“Roads End”

Location: Tom McCall Point Trail, Mosier, Oregon (2019)

An optical illusion, historic highway 30 appears to wind its way directly into the Columbia River during a fall afternoon at Rowena Crest.

This optical illusion was born out of curiosity as I surveyed the Rowena Crest Viewpoint in anticipation of coming back during overcast conditions. (See, “Rowena Crest (Autumn)”.)

Besides the road, the mighty Columbia River is the main attraction at the viewpoint. I noticed in the river, two small islands blazing in autumn colors and an unpaved road stretching out into the water from the shoreline.

I became curious at the sight, and began walking as quickly as I could along a trail that overlooked both the highway and the river.

Once my composition was set, I then took several photographs, some of them had cars in them. Other contained boats (there was a boat ramp nearby). But ultimately, I chose an image without any boats or cars because I felt it added to the illusion that this was a road to nowhere.