Hampton Lake is a small lake that is part of High Hampton Inn, in Cashiers, North Carolina. It's where locals and visitors often go to relax and unwind. It has fishing, sunfish sailing, swimming, and a trail around the lake. And never is it more beautiful than at the peak of autumn color. The trees along the lake's shore pop with vibrant reds and yellows, and turn doubly stunning by reflecting in the tranquil water. Shown here is the small dam that keeps the lake contained, and the small creek that exits the lake, which later meets up with Fowler Creek and ultimately the Chattooga River.

Purchase "Hampton Lake in Fall - Cashiers, North Carolina" Fine Art Print:

The post Hampton Lake in Fall – Cashiers, North Carolina appeared first on Matt Tilghman Photography.

This scene at Avalanche Lake was the magical end to one of the more magical hikes I've taken. We started the hike up Avalanche Creek (located in Glacier National Park, Montana) well before sunrise so that it would still be early morning once we arrived. The forest, creek, and lake were achingly beautiful during the hike. And once we got to the end, it was like a scene straight out of Bambi. Several chipmunks, and this deer, all wandered up to us to say hi and wish us good morning.

Purchase "Morning Dip - Wildlife in Avalanche Lake, Montana" Fine Art Print:

The post Morning Dip – Wildlife in Avalanche Lake, Montana appeared first on Matt Tilghman Photography.

Peyto Lake is pretty famous, at least as far as Banff National Park is concerned. I usually like to focus on scenes, or at least views, that aren't well-photographed iconic shots. I must admit, this isn't one of those times. This photograph's composition doesn't differ much from other photographs of the view. The unfortunate fact is that you are constrained to a small lookout deck. It may be possible to hike closer on an extended trip and with a back-country permit, but my visit didn't allow for that. Anyways, I still really wanted to see the lake, even if it wouldn't be a productive photography excursion. It's easy to see why: the lake is stunningly beautiful. The long stretch of towering bare-faced Rocky Mountains flanks one of the bluest lakes I've ever seen. I was also helped out by a really cool sky. While the composition may not be that unique, the scene is still unrivaled for beauty.

Purchase "Peyto Lake Panorama in Summer" Fine Art Print:

The post Peyto Lake Panorama in Summer appeared first on Matt Tilghman Photography.

This is a photograph of Lost Lake, Oregon, with Mount Hood in the background. This was my first and only visit to the lake. By sheer luck I visited at a date and time when the sunlight on the mountain was just sublime. But they locals seemed to know this, because they were there in force. The drive to the lake is somewhat sobering, passing through miles of back-country that one would hope is pristine, but in reality is quite logged. But as one nears the lake, the National Forests start to take over, and this sombering reality fades. It is nevertheless a reminder that true wilderness is becoming a luxury good, while thin veneers of wilderness are becoming far and far more common.

Purchase "Lost in Summer - Mount Hood and Lost Lake, Oregon" Fine Art Print:

The post Lost in Summer – Mount Hood and Lost Lake, Oregon appeared first on Matt Tilghman Photography.

Of all the photographs I took at Fairy Lake, I felt this needed to be the eponymous one. You can clearly see how the place got its name, with the magical waters and the equally magical forest. The magic of the scene, to me, was due to two things in equal parts. Firstly, the color palette of the scene. The vivid greens of the forest meshed with the aqua blue waters of the lake in such a way that made the scene seem almost fake, almost like a movie prop. I kept thinking some magical creature would crawl out from the underbrush. Secondly, the mistiness of the situation really added to the aura. The way the fog clung to the lake made it seem like a bubbling cauldron, and way the trees leaned into it made it seem like they had gathered there as if for some sort of seance. Fairy Lake is located near Bozeman, in Montana's Bridger Mountain Range.

Purchase "Fairy Lake - Bridger Range, Montana" Fine Art Print:

The post Fairy Lake – Bridger Range, Montana appeared first on Matt Tilghman Photography.

At the end of an amazing pre-dawn hike up Avalanche Creek in Glacier National Park, Montana, the path opened up on to Avalanche Lake. As the sun was peaking over the mountains, the snow began melting to form waterfalls tumbling over the giant cliffs. The result was a stunningly beautiful scene that I'll keep with me forever. When you hear about the tallest waterfalls in the U.S., you hear about waterfalls like Yosemite Falls. But I must imagine the cascades in this photograph are taller. I suspect their seasonal nature, or perhaps the fact that they aren't "unbroken", prevents them from any sort of appearance in the record books. However, I still find them to be some of the most incredible, memorable waterfalls I've ever seen.

Purchase "Avalanche Lake at Dawn - Glacier National Park" Fine Art Print:

The post Avalanche Lake at Dawn – Glacier National Park appeared first on Matt Tilghman Photography.