Rise & Shine!

Good morning from Eagle River Valley, Alaska. Have a great weekend out there, wherever you are, and thank you for following my adventures.

Remember that next Saturday, October 6, is the October Nights: 22nd Annual Auction Fundraiser for the Friends of Eagle River Nature Center, where I reside. If you'd like to attend this event and help support the Nature Center and the various services we provide, follow the link above for ticket information. There will be a variety of items for both live and silent auction, including two spots on my February 2019 Cuba Photo Tour. Aside from these two spaces in the auction, there is only one spot left on the tour so please contact me if you are interested in exploring Cuba with me this February!

Colin

Lynx!

Yesterday I certainly had one of my more fortunate encounters as a wildlife photographer. Lynx are very elusive creatures, yet they are also curious (that's the feline nature), so if they are comfortable and want to show themselves, they will. I actually had one sneak into my campsite in Denali National Park, lie down next to my tent and watch me while I was eating dinner. With the cyclical increase in snowshoe hare populations, lynx numbers are also rising and sightings are becoming more common. I will have more to share in the days ahead.

Cheers,

Colin

I made the Daily Dozen again at National Geographic Your Shot!

Good afternoon, friends. I've got some exciting news - it seems that this week's theme is aerial photography as I just received word that one of my photos of the Kilauea Eruption taken from a helicopter in Hawaii last summer received an official Editor's Note and has made the Daily Dozen at Your Shot - National Geographic! You can view my photo and the others at the link below (click on the image), where you can vote for your favorite. The winner will be shared on their Instagram page.

Mahalo to the Nat Geo editors and the Your Shot community!

Colin

www.colintyler.com

Nikon, Paradise Helicopters, #nikonusa

Aerial View of Eagle River Valley

A bird's eye view of Eagle River Valley and Glacier Lake (the source of Eagle River). Last night I flew with a local pilot friend of mine to take some aerial of the valley where I live. It's always fascinating to see this area from a different perspective. Clouds were building over the mountains, blocking the direct sunlight over the areas I most wanted to photograph, so we will probably fly again in the next few days before the fall color is gone. Have a great Wednesday out there and thank you for following along!

Colin

Icelandic Horses

I arrived in Hosfós, Iceland on the afternoon of what was my final day in-country and knew immediately that was where I would remain until nightfall, exploring the area and soaking up the north coast sunshine. One of my favorite subjects turned out to be the many horses in and around the town, something that Icelanders seem to take great pride in. I had envisioned an image with the ocean as a strong element in the background and am very pleased with what I captured that day.

Have a magical Monday out there and thank you for following along!

Colin

Images taken with the Nikon D850.

Happy Autumnal Equinox

"Celebrating the Autumnal Equinox. Equal parts day and night. Striking balance, honoring the light and the dark in one's self and embracing both. Releasing, with love, all things, thoughts, actions, habits and feelings that no longer are a benefit. Embracing all that creates love, joy, abundance, laughter, music & magic. A multitude of blessings for all." (Carey Embry)

Today marks the first day of autumn in the Northern Hemisphere. It is time to celebrate both the changes and the brilliant colors that abound!

Colin

A palette of autumn colors and berries in Skagafjörður, on northern Iceland's Troll Peninsula.

Heritage Falls, Eagle River Nature Center, Chugach State Park, Alaska

More Aurora from Iceland

I was editing through photos from my Iceland trip last night and came across this eery aurora image taken on the foggy drive from the north coast back to Reykjavik. It was a short, action-packed trip and I am just now catching up on sleep and settling back into this time zone. I was able to use the long flights to work on senior portraits and create my Cuba slideshow, which I presented last night at the Anchorage REI store. I had another person register for the February 2019 Cuba Tour after the program, so it looks like I’ve only got one spot left!

If you are interested in joining me in Cuba this coming February, details can be found here: http://www.colintyler.com/phototours-and-classes/

Gracias!

Colin

Iceland Aurora

Well, apparently the Norse gods are smiling upon me because I couldn't possibly leave Iceland without seeing the aurora. We were under clouds during a big display a couple nights back but I did manage to get a few shots on my overnight drive from the north coast back to Reykjavik - I captured this image on the edge of Reykjavik just a couple hours ago. Now I begin the long journey home. Many thanks to William Janecek and KB Tambo Travel for including me on this adventure. Until next time, Iceland, ha det bra!

Colin

Mountain Biking Iceland

Hello from Akureyri, Iceland! We made a long drive over the country yesterday, stopping for a quick hike/bike up to a glacier for photos with KB Tambo Travel. The weather has been rainy and from what I'm seeing from my friends back home in Alaska, I missed out on some nice auroras last night. Despite the wet weather, our spirits aren't dampened and we were able to come away with a few nice mountain bike images. Have a great day out there, wherever you are on the globe!

Cheers!

Colin

Halló frá Íslandi - Hello from Iceland!

Hello from Iceland - where giant waterfalls are abundant and off-road driving takes on a whole new meaning! I arrived early yesterday and will be here until Thursday. It was a very spontaneous trip to meet a friend and help scope out new locations for his mountain bike tours, which also gave me an opportunity to explore Iceland for the first time and research/plan future photo tours here. I will be posting when I am able. As always, thank you for following along!

Takk (thank you),

Colin

Foggy Sunrise and a New International Adventure...

We've had some foggy mornings in the valley recently, adding an ethereal quality to the burgeoning fall colors. As much as I love this place and time of year, I am about to embark on one last international adventure before the oncoming winter. This will be the furthest I've traveled this year and it is a destination I have never been to before. I leave late tonight and will return next Friday. I'll check in when I am able, although I will be in remote areas and Wifi & downtime will likely be in short supply. In keeping with tradition, I will let my destination remain a mystery until I arrive. As always, thank you for following my journeys and feel free to share my posts with your friends.

Cheers,

Colin

Image taken with the Nikon D850.

Farewell, Washington!

Farewell, Washington! I've had a wonderful time here, both at the yoga retreat in Gig Harbor and also visiting friends while exploring a new part of the world but as always, I look forward to returning home to Alaska. The air has been filled with smoke & haze from wildfires in the Pacific Northwest recently but thankfully the last couple of days have been better and we were treated to a nice sunset & moonrise on Whidbey Island last night. Until next time!

Namaste,

Colin

Hello and Namaste from Washington State

Hello and Happy Monday, friends! I am checking in from Whidbey Island, Washington. I recently attended yoga retreat in Gig Harbor where I “checked out” for a few days and can honestly say it was one of the best things I’ve done for myself. Four days of being disconnected from electronics and social media while paying no attention to time of day certainly was nourishing for the soul. Perhaps even more restorative and encouraging was how more than 20 strangers came together and created a space without judgment or competition; all barriers were removed as we became one fully functioning entity, sharing only positive energy, smiles & laughter, and nutritious, organic whole foods. I believe it was a microcosm of what the world could be if we all chose to live and let live. The setting was lovely - deep in the woods with a small pond for swimming (though only one attendee other than myself dove in) and a wobbly raft covered in vegetation that made for some challenging balance poses. Wildlife was abundant and I found time to be creative between classes, taking photos or strumming my guitar when I was compelled but never did I feel obligated. In closing, I am grateful for another meaningful journey; the connections I made and the absolute bliss that we experienced. We’ve all become part of each other’s story as we return to our homes and daily lives with maybe a bit more wisdom and serenity.

Namaste,

Colin

Sweet Face

How can you resist a face like this? Such a feminine pose - chin down, head tilted, ear back, she's a natural model and simultaneously a fierce protector of her cub and their fishing grounds. I observed and photographed this sow and her then first-year cub on many occasions last fall, so it's great to see them back for another season. With other adult brown bears in the area, hopefully territorial disputes won't turn ugly.

Colin

Return of the Salmon & Bears...

Happy Monday out there, friends! It's that time of year again. Salmon are returning to the valley to spawn and where there are salmon, there are bears. Lots of bear activity on the trails in recent days so be aware, take precautions, and let them go about their bear business. 

Cheers!

Colin
 

Local Bull Moose

This is one of 3 large bull moose that we've seen around the Nature Center recently. Soon their antlers will stop growing, the velvet covering will be shed, and their temperament will be less friendly when the rut (mating season) begins. Rut-crazed bulls take no prisoners when it comes to charming a potential mate and discouraging any perceived competition, which can include other bulls, people, even cars and trains. Rivals are usually met with a chase and possible head-on collision from their massive antlers, so keep a heads-up approach when hiking and maybe see if your auto insurance has a rider policy for rutting moose!

Colin

KTVA Channel 11 News Story

It's not often that I find myself in front of a camera but when I do, I like to show off my backyard. Many thanks to KTVA 11 News for this wonderful segment on the Eagle River Nature Center. I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed making it. Have a great weekend and remember to get out & explore! I am headed out to a part of Prince William Sound that I have never been to. I hope to return with images and stories to share. As always, thank you for following along and feel free to share my site with your friends.  Follow the link below to watch the segment.

Colin

http://www.ktva.com/story/38806915/get-out-and-go-hike-at-the-eagle-river-nature-center

In the Shadow on Mauna Kea

In addition the Big Island's two active volcanoes, Kilauea and Mauna Loa, Hawaii is also home to Mauna Kea, a dormant volcano which now holds some of the world's premiere astronomical observatories. At 14,000 feet above sea level, it is surprisingly cold at the summit and snowfall is common here; meanwhile the lack of oxygen was noticeable with every breath. In the first photo you can see the shadow of Mauna Kea against the clouds over the Pacific Ocean.

Have a great weekend and, as always, thank you for following along.

Colin

Last of my Aerial Photographs of the 2018 Kilauea Eruption, Hawaii

Here are the last of my aerial photos of the lava river in Lower Puna, Hawaii and its path of destruction. You can see the source, Fissure 8, where the lava is spewing from the ground and has created cone that stands 180 feet tall. From what I understand, this fissure and resulting cone are on private property, so if the residents return they will have a giant volcanic cone in their yard - not many people can make that claim! It's tough to put into words what I was witnessing, the only thing I can compare it to is a raging glacial river, much like the one near my home in Eagle River Valley, Alaska. I'd always imagined lava slowly creeping across the ground until it cools and solidifies but this was anything but slow or creeping. The flow was turbulent and splashing its way toward the ocean, moving at speeds of 17 MPH near the fissure. Once again, mahalo to Paradise Helicopter Tours of Hilo for this opportunity to observe and photograph such a rare, spectacular event and most of all, best wishes to the residents of Leilani Estates and all of the areas affected, as well as all the people on the Big Island of Hawaii, whose lives and livelihoods have been greatly impacted.

Aloha,

Colin

Ocean Entry and Fissure 8

Lava ocean entry - Hawaii. Here are both aerial and ocean-level views of the lava from Fissure 8 as it hits the sea. You can see the glow from Fissure 8 behind the mountain in the second photo, approximately 8 miles up from the coast and the source of the lava river. While the current eruption has destroyed more than 700 homes in its path, it has also created more than 700 acres of new land where it hits the ocean water and cools. Mahalo to both Kalapana Cultural Tours and Paradise Helicopters of Hilo, Hawaii for their wonderful, up-close tours of the eruption, allowing me to capture once in a lifetime images of this event.

Colin