand wind erosion and sediment distribution. But down on the ground, the region’s beauty is anything but scientific. It’s emotive, immersive, and deeply inspiring—especially in spring, when brilliant greens dominate the landscape and the hills glow beneath soft skies.

Spring is the prime season for photographing the Palouse. The wheat fields are lush and full of life, the air is crisp, and wildflowers begin to emerge in ditches and meadows. The land comes alive with contrast and color—ideal for wide vistas, telephoto abstracts, and intimate rural scenes. You'll capture the textures of newly plowed fields, the glint of early morning dew, and the long shadows that sweep across the terrain during golden hour.

This Palouse photo workshop is thoughtfully designed to put you in the right place at the right time. We’ll photograph sunrise from iconic Steptoe Butte, where the view stretches for miles in a painterly patchwork of pastel light and shadow. We’ll explore weathered barns, aging grain elevators, and working farms that reflect the region’s deep agricultural roots. Along the way, we’ll visit timeless small towns like Colfax and Palouse, filled with Americana charm and rich photo opportunities—think vintage gas stations, faded signage, and historic storefronts.

During this workshop, we'll also have the opportunity to visit Palouse Falls—an iconic scene where the Palouse River plunges nearly 200 feet into a basalt canyon carved by Ice Age floods! This dramatic cascade sits in stark contrast to the surrounding rolling wheat fields, offering a completely different look and feel from the rest of the region. We’ll time our visit for the best possible light, capturing the falls from multiple angles as golden hour colors dance across the cliffs. With its raw, rugged beauty and fascinating geologic history, Palouse Falls is a true highlight of our photographic journey through this surreal corner of Washington.

With a mix of field shoots, hands-on instruction, and creative exploration, you'll learn to craft powerful compositions and explore both grand and intimate landscapes. Whether you're a seasoned photographer or just beginning to develop your vision, our expert guides will support your growth with personalized feedback and real-time coaching.

But more than anything, this trip is about slowing down, connecting deeply, and learning to see the extraordinary in the everyday. The Palouse isn’t flashy—it rewards patience, presence, and a willingness to look beyond the obvious. Join us this spring, and experience one of the American West’s most photogenic and soulful destinations in its most beautiful season.