The Portland Japanese Garden

Not all gardens are created equal – the Portland Japanese Garden is a testament to that. I have gotten the wonderful opportunity to visit this incredible garden many times, and in different seasons. Each time I visit, I learn a bit more, and become more obsessed with capturing the stunning nature of this area to produce photography prints from.

One of the most prominent features of the garden is the quality and variation of trees that are presented. Among some of my favourites are the Japanese maples that are on display. Their structure and colors that they present are among some of the most beautiful trees I have witnessed. This makes them perfect subjects for photography, and pulls in professional photographers and casual observers from all around the world.

Among these Japanese maples is a specific maple that is the most well known among professional photographers. The canopy atop this tree sits like an umbrella, and shields the casual viewers eye from the root structure present below. Many people will walk past this tree unknowing of the intimate and detailed nature of it’s trunk. Once you are able to find an opening and get below the canopy of leaves, the secrets of these beauties are given up. As mentioned, I have been able to photograph these images across different seasons and conditions in order to capture photographs worthy of printing. Each of these are taken and developed in a way to maximize the detail, and to capture the vibrancy of the seasonal colors. Another of my favourite things about this garden is how the fog can show up on any day, and produce a totally different mood, as depicted below:

On this particular day, the fog couldn’t have picked better timing. The main Japanese Maple tree in the garden had achieved a perfect balance of it’s transition to fall colors. The higher leaves had maximized their reds, but the lower leaves were just starting, which meant an incredible transition from yellow, to orange, to red.

Getting to visit the Portland Japanese Garden is a treat to anyone that gets the chance. As a professional photographer, it can be overwhelming! There are so many details that can be missed if you do not take the time to find them, but are incredibly rewarding when you do.