Nature and Travel Photography Matt Gragg —Field Notes

Billowing volcanic steam and gas, Halemaumau crater, which is part of Kilauea, provides an interesting backdrop to native ferns. 

This garden is on the grounds of a grand villa near Bellagio on Lake Como, Italy.

Clouds gracefully rest over an unusually calm ocean near Fiji in the South Pacific.

Afternoon clouds billow up over a typical vineyard in the heart of Tuscany, Italy.

High above the ocean, this view shows the beautiful contrast of colors found in the Waipio Valley on the Big Island.

Old Barn in Autumn, Michigan

A set of barren trees add an interesting contrast to the backdrop of Mauna Loa

A pair of rowers gracefully glide across the placid calm of Lake Lucerne early one May morning in Switzerland.

The Toklat River runs over many miles of open wilderness in Denali National Park, Alaska

A boat plies the calm waters of Milford Sound on an exceptionally foggy day in January.

The waves along the Hamakua Coast of the Big Island are usually strong. This photo was taken at an area known as Lapahoehoe.

Evening light descends on the true summit of Mauna Kea on the Big Island.

A scene from a rural area of western Turkey with a springtime bloom of poppies and other flowers.

Perhaps Ancient Greece's most famous landmark is the Acropolis in Athens. Over the past several years a major restoration project has been underway to preserve the structure. One of the main factors in its decomposition is due to the incessant air pollution of Athens.

After about a 30-minute hike up the trail, I came upon this vista looking north of this idyllic South Pacific island.

On the east side of the Big Island its not uncommon to experience thunderstorms, especially in the winter months.

This capture exemplifies the nature of the surrounding landscape of Sedona, Arizona. Interesting rock formations inhabit the hills which were carved out primarily by wind erosion.

According to Old Town Editions, a fine art printer in Virginia,paper prints should be treated like any other fine art prints such as etchings or serigraphs. Handle paper prints as gently as possible. When doing so, be sure that your hands are freshly washed to minimize transfer of oils from your skin. Because paper is damaged by prolonged contact with chemically unstable materials, the choice of materials for storage and exhibition is critical. Mats, folders, and storage boxes should be labeled acid-free or 100% cotton rag. Store matted works or foldered items in flat files or in appropriately sized boxes specifically designed for storing works of art or documents. Oversized objects should be stored flat whenever possible, not rolled or folded. Store unframed prints in a cool and dry environment. Warm or moist conditions accelerate deterioration and encourage mold growth and insect activity. Works should also be protected from environmental pollutants and airborne particulates Matting ...

Autumn's glory is seen here in its full form with the breakout of maple color.

Winter reflections on the serene waters of the Blue River in the heart of Colorado's Rocky Mountains

A man contemplates his place in the world on a beach in Curacao.

Evening view of the Three Sisters, a series of peaks just outside Banff National Park, Canada.

The reef that runs the length of the country of Belize, and beyond is a perfect place to sail a small boat.

During the summer months it is very common for large thunderstorms to develop in Arizona desert late in the day due to the afternoon heating from the floor of the desert interacting with the cooler air coming down from the mountains.

On Orca Island, near Juneeau there is a thick temperate rainforest that contains giant old-growth Western Red Cedar trees as shown here.

Dive boats along an edge of the reef