This beautiful little chapel is nestled high up in the cloud forests of Costa Rica. It is part of a resort now, but is a relic from the times when missionaries were colonizing the region. I love the way it stands out, in stark contrast to the emerald hillsides. I'm sure its plain demeanor was either out of necessity, or out of homage to their pursuit of modest, humble lives. However, it almost looks as if it instead was out of deference to the surrounding landscape. It's as if to say: "I cannot compete with the beauty of these hills, these trees, these forests, so I won't even try."

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This is a scene from a tropical rain forest in Costa Rica. I like this photo primarily for the restful feeling it evokes, though maybe you have to had been there. Often when trekking through the rain forest, you are bombarded with a downright cacophony of sounds and sights. It is hard to create photographs which don't border on visual overload. But then sometimes you find a scene that is a respite from all that. This little tropical bird seemed as grateful for a brief moment of peace and quiet as I was.

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The buttresses on their trunks have always been my favorite trait of Bald Cypress trees. But they are so common in the Everglades that it is easy for their wonder to fade. When I passed this scene, it was the yellow bloom of the bladderwort that caught my eye, not the cypress trunk. But neither are what made me consider this scene beautiful enough to photograph. It was both, together, that struck me. The way the blooms appeared in the shade of the tree, almost cradled by the arms of the buttress. It's such a small scene, inconsequential, yet intimate and powerful all the same.

Higher resolutions of this image are available (the maximum resolution for this image is 5067x3378). For usages that require a resolution higher than 3000px, or are otherwise beyond the standard terms and conditions, please email me directly at matt@matttilghman.com to discuss use-specific pricing.

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Low tide on tidal sand-flats such as this can be hit or miss. Sometimes, the tide simply reveals bugs and foul smells. But other times, low tide reveals fantastic patterns in the sand, which have been slowly forming all day underwater. And a nice thing about South Florida: unlike California, you are free to explore the land that low tide reveals without concern, because if the tide rushes back in on you, your greatest risk is probably returning home with a wet pair of shoes. The seas are friendlier here, which is both a good and bad thing. It makes exploring and immersing oneself in nature more safe and carefree. But it does this for everyone. In Biscayne Bay, sandbars like this have become quite difficult to explore in peace. They have instead become havens for aquatic party-goers. But if you look hard enough, and have a little insider knowledge about where to look, solitude can still be found on these sandbars.

Higher resolutions of this image are available (the maximum resolution for this image is 4160x2773). For usages that require a resolution higher than 3000px, or are otherwise beyond the standard terms and conditions, please email me directly at matt@matttilghman.com to discuss use-specific pricing.

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I've seen a lot of sunrises, in my pursuit of landscape photography. But sometimes, it's my wife's idea. This was one of those times. She wanted to wake up early and watch the sun rise over the Atlantic Ocean, something we don't do often enough despite living minutes from Fort Lauderdale's beach. Every time we plan a sunrise, she asks what time we should get there... five, ten minutes before sunrise? No way! At least an hour, I say. Sunrise is great, but I prefer the moments before. The way the light changes, slowly at first, then building into a crescendo as the sun gets closer to the horizon. And the way this crescendo is mimicked by the increasing activity, both human and wild, as the world wakes up... it's just a beautiful time to be awake

Higher resolutions of this image are available (the maximum resolution for this image is 4513x2519). For usages that require a resolution higher than 3000px, or are otherwise beyond the standard terms and conditions, please email me directly at matt@matttilghman.com to discuss use-specific pricing.

For some of my photographs, I record and post the entire Photoshop editing process from start to finish. This is one of those photos, and you can see watch the recording here: "Golden Hour Off Florida Coast" editing procedure on Youtube.

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A beautiful tranquil sunrise brings dawn to South Florida. This location is right off the coast of downtown Fort Lauderdale. Despite its proximity to the city, this is actually Las Olas Beach, with Fort Lauderdale Beach being further north. The term "Las Olas" tends to bring to mind the iconic strip of restaurants and shops, not the beach. However I chose to use it in the title to pay homage to what the words actually mean: "the waves". As I sat on the quiet beach waiting for the sun to rise, clouds and sky ever changing, the only constant was the persistent drum of the waves lapping the sand. It made for a beautiful morning that appealed to all the senses. Usually a bustling tourist attraction, at this hour there are only a few people on the beach, and a few ships dotting the Atlantic Ocean.

Higher resolutions of this image are available (the maximum resolution for this image is 5846x2910). For usages that require a resolution higher than 3000px, or are otherwise beyond the standard terms and conditions, please email me directly at matt@matttilghman.com to discuss use-specific pricing.

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This is the famous Memorial Tree, in Fisheating Creek, Florida. It is a massive bald cypress known for its impressive array of "knees". Strangely enough, scientists don't actually know the purpose of these knees. They originally presumed that the knees supply oxygen to the root structure during flooding, but this has come into question recently. Indeed, it is typically swamp-growing trees, like those in this Florida cypress swamp, which show a multitude of knees. However, wetland trees which have had the knees remove continue to thrive. Additionally, lab work shows that the knees are actually poor at absorbing oxygen. Thus, the current working hypothesis is that they serve simply as a sort of buttress, for root stability in the wet unstable soil.

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This photograph is from Fisheating Creek Wildlife Management Area, near Florida's Lake Okeechobee. This is on the trail to Memorial Tree, taken on my return. As the dawn light became a bit more powerful, it began to filter through the trees more, casting a beautiful golden glow across the landscape. To me, this is a perfect example of a Florida forest. They truly have a unique beauty all their own. The mixture of sabal palmetto, bald cypress, and live oak (among others) gives the woods a distinctly primeval feel. And when the sun rises, the dense grassy undergrowth covered in dew is almost as bright as the morning sky.

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This massive bald cypress with giant, far-spreading knees is the famous Memorial Tree. It's so named because a local fisherman, while fishing here, was tragically killed when he went to help with an accident on nearby highway 27. This stretch of Fisheating Creek was his favorite spot, so his ashes were spread around the base of this tree. I can see why it was his favorite place. I've only been once, and already I've fallen in love. Most of the pictures you'll see of this tree online are from the wetter months, when it is flooded and much more green. I like that look a lot, and will be sure to return in the wet season!

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Most palm trees grow straight up. That includes the Cabbage Palm, the type of palm tree featured in this photograph. So when you see one with a significant bend, it's usually because it fell or leaned during a storm. If the tree makes it through the trauma, it then starts growing straight upwards again. It's crazy to think about what this old cabbage palm, which I found in the Fisheating Creek Wildlife Management Area near Palmdale Florida, has been through. I can't even recreate in my mind how many storms had tossed the tree over the years, and in which directions. This tree has definitely seen some stuff, that's for sure! And these palms grow very slowly, so this could have been going on over centuries!

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