One Evening. One Waterfall. One Photograph
There are days when photographers spend hours wondering if Mother Nature is going to cooperate. This was one of those days.
Before enjoying a delicious lunch together, we began the second morning of the Palouse Eastern Washington Photography Workshop reviewing and editing images from the previous day. Afterwards, we explored an area of farmland - that only two weeks earlier - was filled with rolling, verdant fields. A recent heat wave had transformed the green fields into golden hills, many had just been harvested, and the cloudless blue sky offered little hope for dramatic afternoon light.
By late afternoon, we continued on to Palouse Falls and arrived well before sunset. Everyone had time to explore the landscape, discover their favorite compositions, and photograph the marmots. We developed a game plan and talked through camera settings, refined compositions, and patiently waited together.
Then everything changed. As the sun slipped below the horizon, the sky behind us suddenly erupted in brilliant color. Glowing warm light poured across the canyon, illuminating the rugged cliffs, waterfall, and winding river below. Within minutes, the conditions we'd been waiting for transformed the entire landscape into something truly extraordinary.
For a few unforgettable moments, nobody spoke. Every photographer simply stood behind their camera, quietly immersed in one of those rare experiences that remind us why we continue chasing light. The photograph above is the result of those fleeting moments.
Photography has taught me that preparation matters. Patience matters. Knowing when to wait matters. Sometimes the most memorable images aren't created because everything went according to plan, but because you stayed long enough for nature to surprise you. It's evenings like this that reinforce why I continue returning to the Palouse year after year. Every season is different, every sunset tells its own story, and every photography workshop creates new memories.
A heartfelt thank you to this year's wonderful group for another unforgettable adventure. I can't wait to do it again.
Keep chasing the light.
Scott Setterberg
Author