Palouse Harvest Photo Workshop

July 29 - Aug 1, 2023 - 1 Spot Left!!

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Photograph the amber waves of grain in the pastoral rolling hills of the Palouse! Workshop dates are timed for the beginning of the harvest season as the landscape turns into a palette of warm colors and the combines work the fields.  Local expert Ryan McGinty will instruct the workshop along with Palouse veteran Kevin McNeal. This workshop is rated moderate for physical intensity, with 1-2 miles of hiking each day.

Tuition

  • $1595
  • 50% Deposit

Max Group Size

  • 5 Students per Instructor
  • Max 10 Students

Instructor(s)

  • Ryan McGinty
  • Kevin McNeal

Physical Intensity

Palouse Harvest Photo Workshop Ryan McGinty

Highlights

  • The Palouse in Eastern Washington is ripe and ready for the harvest by late summer and the landscape becomes a golden tapestry of color.
  • Combines will be hard at work harvesting the wheat and dust in the air will create stunning sunsets!
  • Expect to learn many new techniques on this workshop. Come prepared to shoot everything from abstract telephoto compositions to grandiose wide angle shots!
  • Workshop includes transportation so you can concentrate on your photography.
  • Post-processing and image critique sessions will be scheduled throughout the workshop to help make the most of your images.
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Itinerary

The exact itinerary will be kept flexible to account for the weather and current conditions. The itinerary below is just an example of what you can expect. If we stay out late shooting Milky Way, we may decide to skip sunrise the following morning.

  • Day 1 (July 29):  Meet at 3PM in Pullman, WA for a mandatory orientation session. We will cover many techniques you will be using during the workshop and discuss the itinerary and shooting options in detail.  After dinner, we venture out to a nearby location for our sunset shoot.
  • Day 2 (July 30):  We are out the door well before dawn and make our way up to Steptoe Butte. This high vantage point affords 360-views of the surrounding countryside and you can shoot everything from wide angle to telephoto as the morning light accents the golden tapestry below. We return to the hotel for breakfast and then spend a few hours doing a post-processing session. In the afternoon, we venture into some very scenic areas to photograph barns and rolling hills filled with amber waves of grain. At sunset we make some nice compositions as the combines cut the wheat.
  • Day 3 (July 31):  We are up early again for sunrise at an iconic lone tree. After that we find some old houses and barns set among the golden fields.  We return to the hotel for breakfast and another post-processing session. We go out again mid-afternoon as some nice puffy clouds fill the sky. After a quick dinner, we go to Palouse Falls to photograph the sunset over the deep canyon. The skies clear shortly after sunset and we stay out to photograph the Milky Way.
  • Day 4 (Aug 1):  Even though we are tired, the group decides to wake up for sunrise. Our location is TBD depending on weather and group interest. We return in time to check-out of the hotel and the workshop will conclude no later than 11AM.
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Palouse Falls
Images from the Palouse of Eastern Washington during wheat harvest season
Palouse Harvest Photo Workshop Combine
Palouse Harvest Photo Workshop

Logistics

 

If you are flying in, we recommend going through Spokane (GEG) or Pullman WA (PUW). From Spokane, it is a 90 minute drive to Pullman.  If you fly directly to Pullman, you can arrange transportation to the hotel via Uber or Lyft.  Please be in Pullman, WA no later than 3PM on July 29th and meet us at the Coast Hilltop Inn.

Lodging is not included in the workshop fee so you have the option to stay wherever you like.  The group will be based at the Coast Hilltop Inn. and we have reserved a block of rooms for our guests.  Please call them at 509-332-0928 and mention Action Photo Tours to receive the group rate.

Food is not included in the workshop fee but the hotel does provide a free breakfast.  We will be stopping to get food when on the road but most meals will be eaten while you are in town. It's best to bring some snacks since we will often be shooting during the dinner hours.

Our goal is to maximize your photography while you are here. This can mean long days and not a lot of sleep. We will utilize the middle of the day for rest breaks and post-processing sessions.  We'll also find time for image critique sessions throughout the workshop to make the most of your images.

Transportation will be provided during the workshop for all participants.

This workshop is rated Moderate for activity level. No long hikes are planned but participants should be able to walk a cumulative 1-2 miles each day to get to the shooting locations.

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Pricing

$1595/person + Tax

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Trip Includes:

  • All Ground Transportation
  • Park Entrance Fees
  • In-Field Photography Instruction
  • Post-processing and Image Critique
  • Snacks and Water

 

Trip Does NOT Include:

  • Transportation to/from your home to Spokane or Pullman, WA.
  • Lodging
  • Meals and snacks.
  • Beverages
  • Instructor Gratuities

 

When you complete the checkout process, you will be given the option to either pay the full amount or put down a 50% deposit.  If you pay the deposit, the remaining amount will be charged 90-days prior to arrival to the credit card we have on file.

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Palouse Harvest Photo Workshop
Palouse Milky Way Ryan McGinty
Palouse Harvest Photo Workshop
Palouse Harvest Photo Workshop

Recommended Camera Gear

  • Sturdy tripod and ballhead
  • Digital SLR or Mirrorless Camera Body.
  • Wide angle lens in the 16-35mm range.
  • Mid-range zoom lens in the range of 24-100mm.
  • Long telephoto lenses in the 100-600mm range.  You will want a lens that is longer than 200mm for many of the locations we visit! A 100-400mm or 150-600mm will be perfect.
  • Circular polarizer filters and ND filters for your lenses.  If you like shooting with grads, bring them along.  A 9 or 10-stop ND filter will be useful for creating very long exposures.
  • Backpack to carry your gear.
  • Extra batteries, memory cards, and cleaning supplies.
  • Remote cord for your camera.
  • Laptop if you wish to backup your photos or follow along during the post-processing instruction.

Personal Gear List

  • Sturdy hiking footwear, hiking socks, and long pants .
  • Warm jacket for cool mornings
  • Headlamp
  • Sunscreen, Sunglasses, Sun Hat.
  • Water bottle or hydration bladder.
  • Hiking poles if you like having them.
  • Bug Spray
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Ryan McGinty Profile Photo Olympics

Ryan McGinty

Photography Instructor

Ryan McGinty is a seasoned landscape photographer living in the Palouse area of southeastern Washington.  His first-hand experience in this unique agricultural area makes him the perfect instructor to lead people to out-of-the-way places for those once-in-a-lifetime rainbows, sunsets and sunrises in the beautiful rolling hills. He loves chasing the light and diligently checks weather apps to get the latest sun and rain predictions, cloud formations, wind and temperatures for the best locations and light.

His interest in photography started at an early age and continued in college with graduate work at Brooks Institute of Photography.  His experience in portrait, wedding, film, and medium and large format photography give him an extraordinary background for his award-winning landscape photography.

His passion for the Palouse is only exceeded by his passion for photography and his desire to show people his favorite places.  He takes a legitimate interest in his clients and strives hard to ensure they get the best shots. His photographs have been published in books, calendars and travel guides.

Kevin McNeal

Kevin McNeal

Photography Instructor

Kevin McNeal is a Washington-State photographer who is passionate about photographing grand landscapes that reflect the most unique places on earth. Capturing moments of magic light and transferring this to print is the ultimate goal. His images hold a combination of perseverance, patience, and dedication to capture landscapes in fresh ways. The stories of how these images are rendered come across in the feelings the images convey. He has traveled all over North America, shooting diverse landscapes and finding remote places with the hope that we can convey to the public that this earth is worth caring for. His award winning images can be seen in galleries and showings across the United States.  He was recently invited to the Art Wolfe Art Gallery for the Environmental Photography Invitational. Kevin was the grand winner of the Landscape category for the Natures Best Magazine and was selected for the Smithsonian National Museum of History in Washington D.C..  He is a regular contributor to publications like Outdoor Photographer.

Artist’s Statement

“I believe that the Earth shares secrets with us that only can be discovered by trying to understand our position on this planet. We are never fully intimate with the planet but are given brief moments that make our souls want more. These glimpses of nature’s power are fleeting and never the same twice. I also believe it is important to share with those who want it. The treasures that await us given the patience that is out there. What I try to do is bring some of that magic to my images to share with the rest of the world. Each of my images tells a story that everyone can relate to in some way whether it is success, fear, or challenging oneself to overcome obstacles

Kevin's portfolio can be found at www.kevinmcnealphotography.com.