Contours - Steptoe Butte State Park, Washington

The rolling landscape of the Palouse is always more pronounced when the sun is low on the horizon. At sunrise, as the sun peeks above the horizon, the top of the mounds begin to light up, leaving the small "valleys" in shadow. As the sun rises, the "valleys" begin to light up before being totally lit. My favorite part of the sunrise is when the "valleys" are still in shadow. This brings out great contrast in the scene that emphasizes the natural contours of the fertile land. The best place by far to capture these types of scenes is Steptoe Butte, where you can get a 360° view almost 3,600 feet above the landscape.