Japanese Garden
Portland, OR
Japanese Garden
A BRIEF SUMMARY OF JAPANESE GARDEN
This stately Japanese maple is over 100 years old and can produce some of the most beautiful colors found in nature. At first glance you would think you are looking at a very large tree tucked away in the middle of a hidden forest.
In reality, the “tree” as it is known, is only about eight feet tall located in the beautifully manicured Portland Japanese Gardens near the Portland zoo – across from the city tennis courts. I walked by the tree three times before realizing this was the famous tree I had seen in so many photographs. Sitting on the ground looking up reveals this majestic scene which inspires peace and serenity in an otherwise busy world. The Portland Japanese garden is said to be the most authentic Japanese garden outside of Japan and there are many, many other great photo opportunities while visiting.
Image by Matt Reynolds
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DATA POINTS INCLUDED WITH SMITH ROCK SUMMARY
I would rate the difficulty of this trail as a 1 on a scale of 1-5 (with 5 being most difficult). This location is an easy 300yd. walk from the parking lot.
The Tree is a fairly small Japanese maple that stands only about 8ft. high by 12ft. wide and is located directly next to the paved walkway. The primary shot you are looking for is while sitting down on the paved walkway, as close to the tree that is allowed (you are not allowed to sit or even put your tripod on the grass under the tree).
What makes this shot special is the colors of the leaves and the surreal shapes of the tree limbs. Under the tree, the area to shoot is only about 7ft. across—room for 3 photographers …
The tree is not very tall, but you will need to shoot from directly in front of and below the tree to get the perspective you want. For this reason, most photographers shoot with an ultrawide to wide angle lens (11-28mm). You can also use a 35-50mm lens if you are looking for a compression shot.
553 ft. Elevation Ft. Elevation
Other Resources Available with Membership
KMZ Trail File
Directions
Best Time of Day to Shoot
Best Time of Year to Shoot
Equipment Needed
Permits Required
Direction of Shot
Google Maps Birds-Eye-View
Number of Photographers to Expect
Cell Service
Overnight Lodging/Camping
Nearby Restaurants
Area Guides and Workshops
Other Resources
LOCATION SUMMARIES WRITTEN BY PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHERS
