Holder Photography's “Reunion of Souls Memorial Waterfall”
For me as a professional photographer one of the most exciting and beautiful places to be inspired and challenged by a photo shoot is to work with the elements of nature. When these ingredients are blended perfectly in harmony and elegance with a unique blend of sight and sound that is only provided by a waterfall and pond, the creative energy to capture something special emerges within me.
My first experience with using a waterfall and pond as a setting for photography occurred at the Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha many years ago. I fell in love with the setting, but I was frustrated by having to work around the crowds of people at the zoo and also my inability to control the elements of light and background colors that were inherent with photographing in a public place. I had to wait for people to walk by and get out of view of my camera angle, and also I was not able to create that private special intimacy that is key to capturing a special moment to be savored by myself and the customer. I thought to myself, 'If I could only build my own waterfall and pond, I could create a dream location for setting up the sights and sounds and lighting conditions for a photographers dreamscape and blank canvas for my imagination and creativity as a professional photographic artist to thrive.'
I have been working diligently to improve my skill, knowledge, and quality of work with the camera for my entire life and I still am as excited about this whole magical craft of photography as I was 45 years ago when I took my first portrait.
I began researching waterfalls on the web and also joined the Omaha Pond Society, so that I would have the opportunity to view a number of local ponds and waterfalls in the Omaha area. After many hours of research and discussion with pond owners and pond builders, I drew up a set of plans that were specially designed to incorporate a photographer's dream set-up with attention to rock selection and color, lighting control elements, water movement, splash points on the waterfall drops, and the efficiency of camera positions and angles for photography.
One of my senior representatives who I photographed was in high school and beginning a career as a landscaper and pond builder (Cody Hildreth), and he brought out his skid loader and assisted me in digging the original hole and placing the liner and pump in place to meet my design standard. I worked on my hands and knees as well as standing tall and lifting for over 750 hours before the project was finally completed. I could not have afforded the price tag that I received on the bid to have the waterfall and pond constructed, so I proceeded to use my own sweat and and hard work with the assistance of friends to make my dream come true.
I next enlisted the services of a carpenter friend, Dan Duchman Construction, to help me enclose the roof area and build a portable bridge across the pond to expand my photography options for making my pond and waterfall truly stand out like no other. I constantly add new ideas and plants each year to make sure that my Koi fish are happy, healthy, and enjoying entertainers all of our guests who are photographed at Holder Photography and Video.
To complete the process of remodeling and updating my studio, I enlisted the help of Tim Bezy Photography in Omaha. Tim has been a close friend of mine for many years and his skill, expertise, and creative abilities were second to none as he was a most respected artist and technician in the Midwest that set the standard for excellence that I was aspiring to reach in my skill set. Tim and his family inspired me to greater heights in mastering the art of photography, posing, and lighting. It has been so much of a positive learning experience for me working with him and his family of talented photographers, (Tim Jr. and Tory), in discovering new angles and visions for photographing the waterfall and pond in a truly new and unique approach that is on the cutting edge of senior portraiture in 2016.
Children love feeding the fish, just like at the Zoo, and I have even named a number of my fish after family members and friends to personalize my aquatic pets. Once the project was completed, I quickly realized how spiritual and inspirational my new creation was and that I could pay tribute to the three people who inspired me the most on my journey through life!
My mother, Mildred Holder, came from a large immigrant (Serbian) family of more than a dozen children. She was only able to attend school through the eighth grade and had to quit school and go to work, contributing to her family financially. My father was raised by his single mother with two children, and he had to quit school after the third grade and began to work to assist his mother financially. Both my father and mother continued to strive toward improving their academic skills, and both became successful contributors to their family and community, stressing education as a primary goal for their children. My father did community service for many years and once received the volunteer of the year award from the mayor of Omaha for his contributions to the entertainment of senior citizens in rest homes in the area. Dad was the leader of his own band and they played for free at many retirement homes for many years, uplifting the spirits of those in need of someone who cared for them.
My grandmother, Annie Holder, was a strong, spiritual guiding force in my life as she lived with my parents for her entire life. She read the Bible to me each and every day and worked as a team with my parents as strong role models and guidance providers for both myself and my brother. My grandmother, brother, and I shared a bedroom together in our modest two bedroom home together until I was ten years old and our dirt cellar was replaced with a basement. We were a very close family, and the sacrifices that we faced and overcame were a tribute to the strength of these three important cornerstones of my life. My grandmother maintained all of her mental faculties until the day she died as the oldest living person in Iowa, just a month short of her 104th birthday. I have a photograph of these three wonderful people in my studio as a constant reminder of the importance of faith and families contributions to the blessings that I now possess.
When you sit quietly by the falls, the sound of the rushing water, the silence of the outside world, and the movement of the Koi in the pond create a sense of serenity that is only broken by the beating of the wings of the hummingbirds who surround you as they come to feed and explore the many flowers. As I photograph in this sacred place, I make a concerted effort to create a work of art for each customer that is truly unique in providing a special memory and highlight of the photo session.