Christmas Moose

Christmas Moose.

Hope everyone had a nice holiday! I was able to get outside to capture some moose photos in the deep snow (we still have close to 30" on the ground). This was one of three bulls that were feeding together and as you can see, he had a branch stuck in his headgear that wouldn't fall off. Two bulls still had their antlers and one had already shed his for the season.

Thank you to everyone who has pre-ordered copies of my upcoming limited edition book, "Seasons of the Nature Center" (cover photo in first comment). The orders keep coming in and my end-of-year goal is now 200 books! Cost is $30 + $10 shipping: https://www.colintyler.com/online-store/seasons-of-the-nature-center-book

I created a separate link for those in Southcentral Alaska who would like to arrange to get their books in person and skip the shipping fee: https://www.colintyler.com/online-store/seasons-of-the-nature-center

For those in the area who have already ordered and paid for shipping, I will gladly deliver your books to you in person.

Thank you,

Colin

 
 
 

2022 Winter Solstice Ice Lantern Walk

Fire and ice at 10˚ below zero.

The annual Winter Solstice Ice Lantern Walk has always been one of my favorite events to photograph here at the Nature Center, and I'm glad I was able to get a few more images this year, my last as a resident staff member. With 3 feet of snow on the ground and subzero temps, conditions were perfect for this celebration of light.

I believe one of these new images is going to make it into my upcoming book, "Seasons of the Nature Center." This will be a limited edition, 9x12" coffee table book with more than 100 pages of my favorite photos from nearly a decade of residence at the Eagle River Nature Center. I am now taking pre-orders for signed copies, $30 + $10 shipping: https://www.colintyler.com/online-store/seasons-of-the-nature-center-book

Thank you for following,

Colin

 
 
 
 

December Morning

This is my favorite time of year for sunrises, when valley is frozen, the sun is hidden behind the mountains, and the morning sky is painted in pastel colors. Taken yesterday at the Eagle River Nature Center.

Have a great day out there and thank you for following along!

Colin

PS - I have now pre-sold 120 copies of my upcoming limited edition book, "Seasons of the Nature Center." Thank you to everyone who has ordered a copy! I look forward to sending them out in the spring. They are available for prepurchasing here: https://www.colintyler.com/online-store/seasons-of-the-nature-center-book

My First Book - "Seasons of the Nature Center"

Hello Friends,

I have a couple of big announcements...

First, I have lived and worked at the Eagle River Nature Center in Alaska since October of 2014, serving as a resident volunteer and later, Assistant Operations Manager. What was supposed to be a winter stay turned into nearly a decade of residence. I could not ask for a better place to reside, work, and grow as an artist. The staff has been very supportive of my career and more than understanding of my travel schedule in recent years, which allowed me to develop a successful international photo tour company with my good friend and colleague, Mike Haring. Next year's schedule looks to be even busier as we continue to add new destinations to the Nat Expo Tours itinerary, and other opportunities are presenting themselves as well, so it is with bittersweet emotions that I will be departing from my home and position at the Nature Center after April 2023.

Next, as a tribute to this place I have called home for more than eight years, I have embarked on one of the most ambitious and exciting projects of my career thus far - my first book!

"Seasons of the Nature Center, A Photographic Journey of Seasonal Transitions at the Eagle River Nature Center” will comprise more than 100 pages of my favorite photos in a 9x12" limited-edition coffee table book. I am doing much of the design and text in collaboration with a local publisher, with contributions from two very talented Alaskan authors. The foreword was written by New York Times Bestselling Author, Kaylene Johnson-Sullivan, author of "Canyons and Ice, The Wilderness Travels of Dick Griffith." My bio was written by Chris Forbes Lundgren (Alaska Adventure Books), author of "Accidental Adventures Alaska, True Tales of Ordinary People Facing Danger in the Wilderness."

With that being said, I would also like to announce that you can help fund this project and pre-order a signed copy of "Seasons of the Nature Center" today! I am now taking orders ($30 for the book + $10 shipping): https://www.colintyler.com/online-store/seasons-of-the-nature-center-book

I will have the books in hand by spring/early summer 2023 and send them out at that time.

Thank you for following along, supporting my journeys, and helping to make this dream project a reality!


Colin  

 

The cover of my upcoming book, now available for pre-purchase…

Thanksgiving 2022

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

I have much to be grateful for this year, including many new experiences in premiere destinations around the world, and 2023 is shaping up to be another banner year for travel and tours as well!

Finally, thank you all for following along and supporting my adventures. You are the reason I am able to continue this journey. I will have a couple big announcements in the coming weeks, so please stay tuned for those...

All the best,

Colin

Polar Bear on the icepack, 82˚ North, Svalbard

Zebras in Etosha National Park, Namibia

Humpback whale, northern Iceland

Day 4, Etosha in Black and White: "The Lion Tree"

In celebration of my Facebook page recently passing 6,000 followers, I am sharing my favorite image from Namibia and the final installment of the “Etosha in Black and White” series. As the lions left the waterhole and started making their way to the shade of the camel thorn tree, I had a vision that soon came to fruition. The first lion lay down facing toward the second, approaching lion, and they paused for this moment with the Etosha Pan in the background - a massive dry lakebed of approximately 1900 square miles (4800 square km), comprising around 20% of Etosha National Park. Again, the high key/bright highlights of the harsh midday sun made for an excellent black and white image that conveys the torrid environment.


This image will be added to my online store, available on canvas and metal: https://www.colintyler.com/online-store

As always, thank you for following my journeys. Reminder that I will be giving a slideshow on Namibia and discussing the 2023 tour with Nat Expo Tours (www.natexpotours.com) this Sunday, Nov 20, 2pm at the Eagle River Nature Center, Alaska.

Colin

Day 3, Etosha in Black & White: "Zebra Plain"

Zebras are the most common animal in Etosha National Park, Namibia, numbering around 20,000. They are usually found in groups, but this lone animal provided a beautiful composition against the open plains. I switched from my telephoto to a wider angle lens and used a polarizing filter to bring out detail in the sky, with the clouds signaling the coming of the rainy season.

I will be giving a presentation on Namibia at 2 pm this Sunday at the Eagle River Nature Center. If you are in the Anchorage/Eagle River area (Alaska), please stop by!

Cheers,

Colin

Please message me if you are interested in joining us in Namibia next October - the tour is already half full. You can see a list of all our 2023 tours on our website: www.natexpotours.com

Day 2, Etosha in Black & White: "Tusker"

A large bull elephant crossing the parched landscape of Etosha National Park (Namibia) in midday heat. A simple composition with a big sky suggests a sense of space while the single bush anchors the image behind the elephant, giving perspective and scale.

Thank you for following,

Colin

Please message me if you are interested in joining the October 2023 Namibia tour with Nat Expo Tours. For a list of all our upcoming tours, please visit our website: www.natexpotours.com

Day 1, Etosha in Black & White: "Zebra Fight"

One advantage of revisiting a destination is not feeling the pressure to capture all the new species that you might otherwise be observing for the first time. It allows you to see the subjects from a more relaxed perspective; to create new and unique images.


After the golden hour of early morning, the light in Etosha National Park (Namibia) becomes very hot, like the ambient temperature of 100˚F/38˚C. While it may not have the appeal of low angle sun, it conveys the harsh environment in which these animals thrive. I chose to utilize the high key light and bright contrast to convey a sense of place in this short series of black & white images. Please stay tuned for more...

Colin

Please message me if you are interested in joining us in Namibia next October. You can find more information about all our upcoming tours on our website: www.natexpotours.com

After the hunt...

This was the first pride of lions we saw on the Namibia tour with Nat Expo Tours. It was late morning and judging from the blood-soaked mane of the male here, they had just finished eating. After drinking from the waterhole, they moved to the shade of a camel thorn tree, where they likely remained until nightfall, when they would hunt again.

Stay tuned for a short series over the coming days: "Etosha in Black & White"

Cheers!

Colin

PS - please contact me if you are interested in joining any of our 2023 tours, including Cuba, Norway, Iceland, and Namibia, or visit our website for more info: www.natexpotours.com

Lions in Etosha National Park, Namibia

Mighty Lioness, Etosha National Park, Namibia

Day 3 in Etosha. On our morning game drive from Namutoni Rest Camp, we watched a pride of lions cross in front of us, some stopping to pose for our cameras. It was some of the best lion viewing I've had, with this lovely girl showing off her strength and beauty in the early light.

Please email me if you are interested in joining us (Nat Expo Tours) in Namibia next October. The tour is already half full!

Stay tuned for more lion images and "Etosha in Black & White"

Colin

Be'ata Monastery, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

I'm changing up the theme today from wildlife & scenery to culture. I love exploring new destinations, meeting the people, becoming immersed in and photographing the local culture. Since my flight to Namibia took me through Ethiopia, on the way home I spent 4 days exploring the capital city, Addis Ababa.

Out for a stroll on my third morning, I met a local guide who took me to the Be'ata Monastery, one of the oldest Ethiopian Orthodox monasteries in Addis Ababa. Luckily, he was able to get us inside for a tour. The air was filled with incense, which added definition and contrast to the light shafts emanating through the stained glass. In the basement were tombs of royals - Emperor Menelik II (1844 - 1913) along with his wife and daughter. Menelik II is most revered for defeating the Italian army, thus preventing defending Ethiopia from being colonized. Among the artifacts were bibles so old they were written on goatskin, and what I believe I was told was an original da Vinci painting, though I have not been able to verify this or match it to any of his works. Since very few exist, it was likely a replica or da Vinci-inspired piece.

Hope you enjoy. I have more to share in the coming days, both wildlife and cultural images...

Colin

Scenes from Sesriem

Scenes from Sesriem...

On the first full day of the Namibia tour, we drive through Sesriem and hike to the dry ancient lakebed of Sossusvlei, in the Namib-Naukluft National Park. The early light is golden, the compositions are endless, wildlife is abundant, and we complete our hike before the heat is intolerable.

The October 2023 Namibia Tour with Nat Expo Tours is already half full, so please contact me if you are interested in joining and feel free to share.

Cheers!

Colin

I would love to have an aerial perspective the Namib Desert from a hot air ballon. Someday we will have to look into this...

Hiking Dune 45

Hiking the dunes of the Namib Desert in Sossusvlei

Tour guest Laurie Kosik taking in the many compositions in the dry ancient lakebed of Sossusvlei

Cheetah Portrait

Good (early) morning out there! I am back in Alaska and trying to adjust to the time change. With the end of daylight saving time, I am now a full 12 hours behind where I was just a few days ago in Ethiopia, and waking up much earlier than I need to.

I'm still editing through images from Namibia and will continue to post in the coming days. Here is another portrait from the cheetah rescue facility at Neuras Lodge, in affiliation with Naankuse Wildlife Sanctuary. Next year's Namibia tour with Nat Expo Tours, LLC is half full already. Please contact me if you are interested in joining.

Have a great Sunday and thank you for following along!

Colin

Cheetah Cub on a Termite Mound

The ubiquitous termite mounds of Africa. If you've been here, you've probably seen thousands of them. Fact - if you weighed all the termites on earth, they would outweigh all of the mammals...!

While not their intended purpose, they do serve as a lookout for cheetahs and other animals, as this cub is demonstrating here. Taken in Onguma private game reserve last week while leading our first Namibia tour with Nat Expo Tours.

Colin

Cheetah Sightings

I was hoping to see & photograph a cheetah in Namibia this year. To my surprise, we were able to witness a mother with three cubs on two separate occasions in Onguma Private Game Reserve. On the first evening drive, we watched them come into a watering hole and drink until a pride of lions approached, which sent them running. The following evening, we came across the mother eating what was left of an impala she had likely hunted the day before. The cubs took their turns eating as well, and we watched the family interact for the next hour until the light was gone.

Stay tuned for more from our first Namibia tour with Nat Expo Tours!

Colin

Giraffe in Etosha

Upon our arrival in Etosha National Park last week, we stopped by a watering hole that was packed with a variety of wildlife. Directly behind me were literally hundreds of zebras along with dozens of impalas, springboks, giraffes and more. I chose to focus on this single giraffe, away from the crowd, including the sky to give a sense of place with the clouds signaling the arrival of the rainy season. I switched to a wider lens and added a polarizing filter to bring out the blue sky and soft clouds while saturating the warm tones of the giraffe.

Our first Namibia tour with Nat Expo Tours has concluded. I will be spending a few days in Addis Ababa, the capitol of Ethiopia, before returning to Alaska. There will be more images to share in the coming days, so please stay tuned…

Cheers,

Colin

Cheetah Poses

Our first Namibia tour is wrapping up soon and I have new images that I am very excited to share. This is from the first night of the tour at Neura's Lodge & Winery, where they have a cheetah rescue program in affiliation with Nannkuse Wildlife Sanctuary. They have 7 cheetahs in a large enclosure and we were able to watch the daily feeding.

Next year's Namibia tour is nearly full and it looks like the February 2023 Cuba tour is now full. Please let me know if you are interested in joining any of our future trips with Nat Expo Tours.

Thank you for following my journeys,

Colin