Himba village, Nambia, October 2021
The last full moon of 2020 taken, just after sunrise this morning. We're in perpetual shade at this end of Eagle River Valley for few more weeks and with the lack of recent snow, black and white felt appropriate for this image.
Have a safe and Happy New Year, and thank you for following along!
Colin
Hello everyone!
I am discounting all prints on my website through the month of December! You can save 20% on canvas or high-gloss and 10% on metal prints using the following codes at checkout: HIGHGLOSS2020/CANVAS2020/METAL2020. Whether you'd like to share my images with a loved one or deck your own halls, you can take advantage of these discounts all month long. Note: Both canvas and metal prints arrive ready to hang on the wall and I can ship almost anywhere. Message me if you have any questions.
Thank you all for following along and feel free to share!
Have a beautiful season,
Colin
"Íslensk Ást - Icelandic Love" Eastern Highlands, Iceland. Purchase this print: colintyler.com/online-store
Male Lynx, Chugach State Park, Alaska. Purchase this print: colintyler.com/online-store
Bull Moose in Fireweed, Chugach State Park, Alaska. Purchase this print: colintyler.com/online-store
Hey Everyone! You may recall that last summer I was able to join local owl enthusiast, Andrew Fisher, while he checked the activity in nesting boxes he had built & placed around the Anchorage area. Later in the season, I went out with him again along with a biologist from the State of Alaska and documented the banding of saw-whet fledglings. I am excited to say that Andrew will be giving a presentation on his owl boxes for the Eagle River Nature Center via Zoom this Sunday at 2pm (AKST). I will be attending virtually and you can too! Follow this link to register: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUrcOmvrjojHNDq1dYitqrPYzjmANokF3Hc?fbclid=IwAR3TTTGsXnx4F1vFSdAduHIA6-L5tWLDNlpsVsLfPGjfn7wIPmPRaMvp7RY
Thank you and I hope you can join us!
Colin
Sw-whet owl fledglings
Daylight is fading quickly here. The amount of direct sun that hits this corner of the valley is now measured in minutes and soon we’ll be in perpetual shade until after the new year. Pondering this, I recently discovered a new scene from a familiar location. The low-lying clouds parted just enough to reveal Eagle Peak with the sun passing behind the summit, almost creating a portal into the next season.
This was taken from the Beaver Deck at the Eagle River Nature Center on November 14 at approximately 12:30 pm. Our naturalist has created an online project to document the seasonal transitions from this exact spot and everybody is encouraged to participate. On the right corner of the viewing deck you will see a sign on the handrail with instructions for sharing your photo to Facebook or Instagram using the hashtag #erncwatch. Be sure to include the date & time along with any other observations and your photos will help show the changes throughout an entire year!
Have a great week out there and thank you for following along,
Colin
I witnessed another lynx family recently as they were crossing a frozen river. The mother went first and the kittens followed, one at a time and very apprehensively until all of them had crossed. There have been a lot of lynx in my life lately. It feels symbolic and ultimately, they may end up teaching me more about myself and my own journey.
Have a great week out there and let's hope for civility and cooperation as we navigate the coming days.
Colin
A kitten leaps over the darker, thinner river ice to reach its mother on the other side.
I was focused on the timid kitten near the edge when another darted across the frame.
Happy National Cat Day 2020! I've long considered myself a cat lover, both domestic and wild. I think this mother lynx realized that.
That's all for meow,
🐯Colin
Happy Monday, everyone! Here's another lynx kitten to start your week.
While on the topic of lynx, you should be aware that the Alaska Department of Fish & Game has issued an emergency order to open lynx hunting and trapping in Chugach State Park. On September 21st the Alaska Wildlife Alliance, Friends of Chugach State Park, and Anchorage attorney Kneeland Taylor filed a petition to close the upcoming lynx hunting and trapping season. The public comment period has ended but if you would like to read their petition and learn more about what the Alaska Wildlife Alliance does, you can visit their Facebook page or their website: https://www.akwildlife.org/. I am a member and truly hope they will be able to prevent this from happening. Lynx populations are cyclical and based on the boom and bust cycle of snowshoe hares, their primary food source. While lynx sightings have been more common in recent years they are still rare, generally speaking, and will soon be less frequent as the hare population declines. This petition does not seek to prevent the taking of lynx statewide, but only in Chugach State Park where people recreate and might have the unique opportunity to view one of these elusive creatures in the wild.
Thank you,
Colin
It certainly has been a productive week for wildlife photography! Yesterday I decided to visit another area in hopes of finding moose. I bumped into an old friend/photographer and this beautiful bull moved into position for us in the last bit of afternoon light as the sun was skirting the top of a mountain across the valley.
I would also like to point out that this bull was bedded down next to a cow for nearly two hours while we waited patiently from a good distance for them to move. In that time, they were roused three times by unleashed dogs, the final one lasting for several minutes while the owner clearly had no control over the situation as the dog was aggressively approaching the bull. Both moose charged out of the brush, at which point we quickly retreated behind a group of trees until the situation was calm and the dog was finally leashed. Leashes are required in some areas but when they're not it is up to the owner to maintain control of their dog. Not only were these animals harassed while they were resting, it also put the dog, the owner, and everyone else in the vicinity in immediate danger. This wasn't the first time this has happened and likely won't be the last, but if I can persuade just one dog owner to take responsibility then my message will not have been in vain.
Thank you,
Colin
As I mentioned yesterday, photographing lynx in their natural habitat presents challenges. Inevitably, tree branches and other vegetation hinder efforts to get an unobstructed photo but when you do find a narrow window, you can use the surrounding out of focus elements to frame your subject. With an aperture of f/7.1, the depth of field was sufficient to maintain sharp detail from the lynx’s nose to the tips of its ears while the foreground and background are soft and don’t distract from the subject. This might be my favorite image from the series.
Have a great day out there and thank you for following my journey.
Colin
Warning: cuteness overload!
Baby lynx - this little feline was born last spring and will stay with its mother for roughly ten months, at which point the mother is ready to mate again. They can bear litters every year, depending on food supply.
Lynx live in thick forests with lots of undergrowth, which are home to their main food source - snowshoe hares. This also makes it difficult to photograph them. I found myself in many awkward positions yesterday, trying to find unobstructed views. This moment was brief as it was snuggled up to its mother but I was able to make a couple of nice images.
Enjoy, and thank you for following along.
Colin
Yesterday marked 153 years since Alaska was purchased from Russia in 1867, though the holiday is being observed today, Monday, October 19. I could not have asked for better company to spend this special day with - a mother lynx with kits.
Happy Alaska Day, 2020!
Colin
Last light of the day in Sable Pass, Denali National Park. The fall colors are going fast here, soon to be (hopefully) covered with fresh snow as it makes its way further down the mountains with each passing storm.
Have a great Monday, wherever you are.
Colin
Here's another look at North America's tallest peak, Denali. I'm still editing through photos from my recent trip into the park. Even though the wildlife sightings were scarce, the weather was beautiful and we had great views of "The Tall One" from many different locations.
Hope you enjoy, and thank you for following along!
Colin
After my day in Denali National Park last week, I spent a few days in Fairbanks waiting for the skies to clear in hopes of auroras. On Saturday I drove around the Delta Junction area until I found a great place to set up for the lights. It turned out that I was a day early for the auroras, but I did see and photograph my first northern hawk owl!
Enjoy, and thank you for following along.
Colin
Hello and Happy Autumn, everyone! This is where I spent the autumnal equinox last week - in the shadow of North America's tallest peak. Wildlife sightings weren't as abundant as I'd hoped for but we had wonderful weather in the park with varying perspectives of Denali throughout the day.
There is still plenty of fall color in South Central Alaska but it's going fast, so I will enjoy it while I can. As always, thank you for following along!
Colin
Denali at sunrise, September 22, 2020
Bull moose in fall colors, taken recently on a crisp, sunny morning. This is a healthy bull going into his prime years and next year his antlers will likely grow even larger.
Hey if you or anyone you know is interested in sharpening their camera skills, I have just one spot left in this weekend's "Intermediate Wildlife Photography Class" at the Eagle River Nature Center (Alaska). There will be a Zoom class Friday evening followed by 3-hour individual lessons throughout the weekend. Cost is $85, more details and registration here: https://www.ernc.org/courses/intermediate-wildlife-photography?fbclid=IwAR17nEwWRXVWLYasWBB2eEyZrWmh-2QiU75ERPtamHIGMudmFxMqYhYeSMI
Thank you and feel free to share!
Colin
It feels like we're going headlong into autumn with our first touch of frost this morning. The temps and the colors are changing fast here and it looks like a few sunny days and chilly nights are in store.
Have a great weekend, wherever you are, and thank you for following along!
Colin
Eagle Peak reveals itself as the enveloping morning fog lifts into the sunlight in this time lapse video. It looks like we've got a beautiful weekend ahead of us in South Central AK so get out & enjoy the autumn sunshine if you can!
Thank you for following,
Colin
Being able to stay submerged in 35˚ water for an extended time is a testament to the layers of insulation these bears pack on every year at the end of summer. There weren't many salmon to be had but the photo opportunities were abundant on this morning!
Reminder that I am teaching a wildlife photography class at the Eagle River Nature Center on the weekend of September 18-20. There will be a Zoom class on Friday evening followed by 3-hour individual lessons on Saturday & Sunday and there are only two spots left! Cost is $85, more details and registration here: https://www.ernc.org/courses/intermediate-wildlife-photography?fbclid=IwAR17nEwWRXVWLYasWBB2eEyZrWmh-2QiU75ERPtamHIGMudmFxMqYhYeSMI
Happy Monday out there and thank you for following along. Feel free to share!
Colin
Happy National Wildlife Day 2020! This morning was a little more productive in terms of fauna, with this healthy looking bruin on the lookout for salmon.
This is also a reminder that I am teaching an intermediate wildlife photography class at the Eagle River Nature Center in two weeks. Cost is $85 and there are only two spots left. There will be a Zoom class on Friday evening, September 18, followed by 3-hour individual sessions with everyone throughout the weekend. More details and registration at the following link: https://www.ernc.org/courses/intermediate-wildlife-photography
Thank you for following along and have a great weekend!
Colin
