While geomagnetic activity certainly has been elevated in recent days, I missed the big display on Tuesday evening as I was still in a tropical locale. However, on our second night in Namibia last month, while staying at a lodge in the desert near Namib-Naukluft National Park and having not yet adjusted to the 10-hour time change, I was awake very early and decided to go outside to photograph the Milky Way. After looking at my first image, I immediately recognized the faint green glow of aurora, something I never thought I'd capture in Southern Africa. This time it was the Southern Lights, or Aurora Australis. I managed to catch a few bright meteors in the frame as well!
Interested in exploring Southern Africa? We are taking reservations for the October 2026 tour. Email me or visit our site for more info: https://natexpotours.com/2026-namibia/
Cheers!
Colin
Matriarchal
I'm finally back stateside and catching up on some editing after journeying to Southern Africa to lead our 4th tour of Namibia (and now Botswana) with Nat Expo Tours. On our last day in Etosha National Park, we visited a waterhole near the east gate that had been frequented by herd of elephants. Our timing was perfect as we observed the herd, one by one, falling into a single file line behind their matriarch as they left the water. This was my favorite moment, showing the reverence they hold for their queen, along with the wisdom and confidence she displayed as she led them to find sustenance and safety in a harsh and very dry landscape.
We have two back to back Southern Africa Adventure tours booked next year - a private group of 10 people in November and our usual timeframe (Oct 16-30, 2026). We have begun taking reservations for the October tour. Please contact me if you are interested in joining us. Full itinerary here: https://natexpotours.com/2026-namibia/
As always, thank you for following,
Colin
PS - I spent another week abroad after Africa, in a familiar location. More on that later...
Another Southern Africa Adventure in the Books!
We just wrapped up our fourth annual tour of Namibia, Botswana, and Victoria Falls! We had a great group of people who experienced the wonders and wildlife of Southern Africa and created memories to last a lifetime. I will have more to share in the coming days and weeks, but for now here is one my favorite elephant images from Chobe National Park, Botswana.
As always, thank you for following and please let me know if you are interested in joining us in Africa next October, or any of our upcoming 2026 tours, including Cuba, Norway, Nepal, and Iceland.
Colin
Recent Guiding Moments
A few highlights from recent guiding ventures in Alaska. I am now on my way to Southern Africa where we will be leading our 4th consecutive tour of Namibia with Nat Expo Tours, LLC, which now includes a few days in northern Botswana. Stay tuned for photos of the Namib Desert and the array of Africa wildlife!
We are currently taking reservations for next year's Southern Africa Adventure (Oct 16-30, 2026), Experiencing Cuba (Feb 18-27, 2026), Arctic Norway Aurora Adventure (March 15-25, 2026), Exploring Nepal (May 13-26, 2026) and Exploring Iceland (June 17-27, 2026). Please message me if you are interested in joining any of our guided adventures to some of the world's most renowned photographic destinations! You can view all of our itineraries here: https://natexpotours.com/
Cheers!
Colin
Aurora borealis & Big Dipper, Palmer
Brown bear in the rain, Lake Clark National Park
Young bull moose, Chugach State Park
Surprise Geomagnetic Storm!
Wow, what a storm last night!
It truly was one of the best displays I've witnessed in my years of chasing auroras, which date back to the days of film. Never did I imagine back then how digital technology would allow one to capture images of the aurora with such detail and vibrance, using a shutter speed fast enough to freeze the rapidly dancing lights.
Geomagnetic storms are more common and can arrive unpredicted around both the autumnal and vernal equinoxes, due to a phenomenon known as the Russell-McPherron Effect. Click here to learn more…
Cheers!
Colin
Happy Moose Monday/Fun-day!
This certainly was a unique opportunity from a recent guiding adventure. I've witnessed a lot of rutting behavior in recent years, but this is rare. We'd hiked close to 10 miles in the rain the previous day without taking a single frame, but this day sure did "produce."
As always, thank you for following,
Colin
Aurora Season!
The aurora season is upon us! I've already guided 5 tours with Alaska Photo Treks in the past month, with this vibrant display taking place on Sunday, Sept 14 (see the shooting star in the third photo). Check out their page if you'd like a guided aurora or photography adventure in the Anchorage area - maybe I'll be your guide!
Colin
Happy Autumn!
Today marks the first day of autumn in the Northern Hemisphere, though it has looked and felt like fall for a few weeks in Southcentral Alaska. I’ve been busy guiding and just had two very successful days of moose photo safaris with Alaska Photo Treks. This is one of the biggest bulls I’ve ever seen, with antlers that span around 70” across…
Bears in the Rain
The September rains have been persistent, but that doesn't put a damper on guiding wildlife photography tours. Last week I made my first trip to Lake Clark National Park with two clients. It rained the entire day, yet we still had a great time and since the weather is out of one's control, all you can do is make do with the light you have, and rough weather often makes for dramatic images.
Colin
Aerial Photos of Knik & Colony Glaciers
An aerial view of Knik & Colony glaciers, taken on a doors-off helicopter tour with Outbound Adventures in May. The first image is one of my favorites, with the pools of blue water leading toward the Chugach Mountains. I returned for another flight later in May with a tour client. Observing the patterns and textures in the ice, crevasses, and glacial blue water from above is mesmerizing! We also made three separate landings - one next to Lake George, one on Knik Glacier next to a pool, and the last was on a ridge above Knik Glacier.
Colin
Knik Glacier
A pool next to our landing on Knik Glacier
Knik Glacier
Knik Glacier
Lake George and Colony Glacier
Moose Swimming in Turnagain Arm
Last month, while guiding a client for Alaska Photo Treks, I witnessed something I had never seen before. We made a stop to photograph the coastline and incoming tide when I spotted what looked like a log floating in Turnagain Arm. Upon closer inspection, we realized it was a moose swimming away from shore toward the mudflats. It walked along the flat briefly, then returned to the channel and swam around a rocky point before returning to the beach.
As I was expecting to photograph moving water and tidal zones, I left my telephoto lens behind. Looking back, the wider angle probably gave it a better sense of place and scale. It was a very unique opportunity for both the client and me!
Colin
Turnagain Arm Reflection
In a place notorious for wind and rain, moments like these don’t happen often. I’ve been driving along Turnagain Arm 3 - 4 times per week this summer while guiding for Alaska Photo Treks and have had some beautiful and unique experiences (see my post of the moose swimming in Turnagain Arm), but this might be my favorite. It was taken yesterday morning when the low tide and calm weather provided a perfect composition. I was leading a tour and told the guests that it’s a subjective statement and can’t really be quantified, but this is the nicest day I’ve seen on the arm yet this year!
As always, thank you for following,
Colin
Turnagain Arm, Aug 3, 2025
Annual Eagle River Nature Center Fireweed Saison at Odd Man Rush Brewing
If you are a regular visitor to the Eagle River Nature Center, you've probably noticed some changes in recent years. First, the Salmon Viewing Deck was beautifully rebuilt in 2022 and now offers the same stunning views from a sturdier structure with excellent interpretive signs. Second, the local beavers dammed the creek (pictured here) the following year and created a much larger pond, which now hosts a variety of waterfowl.
I took this on a golden evening in early June when the reflection was too perfect to resist. If you enjoy the photograph and are a fan of local brew, you will soon find it on the labels of the annual "Eagle River Nature Center Fireweed Saison" from Odd Man Rush Brewing. Stop by and grab some cans to go, maybe add one to your mantel...
Cheers!
Colin
Great Horned Owl, Stealthy and Elusive
I recently had the opportunity to observe a great horned owl near my place. It was in the same tree for several hours, allowing me to try numerous angles and compositions with a variety of lighting conditions. After getting some dramatic poses, I decided to intentionally camouflage the owl in its surroundings to convey the elusive nature of these birds. Notice how the feathers blend almost perfectly with the birchbark in the second photo, and you soon realize you've probably walked right past these stealthy creatures on many occasions…
Natural camouflage
Juvenile Owl in Morning Light
I had a brief but rewarding encounter with a juvenile great horned owl recently. The side lighting and soft greenery framed this little fuzzball perfectly...
Colin
Chugach Swans
I've had some version of this image in mind for a while. Last week it all came together perfectly. Trumpeter swans in morning sun with the Chugach Mountains creating a dramatic backdrop...
Colin
Beaver & Morning Reflection
Another gift from last week's calm, frosty morning...
I'd been trying to get a unique photo of the beavers working on their dam for a while now and having lived in this valley for more than a decade, I've learned to use (and sometimes prefer) reflected light vs. direct. In this case, the still water held a vibrant reflection of the mountainside in morning sun, creating a perfect canvas for the image in my mind’s eye.
Thank you for following,
Colin
www.colintyler.com
A Cold, Still Morning at the Eagle River Nature Center
Reflecting on a beautiful morning at the Nature Center last week...
After an evening of rainstorms with hail and thunder (a rare occurrence here), the sky cleared overnight and the temperature plummeted, leaving a thin layer of ice on the viewing decks and a perfect reflection.
As always, thank you for following.
Colin
Mother's Day Sunrise on Denali
Mother’s Day began with the golden light of sunrise on North America’s tallest mountain, Denali. I was in Talkeetna to photograph the Clean Air Challenge benefit bike. It was a beautiful weekend with stunning views of Denali and the Alaska Range, which provided a wonderful backdrop for the riders, and the event brought in more than $255,000 for the American Lung Association!
Final Aurora Tour of the Season
And just like that, the 2024/2025 aurora tour season has drawn to a close!
This marks the end of my 4th season guiding aurora tours for Alaska Photo Treks. We had to drive a bit to find clear skies and luckily, the clouds parted as we continued northward. As the sky was still glowing twilight at midnight, the lights came out and put on a brilliant display against the 'gloaming' - an Old English poetic term for twilight that I just learned...
The guests were thrilled, and I was happy to end the season with a successful outing!
Colin
