The Trees Have Eyes

The trees have eyes...

I had countless encounters with great horned owls while residing at the Eagle River Nature Center. Several images from those encounters are in my book (and 2025 calendar), and I was once a guest on the local NPR radio program "Hometown Alaska" where I recounted capturing some of those photos and how I developed an eye for spotting owls despite their capability to camouflage themselves quite well.

A few nights ago I was playing my guitar when I noticed something in a birch tree behind my place that had a distinct and familiar shape. I continued to strum until I saw it move and knew immediately what it was. I grabbed my camera and got quite a few frames as this owl scanned the area and watched me with fixated curiosity.

Colin

 

Moose Photo Safaris

Happy Wednesday out there, everyone! I've had a busy and successful week guiding moose photo safaris for Alaska Photo Treks (so much that I skipped the auroras Monday night after leading an evening tour followed by an early start the next morning).

These are some of my favorite images from this week's guiding adventures. Please check out www.alaskaphototreks.com if you are interested in experiencing Alaskan scenery, wildlife, or aurora borealis with local expertise!

Also, if you are in the area, I am teaching a "Storytelling with Photography" class this Sunday afternoon from 1 - 4 pm at the Eagle River Nature Center. What stories can you piece together from the photos here? Everyone will have an individual response just like every person has their own unique story to tell. You can register here: https://www.ernc.org/public-programs.html

As always, thank you for following...

Colin

 

AlaskaWILD 2023

Hello everyone,

I was honored to have two images selected to the 2023 AlaskaWILD traveling exhibition with the Alaska Society of Outdoor and Nature Photographers. The show is currently at Jitters Coffee in Eagle River, AK - if you are in the neighborhood, stop by for a coffee and vote for your favorite photo!

Both of these images are featured in my "Seasons of the Nature Center" book and 2024 calendar, which are available on my website. I am also offering 10% off metal prints from my website through 2024 with the purchase of a book: https://www.colintyler.com/online-store

The books are starting to show up in local retailers as well, including Anchorage Barnes & Noble. All mail orders have been shipped, so if yours has not arrived, it is en route. I've now sold more than 500 books and there are roughly 100 calendars remaining, signed & numbered 1-500.

Have a great weekend and thank you for following!

Colin

 

Bull moose near the Rodak Trail, Eagle River Nature Center, AK

Trumpeter swan sleeping, Eagle River Nature Center, AK

February 2023 Aurora Borealis, Eagle River Nature Center

Mother Nature sure put on a brilliant display last night, and tonight could be very active as well!

We are going into what is typically the most active time of year for aurora borealis - late winter/early spring. I look forward to taking a group to arctic Norway 🇳🇴 in just two weeks with Nat Expo Tours, where we will be spending 6 nights above the Arctic Circle in Tromsø and the Lofoten Islands, home to some of the world's most renowned aurora viewing!

Fingers crossed for more clear skies ahead...🤞

Colin

 

Caribou Magazine Cover

After more than a decade, I am happy to see this image finally get its due...

I took this in Denali National Park in September, 2010. The scene was perfect - a few mature bull caribou grazing & locking antlers on a ridge with North America's tallest peak (Denali) in the background. I composed in anticipation of it being used for a magazine cover, vertical orientation with one caribou isolated & moving into the frame, and it paid off..

A big thanks to American Essence Magazine and writer Skylar Parker for the wonderful article (I posted last week) and cover story!

Colin

Coastal Waterfall, Prince William Sound

I recently submitted some images to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for use in a project called the "Alaska Coastal Mapping Campaign" which will be viewed by the President, Interior Secretary, and other administration officials. It is a honor to have a number of images selected for the project and in the process of searching through my files I came across a few gems that I almost forgotten about, like this one.

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

Colin

PWS_HDR.jpg

Morning Owl

Cloudy, windy days can be discouraging when your goal is photographing wildlife but they can also be rewarding, especially when you find a great horned owl almost eye-level under nice, even, diffused light. I chose to include the mossy branch as a strong element in the composition here.

Have a great holiday weekend out there! Be safe, be well, be wise.

🦉 Colin

Great horned owl, Eagle River Nature Center, Alaska

Great horned owl, Eagle River Nature Center, Alaska

Double Rainbow!

We got a bit of rain in Eagle River Valley last night. It didn't do much to saturate the ground but it was enough to create a double rainbow and add to a spectacular late evening light show!

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

Colin

Double rainbow at the Eagle River Nature Center on May 19, 2020.

Double rainbow at the Eagle River Nature Center on May 19, 2020.

Moose Monday

Hello everyone. It's Moose Monday!

This guy has been making a splash in local ponds recently. He is one of at least 3 bulls that I've seen in the area in the past few weeks. As their diet changes in the spring, so does the shape and consistency of their droppings and for this reason, is often mistaken for bear scat, which there is also an abundance of right now.

Colin

_CTB1185.jpg

"Give 'em a Brake"

"Give moose a 'brake'" is the slogan we're accustomed to seeing on Alaska highways. Rounding a curve and meeting one of these giants could end poorly for both parties, and they do not always yield the right of way. 

Just a reminder on this Wednesday to watch for moose, and all wildlife, that we often share the roads with. 

✌️

Colin

_CTB0526.jpg

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

Super Blood Wolf Moon

There was a pretty cool event in the sky last night. Hopefully you got to witness the "Super Blood Wolf Moon" lunar eclipse. If not, the next one takes place in 2037. 

Happy Monday! Have a great week out there, wherever you are. 

Colin

Eclipse Collage copy.jpg

November Auroras

It was a beautiful night to be out under the stars. After a couple days of waiting, the geomagnetic storm arrived later than anticipated last night but the lights actually kicked up much earlier in the evening than I had expected. I was scrambling to get ready but made it out for the second wave of activity.

Happy Monday!

Colin

_CTB2987.jpg

First Snowfall of the Season

Can a snowflake carve a valley? Today is a good day to ask this question. The answer is yes, with enough snowflakes and enough time to form a glacier.

Our first snowfall of the season has delivered more than a foot thus far and it's still coming down. Now I am contemplating whether to risk life & limb on these roads to get my skis out of storage...

Happy Monday!

Colin

_CTB2559.jpg

Alaska Day 2018

Happy Alaska Day! Today marks the anniversary of the formal transfer of the Territory of Alaska from Russia to the United States in 1867 under Secretary of State William H. Seward. What was once referred to as "Seward's Folly" and "Seward's Icebox" has proven to be one of our nation's greatest investments. Here is an aerial view of Anchorage - our state's largest city but not our capitol. 

Cheers!

Colin

_CTB6534.jpg

Bold Peak, Lynx Photos, And Cuba

Bold Peak in all its autumn glory. Happy Monday out there! I hope everyone had a great weekend. I'm getting around to editing through more of my recent aerial photos. I'm glad I got out when I did as most of this vibrant color has since faded.

Reminder that I still have signed & numbered 12x18" lynx photos available (along with a signed 2019 aurora borealis calendar, both for $95): https://www.colintyler.com/…/signed-amp-numbered-12x18-lynx…

And...my February photo tour in Cuba is full and it looks like I may add a second tour that will begin on February 16 or 17! More details on the Cuba tour here: https://www.colintyler.com/phototours-and-classes/

Cheers!

Colin

_CTB1203.jpg