Eastern Oregon is a land with many faces. It contains mountains, prairies, forests, canyons, rivers, and small communities. One location that I enjoy visiting and photographing from is Buckhorn Lookout. It sits on a promontory that allows expansive and sweeping views. From the northern area of the lookout, the scene reveals a nearly endless series of canyons and ridges. A few feet toward the south, a steep slope provides for eastward views down into the canyon below where the Imnaha River, a major tributary to the Snake River, flows. Idaho’s Seven Devils mountain range can be seen in the background behind many canyons when looking toward the south. Buckhorn Lookout is one of three primary locations from which the local river canyons, including Hells Canyon, can be viewed. The other two locations are Hat Point and Hells Canyon Overlook.

This beautiful location is spectacular in any season in which it can be reached: normally spring, summer, and fall. The photograph featured here was shot in November, during a rare period in which snow was present and the unpaved road was passable. Normally, winter snow makes it impossible to reach Buckhorn Lookout as the road is not plowed.

During this visit, I shot the scene using both infrared and visible light cameras. I was curious to see what a snow-covered landscape would look like in infrared. The weak sun and low sun angle provided for somewhat soft light, even during the middle of the day. Clouds softened it even more, but allowed for sufficient sunlight to give interest to the photograph. This image, shot from the northern end of the location, looks out toward the seemingly endless array of canyons and ridges that make up portions of western Idaho.

Photograph was shot with a 720nm infrared converted Fuji X-T1 camera and a Fuji XF 14mm f/2.8 lens.