My First Book - "Seasons of the Nature Center"

Hello Friends,

I have a couple of big announcements...

First, I have lived and worked at the Eagle River Nature Center in Alaska since October of 2014, serving as a resident volunteer and later, Assistant Operations Manager. What was supposed to be a winter stay turned into nearly a decade of residence. I could not ask for a better place to reside, work, and grow as an artist. The staff has been very supportive of my career and more than understanding of my travel schedule in recent years, which allowed me to develop a successful international photo tour company with my good friend and colleague, Mike Haring. Next year's schedule looks to be even busier as we continue to add new destinations to the Nat Expo Tours itinerary, and other opportunities are presenting themselves as well, so it is with bittersweet emotions that I will be departing from my home and position at the Nature Center after April 2023.

Next, as a tribute to this place I have called home for more than eight years, I have embarked on one of the most ambitious and exciting projects of my career thus far - my first book!

"Seasons of the Nature Center, A Photographic Journey of Seasonal Transitions at the Eagle River Nature Center” will comprise more than 100 pages of my favorite photos in a 9x12" limited-edition coffee table book. I am doing much of the design and text in collaboration with a local publisher, with contributions from two very talented Alaskan authors. The foreword was written by New York Times Bestselling Author, Kaylene Johnson-Sullivan, author of "Canyons and Ice, The Wilderness Travels of Dick Griffith." My bio was written by Chris Forbes Lundgren (Alaska Adventure Books), author of "Accidental Adventures Alaska, True Tales of Ordinary People Facing Danger in the Wilderness."

With that being said, I would also like to announce that you can help fund this project and pre-order a signed copy of "Seasons of the Nature Center" today! I am now taking orders ($30 for the book + $10 shipping): https://www.colintyler.com/online-store/seasons-of-the-nature-center-book

I will have the books in hand by spring/early summer 2023 and send them out at that time.

Thank you for following along, supporting my journeys, and helping to make this dream project a reality!


Colin  

 

The cover of my upcoming book, now available for pre-purchase…

Lynx Presentation on YouTube

Hello Everyone,

I enjoyed presenting for the Alaska Wildlife Alliance’s “Wildlife Wednesday” program last week and have received a lot of great feedback. If you weren’t able to watch my presentation on Alaska’s lynx, you can still view it here on the AWA YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GBsG6xau9is.

If you’re an avid YouTuber, please visit my new Colin Tyler Photography channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyk_1tMJRT-LwV166he5H7g and be sure to subscribe!

As always, thank you for following along,

Colin

Male Canada Lynx, Eagle River Nature Center/Chugach State Park, Alaska

Wildlife Wednesday Lynx Presentation

Hello friends and wild cat lovers,

Tomorrow evening (November 10) at 7 pm AKST/ 10 pm CST, I will be giving a Zoom presentation on Alaska’s lynx for the Alaska Wildlife Alliance. The program is free and open to the public. You can register here: https://www.akwildlife.org/new-events/2021/wildlife-wednesday-alaskas-lynx. It will also be shared on their YouTube page afterward.

You can also learn more about the Alaska Wildlife Alliance and become a member on their website. I joined last year and am happy to be a part of this wonderful organization, which helps safeguard Alaska’s wildlife.

I hope to see you there!

Colin

2020 Themes

If 2020 had any overriding themes for my photography I'd say it was owls, rainbows, and lynx, in that order. While it's been a challenging year in many ways, I am grateful for the opportunities I found in my backyard and look forward to what 2021 will bring.

I am hopeful that travel will resume before too long and while it's not likely that I will be leading another tour in Cuba this winter, I am looking to return in February of 2022. Michael L Haring and I have two tours scheduled for Iceland this coming August, both of which are already half full. For more information on the tours and to sign up for our e-newsletter, please visit our new website: https://naturalexposurestours.com/. We will also be launching a Facebook page for Natural Exposures Photography Tours, LLC, which I will announce in the near future.

Have a great weekend out there and, as always, thank you for following my adventures!

Colin

Juvenile great horned owl

Juvenile great horned owl

July double rainbow

July double rainbow

Female lynx

Female lynx


Another Lynx Family

I witnessed another lynx family recently as they were crossing a frozen river. The mother went first and the kittens followed, one at a time and very apprehensively until all of them had crossed. There have been a lot of lynx in my life lately. It feels symbolic and ultimately, they may end up teaching me more about myself and my own journey.

Have a great week out there and let's hope for civility and cooperation as we navigate the coming days.

Colin

A kitten leaps over the darker, thinner river ice to reach its mother on the other side.

A kitten leaps over the darker, thinner river ice to reach its mother on the other side.

I was focused on the timid kitten near the edge when another darted across the frame.

I was focused on the timid kitten near the edge when another darted across the frame.


Another Lynx Kitten and Proposed Hunting/Trapping Season in Chugach State Park

Happy Monday, everyone! Here's another lynx kitten to start your week.

While on the topic of lynx, you should be aware that the Alaska Department of Fish & Game has issued an emergency order to open lynx hunting and trapping in Chugach State Park. On September 21st the Alaska Wildlife Alliance, Friends of Chugach State Park, and Anchorage attorney Kneeland Taylor filed a petition to close the upcoming lynx hunting and trapping season. The public comment period has ended but if you would like to read their petition and learn more about what the Alaska Wildlife Alliance does, you can visit their Facebook page or their website: https://www.akwildlife.org/. I am a member and truly hope they will be able to prevent this from happening. Lynx populations are cyclical and based on the boom and bust cycle of snowshoe hares, their primary food source. While lynx sightings have been more common in recent years they are still rare, generally speaking, and will soon be less frequent as the hare population declines. This petition does not seek to prevent the taking of lynx statewide, but only in Chugach State Park where people recreate and might have the unique opportunity to view one of these elusive creatures in the wild.

Thank you,

Colin

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Depth of Field vs. Lynx

As I mentioned yesterday, photographing lynx in their natural habitat presents challenges. Inevitably, tree branches and other vegetation hinder efforts to get an unobstructed photo but when you do find a narrow window, you can use the surrounding out of focus elements to frame your subject. With an aperture of f/7.1, the depth of field was sufficient to maintain sharp detail from the lynx’s nose to the tips of its ears while the foreground and background are soft and don’t distract from the subject. This might be my favorite image from the series.

Have a great day out there and thank you for following my journey.

Colin

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Baby Lynx

Warning: cuteness overload!

Baby lynx - this little feline was born last spring and will stay with its mother for roughly ten months, at which point the mother is ready to mate again. They can bear litters every year, depending on food supply.

Lynx live in thick forests with lots of undergrowth, which are home to their main food source - snowshoe hares. This also makes it difficult to photograph them. I found myself in many awkward positions yesterday, trying to find unobstructed views. This moment was brief as it was snuggled up to its mother but I was able to make a couple of nice images.

Enjoy, and thank you for following along.

Colin

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Alaska Day Lynx, 2020

Yesterday marked 153 years since Alaska was purchased from Russia in 1867, though the holiday is being observed today, Monday, October 19. I could not have asked for better company to spend this special day with - a mother lynx with kits.

Happy Alaska Day, 2020!

Colin

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Signed & Numbered Lynx Prints with 2020 Aurora Calendar

It's been a monumental week here at CTP after returning from an adventurous month in Cuba - my Facebook page just surpassed 4,000 likes, thanks in large part to the lynx photos I've shared over the past few days! I'm also happy to announce that I landed a photo in the 2020 Aurora Borealis Calendar from Todd Communications. I've had some inquiries about purchasing copies of the lynx photos so I am making an offer for the first ten Artist Proofs of two different photos, signed and numbered, "Sitting Lynx" and "Yoga Lynx" - a 12x18" glossy print AND a signed aurora calendar (my photo is on the month of January) for $95 OR you can get both lynx prints and a calendar for $170.

Below are the links for the lynx😄😄 - click the title or the image to reach my online store. Thank you all for following my journeys, sharing my photos, and allowing me to continue to do what I do. Feel free to share this email!

Colin

Sitting Lynx

More Lynx Poses

Here are a couple more lynx photos from last Sunday - “Resting Lynx Face” and “Yoga Lynx.” Fun fact: Many yoga poses were learned (and named) from observing animals. Here a lynx demonstrates a nearly perfect "Downward Dog" pose. If I were to critique this lynx, I'd say drop the shoulders, lower the head, and keep pushing those hips toward the sky!

Namaste,

Colin

Resting Lynx Face

Resting Lynx Face

Yoga Lynx

Yoga Lynx

Welcome Home Lynx

No matter where my travels take me, it's always nice to return to Alaska and even nicer to be welcomed home by one of my favorite animals. We had some lynx activity over the weekend - what appeared to be an adult male (pictured here) who was trailing an adult female with two kits in hopes of mating. So far she seems to have resisted his advances.

Happy Monday!

Colin

 
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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.

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One More Lynx Photo...

Good afternoon from Eagle River Valley, AK. Hope everyone had a great weekend out there! I've been saving the best for last - here is my favorite lynx photo from last week. This certainly was a fortunate encounter and one I will always treasure. With the high numbers of lynx right meow, hopefully there will be more to come!

As always, thank you for following along and feel free to share my site with your friends. 

Colin

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Rise & Shine!

Good morning from Eagle River Valley, Alaska. Have a great weekend out there, wherever you are, and thank you for following my adventures.

Remember that next Saturday, October 6, is the October Nights: 22nd Annual Auction Fundraiser for the Friends of Eagle River Nature Center, where I reside. If you'd like to attend this event and help support the Nature Center and the various services we provide, follow the link above for ticket information. There will be a variety of items for both live and silent auction, including two spots on my February 2019 Cuba Photo Tour. Aside from these two spaces in the auction, there is only one spot left on the tour so please contact me if you are interested in exploring Cuba with me this February!

Colin

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Lynx!

Yesterday I certainly had one of my more fortunate encounters as a wildlife photographer. Lynx are very elusive creatures, yet they are also curious (that's the feline nature), so if they are comfortable and want to show themselves, they will. I actually had one sneak into my campsite in Denali National Park, lie down next to my tent and watch me while I was eating dinner. With the cyclical increase in snowshoe hare populations, lynx numbers are also rising and sightings are becoming more common. I will have more to share in the days ahead.

Cheers,

Colin

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