World Wildlife Day, 2022

Happy World Wildlife Day, 2022! I had the pleasure of photographing several new wildlife species last year while visiting Namibia, which was also my first time in Africa. One memorable encounter was watching this large bull elephant from a ground-level blind in Onguma Game Reserve. While elephant numbers have been on the decline due to poaching and habitat loss, they are thriving in this part of the continent and southern Africa has the world’s largest elephant herds. It’s also worth noting that Namibia is home to at least 50% of the remaining black rhinos. Perhaps more countries will adopt similar policies that have allowed endangered species to thrive.

I look forward to returning to Namibia in October, and I am happy to say that our tour is nearly full! More information at: https://natexpotours.com/

Cheers!

Colin

Aurora Photography Class, March 5

I am happy to offer an aurora photography class once again at the Eagle River Nature Center! If you are in the vicinity of Anchorage/Eagle River (AK) and looking to sharpen your nighttime photography skills while learning to track solar activity so you can be ready when the lights are active, please join me at the visitor center on Saturday, March 5, 2022. The indoor portion begins at 8 pm, followed by a trip to the viewing decks to photograph the night sky and with any luck, aurora borealis!

 Cost is $65 for ERNC members and $75 for non-members; limited to 8 people. Register here: https://www.ernc.org/public-programs.html

Thank you and feel free to share!

 Colin 

Aurora photography class at the Eagle River Nature Center

Caribou Magazine Cover

After more than a decade, I am happy to see this image finally get its due...

I took this in Denali National Park in September, 2010. The scene was perfect - a few mature bull caribou grazing & locking antlers on a ridge with North America's tallest peak (Denali) in the background. I composed in anticipation of it being used for a magazine cover, vertical orientation with one caribou isolated & moving into the frame, and it paid off..

A big thanks to American Essence Magazine and writer Skylar Parker for the wonderful article (I posted last week) and cover story!

Colin

Year of the Tiger

Happy Lunar New Year! And...here's wishing you a great start to the Year of the Tiger 🐅...

I took this in Bandhavgarh National Park, India, in 2013 and it was undoubtedly my most exhilarating experience as a wildlife photographer. Since that time, tiger populations have increased in some critical areas, thanks to the tireless work of NGO's and inter-governmental cooperation: https://www.worldwildlife.org/species/tiger

I look forward to returning to India to lead tours with Nat Expo Tours (http://natexpotours.com/) and once again witnessing wild Bengal tigers in their natural habitat.

PS - this was recognized by Nat Geo editors on the Your Shot page, making the top 10 out of nearly 12,000 images, and recently published in American Essence Magazine...

🐯Colin

Feature Story in American Essence Magazine

Hello Everyone,

It's a nice start to the year when a national magazine puts together a wonderful feature story about you. I was contacted by a staff writer with American Essence Magazine late last year who was searching for an Alaskan photographer to write an essay about and came across my website. We emailed back & forth and did a recorded phone interview right before I left for Namibia. She just finished putting it all together and the article is now in print and online, so I can now share it with you!

It truly is an honor to have been selected for this piece and the writer, Skylar Parker, did a beautiful job of portraying my story and life events that led to where I am today. I hope you will take a few minutes to read it and maybe find some joy and inspiration, and you may want to have a couple tissues nearby...

I attached the PDF's here but you can also link to the story on their website: https://www.americanessence.com/from-ashes-to-beauty_2166.html

As always, thank you for following,

Colin

Double Rainbow, July 2020

For all the challenges that 2020 brought, it was also the year of double rainbows here at the Eagle River Nature Center. I captured a number of nice images that summer and this one was in use last year by AT&T Alascom on their 2021 poster calendar. I've now added it to my website and online store, available on canvas, metal, and high-gloss photo paper

Wishing you all double rainbows in the year ahead...

Colin

Double Rainbow at the Eagle River Nature Center, July 2020

Oryx Closeup

Oryx/gemsbok in Onguma Private Game Reserve, Namibia. These truly are one of my favorite animals to observe and photograph. The markings & spiraled horns are remarkable and as much as I loved photographing them in the dunes of the Namib Desert, I was happy to get this closeup from a low perspective.

This was taken from the famous ground-level hide in Onguma, where we will be on days 9, 10 & 11 of the October 2022 tour with Nat Expo Tours. We still have two spots/one room available. More details here: https://naturalexposurestours.com/2022-namibia-tour/

Cheers!

Colin

Oryx in Onguma Private Game Reserve, Namibia

Dunes of the Namib Desert

Dunes of the Namib Desert, Swakopmund & Sesriem, Namibia.

I don't believe one could ever grow tired of photographing these dunes. The shapes, textures, and tones are constantly shifting, and each day is new canvas...

Taken in October 2021 with Nat Expo Tours. Our October 2022 Namibia Tour is nearly full. Please visit our page for more info or to join the waitlist for 2023: https://natexpotours.com/

Cheers!

Colin

Sand dune near Swakopmund, Namibia

Swakopmund, Namibia

Photographing the dunes of Sesriem, Namibia

Photographing the dunes of Sesriem, Namibia

Photographing the dunes of Sesriem, Namibia

Photographing the dunes of Sesriem, Namibia

Oryx of Sesriem, Namibia

I certainly have developed a reverence for the oryx, also known as gemsbok. Whether it's their unique masks & markings, spiraled horns, the environment they inhabit or some combination thereof, they are one my favorite species from Namibia.

In other Namibia-related news, our October 2022 tour is now 60% full and it looks like two more guests will register in the near future, leaving only two spots/one room still available. Please contact me if you or anyone you know might be interested in joining us.

Happy New Year!

Colin

Taken in October 2021 with Nat Expo Tours

Red Dawn

We sure had a colorful start to the day yesterday morning!

Being tucked away back here in the valley, we don't have an expansive view of the sky compared to being outside the front range (Anchorage) and are in fact halfway through two months of perpetual shade. As sunrise drew closer, the cloud layer grew thick and the color faded, right after I started shooting a time lapse video...

Colin

PS - if you received this via email, you’ll have to click “View in browser” to watch the short time lapse video

Zebra Patterns

Just like a tiger's stripes, the rosettes on a spotted leopard or a human fingerprint, the black & white pattern of a zebra is unique to each individual animal (almost like a walking barcode). Once you have the opportunity to observe large numbers of them at close range, you begin to identify and appreciate individual patterns...

Etosha National Park, Namibia

Colin

Winter's Tone

This is the start of my eighth winter here at the Eagle River Nature Center and it has undoubtedly been the best season we've had in terms of a snow-blanketed landscape, soft winter tones, and excellent skiing conditions. Wildlife activity has been slow recently but the scenery is breathtaking...

As always, thank you for following,

Colin

Taken from the Albert Loop Trail, Eagle River Nature Center, Alaska

October 2022 Namibia Tour

Hello Everyone!

I hope you had a great Thanksgiving holiday. I am excited to share this video we recently put together after last month’s trip to Namibia, as well as the details & itinerary for the October 2022 Namibia Tour with Nat Expo Tours!

Dates are October 17 – 28, 2022. Cost is $6,495 before discounts (based on double occupancy) and includes all transportation & lodging in Namibia (airfare not included), all local tours & park fees, plus breakfast & dinner most days (see full itinerary for details). We have made all the arrangements and hired drivers, which will allow us to watch more closely for wildlife & photo ops while offering more assistance to our guests. For more information, please visit our website: https://natexpotours.com/

Returning guests will receive a guaranteed 10% off this and all future tours. New guests can take advantage of the early-booking discounts of $250 per individual or $600 for a couple/pair who share a room. As of now, the tour is 50% full, so please contact us if you would like to register. A deposit of $1,500 will hold your spot with the remainder due in July, 2022.

Thank you for following. I hope you enjoy the video and please share!

Colin

Namibia with Nat Expo Tours

The Warthog, aka "Pumbaa"

The warthog, aka Pumbaa (pumbas africanas) - perhaps the cutest and most misnamed creature on the African continent. With a respectable set of tusks, nature's mullet and a face that any mother could love, they just might be my new favorite animal (behind the oryx).

Onguma Private Game Reserve, Namibia, October 2021. We will be visiting Onguma on Days 9, 10, & 11 of the October 2022 Namibia Tour. Details for the tour will be announce this Friday, Nov. 26 at Nat Expo Tours, so please give us a follow & share!

Cheers!

Colin

Lynx Presentation on YouTube

Hello Everyone,

I enjoyed presenting for the Alaska Wildlife Alliance’s “Wildlife Wednesday” program last week and have received a lot of great feedback. If you weren’t able to watch my presentation on Alaska’s lynx, you can still view it here on the AWA YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GBsG6xau9is.

If you’re an avid YouTuber, please visit my new Colin Tyler Photography channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyk_1tMJRT-LwV166he5H7g and be sure to subscribe!

As always, thank you for following along,

Colin

Male Canada Lynx, Eagle River Nature Center/Chugach State Park, Alaska

Sesriem in Black & White

Sesriem National Park, Namibia. A study in tones, lines, and scale. While the warm hues in the sand and rich blue skies were saturated and visually appealing, I was often envisioning black & white when shooting the landscape..

We will be visiting Sesriem and Sossusvlei on Days 2 & 3 of the October 2022 Namibia Tour. Itinerary & details will be shared soon on the Nat Expo Tours website.

Have a great weekend out there and thank you for following!

Colin

Oryx/gemsbok in Sesriem National Park, Namibia

Hikers atop the dune surrounding Sossusvlei dry ancient lake bed, Namibia

Perhaps the most photographed dune in Sesriem National Park, Namibia

Wildlife Wednesday Lynx Presentation

Hello friends and wild cat lovers,

Tomorrow evening (November 10) at 7 pm AKST/ 10 pm CST, I will be giving a Zoom presentation on Alaska’s lynx for the Alaska Wildlife Alliance. The program is free and open to the public. You can register here: https://www.akwildlife.org/new-events/2021/wildlife-wednesday-alaskas-lynx. It will also be shared on their YouTube page afterward.

You can also learn more about the Alaska Wildlife Alliance and become a member on their website. I joined last year and am happy to be a part of this wonderful organization, which helps safeguard Alaska’s wildlife.

I hope to see you there!

Colin