Yoga in the world’s oldest desert. Sossusvlei dry ancient lake bed, Namib-Naukluft National Park, Namibia, October 2022. Photo by Julie Pfingst

Colin Tyler Bogucki

Bio:

I have been exploring wild places and producing stock images for more than twenty years. Publications include the Associated Press, Alaska Magazine, United States Postal Service ("International Polar Year" commemorative stamp sheet), Anchorage Daily News, Minneapolis Star Tribune, Lake Country Journal Magazine, Minnesota Conservation Volunteer Magazine, American Essence Magazine, and AT&T. Currently, I reside near the Eagle River Nature Center in Chugach State Park, Alaska, and travel frequently. Recent ventures include Southeast Asia, India, New Zealand, Australia, Iceland, Cuba, and Namibia. In addition to creating images, I am a published author and I lead international tours, teach photography classes, and enjoy public speaking engagements where I am able to share my adventures through photographic presentations.

Artist Statement:

Growing up in the lakes area of northern Minnesota, I developed a connection with the natural world at a young age. Upon moving to Alaska in 1996 to pursue what would be a short-lived career in human services, I soon discovered the art of photography after receiving a camera for Christmas - a gift that would change the course of my life. I ultimately resigned myself from the career I had studied for so diligently to pursue a new purpose; a decision that I have never regretted, and as a result, my life has been filled with a wealth of experiences, adventure, and subsequently, gratitude.

After attending a beginning photography course at the University of Alaska, Anchorage, as well as a class at a local community education organization, I began to find satisfaction in creating beautiful, unique images of wildlife and natural scenes. During the first year of discovering my new camera, I was grateful to have a photograph published with the Anchorage Daily News. That same image would later be published in Alaska Magazine.

Since that first year, I have had numerous images published and my work is represented by two stock photo agencies. Publications include the Associated Press, Alaska Magazine, US Postal Service, Anchorage Daily News, Minneapolis Star Tribune, Lake Country Journal Magazine, Minnesota Conservation Volunteer Magazine, American Essence Magazine, and AT&T. Additionally, I have written editorial pieces for publications including Alaska Magazine and the Lake Country Journal of Minnesota. My photography has received numerous awards in juried competitions and three of my images were featured in the 2021 AlaskaWild exhibit. One of my most cherished accomplishments was having an image featuring the aurora borealis and Big Dipper over Denali used by the US Postal Service on the "International Polar Year" commemorative stamp sheet in 2007.

As a visual artist, nothing brings greater satisfaction than creating an image that successfully conveys the feelings I experience during a moment of heightened awareness. It is the very reason I photograph, to fulfill this innate passion that drives me to step outside my comfort zone and push the limits of what I once believed was not possible. Lately, my desire to explore and create has taken me to international destinations where I’ve had the opportunity to witness beautiful, exotic locations and wildlife, and interact with foreign cultures, in places like India, Cambodia, New Zealand, Australia, Cuba, Iceland, and recently, Namibia. Perhaps the greatest lesson I have received from the art of photography is what it has taught me about myself and my desire to explore and create. I have now taken that desire and launched a photo tour company, Nat Expo Tours (https://natexpotours.com), with a fellow photographer from Montana, Mike Haring. We currently lead groups in Cuba, Iceland, and Namibia, with more destinations on the horizon. When I’m not traveling, I live near the Eagle River Nature Center in Alaska’s Chugach State Park. I am a member of the American Society of Media Photographers, Alaska Society of Outdoor and Nature Photographers, and North American Nature Photography Association.

In summation, I will always find the means to explore, create, and share the magic of the natural world. It is not only my dream; it has become my purpose.

Colin Tyler Bogucki

mail@colintyler.com

612-616-6206