Inner Peace- Portland, Oregon by: Peter Lik

Standing beneath the canopy of this Japanese Maple tree was an incredible feeling - I was in awe as the late afternoon light backlit the delicate leaves. Every branch told its own story, and I felt this special tree had so much to tell. I truly felt an indescribable energy - a total connection with Mother Earth. I used a really wide-angle lens to reach out to as much of the tree as possible. I put my camera on the ground to give me a strong perspective to shoot up into the skies. As the sun sunk toward the horizon, the tree came to life with an incredible display of color, shape and texture - its rays burst into a star within the tree. It was a magical moment when I pressed the shutter - one I’ll never forget. I hope I can bring to you the rush of emotions I experienced. Enjoy.