The Portland Japanese Garden is a fabulous place, supposedly the most authentic Japanese garden in the USA. When autumn arrives, the garden explodes with color, the various Japanese maples especially vibrant. The showcase is known simply as “The Tree,” arguably one of the most photographed trees in the world. While I have my own versions, there is so much more to shoot.
Walking by this particular tree, I noticed that you could see the waterfall at the koi pond through an opening in the foliage. I put on my 100-400mm lens, zoomed in, and composed this image. I took several exposures and focus-stacked them to ensure sharpness throughout the image. The fiery orange foliage, with the waterfall as the focal point, made for a unique image—one I’ve never seen from here. It’s not easy to be original in this place, but I think I achieved that on this morning.
