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If you wish to leave a comment or want to contact me please do so using my email:

HoltbyPhoto@gmail.com

I am phasing out my Denver email:

Holtby@DenverPhotography.com

but that website still has all my personal work:

DenverPhotography.com

and is also linked to:

HoltbyPhoto.com

(If your interest is primarily biographical, and you want to see what my early adventures were, be sure to view the older posts on this blog. They go back seven decades to my childhood.)

ALL PHOTOS ON THIS SITE ARE
COPYRIGHT PROTECTED:
Do not reproduce without my permission!

To see an archive of our personal artifacts,
as another way to peek into our history,
go to:  mholtby.blogspot.com

More of our travels go to:

1Planet1People

I now have a studio on Whidbey Island in Washington State

and am working on a photo book: the Whidbey Beard Project

WhidbeyPhoto.com

APRIL 2026: VIETNAM VETERANS PROJECT COMPLETED!

 

After TWO YEARS this project has been completed, with a book I'm quite proud and pleased with, as well as regular exhibits which started November 2025 and continue throughout 2026. Here is an update:

BOOKS:

The 2^nd (and final) edition has been published. They sell for $45 each. They’re going fast, and I only have 2 more available. However, in about two weeks I’ll receive a second order. Please let me know how many you want me to reserve for you. You can also order them directly from the publisher but that will be at an extra cost for shipping and sales tax: https://mixam.com/print-on-demand/holtby. The book is now hardbound, 8 ½” x 11” , 64 pages. It profiles 23 military vets with a wide range of ranks and in-country duties, a political advisor to the mayor of Hue, a refugee during the fall of Saigon, and the daughter of a North Vietnamese officer. The book is dedicated to John McCain with an original photo of him being released from Hanoi Hilton. Each portrait has a story by the subject of their experience in-country on the facing page. The stories are quite compelling, making it difficult for the reader to put it down. It is my hope it will serve as a great legacy for all those who participated, as well as add to the history of that war.

PRESENTATIONS:

Our last presentation was at the Coupeville Library and was well attended. Mike Diamanti was kind enough to record and transcribe the entire event and I have a PDF for anyone interested (just email me a request). It includes the talks of the following vets: Sam Aaron, Greg Doering, John Graham, Henry Veldman, Bob Akers, Bob Gabelein and Lew Legat. The next (and last) presentation will be June 16^th 3-4:30pm at the Freeland Library. 

 EXHIBITIONS:

Currently the exhibition is at the Chehalis Veterans Memorial Museum until the end of April. If you’ve never been there, it is an awesome place with veteran artifacts all the way back to the revolutionary war in a 22,000 square foot building. It is worth a trip down there! If you go you might contact them ahead of time and request meeting Pat Swanson. He is a ‘Nam vet on their board, and helped me install our exhibit – a very nice guy! Ask him about his encounter in the jungle with a cobra on the barrel of his rifle:  info@veteransmuseum.org.

 In May the exhibit returns to the Island and will be at the Langley Library, and the Freeland Library in June. That is followed by the Langley Frank Rose Gallery in July, and will end up at the Whidbey Veterans Resource Center in August where they will be permanently displayed. 

MARCH 2026: PORTLAND OREGON

 

My Vietnam Veterans exhibition is now showing at the Chehalis Veterans Memorial Museum which is three hours south of Whidbey Island, almost to Portland. My daughter Lisa, suggested we do a visit to Portland so we combined a trip there with the installation of the exhibit. 

We had a great time and probably the highlight for me was a visit to the Hopscotch Immersive Art.

FEBRUARY 2026: HOMER ALASKA

I was inspired by the photographs of Alan Murphy, particularly of eagles in Homer Alaska. So I signed up for one of his workshops and came back with photos beyond my expectations. I would consider several of these among the best I've ever taken of birds, or for that matter wildlife in general. To get the above shot we laid down flat on the front of the boat and shot just above the water line as the boat captain threw fish to the eagles. And there literally were thousands of eagles. Every time we threw fish at least a dozen would show up.

The only downside on this trip was the weather. We had three of the five days at or below zero. We also shot photos of songbirds and frequently encountered otters.

FEBRUARY 2026: VIETNAM VETERANS PROJECT CONTINUES

 Last November the 18" x 24" metal prints of the Vietnam Project were first displayed at the Oak Harbor Library, and a presentation was included with six vets talking about their experience while "in Country". In December the Project was highlighted in an article in Whidbey Life Magazine and in January they were featured at the Island County Museum. Now in February all twenty panels are featured on display at the Coupeville Library and six vets will present on the 19th. 

Since the publication of the hardbound book I have completed five more portraits, and have an additional two in the process. At that point I will publish a second edition - and probably move on to other projects. Here is the latest:

DECEMBER 2025: PAMELA IN THE NUTCRACKER

After months of rehearsal, sore muscles and Tylenol Pamela persisted in mastering the choreography

and was in twelve performances over two weeks during Christmas. In her second to last performance she backed up after taking a final bow to make room for the next row of dancers - and fell into the fireplace! The audience didn't see it because of the performers in front of her. 

 

NOVEMBER 2025: LUNA ON WHIDBEY ISLAND

 

We have a new addition to our family. She was born March 20th, but we didn't get here until August 6th. So she was not truly a puppy, and as a result came with giardia, an eye infection and a fear of other dogs. She is a pure bred SILKEN WINDHOUND. I wanted a sighthound since I'd owned a number of wolfhounds and deerhounds. But I can no longer lift a 140 pound dog. A Silken was a great alternative. She's 35 pounds and as an adult may be 45 pounds. She's a sweet dog who has integrated into our lifestyle and is increasingly bonded and responsive to us. She has mostly overcome her fear of other dogs through weeks of puppy class. Pamela has never owned a dog but totally loves Luna. Get another? Pamela says, "No way!"

AUGUST 2025: PAMELAGRACE ON WHIDBEY ISLAND

Since moving to Whidbey Island Pamela has wanted to perform here. She was a regular in the Seattle area, particularly with a band before COVID. With some networking on her part she was able to sing at the Langley wine bar Ott & Hunter, and also at the Bayview Tap Room. 

 

 

JULY 2025: GYPSY WAGON GOES TO OREGON

 

My brother Matt has finally completed a 12 year project building a gypsy wagon which is now being used as an RV. A big test was taking it to the Oregon Country Fair where he concluded he needed a bigger truck to pull it. It locally caused a stir with someone posting on NextDoor that it was a mobile sauna. Here is a link to its unveiling back in October 2024:

JULY 2025: OREGON COUNTRY FAIR

 I celebrated my 80th birthday at the Fair along with Pamelagrace, and my best friend Frank Haurwitz who lives in Eugene. My brother Matt and his wife Govinda were also there with their gypsy wagon, as well as Richelle and Leo who were initially house sitters for me and became friends of not only me but my entire family. The Fair isn't like any other. There are no animals, no 4H, only a lot of entertainment and costumes. 17,000 people attended daily and on the last day the temperature was 95+ degrees.

MAY 2025: VIETNAM PROJECT

 

The Vietnam veterans project is moving along, now in its final hardcover edition.  The book version is now 52 pages. The cost is $45, and you can get a printed version directly from the publisher or view it online for free. It will be exhibited at both the Coupeville, Freeland, Langley and Oak Harbor Libraries, the Veterans Memorial Museum in Chehalis, and the Coupeville Historical Museum. The link is: WhidbeyPhoto.com - Mixam. There is a 10 minute video/slide show about this project at: https://youtu.be/UBfKTF6Leh8,

FEBRUARY 2025: BOOK PUBLISHED

The average tourist returns home with typical scenes absent of people. It is as if they were taken during the COVID Pandemic and everyone was sequestered. I believe adding people to your photos, documenting a culture, brings your story alive. And I'm not talking about selfies. We know you've been there. I think a selfie cheapens the experience, whereas an encounter with local people will enhance your own photos as well as your own memories of being there. This book will help you get past your shyness in asking locals for their picture. It also discusses how to make a photo your proud of instead of just a snapshot. The hardbound version is 124 pages illustrated with over 100 photos. It is not only for photographers, but also for any travelers and readers interested in other cultures. You can buy it for only $45 directly from me or online with the publisher: https://mixam.com/print-on-demand/holtby

NOVEMBER 2024: GUATEMALA

 

 

My second time to Guatemala, but the previous trip was 18 years ago. I am particularly drawn there by the Mayan culture and the colorful dress of the women who put in a lot of time with backstrap looms and intricate patterns.

What has changed since I was last there is the advent of cell phones, now ubiquitous around the world.

The highlight for me was an animal market in San Fracisco el Alta where farmers brought all manner of animals for sale, predominated by squealing pigs, but also included: cows, sheep, goats, ducks, chickens, geese, rabbits and even puppies. 

OCTOBER 16th, 2024: WEDDING

I'm delighted to announce that Pamela and I were married at the Coupeville courthouse last Wednesday. Following the ceremony, her father remarked, "Now that you're married, you have to live until you're a hundred," which he has achieved. This aligns perfectly with my personal philosophy: "Live large, and long!" Cecil had the honor of giving the bride away. Pamela's cousin, David Hundley, captured the moment in a photograph, accompanied by his wife, Abigail. Joining us were my daughter Lisa, my brothers Matt and Jeff with his wife Jennifer, and Pamela's sister Phyllis. We celebrated with a small reception at our new home, attended by Francie and Bill, Julie and Bob, and Greg Thomas. Echoing the sentiments of a timeless song, "Here we go again - taking a chance on love."

Arriving home after the ceremony in front of a judge at the courthouse. Left to Right: my youngest brother Matt, Pamela's father Cecil, Mike & Pamela.

Photos by Julie Boyd

SEPTEMBER 2024: SITKA, ALASA

 Did a trip to Sitka Alaska to go out on the boat called "Cat Daddy" with Neil McDermitt, owner of Whale's Song Expeditions. We were primarily interested in observing the humpbacks bubble net fishing. This is a process where a group of whales makes a circle of bubbles that the herring think is impenetrable. Then they go to the bottom and rise to the surface scooping up the little fish on their way up. The bubble netting occurred in Angoon Bay. It is quite dramatic! During our eight days on the boat we observed 110 whales.

I also had an opportunity to watch the entire process of purse net salmon fishing, a fascinating procedure for having never before seen it. However, the fish weigh so much they damage each other in the net and aren't ultimately on our dinner table. That happens with fish brought in one at a time on a long line. 

Here is a video of our trip produced by Dave Fedorski, the videographer who was with us. It shows the bubble netting by the humpacks, and also has some shots of them from a drone.

SEPTEMBER 2024: MOVING

So Pamela and I could live together we bought a wonderful home in Coupeville, still on Whidbey Island but 20 minutes North of where I lived before. It has a large wood shop which will become my studio, and a large garage part of which will become Pamela's studio. Now there is plenty of room for all our artwork, and a walk-in closet for all Pamela's clothes. We love the house. The only downside is the five acres that need to be mowed and a lot of landscaping including a "secret" garden with an orchard. My timing wasn't great as I had the Vietnam Vets project underway and had already committed myself to the trip to Alaska. But we made it all work.

 

JULY 2024: VIETNAM VETS

I started a new project of photographing Vietnam vets, each holding a photo of themselves "in country" during the war. This is for the Whidbey Island Veterans Resource Center to mark the 50th anniversary of the fall of Saigon. Unfortunately, after doing just eight portraits I had to postpone work on the project as I sold the house with my studio and moved up the Island to Coupeville. I have potentially an even larger studio there but haven't yet had time to put it together.

 

JUNE 2024: WHIDBEY ISLAND, WASHINGTON

 

Most of my blog posts are about my travels around the world. I have been to 47 countries, done a dozen African safaris, visited with at least that many tribes, and been all over Asia as well. And yet it is so nice to come home. I live on Whidbey Island, which is NW of Seattle, up a gravel road with a pond out front, and surrounded by tall trees. There is plenty of wildlife in my backyard. I just took this photo yesterday. This fawn was just born, along with his twin. He's visited me several times and is experimenting with what is edible.  Deer inhabit a range of just a half to 3 square miles. I have 6-8 deer who visit me so regularly they all have names, and I've watched some of them grow up. 

APRIL-MAY 2024; TANZANIA

 This trip involved 22 days of game drives, and was both a challenging and rewarding experience. The challenge was due to the weather. It rained when we first got there and soaked the roads with ruts that were filled with water and mud. We got stuck several times, but with two vehicles one could tow out the other. Except for one time in remote Serengeti when both vehicles were mired in the mud for seven hours with lions around us. We finally were yanked out by a large tractor and didn't return back to our tents until 2am.

Trip highlights included an instance when three large male lions, presumably brothers, initially were sleeping on a kopje (granite outcropping). Then a fourth brother fought with another lion who apparently wanted to join the boy's club. The three on the kopje stood up and all started roaring. It was very loud and very impressive. And resulted in my best photo on the trip.

A second highlight was a visit to the Kiloki Boma where myself and two others received a traditional Maasai welcome, and an invitation to photograph them during and after the event. 

I have posted on YouTube a copy of the photo album I put together showing my best photos of the trip. I also have two versions of my visit with the Maasai, one short and a longer in-depth one.

Links:

Slide Show Version of my Trip Photo Album: Tanzania: A Month on Safari (youtube.com)

Maasai Welcome Short Version (1 minute): 1 Minute Maasai Welcome (youtube.com)

Maasai Welcome Long Version (7 minutes): Maasai Welcome (youtube.com)

 

MARCH 2024: PORT TOWNSEND, WASHINGTON

 Did a weekend getaway in Port Townsend, staying downtown at the Monarch Hotel, built in 1895.

We visited the soda fountain on the main street (Water Street):

We visited the waterfront but two of the three days it was very windy.

Actually, the highlight of the trip was meeting Milo Redwood, a local artist that we ended up hanging out with everyday at his studio & gallery. Milo is an abstract acrylics painter, a philosopher, and a good listener. Several of his local friends also came and socialized as well.

FEBRUARY 3rd, 2024: CECIL'S 100th BIRTHDAY

 

Cecil is Pamela's father, and he had a hugely attended birthday party, hosted by his church. He danced with one of his granddaughters, played with his ukulele band, soloed on his harmonica, and showed himself in great form! Cecil lives independently in a house two blocks from Pamela. He is still driving, and still trucking along.

The top photo is just of those people related to Cecil, and the bottom one is most of those who attended his party.

 

Cecil on his harmonica solo.

JANUARY 2024: CUBA

 

Pamela and I were part of a small group on a tour with Jim Cline Photo Tours. It was the first time Pamela had gone along as well, and despite not being a serious photographer, she had a great time and did end up taking some good pictures.

This is Pamela in one of the classic convertibles.  We were on our way to the famous Tropicana nightclub pictured below. It was once owned by mob boss Meyer Linskey. After the first number an empty table right in front was filled by four big guys who promptly all lit cigars and drank rum. They sure looked like a wise guy and his three bodyguards.

We also experienced Afro-Cuban Dancing. As well as having two ballerinas to model for us from the National Cuban Ballet troupe.

We left Havana and went to Vinales, and Trinidad visiting the tobacco farms, and photographing companeros who showed off their cock fighting roosters, and offered me a chance to ride a horse - my first time in forty years. I was thrilled to find I was quite comfortable being back in the saddle again.

VIDEOS:

I have completed two 3 1/2 minute videos of our time in Cuba. 

One focuses on the profusion of music we encountered: 

and the other illustrates the variety of live dance we experienced: 

I hope you will watch them!

JANUARY: THE BOOK IS DELIVERED

 

FINALLY!! After a project first started in early July, 2022 the “beards have landed”! The Whidbey Beard Project features multiple portrait shoots with men on the Island with interesting beards. The book’s subtitle is “Beyond the Cover” and features captions with the photographs that give the reader some idea of who the person is beyond their facial hair. The book’s theme is “Don’t judge a book by its cover – until you’ve read the book.”  I sent it to China for offset printing to insure that the highest available quality, which is part of why it took so long to complete. The book measures 11 1/4” x 12 1/4” and is 74 pages, including 71 portraits: a proud and proper coffee table version! It is a finalist for the North Street Book Award, an International competition. Featured in the book are men from all over the Island, from Clinton to Oak Harbor: men you inevitably know, or readily recognize. Here is a one minute video clip of some of the portraits featured in the printed version: https://vimeo.com/809267159
 
The books are available at the Moonraker Bookstore in Langley, or directly through me. If you want to pick up one, or two, or half a dozen call or text me to make sure I’ll be home: 303-396-3818. Or email me with a day and time you’d like to come by and I’ll confirm. The cost is $64.95 + 8.8% sales tax. If you want it mailed to you add on another $8. I’m set up to accept Venmo or Zelle, but my on-line sales site was HACKED with money going to some unknown person instead of me. So contact me directly to get a book: WhidbeyPhoto@hotmail.com.  I’m looking forward to your visiting my studio, and sharing in this exciting event!