purple – Matt Tilghman Photography

Lake Como at Dawn – Gem of Lombardy

Matt Tilg — Thu, 07 Nov 2019 20:16:52 +0000

Lake Como, Italy, wakes up under a beautiful cotton-candy sky at sunrise.

Lake Como is sometimes referred to as “The Gem of Lombardy,” and it’s easy to see why. The location is truly a rare and unique combination of natural and cultural beauty. There are other places in the world where stunning mountains steeply descend to beautiful pristine lakes. There are other places in the world with quaint small towns, each replete with ancient history and hidden treasures. But there’s not many other places in the world that combine the two so perfectly. It’s also a location that seamlessly combines the dramatic with the tranquil. On this peaceful morning, the tranquil side of Lake Como shown through most. I’ve often heard the term “cotton candy sky,” but never really felt like it applied until I witnessed this sunrise. It felt like a symbol for all the many various types of beauty that this unique location embodies. Higher resolutions of this image are available (the maximum resolution for this image is 7302×3818). 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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Behind The Mask – North Table Mountain

Matt Tilg — Sun, 31 Dec 2017 02:23:09 +0000

A beautiful creek meanders through late poppies and volcanic basalt, right before plunging off the cliff and becoming Phantom Falls.

My title for this photograph is perhaps a bit too abstract, even for me. “Behind The Mask” pays homage to the name of the waterfall in this picture, Phantom Falls. Get it? Like how the phantom wears a mask? Maybe not. Anyway, if you don’t see the waterfall in this photo, that’s because this vantage is above the falls. Right in the center of the image, where the creek ends, the water plunges over a massive basalt cliff, becoming Phantom Falls. I love how this vantage feels nearly polar opposite compared to when you are looking at the waterfall and cliff. It feels almost like a “behind the scenes” look at the drama of Phantom Falls. While the waterfall is one of the most dramatic I’ve ever seen, from here it is total peace and tranquility — a much more accurate representation of the true feel of North Table Mountain Ecological Preserve.

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Silicon Valley At Dusk

Matt Tilg — Fri, 16 Jun 2017 13:42:15 +0000

At sunset, California’s Silicon Valley is truly beautiful. The towering mountains of the Diablo Range in the distance dwarf the daily life in the valley.

This view from Skyline Ridge puts things in perspective. San Jose, California (the heart of Silicon Valley) in the foreground shrinks when compared to the Diablo Range beyond. The whole landscape was lit up by a beautiful sunset glow, but I was especially drawn to the cloud line dividing the city and the mountain peaks above. I was descending from taking photographs in the Santa Cruz Mountains, which form the western boundary of the valley. While driving through fog, I rounded a bend and was suddenly under the fog, and presented with this view. I loved looking at the fog line on the Diablo Range, because it precisely mimicked where I was. It was sort of like looking in a mirror. It also seemed somewhat metaphorical, with the fog separating two worlds. Above the fog, time slows and worries melt away. In the world below, however, time keeps moving faster and faster, taking you with it.

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Spring Flowers in Secret Garden

Matt Tilg — Thu, 18 May 2017 12:29:43 +0000

This photograph, “Spring Flowers in Secret Garden,” is from the Secret Garden of Changdeokgung Palace in Seoul, South Korea. Previously to this visit, I had only seen the Secret Garden in autumn. Given its name, I was very excited to visit the garden in spring, hoping for some stunning flowers. My visit was in mid-May, which was a little late, but I was not disappointed. Many of the trees were still in bloom, though far more were showing the signs of having just recently been in bloom. The beautiful pink flowers of the azaleas were still attached, although beginning to wilt. However these purple irises seemed to be right in season, adding a nice dash of color that was absent from both the lush green foliage as well as the Asian-styled buildings.

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