Cuba 2024

Another Cuba trip is in the books! We had two wonderful groups this year and look forward to returning in February, 2025. We have two time slots available again next year.

Looking at this year's schedule, we still have a few spots open for Iceland in June and Namibia in October. Please email me if you have any questions or visit our website for more info and itineraries: www.natexpotours.com

Cheers!

Colin

 

Near John Lennon Park in Havana

A tobacco farm (finca) in Viñales

Sunrise over Viñales Valley

December Morning

This is my favorite time of year for sunrises, when valley is frozen, the sun is hidden behind the mountains, and the morning sky is painted in pastel colors. Taken yesterday at the Eagle River Nature Center.

Have a great day out there and thank you for following along!

Colin

PS - I have now pre-sold 120 copies of my upcoming limited edition book, "Seasons of the Nature Center." Thank you to everyone who has ordered a copy! I look forward to sending them out in the spring. They are available for prepurchasing here: https://www.colintyler.com/online-store/seasons-of-the-nature-center-book

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…

Red Dawn

We sure had a colorful start to the day yesterday morning!

Being tucked away back here in the valley, we don't have an expansive view of the sky compared to being outside the front range (Anchorage) and are in fact halfway through two months of perpetual shade. As sunrise drew closer, the cloud layer grew thick and the color faded, right after I started shooting a time lapse video...

Colin

PS - if you received this via email, you’ll have to click “View in browser” to watch the short time lapse video

"Best of Landscape"

Happy Earth Day, 2021!

This is a significant day to me for several reasons and each year I make it a point to explore someplace new on Earth Day. Before I head out the door, I wanted to announce that my December Sunrise image was named "Best of Landscape" in the AlaskaWild 2021 showcase that is sponsored by the Alaska Society of Outdoor and Nature Photographers. My brown bear image received an honorable mention as well. It is an honor to receive this recognition and I encourage you to view all the stunning images from this year's gallery: https://asonp.photoshelter.com/gallery/alaskaWILD2021/G0000M8kvyKdYEjU/

Have a fantastic Earth Day out there and I hope you can find a bit of time to enjoy what the natural world has to offer this day and every day!

Colin

December Sunrise, Eagle River Nature Center

December Sunrise, Eagle River Nature Center

AlaskaWild 2021

Hello Everyone,

I am honored to announce that three of my images have been selected to the annual AlaskaWild exhibition sponsored by the Alaska Society of Outdoor and Nature Photographers. I joined the organization last year and have enjoyed meeting other photographers and utilizing the great resources that ASONP offers. If you are in Anchorage, the show will be at Side Street Espresso beginning this Friday, April 2. From there, the photos will be displayed at various locations throughout the state over the next year. If you have a chance, I encourage you to see all the stunning images that have been chosen for this year's show. If you are interested in joining ASONP, you can find more information here: https://asonp.org/

Have a great weekend and thank you for following along...

Colin

Brown bear in autumn, Eagle River Nature Center

Brown bear in autumn, Eagle River Nature Center

Juvenile great horned owl, Eagle River Nature Center

Juvenile great horned owl, Eagle River Nature Center

December Sunrise, Eagle River Nature Center

December Sunrise, Eagle River Nature Center

Minnesota Surnise

Good morning from lake country! It's always nice to visit my home state of Minnesota and be welcomed by the Midwest skies, like today's vibrant sunrise.

Have a great weekend out there and thank you for following along!

Colin

_CTB8588.jpg

September Morn

Autumn is off to nice start here. A week of much needed precipitation seems to have given the colors a little boost before the season fades. Last week we received more rain in one 24-hour period than we had all summer and more is on the way. I am grateful for that, as well as a misty morning to enjoy a day between showers.

Have a great Monday out there and thank you for following along!

Colin

_CTB7460.jpg




Viñales, Cuba

Hola de Viñales, Cuba! It's been a while since I've checked in. We've had a very busy week but the first tour is winding down and I'll have a week in Havana before my next group arrives. This is my first time in Viñales. We went on a sunrise hike this morning and I will have more photos to share soon. As always, muchas gracias for following my journeys.

Hasta pronto!

Colin

_CTB6880.jpg
_CTB6922.jpg
_CTB6967.jpg



Happy Winter Solstice 2018

Today marks the moment that the pendulum swings back toward the light, gradually bringing longer days to the Northern Hemisphere. This image was created last year on this date. I've been watching the sky this morning in hopes of another colorful sunrise to bring in the season but alas, it is not to be. Nevertheless, I was able to honor the darkness and return of the light at one my favorite places last night, Namaste North Yoga Studio, by performing a total of 108 sun salutations, alternating in all four directions. My body is sore today but my spirit is strong. This is my New Year. This is my reset. Now is the time break free of resistance and allow the journey to unfold.

Happy Winter Solstice 2018!

Colin

_CTB8518.jpg


Foggy Sunrise and a New International Adventure...

We've had some foggy mornings in the valley recently, adding an ethereal quality to the burgeoning fall colors. As much as I love this place and time of year, I am about to embark on one last international adventure before the oncoming winter. This will be the furthest I've traveled this year and it is a destination I have never been to before. I leave late tonight and will return next Friday. I'll check in when I am able, although I will be in remote areas and Wifi & downtime will likely be in short supply. In keeping with tradition, I will let my destination remain a mystery until I arrive. As always, thank you for following my journeys and feel free to share my posts with your friends.

Cheers,

Colin

Image taken with the Nikon D850.

_ROB0620.jpg

Here Comes the Sun Time-Lapse

Here comes the sun!! After a two-month absence, sunlight has returned to our little corner of Eagle River Valley. I created this time-lapse around noon today, approximately 25 minutes and 288 images condensed into a 12-second clip.

This is the first time I’ve shared a time-lapse video and speaking of firsts, I am going to be visiting a new part of the world in just a couple weeks.  I haven’t announced where I am going, just know that: 1) It is a tropical destination; 2) It is outside the US; and 3) I have not been there before. That being said, it is not a beach vacation but more of a cultural immersion, so please stay tuned and as always, thank you for following along!

Colin

2017 Winter Solstice Sunrise

Happy Winter Solstice from Eagle River Valley, Alaska! Mother Nature sure gave us a beautiful morning to welcome the return of the light. The sun rose at 10:14 am today and will set at 3:41 pm, providing us with five hours and twenty-seven minutes of daylight. Six months from now, on June 21, we will be basking in more than nineteen hours of light. Have a great day out there and remember; it gets brighter from here! I will be spending the evening at my favorite place in Anchorage, Namaste North Yoga Studio, to perform 108 sun salutations to honor the return of the light.

PS - I just added this image to my online store if you are still searching for a last minute Christmas gift: http://www.colintyler.com/online-store/

Namaste,

Colin

_CTB8518.jpg

Solstice Sunrise

The sun rose at 10:14 am this morning, marking the shortest day in the Northern Hemisphere. While some find the lack of daylight insufferable, I cherish this time of year as it gives me a chance to rest from the long days of Alaska summer. For those of you missing the sun, it gets brighter from here.

Happy Winter Solstice 2016,

Colin

Subzero Sunrise

As I’ve previously stated, no matter where I go in the world, it’s always good to come home to Alaska. I walked out to one of my favorite spots this morning to catch the sunrise. The temperature when I left the Nature Center was -4˚F; it was probably closer to -10˚F where I took this photo (that’s -23˚C for my metric friends). While it certainly is a big change from what I was growing accustomed to in Australia just over a week ago (roughly 100˚F cooler), I can honestly say that I love these temperatures and would much rather have cold, clear skies than the grey, rainy winter days we’ve had the past couple of years, I only wish we had a nice layer of snow as well. When the air is cold, the valley is still and quiet and the light is dramatic. Speaking of light, from this part of the valley we will not see the sun rise above these mountains again until late January.

Colin

One Last Aussie Sunrise

I made it out early to catch one last Aussie sunrise over Coogee Beach, Coogee NSW before leaving Australia today. I am going to miss this beautiful country. I cannot thank you all enough for your gracious hospitality. It's probably the lack of sleep that's making me a bit maudlin/emotional, but it is with a heavy heart that I must depart and begin the long flight home.

Much love,

Colin

PS - Good thing I picked up this new waterproof tripod from Sirui USA before I left...

Sunrise, Great Ocean Road, Australia

Daybreak comes early in this part of the world, and the days are getting longer. As exhausting as it is, I just can't pass up beautiful light and opportunities like this. I was out to catch the sunrise, now it's time for a rest, a good stretch, and then get ready to explore the Twelve Apostles later today. I have one more day on the Great Ocean Road, 12 Apostles before heading north to Deep Creek National Park and out to Kangaroo Island on Friday (Thursday for those of you in the US). As always, thank you for following along.

Colin

_CTB5772.jpg

Coogee Beach, Australia

The sun rises over Coogee Beach this morning; this is the dawn of my Australian journey. Locals greeted the day by getting their morning exercise with a variety of activities - jogging, swimming, beach yoga, tai chi, even kickboxing classes. I haven't been here 24 hours and already, I have a soft spot for this little corner of Sydney. I may return before I depart later this month.

I'll be getting my camper van today and driving to Jervis Bay. Stay tuned for more and, as always, thank you for following along.

Cheers, mates!

Colin