The Shrub Steppe Photos of Jo N. Miles

One of the highlights of living in Yakima is coming into contact with the photography of Jo N. Miles.  Jo is a local historian who wanders the Yakima foothills searching for historical monuments and stunning sights and captures the essence of Shrub steppe from Yakima to White Pass and from Selah to the Manastash and Umptanum Ridges.  If you want to prusue further the published work of Miles see his blog at: jomilestoppenish1907

Jo's pic at Clark's Fork

Here is Jo's "signature Photo" for a while, until he comes up with one even more astounding.  This is along the William O. Douglas Trail west of Rocky Top.  I like the depth of field and the way the picture draws you into the center of it.

Let's start on Russell ridge near Fox Meadow looking into the Goat Rocks.  We are looking over the top of LClear Lake and Highway 12 into the Tieton S. Fork.  That's Old Snowy there in the distance with a dusting of late October snow.

Coming back on Russell ridge, toward Cash Prairie we get a late spring photo of the east side of Shellrock Peak, Mt, Rainier and the slopes into the Rattlesnake drainage.  Great photo Jo. 

This photo takes us all the way back to the Yakima River atop Umptanum Ridge.  Jo has a great eye for contrasting the natural setting with historic relics or hikers.  Not sure how he got that bum to pose, but he seems to be propped up with a walking stick.  In the distance, Selah point. 

Black Canyon flows west off Umptanum ridge.  At the top Ponderosa Pine stands crop up but Black Canyon is a marrow, riparian surprise on an otherwise dry ridge. Here is an old drovers cabin, half way up the canyon. 

Hogback ridge, just off the PCT south of White Pass.  

Rainier seen over the top of Manastash Ridge

Here is a basalt spire in Bear Canyon

Here is a shot of Clemans Mt to the west looking over the top of Wenas Valley from Buffalo

And finally, one that really captures a cold, crisp October morning on the Tieton River.  The cottonwood leaves have turned a brillant yellow and you can smell the smoke from campers warming fire.

Jo has some other great shots.  You can buy his CD at Whistl'n Jacks Lodge and Inklings Books or watch the Cowiche Canyon newsletter for new photos. And, you can visit his blog at http://jomilestoppenish1907.blogspot.com/

New posts are coming out soon on on "Ceramic Portraits.  Be sure to visit us again.