Solon Holstein was a neuro-clinical psychologist in private practice in Eureka for 35 years before he retired. He also served as director of the North Coast Center for Pain Management in conjunction with Humboldt Neurology.

After retiring 25 years ago, Holstein shifted paths, becoming passionate about photography and capturing “the magnificence of nature as I saw it.”

“When young, I was always in a hurry to get somewhere,” he said. “I never really saw the beauty of the world around me. Photography taught me to stop and really look.”

Now, Holstein is heading down yet another road unknown. He is dying. He has lymphoma, and is under the care of Hospice of Humboldt.

“I am most grateful for their loving and attentive care,” Holstein said.

Shelley, Holstein’s wife of 50 years, added, “Hospice is amazing in terms of really caring for him. They are helping him through this dying process and making him as comfortable as possible and making him feel safe, providing him with whatever he needs and just being there for him.”

Next weekend, the Holsteins are holding a special fundraiser to give back to the nonprofit Hospice of Humboldt, which has been providing heartfelt end-of-life care and bereavement services to all who need them in northern Humboldt County since 1979.

A photography show of Solon Holstein’s work will take place Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 26 and 27, at The Barn, 6687 Humboldt Hill Road, Eureka. Everyone is welcome. All proceeds from art sales will go to Hospice of Humboldt.

Shelley Holstein says she came up with the idea for this fundraiser one day after walking into her husband’s photography studio, which is located in their home.

“I went, ‘Oh, my God, what am I going to do with all of these photographs? He (has) at least 50 framed photographs and maybe a couple hundred other photographs in folders, etc.,” she said. “… In reality, I think there’s something like 34,000 on his computer.”

She added, “I was sitting around talking to my friends and we thought, ‘Why don’t we have a show of all of his wonderful photographs? Why not honor him by showing all of these amazing photographs that he’s been taking.”

Solon Holstein first got interested in photography about three decades ago, shortly after he and his wife purchased a lake house in the small town of Rome, Maine.

“This friend and he would love to go out into the wilderness and photography,” Shelley Holstein said. “Solon just started to look at all of this beauty. He bought himself a really great camera, and then he used to love to go out in the kayak and get as close as you’re allowed to get to loons, which isn’t that close. … So, he started to buy bigger lenses, he bought bigger cameras, he bought filters.

“We used to laugh at him, because he’d carry around this huge bag with all this equipment. … He just had a love of this art that was amazing,” she said.

Over the years, her husband took photographs of nature both near and far, including in different parts of Europe, the Balkans, Patagonia and, most notably, Maine, where he reveled in photographing birds.

All sales of Solon Holstein’s photography next weekend will be by donation, with minimum suggested donations posted by each piece. Shelley Holstein plans to be at the sale much of the time, and hopes her husband may also make an appearance.

“We’re going to hope that Solon can come some of the time,” she said. “We’re not sure how he’s going to feel on any particular day. … We hope he’ll come. Anyone who knows him knows he’s the kindest, sweetest, loving man who has this amazingly artistic (talent).”

Hospice of Humboldt CEO Dianne Keating says she is “incredibly grateful” the Holsteins are hosting this photography fundraiser.

“It is always an honor to hear that others want to fund raise on our behalf, and especially touching when it’s from patients and families that our team is currently supporting through end of life,” Keating said. “… The heartfelt care and grief support services we have provided for nearly 45 years has only been possible through a deep commitment to our mission, the generosity of our community and from supporters like Solon and Shelley.”

For more information about Hospice of Humboldt, go to https://www.hospiceofhumboldt.org/.