The Palouse Region of southeastern Washington is one of the major grain producing areas in the US. The landscape reminds me of a stormy ocean swell frozen in time and covered with wheat, barns and tractors. In the late summer when all the crops have been harvested, the fields are systematically burned and tilled in preparation for the next season. The smoke and dust in the air creates fiery red sunsets over the tan and brown patchwork of the countryside.
This image was taken from the side of Steptoe Butte in the heart of the Palouse right after the sun had gone below the horizon. Two exposures were blended in Photoshop to balance the sky and the foreground much the same way a graduated filter does.
.5 sec and 2.5 seconds at f/22
ISO 100
Canon EOS 20D
Canon USM 70-200mm f/2.8 L lens
Gitzo Mountaineer Carbon Tripod
