Also see the photography tour calendar for trips that precede or follow this one

PHOTOGRAPHY TOUR OVERVIEW: Harvest time in America’s photogenic breadbasket. If you didn't know where the Palouse was until a few moments ago, you’re not alone! It is of Gallic origin due to the French fur trappers who gave the region it's name. The terrain itself is deep rolling soil . . . ideal growing conditions, and why a majority of the USA's grain is grown here. Old barns sit atop the landscape in hidden nooks and crannies, while flowing lines and flying chaff complement the harvesting shots. We’ll be out at dawn and dusk as always.

INCREASING YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY SKILLS: There isn’t a straightforward way to describe everything you will learn on one of our photography tours in just a few words, but I'll give it a try . . . I instruct, encourage, nurture, coach, nudge, help and guide clients etcetera, all day and every day.  This includes one-on-ones and 'collective instruction', i.e. advice given to the whole group at each photo stop. Subjects and techniques discussed and demonstrated are composition strength, shutter speeds, exposure compensation, how aperture choice influences depth of field, lens choice, filter use, long exposure effects, deliberate blur, macro and so on. I also encourage you to 'see' an image when the opportunity presents itself, i.e. to be on the lookout for those less obvious shots that are no less stunning. Lastly, I conduct image critiques both on location - digital camera screens are ideal for this - and via the use of laptops. PhotoShop sessions are also included as time permits. For more details regarding what you'll learn go here.

TRAVEL TO THE GATEWAY AIRPORT
o It is recommended that clients arrive a day early to be fresh for the trip, and to also counteract possible flight delays.
o Early arrival also enables you to explore the gateway city should you wish to do so.
o When booking flights, add a day for overnight travel or two days if also crossing the Pacific Ocean/International Dateline.
o The last day of the trip is the date you should arrange your flight home unless you plan to stay on. Thank you!

DAY 1  |  Arrive PALOUSE COUNTRY
Your midday flights into Spokane, Washington will be met by myself, John, and following lunch we'll make a slow-boat loop trip on our drive southwards taking pictures as we go, and check into our hotel. After a short break to recoup from your journeys, we'll head back out and explore a few of the lanes that will be our staple for the next few days. After dinner, and if we're done with the days' photography, we'll have a photo critique which will include Palouse images from previous trips.
The PALOUSE, 4 nights

DAYS 2, 3, and 4  |  The PALOUSE
Maybe the magazine icon National Geographic said it best in it's June 1982 edition, when titling its' Palouse feature thus: "A Paradise Called The Palouse". Derived from the French word 'Pelouse', meaning lawn and green, it is most certainly a veritable carpet of rolling hills.  Pleasing to the eye yes, but even more so to the photographic eye.
From our base in the heart of the Palouse Country we will take loop trips down rarely traveled back roads shooting old barns, combines tossing chaff about, patterns in the fields, grain bin symmetry, and chatting with farmers. The early and late light is particularly pleasing here, especially from Steptoe Butte.

DAY 5  |  To SPOKANE
More rolling hills, patterns, and barns of the Palouse throughout the day, except that we shall overnight in Spokane to position ourselves for flights home in the morning. After late afternoon check-in and dinner downtown, we'll do 'photo stroll-about' in Riverfront Park to photograph the Spokane Falls on the Spokane River; the standard Spokane view of flowers, river, and clock tower; and the giant 'radio flyer' truck.
SPOKANE, 1 night

DAY 6  |  Flights home
After breakfast I'll get you to the airport in good time for your flights home. 

Photographer/Leader John Baker

The preceding itinerary is copyrighted by John T. Baker Photographer LLC, and Travel Images.com,
and authorization is NOT granted to business entities for professional use of said material.

PHOTOGRAPHY TOUR FEES, DETAILS + ENROLLMENT

TRIP COST:  $2,105 per person double occupancy

SINGLE ROOM SUPPLEMENT: 14% of the trip cost

INCLUDED IN THE TRIP COST: The following items are included in the trip cost: photography instruction throughout the trip by John; all accommodations with private facilities [ensuite]; all breakfasts; lunch on day one of the trip; dinner on the last night of the trip; on-vehicle snacks and bottled water; all ground transportation; airport transfers on the first and last days of the trip only; entrance fees for sites and activities listed below under ‘Admissions’; and following the trip, field notes describing the time, place and subject of each photo stop, and a disc containing images of clients 'in action' on the trip.

NOT INCLUDED IN THE TRIP COST: The costs for these items are the responsibility of each participant: airfare; travel costs between your home and the gateway airport and return; any transportation or travel costs incurred prior to or after the tour’s inclusive dates; pre-tour and/or post-tour accommodation; lunches and dinners except for lunch on day one of the trip, and dinner on the last night of the trip; alcoholic beverages; entrance fees or costs related to optional sites or activities not included in the itinerary or a part of the trip; excess baggage charges; medical costs; personal items; incidental charges incurred at our accommodations such as internet access, phone calls or laundry; baggage and/or travel insurance; passport or visa expenses; and airport departure taxes.

Refer to Terms and Conditions for complete details.

ENROLLMENT