Yesterday morning was brisk when I set out on my skis and I wasn’t sure how long I would last. Cold temperatures make for clear skies - we’ve been getting down as low as -15˚F at night and I have not seen a cloud in the sky for several days. Around 9:30 am, the sun made its way over the mountains and onto the valley floor, bringing a warm sense of relief. After the penetrating cold left my face and hands, I decided to keep skiing up the frozen river. Eight hours and approximately 15 miles later, I finally returned home, exhausted after another beautiful day in Eagle River Valley.
My Side of the Mountain
Until very recently, the sun had not shone on these slopes since sometime in mid-autumn. Even if the negative temperatures don’t signal change, spring truly is in the air. Since December 21 of last year, the amount of daylight has literally doubled and we are gaining in leaps and bounds from now until summer, when the pendulum of light will begin to swing the other way again. With the cold, clear skies we’ve had, the evening light on Eagle Peak and surrounding mountains has been pristine.
Winter Photography Class
I had six students and very obedient yellow lab named Charlie at my winter photography class this past Saturday, which is pretty good considering most people (and dogs) were down at the ceremonial start of the Iditarod Dogsled Race in Anchorage. Of course, Charlie wasn't taking photos but she did make a great model and showed off her Zen-like focus and treat-catching skills.
Thank you to everyone who attended. My next class here at the Nature Center will probably take place in June. The aurora workshop on March 18 is full. I am also available for individual or group instruction, please message me if you are interested in a photography lesson.
Colin
World Wildlife Day 2017
Happy World Wildlife Day 2017. On this date in 1973, representatives from 80 nations met in Washington D.C. to pass the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (https://cites.org/eng/disc/what.php) to ensure that international trade in wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival. The focus this year is on Asian and African Elephants. Here is a pair of baby Asian elephants in Kaziranga National Park, Assam, India, eating what is simply known as elephant grass. This year's theme is ‘The future of wildlife is in our hands’ and with elephant populations rapidly dwindling in parts of the world, it may be truer than ever. Find out how you can get involved: http://wildlifeday.org/
Unconventional Life
Here is a bit of positive news to start your week. A local Alaskan newspaper, Echo News, just published a nice story about me. Many thanks to The Echo and writer Melinda Munson for this recognition; I am honored. As the title implies, my life has been anything but conventional and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Please take a look and as always, thank you for following along on my journey.
Colin
Click on the image to link to the story.
More Snow!
This is a beautiful sight - almost 3 feet of snow on the ground and there are giant flakes falling as I type this. Some will curse the snow but I will always welcome it. What's the point of living in Alaska if you don't embrace the beauty of winter? Going into my third year of living here at the Nature Center and we're finally getting a true Alaskan winter. I've put more miles on my skis in the past few weeks than I did the two years prior.
Colin
Injured Moose
I went out skiing with my camera gear earlier today, hoping to catch a colorful morning sky. On they way to my favorite location, I came upon a cow moose browsing next to the trail. Not wanting to startle her by passing by closely or risk being charged, I skied into the trees and made a wide arc, coming back out further up the trail where I could get some photos of her. A few minutes later, another moose stepped out onto the trail and joined her. I could see that they wanted to walk the trail past me, so I stepped behind a stand of trees, allowing them to pass by safely. After they walked past, I noticed the first moose had an injured hind leg. There wasn’t an open wound but the leg was obviously deformed, probably from an injury that she acquired long ago, possibly caused by a bear. She was limping along and I can only imagine that traveling through deep snow must be very challenging for her. The experience served as a reminder that humans need to give wildlife ample space to go about their routine, for our safety and theirs. If the moose had been frightened and run off into the woods to avoid me, she would have exerted a lot of energy, a situation that could prove fatal in the dead of winter. As a wildlife photographer, the welfare of your subject should always be the top priority.
Winter Landscape Photography Class
There is no solitude like that of a quiet winter day. After two rather mild years, we are having what many Alaskans are referring to as a "real winter." Every snowfall brings a fresh look to the valley and familiar scenes take on a new light.
Speaking of new light, I still have a few spaces left in my all-day winter landscape photography class on Saturday, March 4, at the Eagle River Nature Center. If you are interested, please call (907) 694-2108 to register. Cost is $75 and limited to 10 people. Feel free to share and thank you for following along!
Cheers,
Colin
Wiley Coyote
Today I had an encounter with one of the most intelligent and beautiful creatures of the forest - the coyote. We have a good population of coyotes here in Eagle River Valley and they tend to be very large, often mistaken for wolves. This individual was quite curious, allowing me to observe and photograph for several minutes.
Icy River Rampage 2017
One of my favorite events to shoot every year - the Icy River Rampage fatbike race at the Eagle River Nature Center. We were at full capacity today with 100 racers for the 5th annual race. The conditions were excellent and the light was superb!
Racers: I've got several hundred images to edit through. I did my best to get photos of everyone but that's not always possible. I will be posting more in the next couple of days. If you are interested in purchasing your image as either a digital file or a print, please message me with your bib # and I will search through my photos. I will create a link at my online store to make the process easy.
Cheers to all the brave souls who pushed on through the cold temps today! More to come...
Colin
Frozen beards led the pack today...
Return of the Sun
After a two-month absence, the sun is gradually returning to Eagle River Valley, reaching the valley floor a few minutes more each day. One year ago I took a similar photo but the landscape was brown and drab. I'm grateful for all the snow we've received this season, it looks and feels like winter in Alaska, once again!
Warm & Windy Weather
It's been warm & windy in Eagle River Valley for the past 24 hours - temps above freezing and the snow has blown off trees. We've gotten upwards of 3 feet of snow this month, probably more than the past two winters combined. I'm hoping the forecast is accurate and the temp drops again tomorrow to preserve the winter wonderland and keep the river frozen for our annual Icy River Rampage fatbike race this Saturday at the Nature Center.
Photography classes this winter...
Hello and happy Wednesday! Just a heads-up for those of you in the Anchorage/Eagle River/Mat-su area that may be looking to gain a better understanding of digital photography and sharpen your shooting skills, I will be offering two classes at the Eagle River Nature Center in March. The first is an intro to winter photography on Saturday, March 4, from 9 am until approximately 5 pm, focused on basic camera functions and shooting in manual mode. The second is an aurora photography workshop on the evening of Saturday, March 18, beginning at 8 pm and should wrap up by 1 am at the latest. Each class is $75 and limited to the first 10 people registered. Both will begin with an indoor portion and then move outside, so dress accordingly and be prepared to do some winter hiking. Call the Nature Center at (907) 694-2108 to sign up or email me if you have any questions - mail@colintyler.com
Feel free to share!
Colin
17 inches of fresh snow and counting...
It's been a few years since we've had a winter wonderland back here in Eagle River Valley. Last year at this time the landscape was brown and the trails were a mix of ice and mud. We've gotten 17 inches over the past two days with more on the way. I'm getting ready to leave for Minnesota to visit family and had to ski out to my favorite spot today to soak up the scenery. Have a great week and be safe on the roads out there, a winter storm warning is in effect for South Central Alaska. Thank you for following along!
Colin
Moonlight Skiing on Eagle River
What do you do when the temperature is approaching -15˚F (-26˚C) and the moon is full? Grab your touring skis and explore the frozen river under the bright moonlight! I've been scoping out this location for a while now, just waiting for the right conditions to get out and do some shooting. Directly behind me are Kiliak and Yukla mountains, both peaks reaching more than 7,000 feet. Have a great weekend and get outside, even if it's a bit chilly!
Colin
Crescent Moon & Venus
"Counting stars by candlelight, all are dim but one is bright;
The spiral light of Venus, rising first and shining best,
On, from the northwest corner, of a brand new crescent moon,
While crickets and cicadas sing, a rare and different tune,
Terrapin station." (Robert Hunter/Jerry Garcia)
This was taken just a few minutes ago over Eagle Peak, Chugach State Park. If you have clear skies right now you should be able to see the crescent moon and Venus on the southwestern horizon.
Colin
My Most Popular Image of 2016
On a frosty morning last October I set out with the intention of creating an image that would give my page a boost - I had a slide show & print sale coming up and my trip to Australia was just a few weeks away. Knowing the light pattern in the valley and the habits of this particular bear, I had envisioned an image in my mind’s eye, capturing it was a matter of being in the right place at the right time – timing is everything, after all. When I saw the bear in the distance that morning, I instantly had a feeling that a unique opportunity would be presented. After fine-tuning my exposure and checking camera settings, I positioned myself and composed in anticipation of this brief moment, which became my most popular image of 2016. In addition to giving my page a boost, this photograph made my trip to Australia much more feasible, proving once again that timing is everything.
This bear now adorns the walls of several homes and is also on page 13 in the current issue of Alaska Magazine. I am forever grateful for being in the right place with the right light at the perfect moment. Here’s looking forward to more moments like this in the New Year. As always, thank you for following along and supporting me, allowing me to continue to explore this big, beautiful world and share my experiences. All the best for 2017 and beyond!
Colin
Last Light of the Day, January 1, 2017
The last light of the day bathing the top of Mt. Kiliak, 4 pm, January 1, 2017. I just returned from a hike on frozen Eagle River followed by a trek over Dew Mound, searching out new locations and watching the gradual return of the light. In just a few weeks, the sun will begin reaching the valley floor again.
Happy New Year and best wishes for 2017!
Colin
Blue Christmas
Taken one year ago with an Elvis song playing in my head. I am going to get outside for a while today. Anybody else planning to enjoy the great outdoors on this Christmas Day?
Merry Christmas from Eagle River Valley, Alaska,
Colin
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
