Spokane

[Peter Galea]

I'll be in Spokane for a day with my 4x5. Having never been there I don't know what to expect.
I've searched the internet and know that it has an older downtown, brick and mortar, from the 1890's. That may be kind of cool. I'm a 100 yards from the car shooter. What else of interest is in, or around town? Can anyone give me some ideas for places to shoot?

[Jim Ewins]

The Spokane River has a number of lovely scenes. Churches, court house and a Native American Museum shaped like a hugh t-p. Surrounding area has plenty of landscape opportunities. Contact the local PSA people and camera stores. Jim

[John Latta]

Peter,

If you like shooting nature, you might enjoy visiting the nearby Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge, Mt. Spokane State Park, Bowl and Pitcher State Park, or Little Spokane River State Park if you have time. We should have snow soon in Spokane, that should add some interesting subject material, depending on the timing of your visit.

Enjoy your visit,

[Leonard Robertson]

Peter - Here is a nice page on the historic buildings in Spokane: http://www.historicspokane.org/vtour_propertydirectory2.htm
You can find a Spokane map online and locate any of these buildings that interest you. Start with the "Riverside (downtown)" area and see what you have time for in the nearby areas. Do see the Review Building, Natatorium Carousel , and Monroe Street Bridge (under reconstruction, but might be an interesting shot). Just North of downtown is the Spokane County Courthouse. Just South of it is the ugliest building I've ever seen. I don't recall the name, but you can't miss it - yellowish brick with weird rounded corner columns. It is worth a picture just to amaze your friends.
A rather poor map of Riverfront Park, just North of downtown: http://www.spokaneriverfrontpark.com/park_map.asp The Spokane Falls are on the upper area of the map. Worth a look, although the water flow is controlled by dams and I don't know how much water is flowing this time of year. Here is a local TV weather site: http://www.kxly.com/weather/ It is just turning cold, so bring warm clothes, especially gloves you can shoot with. Also note the sunrise 7:01/sunset 4:10 times. Especially if it is overcast, the light will start to fade early, so you will want to get an early start. Sometimes it can be overcast or foggy in the AM and clear in the afternoon. Use the morning to scout what you can (hopefully) shoot in the afternoon, if that happens. Here is the closest traffic cam to downtown: http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/regions/eastern/Default.cfm?Core=Camera/Division.cfm
Checking it for a few days before you arrive may give you a feel for the weather. Spokane is pretty safe during daylight hours, but not exactly Mayberry. Use common sense , and don't be shocked to be panhandled downtown. Finally, if you only have one day, you probably won't have time to see the Channeled Scablands, west of Spokane, but if you ever in the area again and have time: http://www.uwsp.edu/geo/projects/geoweb/participants/dutch/VTrips/Scablands0.HTM Let me know if you have any other questions.

[paul stimac]

If your into landscapes drive south toward Pullman WA on hwy 195 to the Palouse. Spokane's a nice town to shoot in but the palouse is one of a kind. If you just have one day, go to Steptoe Butte.