Maple Jam

[AlanLichty]

Yellowstone NP has bear jams with endless cars stopped in the middle of the road to watch the creature feature. The Portland Japanese Gardens has Maple Jams every fall. I used to be a photo member and they send out notifications when the highly photographed Japanese maple goes into full colors. As a working stiff at the time that left me with weekend mornings during photo member hours to visit the gardens and gave me a front row seat to the lines of photographers waiting their turn to get their camera under the tree for the iconic shot.

This is actually when the crowd was thinning out but there were still photographers waiting their turn when the gates opened for the general public and swamped this location.

Zeph posted a very nice rendition of the scene a few weeks ago (its in his gallery as well) if you are wondering what all the fuss is about this tree.

 

[Ben Egbert]

I have seen the tree numerous times, but the garden itself not so much. It looks beautiful, I bet there are many more photo ops in there.

 

[AlanLichty]

I have seen the tree numerous times, but the garden itself not so much. It looks beautiful, I bet there are many more photo ops in there.

Tons of nice scenes to shoot. I was a photography member for 6 or 7 years but finally sort of reached my saturation point and let it lapse. Photo members can get in 2 hours before the general public so it's usually easy to get shots without teeming hordes in the way. Something like the maple at full color is an obvious exception.

They have just finished a major renovation/remodel of the place so I need to go check it out again and see if it's time to renew my membership.

 

[JimFox]

I like this wide view putting everything into perspective. I was going to go up there I think 2 years ago but they closed it in the fall that year. So I still need to get up there for that.

Jim

 

[Bob Denton]

Such a creative title, I had no idea what to expect. Good story and Photo too.

 

[Jim Dockery]

Nice shot giving us wanna-be maple shooters some perspective. I've been meaning to get down there in the fall for years, but haven't gotten around to it.

Did you shoot this this year? From your comments it sounds like buying the photographer's pass is the only way to go, but is a bit pricey for out of town visitors.

 

[BarryHamilton]

Great title and really lovely image, Alan! It does put that little tree in perspective. Would like to see it myself one day!

 

[Jeffrey]

Nice picture, even if there are people in it! All that fuss over ONE tree?

 

[AlanLichty]

Nice shot giving us wanna-be maple shooters some perspective. I've been meaning to get down there in the fall for years, but haven't gotten around to it.

Did you shoot this this year? From your comments it sounds like buying the photographer's pass is the only way to go, but is a bit pricey for out of town visitors.

I dropped my membership a few years back when they closed parts of the garden down for remodeling. I haven't decided to renew quite yet - maybe this spring when the blossoms start up. It's a yearly pass so rather prohibitive for someone visiting from out of town. There are no day pass offerings for the member hours.

Great title and really lovely image, Alan! It does put that little tree in perspective. Would like to see it myself one day!

I prefer seeing it without the line of warm bodies hovering around.

Nice picture, even if there are people in it! All that fuss over ONE tree?

I am with you on this one Jeffrey - I had a photography membership so I could avoid shooting images with people in them. I shot this one just because the lines of people were such an alien event for members only hours at the gardens. I never bothered shooting that tree from below during the fall just because it has been so over exposed in the media.