A striking, high-angle, vertical photograph looking directly down a long, steep staircase flanked by meticulously trimmed, tall green hedges in Astoria, Oregon. The staircase leads down to a straight street that runs through the dense residential and commercial buildings of the downtown area. In the distance, the wide, grey expanse of the Columbia River or Pacific Ocean meets the horizon under a cloudy sky, dramatically illustrating the city's rugged terrain and proximity to the water.