Happy 2019!

For a year that began with no travel plans, 2018 quickly turned into one of my most adventuresome thus far. February found me in Cuba 🇨🇺 for the first time, which set the stage for further spontaneous and far-flung excursions including the Big Island of Hawaii to photograph the Kilauea Volcano eruption, Washington state for a yoga 🧘‍♂️ retreat, and finally a quick visit to Iceland 🇮🇸 in September. I look forward to the magic that 2019 will bring in the way of new experiences and explorations. 

May your intentions manifest in the New Year and as always, thank you for following along!

Colin

PS – I can still add one more person or possibly a couple to my second Cuba Photo Tour, which begins in Havana on Saturday, February 16, 2019. Details here: https://www.colintyler.com/phototours-and-classes/. Please message me if you are interested.

I made the Daily Dozen again at National Geographic Your Shot!

Good afternoon, friends. I've got some exciting news - it seems that this week's theme is aerial photography as I just received word that one of my photos of the Kilauea Eruption taken from a helicopter in Hawaii last summer received an official Editor's Note and has made the Daily Dozen at Your Shot - National Geographic! You can view my photo and the others at the link below (click on the image), where you can vote for your favorite. The winner will be shared on their Instagram page.

Mahalo to the Nat Geo editors and the Your Shot community!

Colin

www.colintyler.com

Nikon, Paradise Helicopters, #nikonusa

In the Shadow on Mauna Kea

In addition the Big Island's two active volcanoes, Kilauea and Mauna Loa, Hawaii is also home to Mauna Kea, a dormant volcano which now holds some of the world's premiere astronomical observatories. At 14,000 feet above sea level, it is surprisingly cold at the summit and snowfall is common here; meanwhile the lack of oxygen was noticeable with every breath. In the first photo you can see the shadow of Mauna Kea against the clouds over the Pacific Ocean.

Have a great weekend and, as always, thank you for following along.

Colin

Last of my Aerial Photographs of the 2018 Kilauea Eruption, Hawaii

Here are the last of my aerial photos of the lava river in Lower Puna, Hawaii and its path of destruction. You can see the source, Fissure 8, where the lava is spewing from the ground and has created cone that stands 180 feet tall. From what I understand, this fissure and resulting cone are on private property, so if the residents return they will have a giant volcanic cone in their yard - not many people can make that claim! It's tough to put into words what I was witnessing, the only thing I can compare it to is a raging glacial river, much like the one near my home in Eagle River Valley, Alaska. I'd always imagined lava slowly creeping across the ground until it cools and solidifies but this was anything but slow or creeping. The flow was turbulent and splashing its way toward the ocean, moving at speeds of 17 MPH near the fissure. Once again, mahalo to Paradise Helicopter Tours of Hilo for this opportunity to observe and photograph such a rare, spectacular event and most of all, best wishes to the residents of Leilani Estates and all of the areas affected, as well as all the people on the Big Island of Hawaii, whose lives and livelihoods have been greatly impacted.

Aloha,

Colin

Ocean Entry and Fissure 8

Lava ocean entry - Hawaii. Here are both aerial and ocean-level views of the lava from Fissure 8 as it hits the sea. You can see the glow from Fissure 8 behind the mountain in the second photo, approximately 8 miles up from the coast and the source of the lava river. While the current eruption has destroyed more than 700 homes in its path, it has also created more than 700 acres of new land where it hits the ocean water and cools. Mahalo to both Kalapana Cultural Tours and Paradise Helicopters of Hilo, Hawaii for their wonderful, up-close tours of the eruption, allowing me to capture once in a lifetime images of this event.

Colin

The Home Spared by Pele, Goddess of Fire

Here's another image from my helicopter ride over the Kilauea eruption with Paradise Helicopters last week in Lower Puna, Hawaii. You can see the house in the lower right corner that has thus far been spared. More than 700 homes have been destroyed since this began on May 3 of this year. I met people who have been displaced, who have lost their homes or are close to losing a home, who have lost their jobs or businesses. This eruption, while it is a part of life on the Big Island, has had a huge economic and emotional impact on those affected. The feeling was palpable. My goal was to observe and photograph this phenomenon respectfully.

Colin

Pahoa, Hawaii

Pahoa, Hawaii. A groovy little community that lies very close to the current eruption of Kilauea Volcano. At night the sky glows red from the lava river that flows just a few miles from town. I’m not sure exactly what drew me to the Big Island to witness this powerful natural phenomenon. Perhaps it’s because I understand first-hand the destructive yet renewing nature of fire, or maybe I just wanted to see and photograph this event, which appears to be the largest flow in recent history and could be a once in a lifetime opportunity. Whatever the reasons, I decided I would take a chance and explore a new part of the world. It was a spontaneous trip with nothing reserved but a standby airline ticket and a rental car; the rest would be up to good fortune and destiny. More to come…

Colin

Hawaiian Adventure - Kilauea Eruption!

Aloha, friends!! I am on my way home from a brief and exhilarating visit to the Big Island of Hawaii. It was a spontaneous trip, mostly to observe and photograph the current eruption of Kiluea Volcano. This was an opportunity to explore a new part of the world and observe a phenomenon that may or may not happen again in my lifetime, an opportunity I could not pass up. Yesterday I took a sunrise boat tour to see the lava pouring into the ocean and creating new land, followed by a doors-off helicopter tour over the lava flow in the afternoon. If you’ve never hovered above a volcanic eruption at 5,000 feet in a helicopter with no doors, I would highly recommend it! I will have more photos to share in the coming days. As always, mahalo for following my journeys!

Colin