This museum grade fine art photograph is available in a fine art limited edition of 200, signed and numbered with a signed Certificate of Authenticity (COA) provided for additional provenance.
Flames of Autumn - Tree of Life Portland Japanese Garden Laceleaf Japanese Maple Peak Fall Colors
Strolling Pond Garden, Portland Japanese Garden, Portland, Oregon
National Geographic Tree Garnet Laceleaf Japanese Maple during Peak Fall Color in the Autumn at the Portland Japanese Garden in Portland, Oregon
Peak color during the Autumn brings brilliant orange and red colors to the leaves on this world famous Weeping Laceleaf Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum var. dissectum 'Garnet') as it grows from a small mound rising up from a soft bed of grass and moss at the Portland Japanese Garden in Washington Park, Portland, Oregon. The waters of the upper pond (strolling pond) behind it in the Upper Strolling Pond Garden reflect colors of the plants lining the shoreline.
Fall Magic on the Famous Laceleaf Japanese Maple at the Portland Japanese Garden
This weeping laceleaf Japanese Maple tree in the Portland Japanese Garden needs no introduction, as it's often referred to as the most photographed tree in the world. Known worldwide as the "Tree of Life" since it was first made famous in 2011 by Peter Lik and known as "The Tree" and "The Famous Tree" by the Portland Japanese Garden itself, it also started to become known as "The National Geographic Tree" in 2012 after Fred An, a Portland physician, won a merit award in the National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest for his photograph of the tree. It's billed as one of the most famous trees in the world, and rightfully so. People come from all over the world to photograph it, but as a lifelong Oregonian who has lived fairly close by for 4 decades and counting, I've been going to this place for as long as I can remember. I've seen and photographed this tree well before it gained fame. Simply put, I've been visiting "The Tree" and the Portland Japanese Garden it resides in for most of my life, long before it became an internet sensation.
Whenever I think about this tree nowadays, a funny story comes to mind. In November 2013, I was photographing Badwater Basin in Death Valley when I met two fellow photographers before sunset. Only two years into my career as a full time professional landscape photographer at the time, I wasn't well known yet. They asked where I was from and I said "Portland, Oregon," so they started calling me "Portland" for the rest of the evening. They then asked if I had photographed Peter Lik's Tree of Life. I thought to myself, "Who the heck is Peter Lik and what's the Tree of Life?" As soon as they described it, I immediately knew exactly what tree they were talking about. I replied back "Oh, that tree. I've been visiting that since I was a kid." It's funny how the rest of the world discovered a tree I've known my whole life through someone else's famous photograph, but I suppose that's the power of the internet.
The tree itself was planted in 1968 when it was already about 20 years old, and it's now around 78 years old as of 2026. It's one of those delicate scenes that's much smaller in real life than in print. Peak color here can be fleeting, as the Pacific Northwest rains can knock off the delicate laceleaf leaves as soon as they begin to turn. As a result, some years peak color never comes, some years it's fleeting and some years it hangs around. I've seen it and photographed with everything from green leaves to golden to the peak colors of orange and red. Peak fall color on this tree often arrives in mid to late October, with the third week in October a pretty safe bet most years. The shift in fall color from yellow to the peak red and orange colors can happen in as little as 2 to 3 days, so persistence is often rewarded.
On this occasion in the third week of October, this famous Japanese Maple had some of the most glorious colors I've ever seen on it. As I've seen plenty of times, the colors shifted from a deep yellow to the red and orange peak colors in just 3 days. It was almost like a two for one deal: the leaves covering the outside were a brilliant shade of red, while the leaves on the underside were a brilliant hue of orange. This two-toned peak color reminded me of fire, whose flames often flicker between red and orange. These brilliant flames of Autumn were truly a stunning sight, and thanks to being the first one in the gate after a long wait and sprinting up the hill, I had the place to myself for a brief few minutes. I've always loved how the waters of the Strolling Pond can be seen through the leaves, as the vibrant green grass and moss of spring give way to more muted greens of autumn. It's the perfect contrast to the vibrant peak colors nature put on display with this weeping Japanese Maple.
Technical Specifications
- Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mark III
- Lens: Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM
- Settings: 20mm | f/11 | 2.5 Seconds | ISO 100
- Process: 2-Image Focus Stack for Depth of Field | Successive Back-to-Back Exposures | Bespoke Multi-Layer Noise Management (Manual Masking to preserve Details)
Note on Provenance
This photo uses the focus stacking workflow of the "Mead Method" developed over 15 years of fine art landscape experience to ensure a sharp depth of field throughout the frame. It is natural to the scene as it was taken. Exposures were taken back to back, one immediately after the other. As always, no generative AI is ever used in my work.
Photo © copyright by James Mead.
Chromaluxe® Metal Prints | Gallery Float Ready to Hang
Vibrant. Modern. Impactful.
My Chromaluxe® Metal Fine Art Prints offer a sleek, modern presentation that’s both bold and beautiful. Using a high-heat dye sublimation process, each image is infused directly into a specially coated aluminum panel resulting in vibrant colors, ultra-sharp detail, and a striking glossy finish. The dye sublimation process infuses the image directly into the metal, creating a scratch resistant surface while helping provide permanent protection.
These prints feature:
• Vivid, color-rich surfaces ideal for modern spaces
• High contrast and incredible sharpness: perfect for clean compositions and bold landscapes
• Durable and lightweight aluminum construction
• Float mount backing for a frameless, floating display. Ready to hang out of the box
• Signed and Numbered Limited Editions of 200
• Signed Certificate of Authenticity (COA) provided for additional provenance
• Hand Crafted in the USA by our master printmakers
Please contact me for Alaska, Hawaii, and international shipping rates. Please allow 3-4 weeks for production and delivery.
These metal prints are ideal for collectors seeking a contemporary look with museum-quality output. Resistant to scratch, moisture and UV fading, they work beautifully in both home and office settings.
Select a print size:
Lumachrome TruLife® Acrylic HD Fine Art Prints | Gallery Float Ready to Hang
Museum-Grade Brilliance. Gallery-Worthy Depth.
Bring home the brilliance of nature with the industry’s finest print medium. My Lumachrome TruLife® Acrylic HD Fine Art Prints are crafted using a state-of-the-art process that infuses archival pigments into a transparency layer, backed by a clear acrylic backer and mounted under crystal-clear TruLife® acrylic. This creates a luminous, almost 3D effect. Colors appear to glow from within.
These gallery-grade prints feature:
• Incredible depth and clarity, fine details leap off the wall
• Exceptional color fidelity with deep saturation and smooth tonal gradations
• Anti-reflective, scratch-resistant museum grade 1/8” TruLife® acrylic offering unmatched viewing clarity under all lighting
• UV Resistant: TruLife® acrylic blocks up to 99% of UV rays
• 1/8" clear acrylic backer mounted using an archival adhesive layer
• 1.25” Roma wooden rear float mount frame inset 2” from the edge for a clean, frameless display that is ready to hang
• Signed and Numbered Limited Editions of 200
• Signed Certificate of Authenticity (COA) provided for additional provenance
• Hand Crafted in the USA by our master printmakers
• Ready to hang out of the box: no glass or framing required
Please contact me for Alaska, Hawaii, and international shipping rates. Please allow 3-4 weeks for production and delivery.
Whether you're designing a luxury interior or curating a personal gallery, these prints are built to impress and designed to last a lifetime.
Select a print size:
Roma Framed Lumachrome TruLife® Acrylic HD Fine Art Prints | Museum-Quality Ready to Hang
Timeless elegance. Unrivaled depth. A true centerpiece.
My Roma Framed Lumachrome TruLife® Acrylic HD Fine Art Prints represent the pinnacle of archival display. These statement pieces combine the award-winning brilliance of Lumachrome HD with the craftsmanship of custom Roma wood mouldings, transforming your chosen image into an heirloom-worthy work of art.
Each piece is handcrafted by master printmakers and framers in the USA using museum-grade materials. The print itself is infused with archival pigments into a transparency layer, mounted to an archival acrylic backer and face-mounted and sealed under a 1/8" layer of crystal-clear TruLife® acrylic: a premium optically-coated surface that eliminates reflections and enhances depth, vibrance, and clarity.
Surrounding this luminous presentation is your choice of genuine Roma Moulding, hand-built with a choice of 3.5" or 4" Italian made wooden Roma frame with a 3" black linen liner for a refined, framed, museum grade appearance. This adds approximately 13 to 14 inches to both the height and width of the final piece. This level of finish is rarely seen outside of luxury interiors and gallery exhibitions.
After placing your order, I’ll reach out personally to confirm your ideal frame and liner pairing from my curated Roma collection. If you’d prefer to finalize your framing choice in advance, feel free to reach out any time for a custom recommendation.
These museum grade works of art feature:
• Gallery-grade presentation with luminous depth and 3D effect
• TruLife® acrylic: anti-reflective, scratch-resistant, and blocks 99% of UV
• Archival quality construction with pH-neutral adhesive and backer
• Available in your choice of 3.5" or 4" Roma wood mouldings with a black linen liner for a framed, museum-grade appearance
• Museum-grade 3" black linen liner for added depth and visual separation
• Signed and Numbered Limited Editions of 200
• Signed Certificate of Authenticity (COA) provided for additional provenance
• Hand Crafted in the USA by our master printmakers
• Ready to hang out of the box: no glass or framing required
Please contact me for Alaska, Hawaii, and international shipping rates. Please allow 4-5 weeks for production and delivery.
Whether displayed in a luxury residence, corporate lobby, or fine art collection, these framed prints command attention and offer a sense of permanence few art mediums can match.
Select a print size:
These are investment-grade art pieces designed to last generations. If you have any questions, need any mock-ups or if you need anything else before purchase, please reach out and I will be in contact shortly.