Knowing where to be and when to be there is very different then actually being there. I've tried to get to this spot for the peak of Fall color the past 4 years and haven't been able to. This year was different and had I waited another day this scene would have been very different. The weather changed drastically later in the day with wind and rain pulling the leaves off the trees, I would have had to wait another year....again.
I think the Japanese Garden in Portland is photographically the best on the west coast and is often crowded. This scene doesn't show it but there are dozens of people that have either just stepped out of the scene of are about to enter it and when photographing a scene like this with so many frames avoiding people is a serious challenge. I feel lucky to have been there on this day and to have had all the pieces come together.
I want to thank the gardeners at the garden for all they do to make this such a great place to visit.