This Baby Taylor guitar is well traveled. I picked it up in 2013 before I embarked on my journey to Southeast Asia & India. So far it's been played in seven countries outside the US (Japan, Thailand, Cambodia, India, Fiji, New Zealand, and Australia) and four states (Alaska, California, Oregon, and Hawaii). It is the perfect travel companion - always there for me when I have some down time or just need to be creative.
Crater Lake was the final stop on my road trip through Oregon and this will be a jam space to remember. I found a little spot to pull over and get away from the crowds, rolled out my yoga mat on a picnic table, loosened up and then played my guitar on the rim of the crater, looking down over the blue water thousands of feet below me. This has been whirlwind trip that began with no real itinerary or plan. I just went with the flow, followed the sunny skies, and trusted my instincts. I got a few nice shots, saw many amazing sights and made a new friend along the way but this two hour period of solitude and quality time with my guitar was where I finally found my moment of Zen.
"I always feel like somebody's watching me..." 🦉
I often wonder how many times I've walk past an owl, a lynx, or any stealthy creature that is observing me intently while I am completely and blissfully unaware.
Happy Monday out there! Here's to a great start to the week.
Colin
Yesterday's theme was solitude. I spent the entire day hiking in Eagle River Valley without another soul around. Snow fell throughout the day, adding to my peaceful surroundings. Pictured here is Dew Lake, where I stopped on my way to search for another lake a few miles further back and across the river. I found the hidden lake, or Knob Lake, as it's named on local maps. It's a location I will revisit when the time is right, or if I just need a bit of solitude.
Colin
Even though it's 4-20 it doesn't look like the temperature will get very high today. I woke up to a couple inches of fresh snow and more is on the way.
Have a great Saturday out there!
Colin
After photographing this pair of swans in the same small body of water for five consecutive springs, it can be difficult to come up with new and interesting compositions. In this instance, I decided to let go of the big picture and just appreciate the exquisite detail in the feathers.
Have a great day out there and maybe try look at a familiar scene from a new perspective...
Colin
Here's a new swan image to start out the new week! This is one of the last photos I took of the pair before they continued northward on their migrational journey. Have a great Monday out there and thank you for following along!
Colin
Fun Friday Fact: More than half of North American trumpeter swans breed in Alaska, Northern British Columbia, and the Yukon Territory during summer months. It appears that this pair has left the Nature Center and moved on toward their summer nesting grounds. Typically they stay here from 2-4 weeks and I have to assume it is the same pair that returns each spring. They're always a welcome sight and I look forward to their return next year.
Have a great weekend out there!
Colin
Bathing and preening shortly after their arrival two weeks ago.
Here's a bit of cuteness for your day - young female lynx, March 2019.
I just can’t get enough of these creatures!
Colin
We have officially passed 14 hours of daylight in Southcentral Alaska! Less than three months ago, the sun did not rise above these mountains; soon they will be glowing in the evening sun until almost midnight.
Have a great Monday out there and thank you for following along!
Colin
www.colintyler.com
I have come to the conclusion that I could never have too many lynx images. Here is another from last month. Judging from his expression, I do believe he was just as enthralled with me as I was with him.
Happy Wednesday out there. We're halfway to the weekend!
Colin
Last week I had one of my most memorable wildlife encounters since taking up residence here at the Nature Center. I watched a bull moose cross the creek between the viewing decks while a pair of trumpeter swans was upstream and moving toward the Salmon Viewing Deck, where I was standing. Just as the swans turned a corner and headed my way, I heard something behind me and looked back to see a lynx run across the entire length of the viewing deck and off into the woods past the moose! Unfortunately the lynx didn't present an opportunity for a photo but the memory of the event will always remain with me.
All in all, it was a nice start to the day and a solid reminder of why I choose to live here!
Colin
Bull Moose crossing the creek at the Eagle River Nature Center
Trumpeter swans at the Eagle River Nature Center
It's a sure sign of spring when the swans return on their northward migration. The weather forecast in south central Alaska is looking great for the days ahead. Have a wonderful weekend and get out to enjoy the sunshine if you can!
Colin
Well the last day of winter brought us an inch of fresh snow followed by a break in the clouds - a nice change from the grey days we've had recently. Let's see what the first day of spring has in store.
Happy Vernal Equinox to those north of the equator and Happy Autmnal Equinox to those in the Southern Hemisphere!
Colin
It's been a monumental week here at CTP after returning from an adventurous month in Cuba - my Facebook page just surpassed 4,000 likes, thanks in large part to the lynx photos I've shared over the past few days! I'm also happy to announce that I landed a photo in the 2020 Aurora Borealis Calendar from Todd Communications. I've had some inquiries about purchasing copies of the lynx photos so I am making an offer for the first ten Artist Proofs of two different photos, signed and numbered, "Sitting Lynx" and "Yoga Lynx" - a 12x18" glossy print AND a signed aurora calendar (my photo is on the month of January) for $95 OR you can get both lynx prints and a calendar for $170.
Below are the links for the lynx😄😄 - click the title or the image to reach my online store. Thank you all for following my journeys, sharing my photos, and allowing me to continue to do what I do. Feel free to share this email!
Colin
Here are a couple more lynx photos from last Sunday - “Resting Lynx Face” and “Yoga Lynx.” Fun fact: Many yoga poses were learned (and named) from observing animals. Here a lynx demonstrates a nearly perfect "Downward Dog" pose. If I were to critique this lynx, I'd say drop the shoulders, lower the head, and keep pushing those hips toward the sky!
Namaste,
Colin
Resting Lynx Face
Yoga Lynx
No matter where my travels take me, it's always nice to return to Alaska and even nicer to be welcomed home by one of my favorite animals. We had some lynx activity over the weekend - what appeared to be an adult male (pictured here) who was trailing an adult female with two kits in hopes of mating. So far she seems to have resisted his advances.
Happy Monday!
Colin
Hello friends! Soon we will be entering what is typically the best season for viewing aurora borealis – late winter/spring. Even though we are currently in a solar minimum and activity is lower, we still get some nice displays here in Alaska. I offer a class on nighttime/aurora photography every year at the Eagle River Nature Center and since it usually fills quickly, I’ve decided to offer two classes this year on consecutive Saturdays - March 16 & March 23. If you or someone you know is interested in learning more about night sky photography, please follow the links for more information and to register. Cost is $75 and each class is limited to 10 people.
March 16: https://www.ernc.org/courses/nighttime-aurora-photography
March 23: https://www.ernc.org/courses/nighttime-aurora-photography-1
I can’t guarantee auroras but I can promise that you’ll learn some good techniques for exposing and focusing at night as well as tracking auroral activity.
Thank you and feel free to share!
Colin
Self portrait under the aurora. Taken at the public use cabin, Eagle River Nature Center, AK.
March 2018 Aurora Borealis Class, Eagle River Nature Center, AK.
One thing about these cold snaps, they sure make for a peaceful winter scene. We're gaining over two minutes of light each day now and soon the sun will return to this part of the valley, a welcome relief after being in the shade since late November.
And with the New Year came a new camera body. This image was taken with my new Nikon D850! I am happy to add this to my arsenal, although 60 MB files will force me to be more selective when shooting or my hard drive is going to fill quickly...
Happy Tuesday!
Colin
God Jul, Feliz Navidad, Mele Kalikimaka, Merry Christmas! Wherever you are in the world, may today find you peaceful.
Colin
Good morning and Merry Christmas (Eve) from Eagle River Valley, Alaska! May your holidays be filled with love and light. As always, thank you for following along.
Colin
Today marks the moment that the pendulum swings back toward the light, gradually bringing longer days to the Northern Hemisphere. This image was created last year on this date. I've been watching the sky this morning in hopes of another colorful sunrise to bring in the season but alas, it is not to be. Nevertheless, I was able to honor the darkness and return of the light at one my favorite places last night, Namaste North Yoga Studio, by performing a total of 108 sun salutations, alternating in all four directions. My body is sore today but my spirit is strong. This is my New Year. This is my reset. Now is the time break free of resistance and allow the journey to unfold.
Happy Winter Solstice 2018!
Colin
