Park City photographer walks a road less traveled to capture intimate beauty
Willie Holdman is inspired by the wild landscape of Utah
Summer/Fall 2024
Written By: Natalie Taylor | Images: Courtesy Willie Holdman
It’s hot, Death Valley hot, and Willie Holdman’s job is to lug his father’s photography equipment through the desert, exploring areas no one has heard of for a National Geographic assignment. Willie is 6 and sweat is dripping down his spine as he follows his father’s footsteps in the sand.
“My dad, Floyd, was a big influence in natural world photography,” says Willie. “I remember carrying a tripod bigger than me in the Escalante area before it was a natural monument.” Floyd had assignments from a variety of magazines, including World and National Geographic Traveler, and Willie tagged along, soaking up knowledge.
“I learned how to see what he saw, how to compose a photograph,” Willie says. He also learned his father’s work ethic. “My dad used to say, ‘The pain will go away but the photo will last forever,’” says Willie. “It’s not easy lugging 70 pounds of camera gear backpacking for seven days, but the pain does subside while the images captured are immortalized.”
Willie’s childhood was spent waking up in the dark and hiking up mountains to catch the sunrise, then hiking down in the dark after getting the sunset shot. He grew up in Utah County and was one of eight children. For fun, the family camped, hiked and floated rivers: the Green, Colorado and Dolores. Today, Willie works with Western River Expeditions and offers photography workshops on river trips. “It’s a great way to cover a lot of terrain in a short time,” he says.
Willie earned his bachelor of fine arts with an emphasis in photography from Brigham Young University. To pay for his education, he did what he could: commercial and advertising work, stock photos, weddings and portraits. His landscape photos graced the halls of hospitals and corporate buildings. He even did calendars for the state. Although freelance photography paid the bills, he was hungry for more.
“I wanted to express myself in a personal way,” he says. So, he followed his heart and the landscapes that captivated him.
“My true love was always nature,” he says. “I photograph what moves my soul.” He published three large format books, “Timpanogos: A Visual Journey,” “Utah Mountains to Deserts,” and “Utah, a Sanctuary.” All three books feature majestic peaks and the breathtaking beauty of Utah.
Willie’s photos were also featured at the Salt Lake City International Airport and Sundance Mountain Resort. “Robert Redford walked by one and said, ‘This is a great shot,’” says Willie. “It was a photo of his property, so he purchased 10 for his kids.”
Following his success, Willie reinvented his career again. “I transitioned from publishing to fine art,” he says. His trips to remote areas in the Himalayas, Patagonia, the Canadian Rockies and the Wind River Range in Wyoming resulted in spectacular moments. “My real love is the backcountry,” he says. “I don’t like to hike on trails. … Trails are to follow others and to see what they see. I want a fresh canvas.”
Willie finds himself constantly inspired by the wild landscape of Utah. He moved to Heber from Orem 20 years ago and has made it his mission to explore every nook of Mount Timpanogos.
“I’ve been up every canyon and skied every ridgeline,” he says. “It’s a constant inspiration.” And it’s something he wants to protect. Willie has been active in preserving canyons and mountains and keeping wild places wild. Twelve years ago, he opened a gallery on Main Street in Park City with the hope that seeing these pristine places will inspire others to do what they can to care for the earth.
Although Willie has forged his own path, in some ways, he’s still following his father’s footsteps. He takes his four children on his adventures and instills in them a love of nature and an appreciation for wild places.
