Thunder Down Under, Kangaroo Island, Australia

"Can't you hear, can't you hear that thunder?

You better run, you better take cover, yeah."

Shortly after arriving to Kangaroo Island Australia today, I was greeted by one of the most brilliant and powerful storms I have ever experienced. Skies like these are rare in Alaska, so I fired off as many frames as I could before my gear was being pelted by beach sand and salt spray.
I made it back to the van just before the heavy bombardment of hail began.

I should have arrived at my campsite by now, I am still in the town of Penneshaw and have a couple hours of driving ahead of me to reach the west end of the island, but the purpose is to share my experiences, and this was a beautiful moment. Once again it is the journey, not the destination, that tells the story.

Colin

Leaving the Great Ocean Road, on to Kangaroo Island

G'day all! Currently aboard the ferry out to Kangaroo Island. Yesterday was a long day of driving and I am looking forward to being on the island for the next 3 days. I don't have much down time to edit or write but I have a lot to share. Wifi is spotty here, I usually have to find a cafe that offers wifi with a purchase to update my Facebook page, website, and Instagram, check emails and map out my next driving route. After my time on the island, I will drive up to Adelaide for a couple days to visit a friend and take a break from being on the road. From there, I will either head north into the Flinders Ranges to get a taste of the outback or, depending on the weather forecast and what my intuition tells me, I may venture back down to the Great Ocean Road for the remainder of my journey. Right now, the ocean is calling me back...

Cheers!

Colin

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

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Great Ocean Road, Victoria, Australia

No great story comes without some bit of adversity, this I know.  Today was a classic example. I arrived in Australia just four days ago, early in the morning of November 3. I could have easily slept when I got to my hostel, I was exhausted, but it was a beautiful day and I was staying a mere five minutes from the beach, I wanted to get out and soak up the vibe.

That night I got decent rest and was up early to catch the sunrise the following day. Soon afterward, I picked up my camper van, grabbed some groceries and somehow found my way out of Sydney in heavy traffic while adjusting to driving on the other side of the road. I drove to Jervis Bay and met up with a mate I crossed paths with in India three years ago. We camped and went for a good hike the next morning and had a swim in the ocean before I was on my way to the next destination. Since then, I’ve covered well over 1,000 km’s with the van. I was up at 5 am today to make use of all the available light I had at Wilson’s Promontory. The images I captured certainly made the drive down there worthwhile, and I will likely return someday and spend more time, it was spectacular.

In my haste to edit photos, pack up and hit the road today, I left my AC power adaptor, extension cord, camera battery charger and a battery plugged in at my site in the Tidal River Campground, all of which I desperately need. I realized this when I was nearing Melbourne, three hours later.  In a state of semi-panic, I found a shopping center and located an electronics store, who then put me in touch with a camera store in the next town who had a charger that isn’t the same as the one I’d brought, but it would will for now. I also called the visitor center back at Wilson’s Promontory and thankfully, they’d found everything I left behind and are going to mail it to my friend in Adelaide, whom I will be visiting next week. After a while, I was able to look back and laugh it off. It cost me a few hours, a little extra money and some frustration, but it’s going to be fine. In the end, there is always a lesson. I need to slow down, I need to breathe, I need to rest.

The next few days will be spent covering a much smaller area and should give me a chance to slow my pace a bit. Tonight, I am going to rest, my body is telling me I need it. Goodnight from the Great Ocean Road, Victoria, Australia. This place is powerful, and humbling.

Coli

Wilson's Promontory, Victoria, Australia

G'day everyone! I'm checking in from the southernmost part of mainland Australia. It's taken me a few ways to adjust to being on the other side of the world, the time change, living out of a camper van and driving on the other side of the road but I feel I am getting settled into the groove. I spent the night at Wilson't Promontory - the opportunities were plentiful and I encountered a number of species including wombats, wallabies, emus and several other birds, even the kookaburra. The wombats are quite unique and seem to be a type of badger with the body shape of a pig and the face of a teddy bear. They are very docile; in fact I nearly tripped over one while making dinner next to my van last night. I'm on my way through Melbourne and on to the Great Ocean Road for 2-3 days before heading out to Kangaroo Island on Friday. As always, thank you for following along.

Cheers!

Colin

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

Tasman Sea

Thinking back to the last time I stood in the Tasman Sea - New Zealand 2014. I am about to embark on my first journey to Australia, which will find me looking across this same body of water from the other shore. I should arrive in Sydney tomorrow, which, after crossing the International Date Line, will be November 3 in Oz. What lies ahead remains a mystery, as it should. Please stay tuned...

"There is no security on this earth, there is only opportunity." (Douglas MacArthur)

Colin

"Beary Inspired"

As I have stated before, when I create an image that evokes an emotional response from my viewers, then I have succeeded as an artist. Beyond that, there may be no greater compliment than to hear that my work has inspired someone else to create something beautiful, whether it is with a camera or other medium. After posting one of my recent bear photos, I was contacted by an artist who had been inspired to paint the image on canvas. As promised, she sent me a digital copy of the completed work. Thank you, Maureen Clarke, I am honored that you have created your vision of this bear in early morning light and shared it with me. I am inspired to continue creating and sharing with the world.

Man & Best Backcountry Friend

Here is another image of and his faithful companion Freija, who is sporting her K-9 pack from Mountainsmith on our trek over the Crow Pass Trail last month. Recently, I've been catching up on editing photos in the lead-up to my Australian journey, which is barely one week away! In doing so, I am able to relive past moments and reminisce about what I was thinking and feeling at the time when an image was created. I took this just after we crossed Crow Pass and were passing by Raven Glacier. The sun had dipped behind the mountaintops and the temperature dropped sharply as we began our descent toward Eagle River Valley with a punishing headwind. The valley below was bathed in warm light, the last of which we would experience as the rain arrived the following morning and persisted throughout the rest of the trek. This was the turning point, when I realized we had truly left our creature comforts behind and were now at the mercy of the weather and the Alaskan backcountry. Stepping outside of one's comfort zone, this is when the best moments happen.

Waiting on a moose...

Wildlife photography involves a lot of waiting, sometimes for hours, for what typically amounts to just a few minutes or even mere seconds of shooting. During the down times, one is constantly making adjustments for changing light and any shift in an animal's behavior, to be ready for the moment when everything comes together. We stood in the cold for hours today, waiting for this massive bull moose (pictured in the background) to get up and move about, which he did just as soon as the light faded. All in all it was a good day - we got nice footage of a cow & calf in the fresh snow this morning. 

Today was my final day guiding the film crew. I have thoroughly enjoyed this opportunity and look forward to future endeavors. It will air on British TV next year and I hope my mates can get me a copy; I would love to see the final edit of the wildlife and scenery we've been chasing all week! Now to get ready for tomorrow's slide show & print sale - 2 pm at the Friends of Eagle River Nature Center. I hope to see you there!

Cheers,

Colin

Moose Facts

Two fun moose facts for you: 

1. Moose have no upper front teeth. They have eight sharp incisors for cutting and molars & premolars for grinding their food. 

2. It was previously believed that moose would strip and eat the bark of aspen trees only out of desperation in winter months when food was scarce. After further research, it turns out the under layer may hold some nutritional value, as this bull is demonstrating here. 

Thankfully, the film crew was able to capture this today for their documentary assignment. Another great day on the job!

Limited Edition Signed & Numbered Bear Print with 2017 Aurora Borealis Calendar

Hello friends,

My recent morning bear photos have been getting quite a bit of attention online. One of them received more than 8,000 likes on Alaska Magazine's page and I am happy to say this image is currently one of the most popular photographs trending on National Geographic Your Shot. In light of this, I have decided to make a very special, limited offer. I am going to release the very first ten prints on 12x18" metallic finish paper, signed and numbered, for $75.

In addition to the limited edition print, I will include a personalized 2017 Aurora Borealis Calendar, a $20 value. My photo is on the month of February, which I will sign for you, and the rest of the calendar showcases the work of 12 other photographers from Alaska and northern Canada. Every purchase helps fund my next adventure and allows me to continue exploring, creating and sharing with the world. Follow the link to make a purchase and please share: http://www.colintyler.com/…/signed-and-numbered-autumn-sunr…

As always, thank you for following along!

Colin

Autumn Morning Bear

A conceptual photograph involves much more than simply documenting a subject. When I am able to combine the elements to convey the mood of a scene and evoke an emotional response from my viewers, then I have succeeded in creating a truly artistic image.
 
Another crisp morning to start the day. In just over a month, the sun will drop behind the mountains and we will be in the shade until late January. I am going to miss this autumn light and most of all, this bear.

Early Morning Reflected Light

It is true that the early bird gets the worm; this is why I love early morning autumn solitude. Living in a valley where the sun does not reach until late morning, I've learned to use reflected light on my subjects, which, in my opinion, can be more dramatic than direct light. Knowing this, I was able to position myself in anticipation of capturing this moment.