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.

 

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

Surprise Geomagnetic Storm!

Wow, what a storm last night!

It truly was one of the best displays I've witnessed in my years of chasing auroras, which date back to the days of film. Never did I imagine back then how digital technology would allow one to capture images of the aurora with such detail and vibrance, using a shutter speed fast enough to freeze the rapidly dancing lights.

Geomagnetic storms are more common and can arrive unpredicted around both the autumnal and vernal equinoxes, due to a phenomenon known as the Russell-McPherron Effect. Click here to learn more…

Cheers!

Colin

 
 

Annual Eagle River Nature Center Fireweed Saison at Odd Man Rush Brewing

If you are a regular visitor to the Eagle River Nature Center, you've probably noticed some changes in recent years. First, the Salmon Viewing Deck was beautifully rebuilt in 2022 and now offers the same stunning views from a sturdier structure with excellent interpretive signs. Second, the local beavers dammed the creek (pictured here) the following year and created a much larger pond, which now hosts a variety of waterfowl.

I took this on a golden evening in early June when the reflection was too perfect to resist. If you enjoy the photograph and are a fan of local brew, you will soon find it on the labels of the annual "Eagle River Nature Center Fireweed Saison" from Odd Man Rush Brewing. Stop by and grab some cans to go, maybe add one to your mantel...

Cheers!

Colin

 

Great Horned Owl, Stealthy and Elusive

I recently had the opportunity to observe a great horned owl near my place. It was in the same tree for several hours, allowing me to try numerous angles and compositions with a variety of lighting conditions. After getting some dramatic poses, I decided to intentionally camouflage the owl in its surroundings to convey the elusive nature of these birds. Notice how the feathers blend almost perfectly with the birchbark in the second photo, and you soon realize you've probably walked right past these stealthy creatures on many occasions…

 

Natural camouflage

Beaver & Morning Reflection

Another gift from last week's calm, frosty morning...

I'd been trying to get a unique photo of the beavers working on their dam for a while now and having lived in this valley for more than a decade, I've learned to use (and sometimes prefer) reflected light vs. direct. In this case, the still water held a vibrant reflection of the mountainside in morning sun, creating a perfect canvas for the image in my mind’s eye.

Thank you for following,

Colin

www.colintyler.com

 

A Cold, Still Morning at the Eagle River Nature Center

Reflecting on a beautiful morning at the Nature Center last week...

After an evening of rainstorms with hail and thunder (a rare occurrence here), the sky cleared overnight and the temperature plummeted, leaving a thin layer of ice on the viewing decks and a perfect reflection.

As always, thank you for following.

Colin

 

Happy Earth Day, 2025

It's an overcast day here without much color but I am going outside to enjoy the fresh air and reflect on 12 years since I was abruptly uprooted and redirected onto a new path, as I always do on this day. It was devastating yet liberating, and there is always a lesson...

Meanwhile, I have been out chasing the many moods of spring in Alaska, from late season snowfall to foggy mornings and the sounds of birds.

Have a good day, and I hope you can get out to enjoy a moment of solitude and reflection.

Colin

Mallard in spring snow

Foggy morning at the Eagle River Nature Center, Chugach State Park

American dipper

alaskaWILD 2024 People's Choice Award

I am honored that my image "Paws and Reflect" was not only selected for alaskaWILD 2024, a traveling exhibition curated by Alaska Society of Outdoor and Nature Photographers, but was also awarded "People's Choice" after receiving more than 400 votes from various venues around Alaska! This was revealed last night at the monthly ASONP members' meeting.

I belong to ASONP and also serve on the board of directors. If you are an avid photographer, I encourage you to visit their website and consider joining. It's a great organization for networking with other photographers and there are many opportunities for workshops and excursions, both in Alaska and abroad: https://asonp.org/

Cheers!

Colin

 

“Paws and Reflect”

Great Horned Owl in Black & White

I've had countless encounters with great horned owls over the past decade, and it never gets old. I so admire these wise, stealthy raptors, and was once a guest on the local NPR program "Hometown Alaska" where I discussed my interactions with owls and how I've captured some of my best images of them.

Taken yesterday in Eagle River Valley, AK.

Colin

 

The Trees Have Eyes

The trees have eyes...

I had countless encounters with great horned owls while residing at the Eagle River Nature Center. Several images from those encounters are in my book (and 2025 calendar), and I was once a guest on the local NPR radio program "Hometown Alaska" where I recounted capturing some of those photos and how I developed an eye for spotting owls despite their capability to camouflage themselves quite well.

A few nights ago I was playing my guitar when I noticed something in a birch tree behind my place that had a distinct and familiar shape. I continued to strum until I saw it move and knew immediately what it was. I grabbed my camera and got quite a few frames as this owl scanned the area and watched me with fixated curiosity.

Colin