My name is Michael Barton and I live in Richfield, Utah. I grew up in Salt Lake City and have always had a love, and a deep appreciation for the outdoors. I enjoy spending time out in nature with my doggo; whether it’s hiking, camping, backpacking, fly fishing or bird watching. In recent years I have begun to carry my camera with me on these adventures, and it has only further fueled my passion for our wild spaces and the creatures that inhabit them. I bought my first used DSLR camera just over two years ago. Since then, photography has been my creative outlet. It has allowed me to slow down, to notice the little things, to listen more closely to that bird call... to search in silence of a sunrise for the voice of a beautiful song, a raptor on dawn patrol, a rustle in the brush, an elk bugle. Most importantly it has connected me with some amazing people and truly life long friends, and for that I am forever grateful.

This past September I had the privilege of attending the Wild Creative retreat in Grand Teton National Park, a place that is near and dear to my heart. There I met some of those amazing people that share a passion for wild spaces. The solace of nature and camaraderie of good company allowed me to relax, reflect, and revel in the beauty of The West.

I am incredibly honored and excited to host Wild Creative here in my home state of Utah at Bryce Canyon National Park in May 2026! It is a place unlike any other in the world, and I cannot wait to share this experience with such passionate, creative, and wonderful people.

See everyone in May!

- Michael

Host:

Michael Barton

Co-Hosts

Confirmed Creatives

  • Brittany Taylor ⭐️

    Photography

    I discovered photography in 7th grade, and nearly two decades later, now approaching 32, my passion for it has only grown stronger. What began as curiosity quickly became a lifelong way of seeing and understanding the world. Photography allows tells stories, capture moments, and share experiences beyond words.

    When I’m not behind the camera, I work as a Multimedia Lead for the Air Force Civil Engineering Center. Outside of work, I’m an avid traveler, constantly seeking new places, perspectives, and stories to document. Whether at home or halfway around the world, photography remains my way of connecting people, places, and moments.

  • Stephanie Saldivar ⭐️

    Photography | Writing | Sketching | Directing

    I am a multidisciplinary artist, using photography as my dominant medium to explore the connection between people, place, and the quiet power of wild landscapes. My work is driven by a deep curiosity about how art can convey the emotional and ecological stories embedded within natural spaces. Bryce Canyon’s otherworldly hoodoos and vast high-desert light feel like an open invitation to expand my creative practice and deepen my relationship with the American West. I’m especially drawn to Utah as a place of both personal yearning and artistic possibility, where exploration and storytelling converge.