Juneau Whale Watching

Happy Hump(back) Day!

I left the rain & wind in Anchorage yesterday and landed in Juneau, where the sun was shining and the seas were calm - perfect for an afternoon whale watching cruise with Harv and Marv's Outback Alaska. We had an epic day on the water and while I was hoping to witness the humpback bubblenet feeding technique, we instead were treated to a few beautiful breaches. I've witnessed breaching whales a few times previously, and it's hard to top watching a 40-ton animal launch itself out of the water!

This is my last voyage on the Grand Princess this season as a guest lecturer with Princess Cruises and I will certainly be adding these to my presentation tomorrow! I have 3 more voyages beginning next week on both the Island and Royal before my season draws to a close. It's been an honor to share my story and my images with the passengers, and I've been able to take advantage of local excursions like this.

As always, thank you for following.

Colin

 

Harvard Glacier Calving

Harvard Glacier sure was active last week!

I've been to the face of this glacier at the end of College Fjord, Prince William Sound, seven times so far this year. It's been releasing consistently in recent weeks, but last week was by far the most calving I've witnessed.

It helped to have such great weather and was an exciting show for the passengers aboard the Grand Princess! I will be on new routes aboard two new vessels this coming week, so please stay tuned...

As always, thank you for following along,

Colin

Icelandic Horse and Setting Moon

I returned from Iceland a couple days ago. We had a great time with both groups and the weather was excellent, but it’s always good to be home.

I took this the night before Summer Solstice. We’d just photographed the sunset through Seljalandsfoss, and I went back out looking for a subject to align with the setting moon. It took a steady hand a three exposures merged in HDR to create this image. I have decided that the Icelandic horses are my favorite subjects to photograph over there…

As always, thank you for following. We are taking reservations for the 2027 Iceland tours with Nat Expo Tours. You can view the dates and itinerary here: https://natexpotours.com/2027-iceland/

Colin

 

Iceland Trip is Drawing to a Close

The sun is setting on another Iceland trip. Tomorrow we will visit Godafoss ("Waterfall of the Gods") - one of the country's most spectacular waterfalls, and go on a whale watching tour in the afternoon. Tuesday we have a horseback ride followed by a visit to the Forest Lagoon thermal pools, then back to Reykjavik on Wednesday and home on Thursday.

Please message me if you are interested in joining us in Iceland next summer. We have two sets of dates up on our site,: https://natexpotours.com/2027-iceland/

Colin

 

Rainbow and Icelandic Horses

We've had a lot of rain here recently, which is typical of southern Iceland, but if you wait it out there might be a bit of magic at the end of the day...

Tomorrow we head to the east fjords where the forecast looks a little more dry, but I'd gladly wait through a few more days of rain for another moment like this.

We are booking for next summer's Iceland tours with Nat Expo Tours. Please message me if you or someone you know might be interested. Full itinerary and details here: https://natexpotours.com/2027-iceland/

As always, thank you for following.

Colin

 

First Place in Wildlife, ASMP/NANPA "Best of 2026"

Well, this is exciting - my elephant image "Mudscreen" just received First Place in Wildlife in the American Society of Media Photographers/North American Nature Photography Association (ASMP/NANPA) "Best of 2026" competition. This is a national competition, so it's quite an honor. I took it from the famous Onkolo Ground Hide in Onguma Private Game Reserve, Namibia, which offers a unique perspective where you are below ground looking up at the wildlife. There were 4 bull elephants at the waterhole this day, and this one was throwing mud across its body to protect from the harsh Namibian sun.

I look forward to returning to Namibia and the Onguma Reserve later this year. If you or anyone you know might be interested in joining the October 2026 Southern Africa Adventure with Nat Expo Tours, we are taking reservations until July 15 and still offering a discount to fill the remaining spots. You can view the full itinerary here: https://natexpotours.com/2026-namibia/

I am currently leading a tour in Iceland, so I was not able to watch the livestream of the "Best of 2026" winners but was able to go back and hear the jurors' comments on YouTube. My image is on at 21:42: https://www.youtube.com/live/sJep5FJaR_U

As always, thank you for following my journeys,

Colin

 

Quintessentially Icelandic

This image, to me, is quintessential Iceland, and one of my favorite moments from the first tour. We were busy photographing a small group of reindeer (the first I'd ever seen in Iceland), but I was more intrigued with the scene behind us - a group of horses on a ridge with the mountains in the background and moody clouds overhead. I waited to isolate one of the horses as it stood in a perfect pose.

The second tour is underway, and I will be posting more as we go. We are booking for the June & July 2027 Iceland tours with Nat Expo Tours. Please message me if you or someone you know is interested. You can view the itinerary here: https://natexpotours.com/2027-iceland/.

Cheers!

Colin

 

Scenes from My First Voyages with Princess Cruises

I have now completed three voyages as a guest lecturer with Princess Cruises and leave tomorrow for another voyage aboard the Discovery Princess. I will board the ship in Skagway tomorrow and disembark in Whittier on Saturday. I have enjoyed presenting my slideshow to fellow passengers and visiting parts of Alaska that are new to me. Here are a few scenes from Glacier Bay National Park and College Fjord, Prince William Sound.

As always, thank you for following my journeys.

Colin

Glacier Bay National Park

Margerie Glacier, Glacier Bay National Park

College Fjord, Prince William Sound

Harvard Glacier, College Fjord, Prince William Sound

April 1, 2026 Aurora - No Fooling!

The April 1 geomagnetic storm wasn't foolin' around! It truly was one of the best nights I've had guiding for Alaska Photo Treks. The guests were in awe, and I was reminded why chose this life path, or maybe it chose me. The date also marked 30 years since I first left Minnesota and drove to Alaska sight-unseen.

The activity continues, so keep an eye on the sky tonight and through the weekend. As always, thank you for following!

Colin

Alaska Photo Treks van

Aurora and moon over the Chugach Mountains

Aurora over the Kenai Mountains

Aurora over Portage Creek

Aurora over Portage Lake and the Chugach Mountains

Second Printing of "Seasons of the Nature Center" Books and 2027 Calendars!

Hello everyone,

This is the first of two big announcements, and sort of two in one...

First, I am happy to announce that after selling nearly all 1,500 copies of my "Seasons of the Nature Center" books in two years, I will be printing another 1,000 copies! Publishing this book was a very fun and rewarding project, and I look forward to working the local markets and book signings again!

Since I am printing more books, I also decided to print 1,000 2027 "Seasons of the Eagle River Nature Center" calendars! As in previous years, the calendars will be signed and numbered 1-1,000.

The books and calendars are due to arrive around June 1 and will be shipped/delivered after that time. Both are available for preorder on my site: https://www.colintyler.com/online-store

Books are $30. Calendars are $15 for one, two or more = $10 each (unlimited), or get a book and a calendar for $40. Domestic shipping applies or local pickup option.

As always, thank you for following along and supporting my projects, and feel free to share!

Colin

Note: Calendar #1 has been claimed. Thank you and congratulations, Patti!

 

Spring is Here!

Well, spring sure announced its presence with authority!

This is the best time of year for solar activity and hence, aurora viewing. I was happy to capture this image of the corona overhead as it burst with energy. I was shooting between 1/2 and 1 second exposures to capture the fast movement. Moments like this are brief, and you need to be ready before it dissipates.

As always, thank you for following and please stay tuned for some big announcements this week...

Cheers!

Colin


PS - can you spot the Big Dipper?

Aurora borealis at the Eagle River Nature Center during the early morning hours of March 22, 2026.

 

Happy Spring, 2026!

Happy first day of spring, everyone! The Vernal Equinox is a very active time of year for the aurora borealis and if you have clear skies tonight, keep an eye out for lights as the activity is elevated. These were taken last month at the Eagle River Nature Center.

In other news, I will have a couple big announcements in the coming days, so please stay tuned...

Cheers and happy aurora chasing!

Colin

 

February 21 Auroras!

The sky sure came alive on Saturday night! The show started early and continued for hours with brilliant coronal displays overhead and stretched across the sky to the south. I love that I can walk from my door to a scene like this in just a few minutes.

More to come!

As always, thank you for following...

Colin

Aurora Borealis at the Eagle River Nature Center on Saturday, Feb 22, 2026.

 

Happy Winter Solstice 2025

Happy Winter Solstice! Today in Anchorage the sun rose at 10:15 am and will set at 3:42 pm. This day marks the shortest amount of daylight and the first day of winter in the Northern Hemisphere. Like my Norwegian ancestors, I embrace winter and the cold, dark days.

This image was taken along Turnagain Arm around 4 pm on Dec. 12 while guiding a custom private tour for Alaska Photo Treks. Fact: Turnagain Arm has the second highest tides in North America, reaching more than 40 feet around a full moon! Using a 6 second shutter, one can sense the movement and power of the outgoing tide.

 

Elephants Slinging Mud

Elephants throw mud across their bodies to protect their skin from the harsh African sun and use dust to cool themselves. Capturing this behavior and using different shutter speeds for various effects has become one of my favorite aspects of our annual tour of Southern Africa.

We are taking reservations for the 2026 Southern Africa Adventure with Nat Expo Tours. Dates are Oct 16-30 and include Namibia, Botswana, and Victoria Falls, and we are offering an early booking discount. Email me if you or someone you know is interested or visit our site for more info and the complete itinerary: https://natexpotours.com/2026-namibia/

Cheers!

Colin

 

Shutter speed: 1/800”

Shutter speed: 1/1000”

Shutter speed: 1/100”

El Malecón, Havana, November 2025

As I mentioned in a reel last month, I made a pit stop on my way back from Africa and spent a week in Havana. Aside from visiting friends, I had our guide, Yasel, take me to photograph some rougher parts of the city. I wanted to see and document the current realities of life in Cuba, off the beaten “tourist” path. I am still editing photos and video interviews and will share some of those in the coming days. My last day was spent along the Malecón (sea wall), where locals gather in the evenings to mingle. It was particularly windy on this day, creating massive waves that spilled over the wall and onto the street. I have witnessed this several times and it always makes for dramatic images. This time, I had a willing participant for portraits with the crashing waves as a backdrop, Mariela.

We are taking reservations for our annual Cuba tour this winter with Nat Expo Tours. The trip includes both urban and rural culture experiences as well as hiking, waterfalls, birdlife, and more, all in direct support of the Cuban people. More info here: https://natexpotours.com/2026-cuba/

Please contact me if you are interested!

Colin 

Dick Griffith, Alaskan Legend

The world lost a legend yesterday, and I am honored to have called him my friend. In his more than 98 years, Dick Griffith logged adventures that most of us couldn’t fathom undertaking. He was among the first to raft the Grand Canyon, he skied/traversed from western Alaska to eastern Canada and helped introduce the sport of packrafting to Alaska. He finished the Alaska Wilderness Classic 17 times, the last was in 2008 at 80 years old. He also completed the Crow Pass Crossing several times, a grueling 23-mile running race that includes ascending & descending a mountain pass and crossing a glacial river. Rather than arranging a ride at the other end, he would immediately turn around and go back to the start to get his car.

I knew Dick through his involvement and decades of support for the Eagle River Nature Center. He always appreciated a cigar when I returned from a trip to Cuba, and one of my bear photos is proudly displayed in his home. He loved that photo and was happy to offer a nice endorsement for my book, “Seasons of the Nature Center.” His story and the many ventures he undertook are truly fascinating and inspiring. I highly recommend his biography, “Canyons and Ice – The Wilderness Travels of Dick Griffith” and there is a PBS documentary of the same title. His biographer, Kaylene Johnson-Sullivan, also wrote the foreword for my book.

Fare thee well, sir. Thank you for being a source of inspiration and lighting the way for those who have tried to follow in your adventurous spirit.

PS - Dick is currently a candidate for the Alaska Sports Hall of Fame. You can see all the candidates and cast your votes here: https://alaskasportshall.org/

 

Dick Griffith on his 90th birthday in 2017.

Dick Griffith outside his home on his 90th birthday in 2017.

Dick's favorite bear photo.

Dick's endorsement on page 9 of my book, "Seasons of the Nature Center - A Photographic Journey of Seasonal Transitions at the Eagle River Nature Center."

Birthday Owl

Happy Thanksgiving!

I have much to be grateful for on this day - family and friends around the world who follow and support my journeys, recent travels to Africa, Miami, Cuba, and Minnesota, and all the incredible moments I get to experience and share, including this little saw-whet owl that I photographed a few days ago (on my birthday).

All the best to you and yours, and thank you for following along.

Colin

Northern saw-whet owl