It's been a few weeks since I finished my season as a guest lecturer with Princess Cruises and I've spent almost every day since guiding photographers in Southcentral Alaska. Whether we're chasing colorful landscapes, moose, or auroras, fall is a busy time for local tours. I had the privilege of spending a couple days with one of the most impressive bulls around recently while guiding for Alaska Photo Treks, along with his harem of cows and a couple smaller bulls who dared to get too close, only to be chased off!
Cheers,
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
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
Moose Photo Safaris
Happy Wednesday out there, everyone! I've had a busy and successful week guiding moose photo safaris for Alaska Photo Treks (so much that I skipped the auroras Monday night after leading an evening tour followed by an early start the next morning).
These are some of my favorite images from this week's guiding adventures. Please check out www.alaskaphototreks.com if you are interested in experiencing Alaskan scenery, wildlife, or aurora borealis with local expertise!
Also, if you are in the area, I am teaching a "Storytelling with Photography" class this Sunday afternoon from 1 - 4 pm at the Eagle River Nature Center. What stories can you piece together from the photos here? Everyone will have an individual response just like every person has their own unique story to tell. You can register here: https://www.ernc.org/public-programs.html
As always, thank you for following...
Colin
AlaskaWILD 2023
Hello everyone,
I was honored to have two images selected to the 2023 AlaskaWILD traveling exhibition with the Alaska Society of Outdoor and Nature Photographers. The show is currently at Jitters Coffee in Eagle River, AK - if you are in the neighborhood, stop by for a coffee and vote for your favorite photo!
Both of these images are featured in my "Seasons of the Nature Center" book and 2024 calendar, which are available on my website. I am also offering 10% off metal prints from my website through 2024 with the purchase of a book: https://www.colintyler.com/online-store
The books are starting to show up in local retailers as well, including Anchorage Barnes & Noble. All mail orders have been shipped, so if yours has not arrived, it is en route. I've now sold more than 500 books and there are roughly 100 calendars remaining, signed & numbered 1-500.
Have a great weekend and thank you for following!
Colin
Bull moose near the Rodak Trail, Eagle River Nature Center, AK
Trumpeter swan sleeping, Eagle River Nature Center, AK
February 2023 Aurora Borealis, Eagle River Nature Center
Mother Nature sure put on a brilliant display last night, and tonight could be very active as well!
We are going into what is typically the most active time of year for aurora borealis - late winter/early spring. I look forward to taking a group to arctic Norway 🇳🇴 in just two weeks with Nat Expo Tours, where we will be spending 6 nights above the Arctic Circle in Tromsø and the Lofoten Islands, home to some of the world's most renowned aurora viewing!
Fingers crossed for more clear skies ahead...🤞
Colin
Caribou Magazine Cover
After more than a decade, I am happy to see this image finally get its due...
I took this in Denali National Park in September, 2010. The scene was perfect - a few mature bull caribou grazing & locking antlers on a ridge with North America's tallest peak (Denali) in the background. I composed in anticipation of it being used for a magazine cover, vertical orientation with one caribou isolated & moving into the frame, and it paid off..
A big thanks to American Essence Magazine and writer Skylar Parker for the wonderful article (I posted last week) and cover story!
Colin
Coastal Waterfall, Prince William Sound
I recently submitted some images to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for use in a project called the "Alaska Coastal Mapping Campaign" which will be viewed by the President, Interior Secretary, and other administration officials. It is a honor to have a number of images selected for the project and in the process of searching through my files I came across a few gems that I almost forgotten about, like this one.
Have a great day out there and thank you for following along!
Colin
Juvenile Owl
When you get to know your subjects as well as the light patterns in a particular area you can be in place for opportunities like this, which is certainly my best juvenile great horned owl image to date!
Have a great weekend out there. Be safe, be well, and thanks for following along!
Colin
Morning Owl
Cloudy, windy days can be discouraging when your goal is photographing wildlife but they can also be rewarding, especially when you find a great horned owl almost eye-level under nice, even, diffused light. I chose to include the mossy branch as a strong element in the composition here.
Have a great holiday weekend out there! Be safe, be well, be wise.
🦉 Colin
Great horned owl, Eagle River Nature Center, Alaska
Double Rainbow!
We got a bit of rain in Eagle River Valley last night. It didn't do much to saturate the ground but it was enough to create a double rainbow and add to a spectacular late evening light show!
Hope you enjoy and as always, thank you for following along and feel free to share my site with your friends.
Colin
Double rainbow at the Eagle River Nature Center on May 19, 2020.
Wide-angle Wildlife
I'm always eager to put my telephoto aside for wide-angle wildlife opportunities like this, where I can include a big background for a sense of scale and place.
Have a safe and happy day out there, wherever you are in the world.
Colin
Trumpeter Swans, Eagle River Nature Center, Alaska
Moose Monday
Hello everyone. It's Moose Monday!
This guy has been making a splash in local ponds recently. He is one of at least 3 bulls that I've seen in the area in the past few weeks. As their diet changes in the spring, so does the shape and consistency of their droppings and for this reason, is often mistaken for bear scat, which there is also an abundance of right now.
Colin
"Give 'em a Brake"
"Give moose a 'brake'" is the slogan we're accustomed to seeing on Alaska highways. Rounding a curve and meeting one of these giants could end poorly for both parties, and they do not always yield the right of way.
Just a reminder on this Wednesday to watch for moose, and all wildlife, that we often share the roads with.
✌️
Colin
Return of the Trumpeters
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
Signed & Numbered Lynx Prints with 2020 Aurora Calendar
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
Super Blood Wolf Moon
There was a pretty cool event in the sky last night. Hopefully you got to witness the "Super Blood Wolf Moon" lunar eclipse. If not, the next one takes place in 2037.
Happy Monday! Have a great week out there, wherever you are.
Colin
November Auroras
It was a beautiful night to be out under the stars. After a couple days of waiting, the geomagnetic storm arrived later than anticipated last night but the lights actually kicked up much earlier in the evening than I had expected. I was scrambling to get ready but made it out for the second wave of activity.
Happy Monday!
Colin
November First
According to the Farmer's Almanac, Alaska has another mild winter in store. With that forecast in mind, I am going to enjoy this landscape while it lasts.
Happy First of November!
Colin
