I was all about Flickr when I first got into photography in 2007, obsessively uploading photos from my local frolicking and brainstorming future travel adventures while browsing through other people’s images. Be warned, it is one addicting Pandora’s box! Thanks to Flickr, I spent my early cubicle days dreaming about heading west someday, hiking through Zion Canyon and experiencing Burning Man.
My first trip to Western America, however, was a West Coast Roadtrip in 2009. As it came to fruition, I leaned heavily on Flickr to point out the most beautiful things to see out there. Along with bridges and coffee shops, one of my must-sees in Portland was the famous maple tree from the Portland Japanese Garden. Seemingly random, I know – but I was fascinated by how it managed to look different in virtually every photo, yet always so colorful.
I’m not proud of the fact that it took me 2 hours to find this tree, but I hardly minded frolicking through the garden all afternoon. I finally found it hiding around the corner while heading down a small path, with no one else around. The colors, the shadows, the curves – gorgeous, isn’t it? I’d love to go back to the Japanese Garden next time I’m in Portland to see this maple tree in different lighting.
