Black Bear Color Phases

Not all black bears are black in color, as you can see with this chocolate colored cub. North American black bears exhibit a range of color phases including brown, cinnamon, blonde, and in the case of the spirit bears of British Columbia, even white. In some western states, brown and cinnamon colored bears are actually more common than black, as the lighter color reduces heat stress in direct sunlight. You can learn more from the North American Bear Center .  

 

Limited Edition Print Offer

Attention friends, due to the overwhelming response to a couple of photos I shared recently, I have decided to offer an edition of signed and numbered prints. Mothers' Day Aurora and Momma Moose Love are both available in a limited edition of just ten prints each. Individually, they are $75 but I am also offering them as a pair for $125 (a savings of $25). Please follow the links below if you’d like to make a purchase and share this with your friends. Every sale keeps me out exploring and creating images to share with all of you and will help fund my journey to Australia this November.

Cheers!

Colin

Mothers' Day Aurora  

Momma Moose Love  

Both prints combined, for a savings of $25

New Logo

I’ve recently spent a good deal of effort designing a unique, impactful logo for my images, something symbolic and representative of my work as a wildlife photographer. Rather than download a piece of clipart, I wanted to create something original. After some thought, it occurred to me that I had the perfect symbol tattooed on my right shoulder – the paw print of my cat Spike, whom I lost 3 years ago. With a fair amount of digital time and equal parts determination and frustration, I was able to extract a silhouette by working off a photo of the tattoo. You can view the new logo in the bottom of this tiger image; also significant as this was the first tiger we saw in India and where I left Spike’s ashes. While traveling in India, locals would ask if my tattoo was that of a tiger. Sometimes I would explain the story behind it, but often I would just smile and nod in agreement, because Spike truly was a wildcat at heart. If you look closely, you might notice that the print is not exactly symmetrical; it is this slight imperfection that makes it the perfect tribute, in my opinion, and proves it was not downloaded. I could have corrected the symmetry, but then it wouldn’t match his print.

Now that I’ve created the logo, I will be updating the images on my website and Facebook page. Please let me know your thoughts on the design.

Cheers,

Colin

 

 

 

Newborn Moose

Moose are commonplace in residential areas throughout Alaska, especially in springtime. It is not at all unusual for cows to drop their calves in someone’s yard and spend much of their time raising the newborns in semi-urban neighborhoods, seeking respite from predators. I rarely see newborn calves near the Nature Center, where bears are more prevalent.

Keeping On

Yesterday was Bob Dylan’s 75th birthday. A friend posted the following line from one of his songs: “The only thing I knew how to do, was to keep on keeping on, like a bird that flew.” (Tangled up in Blue)

Bob Dylan, born Robert Allen Zimmerman, was raised in a small, desolate mining town not far from where I grew up in Minnesota. Despite his gruff singing voice and being ridiculed by peers, Bob had a vision. An avid poet, he put his lines to music and followed that vision, eventually becoming one of the most consequential songwriters of our time.

Since first picking up a camera nearly twenty years ago, I have followed a vision of creating and sharing the wonder of the natural world through photographs. In recent years, I have learned to put ego aside, express gratitude for beautiful opportunities and celebrate every successful endeavor, no matter how big or small it may seem. Eking out a living as an artist, adventurer, or any other non-traditional pursuit, requires more than talent, it takes passion and persistence in the face of overwhelming doubt. Often times, there is no clear path going forward or guide as to how to earn a living as a professional photographer. I will always have vocational skills and a college degree to fall back on, and there have been periods when I was resigned to the notion that I should put all this aside and get a “real job" for lack of a better term, knowing that it would be easier to make ends meet but simultaneously drain my soul, which brings me to this bald eagle image. I took this seventeen years ago, around the same time that I declined a very secure career offer with the federal government, to pursue a dream. Two years later it became my first magazine cover. The issue also included a feature story about me (An eye for Nature). A month or so after being published, I learned that it quickly became their best-selling issue to date. The news came on a day that I was feeling despondent and unsure about my future. It was the catalyst I needed that day, to “keep on keeping on” and remain open to opportunities that present themselves, lining the pathway to fulfilling not just a dream, but also a vision and a purpose.

Happy birthday, Bob. Thank you for keeping on and not losing sight of your vision.

Colin

In Front of the Camera

Last week I got to spend some time in front of a camera for a change. I was guiding a film crew from the UK that is producing a documentary about wildlife in the Anchorage area and they wound up interviewing me for a few segments. From what I understand, the film is going to air on a French television station. Since I do not "parle Francais" I assume they will have a voice dubbed over mine. This was a new and enjoyable experience for me. You can view some excellent samples of their work at: http://www.offthefence.com/Production/Home

Ferns in the Wind

I took this photo around this time last year on a windy, overcast day that was mostly uninspiring. Often times, I find myself prejudging what photo ops might present themselves based on the weather conditions rather than seeking out something new and innovative. It's easy to get stuck in this rut and dismiss potential opportunities based on the quality of light, but when you take a closer look at the forest and make some adjustments, the results can be rewarding. When I noticed the movement in the ferns blowing in the wind, I was suddenly inspired to try and capture that energy in a photograph. Using a slow shutter and zooming in during the exposure exaggerated the movement while bouncing a flash at the end added a bit of definition to the plants.

Ferns, Then & Now

Spring comes on quickly in these parts and if you don't pay attention, it will slip right past you. Last year I missed the opportunity to photograph fiddlehead ferns, it seemed as though I blinked and suddenly they were three feet tall. This year I kept a closer eye on the forest floor and captured a few shots of the ferns in their fiddlehead stage. Yesterday I went back to take a look at them and this is how much they've grown in just three weeks!

2,000 Likes on Facebook

This humpback whale image (Prince William Sound, 2014) was making a splash on my National Geographic Your Shot page last week. Speaking of making a splash, my Colin Tyler Photography Facebook page just passed 2,000 likes! I would like to thank each of you for following along and sharing my posts so that I reach a wider audience. As long as I continue to explore, create and share with the world, I am right where I need to be.

Cheers!

Colin

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Calypso Orchids

The calypso orchid (calypso bulbosa), also known as the fairy slipper, is a species of orchid that is widely distributed throughout the circumpolar region, inhabiting Europe, Asia and North America. Despite its wide range, it can be very elusive and easily overlooked, as it is typically low to the ground (10-14 cm). They are very susceptible to disturbances in their environment and are therefore listed as endangered or threatened in some states as well as Scandinavia. If you walk slowly and look closely, you can find calypso orchids along some of the trails here at the the Eagle River Nature Center, just be sure to watch your step!