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.
Shades of Autumn - Peak Fall Color Laceleaf Japanese Maples Frame a Small Waterfall and Lower Pond
Lower Pond, Strolling Pond Garden, Portland Japanese Garden, Portland, Oregon
Peak Fall Color Weeping Laceleaf Japanese Maples Frame Lower Pond and a Small Waterfall in the Portland Japanese Garden Strolling Pond Garden
Fall brings beautiful orange and red peak fall colors to the Weeping Laceleaf Japanese Maple trees (Acer palmatum var. dissectum aff. 'Garnet') surrounding Lower Pond and the connecting stream which connects Upper Pond and Lower Pond at the Portland Japanese Garden. The connecting stream weaves its way through the Strolling Pond Garden (Chisen Kaiyu Shiki Teien), where it graceful flows over rocks as it enters the top section of Lower Pond.
Layering of Fall Colors: The Hidden Beauty of the Portland Japanese Garden
Weeping Laceleaf Japanese Maples surround Lower Pond, as deep crimson and orange laceleaf leaves blanket the moss covered rocks lining the shore of the pond. Ferns grow just above the moss covered rocks lining the shore, blanketed with crimson and orange leaves. The vibrant green moss and ferns contrasts beautifully with the warm, brilliant colors of the laceleaf maple leaves as fallen orange and red leaves show through the crystal clear waters of Lower Pond. In the background, vibrant 'Osakazuki' Upright Japanese Maples (Acer palmatum 'Osakazuki') display their brilliant orange, red, and gold colors as they transition from their mid-autumn foliage to their peak colors.
'Osakazuki' Japanese Maples are known for their orange and deep crimson red foliage in the autumn. They turn yellow before hitting peak fall color due to the fact that once the green chlorophyll breaks down, it reveals the yellow and orange pigments known as carotenoids which are already present in the leaves. Once the green fades, the yellow is the first pigment to show, followed by orange. The trees then create new red pigments called anthocyanins as they transition to their full orange and red peak fall color display. Mixing these new red pigments with the existing yellow and orange creates the fiery full red and orange display these trees are known for.
The placement of 'Osakazuki' Japanese Maples above and behind the 'Garnet' Weeping Laceleaf Japanese Maples creates a beautiful, layered display of autumn colors due to the fact each variety hits their peak color display at different times. 'Osakazuki' Upright Japanese Maples are one of the absolute last Japanese maples to peak in autumn, which creates a wonderful palette of colors when paired with the Weeping Laceleaf Japanese Maples that have already hit peak color.
A soft green Japanese Cedar (Cryptomeria japonica, known in Japan simply as Sugi) rises above the pond, framed by the orange and red 'Garnet' Weeping Laceleaf Japanese Maples in front of it and the orange, red, and gold 'Osakazuki' Upright Japanese Maples behind it. As a lifelong Oregonian who has explored this park for four decades, I have always found this Sugi to be one of the most compelling compositions on the grounds. The Sugi is the Japanese National Tree, and in traditional Japanese culture and Shinto practice Sugi is considered a sacred tree, heavily planted around ancient temples and shrines to bridge the earthly and the divine. Unlike wild tree selections that grow arrow-straight, this garden masterpiece has been meticulously guided over decades, building an immense, dense cloud-like silhouette.
Seeing this hidden masterpiece of the garden rise above its more famous brethren draped in full autumn regalia is a true thing of beauty. The emerald green colors of this Sugi rise above a landscape exploding with peak orange and gold fall colors. It's a hauntingly beautiful reminder of the thought and care which goes into designing a world-class Japanese Garden such as this. It's a perfect balance of colors and tranquility, and it’s easy to see why this underrated spot has long been one of my favorite in the Portland Japanese Garden. It's a magical scene, and it brings so many gorgeous elements of nature together in one wondrous display.
Technical Specifications
- Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mark III
- Lens: Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM
- Settings: 24mm | f/11 | 1.0 Seconds | ISO 100
- Process: 4 Exposure 4:5 Panoramic | Successive Back-to-Back Exposures using a Nodal Rail to Prevent Parallax Error | All Panoramic Images at Same Settings | Bespoke Multi-Layer Noise Management (Manual Masking to preserve fine detail and raw data integrity)
Technical Note
A high-resolution panoramic stitch [4:5 aspect ratio] of 4 single exposure horizontal images panned vertically using a nodal rail and L-bracket on a 3-way pan and tilt panoramic head for nodal point accuracy, ensuring the final photo preserves museum-grade detail and resolution across the entire frame, from the textures of plants in the Japanese Garden to the soft, delicate colors which adorn their leaves.
Note on Provenance
Captured using the single exposure panoramic workflow of the "Mead Method," developed over 15 years of fine art landscape experience. This image preserves a genuine, single moment in time executed entirely in the field without the use of composites, sky swaps, or generative AI. Just a single moment in time, preserved.
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.
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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.
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• Incredible depth and clarity, fine details leap off the wall
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• 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.
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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.
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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.