Any visit to Provence, France, should include the town of Roussillon. It is similar to all the other small towns -- historical, quaint, and clustered around the top of a hill. But there is one big difference. Instead of being made from standard gray stone, like the others, Roussillon is made of red clay. It gives it an entirely different vibe. You forget that you are in Provence, almost feeling more like the Middle East in places. The beautiful walk to the top of the town also cannot be neglected. Once you get there, and survey the stunning panoramas, it feels like Provence again. Wildflowers, green fields, and gentle rolling hills in all directions.

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The Kolufossar Waterfall and Kolugljúfur Canyon area is among the deadliest places in Iceland, and after visiting I understand why. The waterfall is very accessible, and in addition, the cliffs are very sheer. Many small ledges allow the visitors to get closer and closer, and it's hard to realize when you've gone too far. Furthermore, the intensely powerful waterfall generates a lot of mist, keeping the rocks perpetually moist and slippery. And of Iceland's many powerful waterfalls, to me this is the one where the power is most "in your face." At most of the other waterfalls, you're either viewing the falls from above or below. Here, you can get face-to-face with the rushing water, and it's truly mesmerizing. On this sunny day in late winter/early spring, you could feel the snow melting underfoot. All this snow melt supercharged Kolufossar, turning it into a hypnotizing display of power.

Higher resolutions of this image are available (the maximum resolution for this image is 6480x3790). 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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March is an interesting season at Hraunfossar. This portion of Iceland is rather low elevation, so the landscape's snow and ice have mostly melted away by March. On the other hand, the brilliant green grasses and tree leaves have not yet revived. Therefore, one might reasonably consider this the least attractive season to view Hraunfossar's lava falls. However, the waterfalls themselves, incredibly mesmerizing and beautiful, are at there most unobscured and unrivaled. You can clearly see the exact details of their structure, including how the glacial melt water seeps right out of the porous volcanic riverbanks. I've never seen a waterfall like it. And while some green grass or stunning icicles may have made this photo prettier, it also may have made me overlook what makes this place truly unique.

Higher resolutions of this image are available (the maximum resolution for this image is 6486x3711). 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 photo has quite the story to go along with it. It had been raining in the area a lot for the past few days. During a brief break in the rains, I thought I'd try to go capture some lush hillsides. At first I thought I'd go to Coyote Hills, but as I approached them, it was clear they were still brown. However, I could see some beautiful emerald hillsides rising in the distance (what I now know to be the Garin/Dry Creek/Pioneer parks). I had never explored these hills yet, so I whipped out my phone to see if there were any public, explorable parks in the hills ahead. And then, I got pulled over and given a ticket for using my phone. Oh well, I can't say I didn't deserve it. But undeterred, I still explored the hills. It was a lovely setting, as the approaching storms coated the hills in dappled, evanescent sunlight. Overall, I think it was worth the ticket.

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There are so many hot springs and geysers in Yellowstone that it's hard to keep track of them all. I recall this one being named Crystal Geyser, but I can't seem to confirm that online. I can't even recall for sure whether it was even a geyser. There are certain iconic places that everyone remembers the name of: Old Faithful, Grand Prismatic, Mammoth Hot Springs. And while those places are incredibly beautiful, sometimes the quieter, more remote features were more special. This small, perhaps unnamed thermal spring (or geyser?) is a perfect example. The beautiful turquoise waters seemed to journey to the center of the earth, while the thick steam rising from the spring seemed to shroud it in mystery. And I had it all to myself.

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When spring rolls around, the California hills turn that intoxicating shade of emerald green. As soon this starts to happen, I try to hit every location I can think of. Usually top on my list are the Open Space Preserves in the Santa Cruz Mountains, along Skyline Boulevard. Russian Ridge, Windy Hill, those are usually the ones I visit first. But that's simply out of convenience, living on the peninsula. Soon I remember that the rolling hillsides in the East Bay are just as beautiful. Mount Diablo stands out, but it's a bit further, so usually warrants an extended trip or group outing. But on those days where I just want to get in my car and go, the Garin/Dry Creek Pioneer Park combination cannot be beat. It's high enough up in the foothills of the Diablo Range that it offers stunning views of the bay, but low enough that it's a manageable and enjoyable afternoon jaunt. And the oak-studded chaparral hills rival those of anywhere else in California. It should be on everyone's springtime checklist.

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This day in Russian Ridge had the sky of summer, but the mood of spring. As the rains of winter give way to sunny skies, the moist soil of the Santa Cruz Mountains is poised for a takeover. The tall dry grass is finally pushed out by this year's new flock. For a few fleeting months, these gentle hillsides are a lush wonderland. But in no time at all, this grass too will grow tall and brown. The cyclicality of these mountains is beautiful and mesmerizing, even on a year-long timescale. I wish I could say that each season has it's perks. In reality, they do, but I quickly tire of summer, and always eagerly await the season of green.

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I went up to the Appalachians of North Carolina (near Cashiers) for a long weekend, but I went too early. It was clear that winter had not yet released its grasp. Most trees still had no leaves (or flowers), and there were a few overnight freezes that kept even the rhododendrons shy. But on my last morning, I awoke to a dense fog - a warm fog, that seemed to signal the change of season. As the fog began to thin and the sun began to pierce holes in it, the sunlight danced brilliantly around the happily opened rhododendron forest.

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Now that we can use small electronics during airplane takeoff and landing, new opportunities arise. I decided to try my hand at taking photographs during the descent into San Francisco. It's often a really beautiful descent, flying right over Yosemite and the High Sierra, then the chaparral foothills, and then right over the bay and San Francisco. And this flight was supposed to be landing right around sunset, too! Unfortunately, we made good time, and were a bit early (how often is that a bad thing?). The approach was also more southerly, so we didn't fly over Yosemite or SF. The good news is that there is great scenery down there too. This shot is of the San Antonio Reservoir, and the Sunol Wilderness below it. The oak-studded, gently undulating hillsides are so beautiful in their spring garb -- one of my favorite sights. And even though it wasn't quite sunset, the light was still pretty dang good!

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The Stanislaus River begins its journey high up in the Sierra Nevada mountains of California. By the time it reaches the scene of this photograph, which is near Knight's Ferry, it has already finished most of its descent. Higher up, it is a mecca for whitewater rafters. Now it meanders more gently through what remains of the Sierra foothills, and then eventually joins up with the San Joaquin River. You can still see many rafters and kayakers drifting past, but clearly relaxing after having finished the hard work. In spring, the banks of this river burst to life. The wildflower bloom in these spring meadows is nothing short of stunning. I wandered these hills for hours, and there was no end in sight to the expanse of flowers. This photograph is dominated mainly by golden California poppies, with a dash of lupine thrown in.

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