The Diaries of Neal Rantoul

July 26, 2012

I am stuck in Phoenix, Arizona on an agonizing layover to Spokane, Washington. I've been questioning the bewilderment of flying a great distance south to ultimately arrive someplace north – Nelson, British Columbia to be exact.

Peaking at a blazing 100 degrees, I'm relieved to have a short stay. But for tonight, I'm bunking in a motel.

Tomorrow I'll be visiting with friends in a town where I last photographed on a 1993 road trip. Back then, I was shooting in black and white with my 8x10 view camera and my trusty Hasselblad Superwide. This is where I discovered the rhythmic, northwestern hills of The Palouse. 

July 27, 2012

I am traveling back to the northwestern U.S. for the 16th consecutive time to photograph wheat fields in Palouse. It is the main agricultural region in the southeast corner of Washington State. 

I rent a car and drive to Colville, Washington en route to Nelson, B.C.  After making a small series in ’93, I'm eager to see the town again. I have a fondness for re-photographing places, including the Shaker Village in Canterbury, N.H., and Peddocks Island in Boston Harbor.

July 28, 2012

Today, on my way to Nelson, I came across Metaline Falls, a mining town that prospered in the 1800s.  After cruising through the area and mulling over whether I should stop to photograph this unique place, I concluded that I absolutely must take up the opportunity.

I parked, checked my lens, pondered over the settings, and then began photographing on this mid-morning, desolate weekday.

July 30, 2012

I left Nelson, the place where Roxanne was filmed in the ‘80s (starring Darryl Hannah and Steve Martin), and am heading to Pullman, Washington and then to Moscow, Idaho to photograph more wheat fields.

The pastures have been cut and are close to harvesting. By late summer, the weather is hot and dry, and some of the stocks are so tall and heavy that they can’t support their own weight.

Tomorrow morning at 7:30 am, I am excited to be taking my first, private flight of the trip. I will be using the Kenyon Gyro Stabilizer to brace my Nikon D800e.


-Notes by Neal Rantoul.  Transcribed by Marianne Salza, Panopticon Gallery Intern