Great Horned Owl

Exactly one year ago, a pair of great horned owls began making regular appearances on my evening walks near the Nature Center. After a few days of observing them, I began to pick up on some of their behaviors and routines and for the next month, I spent countless hours photographing them, often while they were hunting. With the current abundance of food in the area (ducklings), I've been scanning the trees, hoping for an owl sighting. Yesterday evening, I got that opportunity.

Homer Life

Well, I got my limit of annual limit of salmon dip-netting on the Kenai River so I decided to head down to Homer and camp on the beach for a couple days. Good evening from the Homer Spit, one of my absolute favorite places on the planet!

Fall Photography Workshop

July is almost past and soon autumn will be upon us, so it's not too early to gear up for a fall color photography class. If you are in the area and interested in learning more about your digital camera and photographing nature, this all-day class is for you! It will be held on Saturday, September 17 at the Eagle River Nature Center from 9 am until approximately 5 pm. The first couple hours will be inside and, weather permitting, we will spend the remainder of the day outside photographing fall colors in beautiful Eagle River Valley. The cost is normally $95 but due to an error in my accounting department (me), it is just $75 this time. Class is limited to ten people and we already have some registered, so do not hesitate if you or someone you know might be interested. Call (907) 694-2108 to sign up.

Please share. Cheers!

Colin

Where I Go

This is my peaceful little corner of the world, where I go to ease my mind and ponder life. Sometimes I return with new images to share, other days I just go out to breathe and let go of residual stress. Either way, I always gain a sense of calm and feeling of gratitude, which keeps me in balance and ultimately enhances my artwork.

Our hearts are heavy today, after recent events in this country and around the world. For the life of me, I do not understand why we, as a species, simply cannot get along and learn to live together in harmony. I encourage all of you to find your own happy place, your own little corner of the world and spend just a few minutes there each day to unwind and find solace. If everyone did this, we would have a much more peaceful existence. Have a great weekend everybody. Be safe, be peaceful, and be the change you want to see in the world.

Coli

Various Water Crossings on the Crow Pass Trail

Keeping your feet dry on the Crow Pass Trail can be a chore, to say the least. Here are some of the various water crossings on the Eagle River side. Since I was carrying a lot of precious camera gear, I opted not to use on the logs at both Icicle and Thunder creeks and instead found shallower water to ford across. Have a great 4th of July, and be sure to get outside! Remember, all canvas prints at my online store are marked down 25% this week, use the promo code "JULY42016" at checkout.

Cheers!

Colin

4th of July Canvas Special - 25% off all canvas prints!

Happy 4th of July, friends!! Have fun out there, be safe and most of all, be friendly. For the next week, this bald eagle print (going back to the days of film with my first magazine cover shot here) and all gallery wrapped canvas prints are marked down 25% on my store: Enter the following code at checkout: JULY42016 

Please share.

Cheers!

Colin

Common Mergansers

I was photographing a moose late yesterday evening when I heard something splashing in the creek behind me. I turned around, expecting to find another moose; instead I saw this family of common mergansers. I hadn't seen the female in a couple weeks; apparently she's been busy!

 

Alaska Magazine

I recently had the privilege of authoring an article about moose for Alaska Magazine. If you are a subscriber, you will find it in the newest July/August issue. It is also available in magazine stands throughout Alaska - you won’t miss the stunning wolf image on the cover! You can read the article here, but I would suggest picking up the latest issue and perusing the summer wildlife photo essay and other great articles, it is an excellent resource if you are planning a trip to Alaska or if you like to read about adventure and life on the Last Frontier. You can also subscribe here.

Let me know what you think, and if you learned a thing or two about Alaska’s majestic moose…

Thank you,

Colin

 

 

The Edge of the Day

The most dramatic light is always on the edge of the day. Sunset over Eagle River, taken one week ago on my backcountry trek on the Crow Pass Trail with my good friend Tyler Howie. This was just before midnight as we were approaching Thunder Gorge, where we set up our camp. The rain let up and the sky was beautiful, so much that I chose to sleep on the gravel bar along the river rather than in the tent.

Solstice Sunset

The sun set on the longest day of the year this past week and the pendulum now swings in the other direction. From now until December 21, we will be losing daylight in the Northern Hemisphere while the southern half of the planet begins to gain light each day - perfect for my journey to Australia in November! After looking through my images from the backcountry camping adventure, I feel vindicated in adding 25 pounds of camera gear to my pack and lugging it nearly 30 miles over two days on the Crow Pass Trail. This is a two-minute exposure, taken just after midnight with a Nikon D700 camera body and 17-35mm lens, using a ten-stop neutral density filter system ("The Big Stopper") from Lee Filters. Happy summer to everyone north of the equator!

 

 

Journey Through the Rain

It's amazing what a little bit of fill flash can do for a photo on a dreary day! We began our hike in the pouring rain on Monday, but didn't let that dampen our spirits. Freija was not deterred in the least, she kept leading the way, carrying her own food in her little Mountainsmith K-9 Dog Pack. This was taken at The Perch, 4 miles into our journey from the Eagle River Nature Center on the Iditarod Historical Trail. Thanks again to my good friend Tyler Howie for bringing such a great hiking companion!

For a comprehensive article on camping with dogs and more, visit this link at Outside How: https://outsidehow.com/camping-with-dogs.html

Glacier Lake

Glacier Lake - the headwaters of Eagle River. This was the final destination on our trek into the valley. The glacier is visible in the background, roughly 2-3 miles from this point. Originally, Tyler Howie and I planned to hike the Crow Pass Trail over from Girdwood but a portion of the trail is currently closed due to a dead moose lying next to the trail, which creates a potentially dangerous situation if a bear should be guarding the kill. Instead, we decided to hike from the Friends of Eagle River Nature Center, where I reside, up to the lake and back.

Solstice Trek in Eagle River Valley

Returned from backcountry trip into Eagle River Valley late last night, exhausted and sore from hiking nearly 30 miles with fifty pound packs. We made it to Thunder Gorge on Monday evening and up to the Glacier Lake on Tuesday. Freija was an excellent traveling companion, crossing turbulent glacial rivers and leading the way for much of the trek. More photos to come...

Colin

Sunset Moon

Last night's sunset moon, taken at approximately 11:15 pm. These are the longest days of the year - after next Tuesday, June 21, we will slowly start losing daylight, going from almost 19 hours of daylight to less than 6 hours by December 21. This time of year is exhausting for those of use who chase light, even the moon appeared to be taking a rest on the mountain.

Little Climber

Black bears are excellent climbers; you might even say that cubs have "squirrel-like" agility, which serves as an escape mechanism when there is perceived danger. If you compare the claws of a black bear to those of a brown/grizzly bear, the difference is easy to spot, making it apparent how black bears are suited for climbing trees while grizzlies have claws designed for digging.