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.

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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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This photograph is from my first trip to Fisheating Creek Wildlife Management Area, near Palmdale, Florida. I can't believe it took me this long to visit! It's an amazing place, and not as far as I thought. I decided to try to hike to the "Memorial Tree" for sunrise. The trail was pretty confusing, so I got lost and had to double back a few times. Because of this, I ended up actually technically missing sunrise. However, because of all the tall cypress trees, when I arrived the scene was still in shadow. As I waited for the dawn light to hit the Memorial Tree, I noticed that it was first starting to barrel down the creek bed. It illuminated the scene beautifully, showing hoards of wading birds all along the riverbanks. I have no idea why they call this place Fisheating Creek, but there was certainly a lot of fish eating going on!

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To me, few views are more peaceful than this one. This view is looking over Biscayne Bay, from Key Biscayne, Florida. My opinion probably has a lot to do with personal sentimentality. My extended family jointly owns a boat which is parked at this marina, and this is the view we always get after a nice evening sail. The peace and tranquility are therefore more than just visual. A few hours of wind on the face and salt in the hair does a lot to calm the soul. The alcohol which often accompanies the journey doesn't hurt either. However, beyond my own personal attachment to this vista, I imagine the themes of sailboats, calm water, and a beautiful sunset hold a fairly universal appeal to the human spirit.

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Florida's Gulf Coast sunsets are my favorite anywhere. They never disappoint me. I'm sure there are plenty of duds, but I've never witnessed them. I thought this night was going to be my first dud, because as I was getting my camera gear together, it was still completely overcast. But as I was driving down Captiva Island to the public Blind Pass Beach, conditions started to improve. The storm seemed to rush offshore, as if it knew it was time to assume it's "sunset position." And as I sat on the beach, watching the clouds shift through the color spectrum as the sun disappeared further and further below the horizon, life was good. It was about to get a little worse though, as unbeknownst to me my car's battery had decided to die, keeping me at the beach for two hours longer than intended.

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