patrik banas | photo blog

I have enjoyed tremendously my recent photo trip to Washington state, to lovely Palouse area. And while there are endless opportunities to shoot landscape and static subjects, I am always looking for an opportunity to add some motion to already interesting shot. And obviously, cars are the easiest way how to "spice it up"... So, let's buckle up and drive with me!


Strašne som si užil môj nedávny foto výlet do štátu Washington, do krásnej oblasti Palouse. A aj keď tam je nepreberný kopec možností fotenia kraijniek a statických subjektov, tak ja sa vždy obzerám a hľadám možnosti ako pridať pohyb do už beztak zaujímavého záberu. No a autá sú vďačné objekty, ktoré to dokážu trošku osviežiť a rozhýbať. Takže prosím = pripútajte sa, vyrážame!

During my last five days spent back again at american soil I have noticed that EVERYBODY is talking about the elections! Yes, those presidential. Which in reality got to the point Clinton vs. Trump. Everybody! My friends, instructors, colleagues, waiters, receptionist, taxi drivers, strangers in the park... Well, I thought that in 2007/2008 when I experienced first Obama campaign and his unprecedented win, that it cannot be more polarizing or more more different. But I stay corrected. Yes, it can be. I am seeing and hearing democrats (including democratic politicians!) saying that they cannot even look at that ... Hillary. And I am seeing the most peaceful and tolerant people who are married to spouses from very exotic nations getting behind Trump, because "I can't stand that our president would be discussing at night in the bed what to do with this country with this liar Bill!"... This is really unprecedented I have to say and it makes me completely enjoying this, knowing that I am just an observer :)
Actually, we got with one of my new friend to a following statement:
"The best solution for US would be Trump. As he would immediately forget about the Mexico border and instead he would declare a war to Canada, next day he would occupy British Columbia (of course including Vancouver) to FINALLY get a direct access from continental US to Alaska"! It is actually still unbelievable that in 2016, US do not have the direct connection with its own state. What a shame! Go Donald*!!! :)

Just a few (more or less) patriotic shots taken during one day ;)

Do you also see the map of the world behind the US flag? Especially Russia and China!? :)

Go Donald! (irony)

bepoppy! expanding to usa! ;)

Palouse is not only a photogenic landscape, but there are plenty photogenic people around! Especially for photographers - this is a paradise. And for me, who loves capturing other people doing what they enjoy - special and unexpected treat!

Aren't they just adorable and photogenic? ;)

So, here I am... In Palouse. With Scotty Stulberg. For those who do not know where it is exactly, it is in Washington. But no that one, where Obama lives, that's Washington DC. This is Washington state, on the other side of USA. Near Seattle. Pretty amazing country. They say, it is Tuscany of US... Well, I have been to Tuscany so let me see. For now I can definitely say, that coffee is better in Tuscany! :)
But, yes, Palouse is fantastic, photogenic, very hilly and had a great little farms with red barns and old american trucks just laying around - and I am sooo looking forward to explore it here in a next few days...
First night - just a warm up - starting and playing with light painting, as we got too much clouds. Beautiful old tree with barn in the middle of nowhere (see the video at the end how we were getting there!) But is is a great exercise for upcoming night for Milky way shooting. Forecast is very promising...
Stay tuned with me!


Tak som tu. V Palouse. So Scottym Stulbergom. Pre tých čo nevedia, kde to presne je, tak to je vo Washingtone. Ale nie v tom, kde žije Obama - to je Washington DC. Toto je Washington štát, na opačnej strane USA. Neďaleko Seattlu. Nádherná krajina. Hovorí sa jej aj americké Toskánsko. Nuž, bol som v Toskánsku nedávno, tak uvidím a dám vedieť... Nateraz môžem povedať len toľko, že káva je určite lepšia v Toskánsku! ;)
Ale áno, Palouse je nádherná, fotogenická, kopcovitá, nádherne sa vinúce pahorky a všade dookola krásne malé farmičky s tými červenými "humnami" a len tak ležiace hromady starých amerických burákov a traktorov - fakt sa teším, že sa tu porozhliadam po okolí v nasledujúcich pár dňoch.
Prvá noc - len tak na rozohriatie sme sa hrali s maľovaním so svetlom, lebo bolo príliš veľa mrakov. Nádherný starý strom s humnom uprostred ničoho (pozrite na video na konci ako sme tam išli). Ale je to skvelá príprava na fotenie Mliečnej cesty - predpoveď je pozitívna na nasledujúcich pár dní... Ostaňte naladení!