Meet Emma Holt of Interstellar Illuminations in Fort Collins

Today we’d like to introduce you to Emma Holt.

Emma, before we jump into specific questions, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Once upon a time, in a galaxy with a sweet nougat-ty center not-so-far-away, began the story of a groovy, interplanetary art business by the name of Interstellar Illuminations. However…long before Interstellar Illuminations attained the modest instagram following it has now, it first began as a project called, “The Audiosphere.” 

“The Audiosphere” was the name of my first radio show that took place Saturday’s 3-5PM in the fine studio at 90.5 KCSU Fort Collins. This is where I first created the nickname, “DJ Stardust.” Each week on my show, I promised “to expand the limits of your musical universe.” 

My senior year of college at CSU, I spent many hours alone in the studio – just me, my listeners and some funky tunes from outer space. KCSU was the first group I ever felt I belonged to, and a place where I felt I could contribute something meaningful. 

Alongside two of my peers, we helped launch a new video department at KCSU. We took on the task of capturing the day-to-day life in the studio, as well as my favorite weekly event, Local Lunch Hour. Local Lunch Hour was a magical show that featured a KCSU DJ host and a local band interview, alongside an acoustic style performance. This is where I first got a feel for the local music scene and got to know some awesome bands such as Post Paradise, The Hollow, and Wildermiss. In my year at KCSU, I worked hard to create exciting visual media to support local bands and their followers. 

During this time, I had wonderful creative freedom and exciting material to further develop my skills in photography, videography, and radio hosting. Through the radio station, I met a man named Funky Kirt who was a veteran Fort Collins musician and production guru. At this time, I was working as much as possible at my restaurant job, and going to school full time in my senior year at CSU. Of course it’s difficult to pinpoint where, exactly, “my story,” began… but I have always felt that KCSU represented a positive turning point in my personal and creative development. 

In March of 2017, I attended my first ever Parliament Funkadelic show at the Ogden Theatre on Colfax Ave. I couldn’t believe that George, “Dr. Funkenstein,” was still touring, and immediately jumped at the chance to see Parliament Funkadelic. Funky Kirt, who happened to be longtime friends with the band, offered to introduce me after the show that night. 

That night I met a few core members of the band, including legendary guitarist Blackbyrd McKnight, who made me weep with his rendition of, “Maggot Brain,” as well as the smoothest bassist in the biz, Lige Curry. Still two of my favorite members to this day, I proudly told them my name was DJ Stardust and I was playing their tunes, spreading the funk across the galaxy. They were cool folks and genuinely grateful for the support. Needless to say, I left that night with a special feeling. 

Fast forward to Summer 2017, Funky Kirt hooked me up with a job at the Mishawaka Amphitheatre in Bellvue, Colorado. Anyone who has been there knows “The Mish” is a very special place. The stage is one where many legends have played under a starry sky, in a curvy canyon next to the sound of roaring river. The Mish is a place where everyone leaves a piece of their heart. We really are a family up there – artists, audience and employees alike. 

Over that crazy summer of 2017, I landed jobs with the Local IATSE 229 and AEG Live (Ogden, Gothic). I eventually quit my restaurant job to do my first large scale music festival at Jazz Aspen 2017, where two of my all-time favorite artists, Hall & Oats and The Roots played. 

As you can imagine, I’ve been hooked on the music life ever since! Those who work in the music industry know that it is an all or nothing gig. Work and life blur into one most days, but I wouldn’t trade it for the world. 

Currently, I am fortunate to work at venues such as Washington’s, the Aggie Theatre, and the new Mission Ballroom. I strive to work hard every day to support amazing local bands and artists everywhere. That will always be an integral part of Interstellar Illuminations. 

Although Interstellar Illuminations officially launched on May 15th of 2018, becoming a professional photographer and videographer has always been a lifelong dream. Photography and film are my song to this world; My voice, my instrument that I play with ease. Like me, my art is ever evolving, offering insight into the greater mysteries of life. 

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
To quote one of my favorite fictional characters from, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, art collector, Onglo Globogian, “artists must suffer for the art, that’s why they call it painting.” 

Like many artists I know, I too have struggled with the ups and downs of just existing in the modern age. Sometimes you barely make rent, your car gets totaled during finals week and you debate throwing in the towel. You wonder if the ramen to ramen lifestyle will ever come to an end. Life throws us some curveballs that are hard to deal with, and leave the artist feeling discouraged. 

It’s beautiful what can come from the struggle of being an artist; “making do” with whatever materials you have. The act of persevering for the sake of art, despite the challenges, makes the art that much more meaningful. There is beauty in simplicity, and the universe continues to remind me of that. I love the idea that you, your subject and a camera is all you really need to create something magical. 

I truly do believe that, as long as you can express yourself creatively in some way, life is always better. Last year my mantra was, “life is about the journey, not the destination.” When I later reflect on times of struggle, I find myself grateful for the tough times that have enriched my experience. 

One struggle I faced recently involved making the change from my old camera (Canon EOS D20) to the camera I have now (Canon EOS M50) in January of last year (2019). I had researched the Mirrorless Canon online before purchasing and also had the benefit of shooting with it. I was immediately sold on the product! Mirrorless cameras are fantastic and are quickly becoming the industry standard. Making the change from posting and shooting DSLR-created jpegs to C-RAW photos edited in Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom was not easy. It involved many hours of experimentation shooting and learning new editing software (Adobe Lightroom, Illustrator). At first, I struggled to overcome the frustration of adopting a new creative process; However, what once seemed difficult, has since become a comfortable workflow and I am proud of the progress I have made as an artist. Though it forced me to take a leap, buying a new camera was one of the best decisions I ever made. Thank you to everyone who has lent me their time to learn and grow along the way! Your support means everything to me. 

We’d love to hear more about your work.
I am a concert, portrait and fine art photographer and videographer working in the Fort Collins and Denver area. My work is characterized by drama, light, color, impact and emotion. Drawing nostalgia from decades past, I strive to blend classic styles with modern interpretations. With each shoot, I strive to capture the candid beauty and true essence of my subjects. Through this creative collaboration and connection, I believe we can reconnect with our true selves. 

I have been fortunate to work with many talented performers, musicians and artists of all different types. Though live music has been a large focus of mine in the past, I am open to any project so long as it’s meaningful. Whatever the event, I always try to capture candid moments by getting to know my clients. I like to work with bands repeatedly to get a sense for who they are both as individuals and as a whole. My goofy sense of humor often helps me to get my clients to open up on camera, and in turn, I open up to them as well. I believe this exchange between photographer and subject is one of the most beautiful things about photography. 

Staying inspired is important for me as an artist. Some of my favorite activities involve listening to vinyl, reading quotes, and watching sci-fi films such as The Matrix. I love fine art and often draw a great deal of inspiration from artists such as Android Jones and Roy Lichtenstein. I love crime documentaries and psychological thrillers such as Netflix’s “Mind Hunter” series. Like many of my generation, I grew up playing Super Smash Bros and wishing I was a Jedi in Star Wars. I like to draw my inspiration from a wide variety art forms. 

So, what’s next? Any big plans?
2020 is already off to an awesome start for Interstellar Illuminations! Currently I am working on a “Rockumentary” series for one of my favorite local bands, Guerrilla Radio. I have been greatly enjoying doing video and shooting behind the scenes footage. I already see a very meaningful story emerging, and I am excited to continue along with this project. Shooting a documentary film has always been a dream of mine, so it is a lot of fun for me to dabble in this art form and get a feel for it. I hope to continually improve the quality of my videography by acquiring more high quality gear, and enlisting a team of people to help me along the way. 

Additionally, I am very much enjoying portrait photography work and would like to do more of this in 2020. I am always searching for interesting new locations, models, and stories in need of visual representation. I have been fortunate to work with talented photographers in the area who have given me insight into the world of portrait photography. Our collaborations have had a great impact on my own portrait work and my growth as a photographer. 

I always have the goal of traveling more, and this is one goal I greatly hope to fulfill this year. I love the community here, and Colorado will always be home. That being said, I have always felt that traveling is an important part of the human journey, and I am always ready for the next big adventure. 

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.interstellarilluminations.com/
• Email: interstellarilluminations@gmail.com
• Instagram: @interstellar_illuminations
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/interstellarilluminations/

Image Credit:
All images are taken by Emma Holt at Interstellar Illuminations except for the personal photo. The personal photo was taken by MC Dopenicity at B.B.M.C. (Instagram: @b.b.m.c.).

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