close iframe icon
approved icon billsisson avatar Platinum
billsisson
Palouse Falls Dawn
Banner

Palouse Falls Dawn



behind the lens badge
cameraPENTAX K-1

settings Aperture f/20 ISO 100 Shutter 5/1 Focal Length 1500/100 

upload_dateAug, 2018

Views

4325

Likes

Awards

Top Shot Award 22
Contest Finalist in Mother Nature Photo Contest 2021
Contest Finalist in Virtual Exhibition Project
Runner Up in The Outdoors Photo Contest Speed Series
Contest Finalist in Monthly Pro Photo Contest Vol 47
Contest Finalist in Monthly Pro Photo Contest Vol 45
  View more
Peer Award
kiwibug Johnsalterego Hector alungar Rmay1 idrislaaziz AnaRossoPhotography +721
Absolute Masterpiece
chriskellawan VladimirBukharin LindasPhotos debbietintle Geordieclark janzark deannefortnam +97
Superb Composition
ivarsduntavs billbrandon douyemercydouye bkelly7k Eamonshields319 wayneabercrombie_4594 melandismit +64
Top Choice
nicolemcdougald_3289 Dylan-Watson10 DanielasPhotography nico_th2001 Rolenz mikemiller_2169 NDPhoto +51
Magnificent Capture
D-Munn ivanrfin frankwilson Keblerelf11 Manni PhotoExpressions NBergen +33
Outstanding Creativity
breckreeves mwilliam3 _6366 pedromiguelcruz maxpan daryllepine nikoncameraman +17
Virtuoso
nornots OBRonTyan Confalonieri terrymccollum huwddu coleenlindstrom AlfredSnowPhotography +2
Superior Skill
billtaylorphotos VincentRoccoPhoto karensommerslohre markmahler dennisrathbun holmeshooke1 Artistgisele +2
All Star
Maple-2103 feans juliewells_8964 keithhempfleng lorijwhitneybrice
Genius
Steve_Deck R_Tom_Sizemore_III

Emotions

Impressed
RulaFalih80 Masoud jensen9cat nadezhda_gribanova ivatrocke Viktor_Odnovyun jeffcarroll_0255 +45
Happy
allanvenables nornots
Upset
Wcook

Top Ranks

Our World Photography AwardsTop 20 rank
Creative Landscapes Photo Contest vol11Top 10 rank
Creative Landscapes Photo Contest vol11Top 10 rank week 1
Earth Day Photo Contest 2022Top 10 rank
Creative Moments Photo Contest vol1Top 20 rank
View more
Earth Day Photo Contest 2022Top 10 rank week 1
Creative Moments Photo Contest vol1Top 10 rank week 1
Sunrises And Sunsets Photo ContestTop 20 rank
My Best Shot Photo Contest Vol13Top 10 rank
Sunrises And Sunsets Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
My Best Shot Photo Contest Vol13Top 20 rank week 1
Mother Nature Photo Contest 2021Top 20 rank
Mother Nature Photo Contest 2021Top 10 rank week 1
Creative Moments Photo ContestTop 30 rank
Covers Photo Contest Volume16Top 10 rank
Covers Photo Contest Volume16Top 10 rank week 1
Creative Landscapes Photo Contest vol10Top 30 rank
Creative Landscapes Photo Contest vol10Top 20 rank week 1
Photography Awards 2021Top 10 rank
Photography Awards 2021Top 10 rank week 1
My Best Capture Photo Contest vol2Top 10 rank
My Best Capture Photo Contest vol2Top 10 rank week 1
Capture The Outdoors Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Capture The Outdoors Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
The Collection ProjectTop 20 rank
The Collection ProjectTop 20 rank week 1
The Collection ProjectTop 20 rank week 1
Creative Landscapes Photo Contest vol9Top 30 rank
Wide Angle Shots Contest 2021Top 20 rank
Capture Cliffs Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Capture Cliffs Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
Wide Angle Shots Contest 2021Top 20 rank week 1
Creative Compositions Photo Contest Vol12Top 30 rank
Creative Boundaries Photo ContestTop 30 rank week 1
The Sunrise Photo ContestTop 20 rank week 1
We Live To Explore Photo ContestTop 10 rank
We Live To Explore Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
The ViewBug ProjectTop 30 rank
The ViewBug ProjectTop 20 rank week 1
My Best Capture Photo ContestTop 10 rank
My Best Capture Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
The Creators ExhibitionTop 30 rank
The Creators ExhibitionTop 30 rank week 1
Color Explorer Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Celebrating Nature Photo Contest Vol9Top 20 rank
Color Explorer Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
Celebrating Nature Photo Contest Vol9Top 20 rank week 1
ViewBug Homepage Photo ContestTop 30 rank
ViewBug Homepage Photo ContestTop 30 rank week 1
Tones Of Brown Photo ContestTop 30 rank
Tones Of Brown Photo ContestTop 20 rank week 1
photographyawards2020Top 10 rank
photographyawards2020Top 10 rank week 2
photographyawards2020Top 10 rank week 1
A ViewBug Logo Photo ContestTop 10 rank
A ViewBug Logo Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
Creative Landscapes Photo Contest vol7Top 20 rank
Creative Landscapes Photo Contest vol7Top 20 rank week 1
My Best Shot Photo Contest Vol11Top 20 rank
My Best Shot Photo Contest Vol11Top 20 rank week 1
My Incredible Landscape Photo ContestTop 20 rank
My Incredible Landscape Photo ContestTop 20 rank week 1
Creative Captures Photo ContestTop 20 rank
Creative Captures Photo ContestTop 20 rank week 1
Creative Landscapes Photo Contest vol6Top 30 rank week 1
The Swag Image ProjectTop 10 rank
My Ultimate Road Trip Photo ContestTop 20 rank
My Country Photo ContestTop 20 rank
My Ultimate Road Trip Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
My Country Photo ContestTop 20 rank week 1
Earth Day Every Day Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Earth Day 2020 Photo ContestTop 20 rank
Capturing The First Light Photo ContestTop 30 rank week 1
Celebrating Nature Photo Contest Vol 7Top 20 rank
Celebrating Nature Photo Contest Vol 7Top 20 rank week 1
Inspiring Landscapes Photo ContestTop 10 rank
The Outdoors Photo Contest Speed SeriesTop 10 rank
Vistas Speed Series Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Creative Landscapes Photo Contest vol3Top 10 rank
Creative Landscapes Photo Contest vol3Top 10 rank week 1
Monthly Pro Photo Contest Vol 47Top 20 rank
Monthly Pro Photo Contest Vol 47Top 20 rank week 1
Water And Rocks Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Water And Rocks Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 2
Water And Rocks Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
ViewBug Photography Awards 2018Top 10 rank
ViewBug Photography Awards 2018Top 10 rank week 2
Creative Compositions Photo Contest Vol7Top 10 rank
Creative Compositions Photo Contest Vol7Top 20 rank week 1
Monthly Pro Photo Contest Vol 45Top 10 rank
Monthly Pro Photo Contest Vol 45Top 10 rank week 1
Social Exposure Photo Contest Vol 17Top 10 rank
Social Exposure Photo Contest Vol 17Top 10 rank week 2
Social Exposure Photo Contest Vol 17Top 10 rank week 1
Covers Photo Contest Vol 49Top 10 rank
Covers Photo Contest Vol 49Top 10 rank week 2
Compositions 101 Photo Contest vol6Top 10 rank
Covers Photo Contest Vol 49Top 10 rank week 1
Monthly Pro Photo Contest Vol 44Top 10 rank
Monthly Pro Photo Contest Vol 44Top 10 rank week 2
Monthly Pro Photo Contest Vol 44Top 10 rank week 1
Image Of The Month Photo Contest Vol 36Top 10 rank
Image Of The Month Photo Contest Vol 36Top 10 rank week 2
Image Of The Month Photo Contest Vol 36Top 10 rank week 1

Categories

21 Comments |
IrinaPhotography
 
IrinaPhotography August 13, 2019
Gorgeous Nature backed up by incredible work, composition, lighting and vibe! Great work!
Hood PRO+
 
Hood October 22, 2019
Stunning image, love the setail, perspective and colours!
billsisson Platinum
billsisson October 22, 2019
thank you for all your comments
RJRiggins Platinum
 
RJRiggins March 17, 2020
This is just so well done. Thanks!
billsisson Platinum
billsisson March 18, 2020
thanks
ronjudyluv2travel Platinum
 
ronjudyluv2travel July 20, 2021
Incredible capture! Congratulations
Kylerosso
 
Kylerosso July 28, 2021
Soooo good!
larryazizsaved
 
larryazizsaved August 05, 2021
Great view
LesleyAnne21
 
LesleyAnne21 September 06, 2021
magnificent
rferreira
 
rferreira October 02, 2021
What a stunning capture
harmeetsingh
 
harmeetsingh October 03, 2021
excellent
neesonpa1 PRO+
 
neesonpa1 October 06, 2021
Amazing
ABishopJr
 
ABishopJr November 15, 2021
Woahhh😍😍😍
vf4tjhnjkf
 
vf4tjhnjkf November 23, 2021
Wow
SaraElove
 
SaraElove November 25, 2021
Beautiful!
billsisson Platinum
billsisson November 25, 2021
Thanks
Laton1973 Platinum
 
Laton1973 December 01, 2021
You have everything in this photo, great shot
billsisson Platinum
billsisson December 01, 2021
thanks
gryphonjewel PRO+
 
gryphonjewel January 06, 2022
Beautiful!
billsisson Platinum
billsisson January 06, 2022
Thanks
travlndon
 
travlndon February 18, 2022
Placing waterfall practically in center is TOO typical and often the weakest location for subjects. Move to left and use left ridge line as leading line to waterfall more to right of center.
billsisson Platinum
billsisson February 23, 2022
Moving to the left even slightly would have put a chain link fence and picnic pavilion in the foreground in the frame. If I had moved to the right to gain space on the left I would have fallen off a cliff. I always keep in mind that I don't know what latitude a photographer had when they took an image.
dorethap
 
dorethap February 18, 2022
Beautiful
billsisson Platinum
billsisson February 23, 2022
thank you
Wcook
 
Wcook February 23, 2022
I didn’t mean to send an upset imogi but this site is so very touchy. I very much like your photo.
billsisson Platinum
billsisson February 23, 2022
thank you
MarkAgardPhoto
 
MarkAgardPhoto March 30, 2022
Exquisite
caroline_8657
 
caroline_8657 April 20, 2022
Beautiful
doubleplay Platinum
 
doubleplay May 31, 2022
Spectacular image! Congrats!
billsisson Platinum
billsisson May 31, 2022
thanks

Submitted to Photo Contests

Tags

#palouse falls #washington state #water fall #dawn
See all

Behind The Lens

Location

This photo was captured at Palouse Falls State Park, eastern Washington state, looking upstream at Palouse Falls.

Time

This was taken about 20 minutes before dawn. I had scouted a couple locations for dawn photographs the previous afternoon. However, when I went to these locations about 45 minutes before dawn, I realized that the views provided poor compositions in relation to the clouds, Palouse River canyon, and lighting. I scrambled up a path along the rim of the canyon, found this viewpoint, and quickly set up my camera and tripod. I didn't have much time to capture images before the golden lighting changed and the rising sun washed out much of the clouds.

Lighting

The light was quite golden, even for a sunrise. I was surprised how golden the ground was as I took various exposures of the ground and sky. The light was also extremely contrasting. The canyon was much darker than the sky. So I manually bracketed a wide range of exposures, exposing for the highlights in the sky and separately in the waterfall. I also used a narrow aperture to get maximum depth of field. I used f20, 5 seconds (to blur the falling water), ISO 100 for the ground, and f20, 1/2 second, ISO 100 for the sky. The two images were taken seconds apart.

Equipment

I used a Pentax K-1, Samyang 14 mm lens, Slik tripod.

Inspiration

I was on a cross-country photo trip, and returned to Palouse Falls State Park to capture better images of Palouse Falls than I had obtained before. Palouse Falls State Park is a beautiful location with a towering waterfall set in a large, natural amphitheater that empties into a deep river canyon downstream. In a previous cross-country trip to the park, I had focused more on photographing the impressive falls themselves and not on the larger context of the amphitheater and river canyon. When I returned with a wide angle lens, I shot the falls and amphitheater under the moon and stars at night. Then I woke up early to capture the falls in the context of the surrounding amphitheater. Little did I know when I woke that I quickly would abandon that idea and instead capture the falls looking upstream from the canyon.

Editing

I processed the two images of the ground and sky separately, then blended them at the horizon line, and finished processing the blended image. I have not been satisfied with HDR processing, so when confronted with high-contrast scenes, I sometimes bracket a wide range of exposures manually and then blend images.

In my camera bag

I don't have much equipment. I have a Pentax K-1, Pentax 28-105 lens, Pentax 150-450 lens, 14 mm Samyang (partly for astrophotography), Slik tripod, and two ND filters (mostly for shooting waterfalls). I focus on trying to learn how to use the equipment I have to make better photos, rather than on buying more equipment to make better photos.

Feedback

My advice for landscape photography is do your research beforehand, scout locations if possible, and be nimble on your feet. Before I went to Palouse Falls State Park the first time, I had researched the park, topo maps, other photographers' images, and sunrise/sunset times and locations on line. For this image, I had the advantage of having visited the park before. Nevertheless, I arrived well before sunset so I could scout possible vantage points for sunset, night and dawn photos. When I realized that dawn locations I had scouted wouldn't work, I literally ran to a different vantage point I hadn't scouted the day before to capture this image.

See more amazing photos, follow billsisson

User photo
It’s your time to shine! ☀️

Share photos. Enter contests to win great prizes.
Earn coins, get amazing rewards. Join for free.

Already a member? Log In

By continuing, you agree to our Terms of Service, and acknowledge you've read our Privacy Policy Notice.