Vandergrift shutterbug lands first public exhibit
A nature-loving shutterbug from Vandergrift has landed her first public photography exhibit.
Karlee Holmes spends most of her time outdoors, photographing animals and scenery across the Alle-Kiski Valley and beyond.
Butler Area Public Library is exhibiting “Call of the Wild,” featuring some of Holmes’ images, through Sept. 30.
The display, featuring candid shots of wildlife and scenic shots from national and local parks, is on the second floor of the library at 218 N. McKean St. in Butler.
“It’s very humbling to have the opportunity to showcase my art,” Holmes said. “This exhibit has allowed me to take a step back and appreciate the work I’ve done, professionally and personally, all of it involving the great outdoors.
A self-professed nature and animal lover, Holmes, 29, grew up in South Buffalo, playing and exploring her rural surroundings.
She developed a passion for photography when she began snapping images of family and friends.
Her first camera was a point-and-shoot model.
Describing it as a passion, Holmes started her own small photography business, Fox Paw Photography, in 2019.
“I’ve been taking photos since I was 5 years old. My pap was the one that really got me interested in taking pics because he would let me play around and take pictures with his digital camera,” Holmes said.
Holmes works as a biology instructor at Butler County Community College and teaches ecology online at Unity College.
In addition, Holmes has taught courses in national park tourism, conservation and birding at BCCC.
She serves on the board at Glade Run Lake Conservancy, a Butler-based nonprofit committed to preserving and protecting the conservancy.
Anita Bowser, information services assistant at the Butler library, said Holmes’ exhibit has garnered a lot of positive feedback.
“Karlee is really so talented. It’s impressive that she can get so close to such a variety of wildlife. We feel really fortunate here to have this opportunity to showcase her work,” Bowser said.
Holmes graduated from Freeport Area High School in 2011 and earned a master’s degree in environmental science and management from Duquesne University in 2017.
Her first job as a park ranger at Crooked Creek State Park sparked a keen interest in wildlife photography.
There, she captured an image of three fox kits, and they quickly became her favorite animal in Crooked Creek.
“You don’t get to see foxes too often in the wild,” Holmes said. “It was just something magical that I will never forget.”
At Crooked Creek, Holmes discovered a love of birding.
“I met a lot of people there that got me into birding,” she said. “Birding is a true passion of mine. It brings me joy. It’s an affordable hobby and can be challenging, yet rewarding, all in one.”
Holmes frequently goes on photo shoots in Northmoreland Park in Allegheny Township because of its proximity to Vandergrift and the large number of migratory birds that are attracted to the lake there.
“I sit out in the freezing cold. The owls come in the winter, so that’s the hard part. Usually, I photograph them at dusk,” Holmes said.
Her photography goals include traveling to every national park in America.
So far, she has visited 16.
“My favorite park is Grand Teton, and one of my images from there is featured in the exhibit,” Holmes said.
Holmes hopes to one day photograph puffins, seabirds that breed in large colonies.
She has photographed all types of animals, including bears and bald eagles.
“This is my Zen space. If I could, I would just deal with animals all day long. The fact when you look into their eyes, connecting with a wild animal, it’s amazing,” Holmes said.
A close encouter with a grizzly bear during a family vacation to Yellowstone left Holmes running.
“All of a sudden, people were running from the trail we were on, screaming “Bear, bear, bear!” and there was a giant grizzly bear. We got to see it. We got out. I took a photo of it from the top of my sunroof,” Holmes said.
Holmes is married to Josh Holmes and they have a 3-year-old son, Jasper.
Joyce Hanz is a native of Charleston, S.C. and is a features reporter covering the Pittsburgh region. She majored in media arts and graduated from the University of South Carolina. She can be reached at jhanz@triblive.com
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