Leaves of the famous Japanese Maple reach towards the sun.

This Japanese Maple is one of the most photographed trees in the world and rightfully so.  I made a point to visit the Portland Japanese Garden and see it for myself on my first trip to the Pacific Northwest.  Despite the classic shot from under its canopy that show off its leaves with great grandeur, this tree inconspicuously only reaches eye level and is very easy to miss when admiring the other beautiful parts of the garden.  There are other Japanese Maples within the garden, but this tree was a celebrity in its own right as made evidence by its own sprinkler system next to its root.  When I first spotted it, the colors were muted, due to both the Spring season as well as the lack of light hitting its leaves.  I came back around later that morning when the sunlight had entered the garden, and noticed these two leaves reaching for the light, rising above the crowd and captured this intimate landscape.  Adding Portland to my list of Fall trips this year, when I hope to capture it in better light and color.