A British photographer has captured incredible solar images from an observatory he built in his back garden. Retired engineer, Dave Tyler captured these stunning pictures showing the ferocious activity on the sun's surface during its solar maximum - when the star is at its most active during its 11 year cycle. The amateur snapper is able to capture a wide variety of phenomena from his own home near High Wycombe, including sunspots, solar prominences, coronal loops and solar flares. Scroll down for video . One for the album: A streak of burning gas leaves the sun in this photo by Dave Tyler in his back garden . The 72-year-old designed and built his own observatory in 1977 and now uses powerful telescopes to observe and photograph the solar system. Tyler first became interested in astronomy after seeing the first episode of the BBC's Sky at Night in 1957. He said: 'I had always had a casual interest in astronomy ever since the first Sky at Night. 'However, more than a decade later a friend gave me an old Ross 3 inch refractor which I cobbled onto a camera tripod. Here comes the sun: A magnificent picture of the star which dominates our solar system from December 2014 . 'With this simple device I was able to look at Saturn, which left me truly amazed. 'Like many other amateurs who have had the same experience, I was instantly launched into a life long passion with the subject. 'I am now very aware of my position in the solar system. The sun is awesome and many people do not even realise it is a star. Through my scopes it is an amazing sight.' The sun photographed during its solar maximum which is its most active period during its 11 year cycle . A sunspot captured during the sun's solar maximum by backyard observer Dave Tyler in February . David Tyler and the equipment he uses to take pictures of the sun in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire . A solar war rages on the sun's surface during its solar maximum on January 15, 2015 . A prominence rising from the sun photographed by Dave Tyler who built his own observatory in his garden . A sun spot is pictured in this photograph taken in March by Mr Tyler . Solar power: A fiery battle rages on the sun's surface on September 2, 2014 . An plane flying through the night sky against the backdrop of the sun which has a visible sun spot . A large sunspot visible on the star's surface during its solar maximum in September 2014 . The 72-year-old designed and built his own observatory in 1977 and now uses powerful telescopes to observe and photograph the solar system . A view of the dome in David Tyler's garden, containing the equipment used to take pictures of the sun .
Retired engineer Dave Tyler built his own observatory in garden in 1977 . Uses powerful telescope to photograph solar system from home in Bucks. Takes pictures of variety of phenomena including solar flares and sunspots .