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Explore The Palouse
A photography adventure of land and light with David Julian

Trip 1: June 18-22, 2025 | Trip 2: July 18-22, 2025

The Palouse is Eastern Washington’s most scenic centerpiece:
expansive, colorful, and rich in weathered detail.

Join me in eastern Washington and Idaho to capture the Palouse’s endlessly gorgeous rolling landscapes, barns, agricultural and abandoned vehicles, livestock, and lifestyles. I’ve explored the region over the past nine years to map newly discovered locations and connect with local farm residents to offer this fully guided, photography adventure. Focusing on growth, you’ll receive 1:1 guidance and will learn my advanced techniques to process RAW photos expertly in Lightroom.

Absolutely stunning scenery.

Many have called The Palouse “the Tuscany of North America“due to its rolling hills and open space. In this on-location workshop, we capture the vivid colors and long shadows of early and late days, sunrise and sunset from the highest butte. We explore the region, shooting rural textures, aged machinery, barns, granaries, wizened trees, livestock, and serendipity along the way. I give group and 1-on-1 guidance, specifically noting gear, techniques, and ideas for each location.

We don’t just grab n’ go. You’ll learn to read, respond to, and work with each location to capture its essence and beauty.
We try new roads, share ideas, experiment with ICM and ICME*, review our images, and learn how to improve and grow.

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I've returned from a fabulous Palouse workshop with David, and would highly recommend his workshops to any interested photographers. His attention to detail always got us to the best spots on time, and he guided us how to get amazing shots.
I particularly liked the variety of places we visited. I returned with many favorite photographs. And finally, we all really had a
fun time!” — Tim Regan, WA

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Trip Dates

July 18-22, 2025

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Group Size

Up to10 participants

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Physical Requirements

Easy: No hiking

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Instructional topics include:

  • Going beyond the postcard: How to capture more of what you see and feel in the moment

  • The Frame: Choosing compositions within a vast landscape, framing options and visual layering

  • Field techniques and settings for faithfully capturing dawn, sweetlight, sunset, and 'blue hour'

  • Creative use of in-camera motion (ICM) to create gestural painterly effects

  • Creative use of shallow depth of field (DOF) to create a sense of depth

  • Creative use of dramatic points of view (DPOV) to create a more striking photograph

  • Smartphone photography tips and apps that extend your range of photographic ideas

  • Auto-bracketing RAW captures for applying HDR in Lightroom to open shadows and control highlights

  • Tips for expert processing in Lightroom during our ‘Lab’ session

  • Expert B&W conversion and processing with DXO's incredible Silver Efex Pro

  • Reducing noise in Lightroom after you've shot at high ISOs in interiors, etc

   … and more as time and weather allows

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FAQs:  Experience  |  Physical Requirements  |  Inclusions  |  Transportation  |  Lodging    

How much experience is needed?
This workshop is geared for advanced beginner, intermediate, and advanced photographers. Non-photographers are always welcome too! You should know how to set your camera for both Auto and Manual modes, and how to use a tripod. Inquire if unsure. If you don’t own a camera you can still make excellent photographs using your smartphones. Here are some examples.

Physical requirements:
Participants must be able to handle some heat, and get in and out of a multi-seat van without mechanical assistance. This tour is mostly drive-up access or within 50 yards of our subjects, and hiking beyond that is optional. Those with hay fever or pollen allergies and adverse responses to heat should bring sufficient supplements, medications and hydrating products. Bring Bonine, Ginger and maybe a wrist-pressure bracelet if prone to road nausea.

Included:

  • Pre-trip group meeting via Zoom in early June (date/time TBA via Email once enrollment closes.)

  • Orientation meeting and field techniques presentation at the hotel​ once we arrive.

  • ​Full breakfasts at the hotel each morning, or bagged morning snacks for our sunrise adventures​

  • Daily workshop transportation in a large comfortable passenger van if we have over 6 people.

  • Professional 1-on-1 photography guidance at your own level of experience or group size.​

  • Professional Lightroom developing workflow and tips​

  • Snacks and bottled water are available throughout the workshop​

  • A fun, positive, and memorable learning environment​

Not Included:

  • Transportation to the Palouse workshop or host motel. (participants needing airport pickup should call me

  • ​Accommodations. Participants should book one of our discounted rooms as described in the registration

  • ​​Meals, drinks, gratuities, hotel incidentals or personal expenses

  • ​​New camera instruction. Please bring a camera you are familiar with, or bring the manual booklet or PDF.

  • ​​Individual photography critiques after the workshop are available via Zoom on a fee basis after the workshop,
      and many participants take advantage of this opportunity no matter where they live.

  • ​​I also provide a photography extension at a day rate after the workshop to go deeper into the region.

Transportation during workshop:
When we have more than seven, I rent a comfy passenger van to limit our carbon footprint, and to simplify our logistics. If I have rented a vehicle, the cost will be included in the workshop. If we do not use a van and carpool, I refund unused van rental portion to participants.

Lodging:
We reside this year in Pullman, WA at Hampton Inn Express. This is a higher-end Hampton Inn that includes full buffet breakfasts, an outdoor patio, pools and more to come home to. We start each morning from this location. We eat other meals out as a group to share stories of our travel and learning adventures. All dietary preferences can be accommodated in the variety of restaurants we visit in Pullman along the way. 

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How to Join Us.

Please read this completely as there are some new details.

1

First, contact me using the form below to see if I have openings. In that form, state the method you will use to send in your Deposit.
Include your full name and cell phone number as I may need to reach you. Add if you will be sharing a Q/Q room or needing a single.

2

Send $1000 to register and hold your space in the workshop. See more about tuition and payment below.  

3

Download and sign this required Liability Waiver. Return it by email to become fully registered. Email me with any questions.
(You are not fully registered until I have your Waiver Form via Email or postal mail).

4

5

Once you pay your workshop deposit, you can book your room at in Pullman, WA at Hampton Inn Express using our discounted group rate by using this link or by calling ‭(509) 334-4437 for “Explore the Palouse #1”. Check-in time at the motel is usually 3:00pm. Call them if arriving sooner and see if your room is ready. You can also add nights at that rate.

Where and when do we meet? Fully registered participants first meet online beforehand via ZOOM (Date/Time TBA) to discuss the workshop logistics and handle questions. Then, on day one, we meet promptly at 4pm in the motel lobby for a greeting and required orientation. Have your camera kit, tripod and layers with you, as after orientation we grab an early dinner and adventure to explore!

[ Please call Dave if running late to arrive at the motel: (206) 364-9077 ]

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Workshop Tuition

$1995 : Complete workshop as described above. (Our minimum is three participants and we max at ten. Eight is average).

This workshop usually fills, so it is advised to reserve ASAP with your Deposit or to save time, pay in full.

 

Choose a Payment Method for Deposit and Balance:
 

Zelle: art@davidjulian.com  (No transaction fees.)

​

Venmo: @DavidJulianPhotography (No transaction fees.)

 

Check: Email me for my mailing address to pay by check. (No transaction fees. You are registered once check clears)

​

Paypal: use the Button below.  Credit Card payment via Paypal includes the 3.5% credit card fee charged to me. Please pay Deposit and Balance using the same service. Email me if you choose otherwise. (If you use an existing Paypal balance or connected Bank to fund a purchase, I'll refund your 3.5% transaction fee.)

NEXT: Use this form to inquire about availability, adding payment choice, and room choice.
Add anything else you like. We will reply ASAP. It can take a bit longer if traveling.

Thanks for inquiring!

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What to bring?

We all want to bring whatever we think we might need. I've learned that the more gear, the more decisions while shooting, which impedes creative flow and timing. It’s wise to pack compactly for fast and easy van load/unloading as we hit several locations per day. Whatever camera you bring will be fine so long as you know how it functions. I can often help with unfamiliar settings, but bring the manual just in case! Mine is a searchable PDF on my phone. Go Light and you’ll relax and feel your creativity will flow in the Palouse!

Daily gear:

  • Lightweight clothing for hot sunny conditions; and warm layers for Sunrise, such as wind pants, gloves, insulated jacket and a winter hat.

  • Hiking shoes or sneakers with extra socks, a windbreaker or light weight rain jacket (not a poncho because of wind).

  • Sunscreen, hand sanitizer, sun hat or cap, and a bandana for wiping camera or hands.

  • Snack bars, spill-proof water bottle, non-DEET bug repellent. Natrapel packets with non-toxic Picardin® work best for me.

  • Headlamp or powerful LED flashlight for nights. For those doing any night photography, a RED LED headlamp or penlight is best.

Photo gear:

  • One or two camera bodies you know how to use.

  • Wide angle prime or travel-zoom lens.

  • Medium prime or travel-zoom lens.

  • Telephoto prime or zoom lens of at least 200mm.

  • You can optionally rent gear at Glazer's Camera (Seattle) or at Lensrentals.com.

  • Polarizing filter(s).

  • Consider a Neutral Density ND 6 or 10 filter for special blurred motion effects in bright light.

  • I use K&F anti-static UV filters for every lens so I'm never cleaning grit off lens elements.

  • I use these awesome LensPens and lens cloths frequently. Get a few as they eventually get dusty.

  • I have switched to 64 and 128gb Prograde Gold SD cards. They write faster in my cameras than most other brands.

  • Extra batteries and charger. Charge all batteries before you depart

  • Consider a RainSleeve in case we get a shower during a great shoot.

  • Fit all in one photo pack or other bag. Add a large COLOR name tag or fabric tag to identify your stuff easily in the big gear pile.

  • Tape your name on your tripod and camera bag. Airline luggage will not fit in our daily van touring.

  • I label ALL my photo gear and SD cards using a Brother® P-Touch. for water-resistant labels on 3/4" tape. Mine stores five different labels. 

  • Download the offline Google Map for the Palouse Region, as cell service / GPS is often spotty there.

  • Consider a lightweight, fast-charging USB PowerBank for recharging a phone, just in case.

  • Due to residents' issues with other photo groups flying over private properties, guests are not allowed to fly drones during the workshop.

​

     Safety is a priority: To respect the people of the Palouse, we stay off private property unless we have permission.

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