Good morning from Eagle River Valley! We had a nice little aurora display a couple of hours ago, until the clouds rolled in and blocked the view. C'est la vie, it was good while it lasted. Have a good day out there.
Colin
Spring Swans
As anticipated, the trumpeter swans arrived this past week, a few days earlier than usual. Swans mate for life, so I am inclined to believe this is the same pair that I've been observing for the past 3 years. They usually stick around for a couple weeks before moving on to summer nesting grounds to raise their cygnets. The creek here doesn't offer much protection from predators, so this is just a temporary stop on their journey.
March Sunset
The sun set at 8:23 pm this evening in Eagle River Valley, Alaska. We've recently surpassed 12 hours of total daylight, gaining more than 7 hours since the winter solstice. I wasn't the only one out enjoying the last bit of alpenglow on the mountains, this bull moose was feeding in the creek and already sporting a new set of antlers, a sure sign of spring!
Australia Presentation
Mark your calendars!
If you're in the Eagle River/Anchorage/Mat-Su area, next Saturday, March 25 at 7 pm, I will be sharing my photos and adventures from Down Under in a presentation at the Eagle River Nature Center along with fellow Eagle River artist Susan Watkins, who was in Australia around the same time as me last November. My program will focus on the southeast corner of the country, where I took a 6,000 km road trip from Sydney to Adelaide and back. Susan was in Cairns with her husband, Jon, and will be sharing their photos and videos from that part of Australia. The program is free with $5 parking for non-members. I hope to see you there!
Colin
Click the image below for more information
International Women's Day 2017
International Women's Day 2017, "Be Bold for Change." These are some of my most cherished portraits, taken in India in 2013. It was interesting, for better or worse, to witness gender roles and cultural norms in a society that is much different than my own. As a species we have made great strides toward equality, yet it is clear we still have far to go.
Skiing in Eagle River Valley
xEnjoying the beauty in my backyard. One of the best investments I made this past year is this set of Excursion 88 touring skis from Fischer Sports Nordic Ski. With all of the snow we've received this winter and the recent cold temps, I am able to ski on the frozen river and cover much more ground than I could by walking or snowshoeing. I skied approximately 15 miles yesterday with my camera gear on my back and look forward to spending more time exploring as the days ahead bring more and more light back to the valley.
Cold Mornings
Yesterday morning was brisk when I set out on my skis and I wasn’t sure how long I would last. Cold temperatures make for clear skies - we’ve been getting down as low as -15˚F at night and I have not seen a cloud in the sky for several days. Around 9:30 am, the sun made its way over the mountains and onto the valley floor, bringing a warm sense of relief. After the penetrating cold left my face and hands, I decided to keep skiing up the frozen river. Eight hours and approximately 15 miles later, I finally returned home, exhausted after another beautiful day in Eagle River Valley.
My Side of the Mountain
Until very recently, the sun had not shone on these slopes since sometime in mid-autumn. Even if the negative temperatures don’t signal change, spring truly is in the air. Since December 21 of last year, the amount of daylight has literally doubled and we are gaining in leaps and bounds from now until summer, when the pendulum of light will begin to swing the other way again. With the cold, clear skies we’ve had, the evening light on Eagle Peak and surrounding mountains has been pristine.
Winter Photography Class
I had six students and very obedient yellow lab named Charlie at my winter photography class this past Saturday, which is pretty good considering most people (and dogs) were down at the ceremonial start of the Iditarod Dogsled Race in Anchorage. Of course, Charlie wasn't taking photos but she did make a great model and showed off her Zen-like focus and treat-catching skills.
Thank you to everyone who attended. My next class here at the Nature Center will probably take place in June. The aurora workshop on March 18 is full. I am also available for individual or group instruction, please message me if you are interested in a photography lesson.
Colin
World Wildlife Day 2017
Happy World Wildlife Day 2017. On this date in 1973, representatives from 80 nations met in Washington D.C. to pass the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (https://cites.org/eng/disc/what.php) to ensure that international trade in wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival. The focus this year is on Asian and African Elephants. Here is a pair of baby Asian elephants in Kaziranga National Park, Assam, India, eating what is simply known as elephant grass. This year's theme is ‘The future of wildlife is in our hands’ and with elephant populations rapidly dwindling in parts of the world, it may be truer than ever. Find out how you can get involved: http://wildlifeday.org/
Unconventional Life
Here is a bit of positive news to start your week. A local Alaskan newspaper, Echo News, just published a nice story about me. Many thanks to The Echo and writer Melinda Munson for this recognition; I am honored. As the title implies, my life has been anything but conventional and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Please take a look and as always, thank you for following along on my journey.
Colin
Click on the image to link to the story.
More Snow!
This is a beautiful sight - almost 3 feet of snow on the ground and there are giant flakes falling as I type this. Some will curse the snow but I will always welcome it. What's the point of living in Alaska if you don't embrace the beauty of winter? Going into my third year of living here at the Nature Center and we're finally getting a true Alaskan winter. I've put more miles on my skis in the past few weeks than I did the two years prior.
Colin
Injured Moose
I went out skiing with my camera gear earlier today, hoping to catch a colorful morning sky. On they way to my favorite location, I came upon a cow moose browsing next to the trail. Not wanting to startle her by passing by closely or risk being charged, I skied into the trees and made a wide arc, coming back out further up the trail where I could get some photos of her. A few minutes later, another moose stepped out onto the trail and joined her. I could see that they wanted to walk the trail past me, so I stepped behind a stand of trees, allowing them to pass by safely. After they walked past, I noticed the first moose had an injured hind leg. There wasn’t an open wound but the leg was obviously deformed, probably from an injury that she acquired long ago, possibly caused by a bear. She was limping along and I can only imagine that traveling through deep snow must be very challenging for her. The experience served as a reminder that humans need to give wildlife ample space to go about their routine, for our safety and theirs. If the moose had been frightened and run off into the woods to avoid me, she would have exerted a lot of energy, a situation that could prove fatal in the dead of winter. As a wildlife photographer, the welfare of your subject should always be the top priority.
Winter Landscape Photography Class
There is no solitude like that of a quiet winter day. After two rather mild years, we are having what many Alaskans are referring to as a "real winter." Every snowfall brings a fresh look to the valley and familiar scenes take on a new light.
Speaking of new light, I still have a few spaces left in my all-day winter landscape photography class on Saturday, March 4, at the Eagle River Nature Center. If you are interested, please call (907) 694-2108 to register. Cost is $75 and limited to 10 people. Feel free to share and thank you for following along!
Cheers,
Colin
Wiley Coyote
Today I had an encounter with one of the most intelligent and beautiful creatures of the forest - the coyote. We have a good population of coyotes here in Eagle River Valley and they tend to be very large, often mistaken for wolves. This individual was quite curious, allowing me to observe and photograph for several minutes.
Icy River Rampage 2017
One of my favorite events to shoot every year - the Icy River Rampage fatbike race at the Eagle River Nature Center. We were at full capacity today with 100 racers for the 5th annual race. The conditions were excellent and the light was superb!
Racers: I've got several hundred images to edit through. I did my best to get photos of everyone but that's not always possible. I will be posting more in the next couple of days. If you are interested in purchasing your image as either a digital file or a print, please message me with your bib # and I will search through my photos. I will create a link at my online store to make the process easy.
Cheers to all the brave souls who pushed on through the cold temps today! More to come...
Colin
Frozen beards led the pack today...
Return of the Sun
After a two-month absence, the sun is gradually returning to Eagle River Valley, reaching the valley floor a few minutes more each day. One year ago I took a similar photo but the landscape was brown and drab. I'm grateful for all the snow we've received this season, it looks and feels like winter in Alaska, once again!
Warm & Windy Weather
It's been warm & windy in Eagle River Valley for the past 24 hours - temps above freezing and the snow has blown off trees. We've gotten upwards of 3 feet of snow this month, probably more than the past two winters combined. I'm hoping the forecast is accurate and the temp drops again tomorrow to preserve the winter wonderland and keep the river frozen for our annual Icy River Rampage fatbike race this Saturday at the Nature Center.
Photography classes this winter...
Hello and happy Wednesday! Just a heads-up for those of you in the Anchorage/Eagle River/Mat-su area that may be looking to gain a better understanding of digital photography and sharpen your shooting skills, I will be offering two classes at the Eagle River Nature Center in March. The first is an intro to winter photography on Saturday, March 4, from 9 am until approximately 5 pm, focused on basic camera functions and shooting in manual mode. The second is an aurora photography workshop on the evening of Saturday, March 18, beginning at 8 pm and should wrap up by 1 am at the latest. Each class is $75 and limited to the first 10 people registered. Both will begin with an indoor portion and then move outside, so dress accordingly and be prepared to do some winter hiking. Call the Nature Center at (907) 694-2108 to sign up or email me if you have any questions - mail@colintyler.com
Feel free to share!
Colin
17 inches of fresh snow and counting...
It's been a few years since we've had a winter wonderland back here in Eagle River Valley. Last year at this time the landscape was brown and the trails were a mix of ice and mud. We've gotten 17 inches over the past two days with more on the way. I'm getting ready to leave for Minnesota to visit family and had to ski out to my favorite spot today to soak up the scenery. Have a great week and be safe on the roads out there, a winter storm warning is in effect for South Central Alaska. Thank you for following along!
Colin
