Oryx Closeup

Oryx/gemsbok in Onguma Private Game Reserve, Namibia. These truly are one of my favorite animals to observe and photograph. The markings & spiraled horns are remarkable and as much as I loved photographing them in the dunes of the Namib Desert, I was happy to get this closeup from a low perspective.

This was taken from the famous ground-level hide in Onguma, where we will be on days 9, 10 & 11 of the October 2022 tour with Nat Expo Tours. We still have two spots/one room available. More details here: https://naturalexposurestours.com/2022-namibia-tour/

Cheers!

Colin

Oryx in Onguma Private Game Reserve, Namibia

Dunes of the Namib Desert

Dunes of the Namib Desert, Swakopmund & Sesriem, Namibia.

I don't believe one could ever grow tired of photographing these dunes. The shapes, textures, and tones are constantly shifting, and each day is new canvas...

Taken in October 2021 with Nat Expo Tours. Our October 2022 Namibia Tour is nearly full. Please visit our page for more info or to join the waitlist for 2023: https://natexpotours.com/

Cheers!

Colin

Sand dune near Swakopmund, Namibia

Swakopmund, Namibia

Photographing the dunes of Sesriem, Namibia

Photographing the dunes of Sesriem, Namibia

Photographing the dunes of Sesriem, Namibia

Photographing the dunes of Sesriem, Namibia

Oryx of Sesriem, Namibia

I certainly have developed a reverence for the oryx, also known as gemsbok. Whether it's their unique masks & markings, spiraled horns, the environment they inhabit or some combination thereof, they are one my favorite species from Namibia.

In other Namibia-related news, our October 2022 tour is now 60% full and it looks like two more guests will register in the near future, leaving only two spots/one room still available. Please contact me if you or anyone you know might be interested in joining us.

Happy New Year!

Colin

Taken in October 2021 with Nat Expo Tours

Red Dawn

We sure had a colorful start to the day yesterday morning!

Being tucked away back here in the valley, we don't have an expansive view of the sky compared to being outside the front range (Anchorage) and are in fact halfway through two months of perpetual shade. As sunrise drew closer, the cloud layer grew thick and the color faded, right after I started shooting a time lapse video...

Colin

PS - if you received this via email, you’ll have to click “View in browser” to watch the short time lapse video

Zebra Patterns

Just like a tiger's stripes, the rosettes on a spotted leopard or a human fingerprint, the black & white pattern of a zebra is unique to each individual animal (almost like a walking barcode). Once you have the opportunity to observe large numbers of them at close range, you begin to identify and appreciate individual patterns...

Etosha National Park, Namibia

Colin

Winter's Tone

This is the start of my eighth winter here at the Eagle River Nature Center and it has undoubtedly been the best season we've had in terms of a snow-blanketed landscape, soft winter tones, and excellent skiing conditions. Wildlife activity has been slow recently but the scenery is breathtaking...

As always, thank you for following,

Colin

Taken from the Albert Loop Trail, Eagle River Nature Center, Alaska

October 2022 Namibia Tour

Hello Everyone!

I hope you had a great Thanksgiving holiday. I am excited to share this video we recently put together after last month’s trip to Namibia, as well as the details & itinerary for the October 2022 Namibia Tour with Nat Expo Tours!

Dates are October 17 – 28, 2022. Cost is $6,495 before discounts (based on double occupancy) and includes all transportation & lodging in Namibia (airfare not included), all local tours & park fees, plus breakfast & dinner most days (see full itinerary for details). We have made all the arrangements and hired drivers, which will allow us to watch more closely for wildlife & photo ops while offering more assistance to our guests. For more information, please visit our website: https://natexpotours.com/

Returning guests will receive a guaranteed 10% off this and all future tours. New guests can take advantage of the early-booking discounts of $250 per individual or $600 for a couple/pair who share a room. As of now, the tour is 50% full, so please contact us if you would like to register. A deposit of $1,500 will hold your spot with the remainder due in July, 2022.

Thank you for following. I hope you enjoy the video and please share!

Colin

Namibia with Nat Expo Tours

The Warthog, aka "Pumbaa"

The warthog, aka Pumbaa (pumbas africanas) - perhaps the cutest and most misnamed creature on the African continent. With a respectable set of tusks, nature's mullet and a face that any mother could love, they just might be my new favorite animal (behind the oryx).

Onguma Private Game Reserve, Namibia, October 2021. We will be visiting Onguma on Days 9, 10, & 11 of the October 2022 Namibia Tour. Details for the tour will be announce this Friday, Nov. 26 at Nat Expo Tours, so please give us a follow & share!

Cheers!

Colin

Lynx Presentation on YouTube

Hello Everyone,

I enjoyed presenting for the Alaska Wildlife Alliance’s “Wildlife Wednesday” program last week and have received a lot of great feedback. If you weren’t able to watch my presentation on Alaska’s lynx, you can still view it here on the AWA YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GBsG6xau9is.

If you’re an avid YouTuber, please visit my new Colin Tyler Photography channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyk_1tMJRT-LwV166he5H7g and be sure to subscribe!

As always, thank you for following along,

Colin

Male Canada Lynx, Eagle River Nature Center/Chugach State Park, Alaska

Sesriem in Black & White

Sesriem National Park, Namibia. A study in tones, lines, and scale. While the warm hues in the sand and rich blue skies were saturated and visually appealing, I was often envisioning black & white when shooting the landscape..

We will be visiting Sesriem and Sossusvlei on Days 2 & 3 of the October 2022 Namibia Tour. Itinerary & details will be shared soon on the Nat Expo Tours website.

Have a great weekend out there and thank you for following!

Colin

Oryx/gemsbok in Sesriem National Park, Namibia

Hikers atop the dune surrounding Sossusvlei dry ancient lake bed, Namibia

Perhaps the most photographed dune in Sesriem National Park, Namibia

Wildlife Wednesday Lynx Presentation

Hello friends and wild cat lovers,

Tomorrow evening (November 10) at 7 pm AKST/ 10 pm CST, I will be giving a Zoom presentation on Alaska’s lynx for the Alaska Wildlife Alliance. The program is free and open to the public. You can register here: https://www.akwildlife.org/new-events/2021/wildlife-wednesday-alaskas-lynx. It will also be shared on their YouTube page afterward.

You can also learn more about the Alaska Wildlife Alliance and become a member on their website. I joined last year and am happy to be a part of this wonderful organization, which helps safeguard Alaska’s wildlife.

I hope to see you there!

Colin

Onguma Game Reserve, Namibia

Wildebeest and zebras, Onguma Private Game Reserve, Namibia.

Bordering Etosha National Park in northern Namibia, the Onguma Reserve has a unique below-ground hide next to a watering hole, offering photo ops at or below eye-level with your subjects. We spent one morning in the hide and photographed an array of wildlife including wildebeest, zebras, a large bull elephant, oryx, warthogs and more.

We will be visiting Onguma and staying in one of their lodges on Days 9, 10, & 11 of the October 2022 Namibia Tourmore details here: https://naturalexposurestours.com/2022-namibia-tour/

Cheers!

Colin

Wildebeest and zebras, Onguma Private Game Reserve, Namibia.

Himba Culture, Namibia

One of my favorite aspects of traveling to new destinations is meeting and photographing local cultures. I am primarily a wildlife photographer but opportunities like this are truly inspiring and fill me with gratitude.

Our October 2022 Namibia Tour will incorporate a cultural component as well, including a guided walk to ancient petroglyphs, touring a living museum of the Damara People, and visits to Himba villages. Details will be posted in the coming weeks at Nat Expo Tours

Thank you for following,

Colin

Elephants Galore!

This image was taken the same day that we drove through an elephant herd in the Kwando Core Area of Northeastern Namibia (see the video in my previous post). This herd numbered around 100 and crossed a road literally right behind an elephant crossing sign!

Once again, timing is everything...

Colin

The Elephant Gauntlet, Kwando Core Area, Namibia

While visiting the far northeastern reaches of Namibia, we had the opportunity, or rather the circumstance, of driving through a herd of elephants on a single track road with very soft sand. Getting stuck would have proven dangerous as getting out to push wasn't an option. Other than a curious few, most of the elephants paid us little attention but we still took our time navigating through the herd. We were planning the October 2022 Namibia Tour and will have the tour dates and details posted on our website in the coming weeks: https://naturalexposurestours.com/2022-namibia-tour/

Elephant Herd, Kwando Core Area, Namibia

The Endangered Black Rhino

A Black rhino with an avian hitchhiker, Etosha National Park, Namibia. Namibia is home to more than 50% of the remaining black rhinos and Etosha has become a stronghold for this endangered species. In an effort to curb poaching, rhino horns were once being cut off to remove the poacher's incentive but as a keratin tissue, it regrows. You can see the flattened horns on this rhino, evidence that they were once cut.

We will be visiting (and staying in) Etosha National Park on Days 7, 8, & 9 of the October 2022 Namibia Tour, where you can expect to witness and photograph these magnificent creatures! We will soon post the dates and a detailed itinerary for the tour, so stay tuned...

More tour info at: https://naturalexposurestours.com/

Colin

Black rhino, Etosha National Park, Namibia