HUTTERITE
From December 2011- January 2012 I had a exhibition of my photos at The Art Gallery of the Mennonite Heritage Centre
These were all of the photos displayed there. They are meant to represent Hutterite life from my perspective. Also on Google+.
For many more Hutterite photos, visit my Flickr Photostream, and my “I am Hutterite” photo set.
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I enjoyed the vast variety of scenes you captured to depict Hutterite Life. And the variety of tones and perspective. Keep shooting!
April 3, 2012 at 1:23 pm
Your fantastic! Love these shots!
May 2, 2012 at 8:53 pm
Beautifully creative photos of what appears to be warm, hardworking people
May 25, 2012 at 10:49 am
Great collection, I particularly liked how you captured the reflection in the sunglasses. <3 the vision. mary jaco
May 25, 2012 at 11:57 am
Wonderful series of images, especially the working portraits.
May 27, 2012 at 3:05 am
Love who you tweeted these to
May 30, 2012 at 10:49 pm
I found out about your web site from reading The Western Producer article this afternoon – I studied photography in University and like you I love exploring the creativity of this medium: capturing the light, shapes and colour that make up our world. Your images are not only lovely, interesting and unique, they are taken with love and respect for your community members. Thank you for sharing your work
June 8, 2012 at 9:09 pm
Great work! I really appreciate the insight into Hutterite life. I admire your people, the work ethic and the Christian community life. Truly an example for so many in today’s culture. Look forward to seeing more of your work. Thank-you!
June 9, 2012 at 4:19 pm
These are very nice photos. Keep up the good work Kelly. I used to call on Hutterite colonies in Saskatchewan Alberta and Manitoba. So I am somewhat familure with how a lot of colonies are set up, and the policies. I was at your colony, but it was in the later 90′s! I do realize that picture taking was not something that Hutterites were doing. But I think you are on the right track taking picture of the folks in the colony, so at a later time you can show the younger one what there grandma and grandpaw looked like! Keep up the good work. It will help the non Hutterites to get a better understanding of what you are all about. Len
June 12, 2012 at 6:59 am
Thanks so much for sharing these images. They show how much you care for your community.
June 12, 2012 at 9:30 pm
Glad to hear that you found something of insreett here! I also found the Hutterite info fascinating, especially since we used to see the Hutterite girls in town wandering around in large groups. I probably found the parts about her life after they left the colony more insreetting as it was all in the places I knew from growing up as well. But I agree that it is mostly about her family history, and that’s the most enthralling part.
June 30, 2012 at 2:53 pm
Amazing photography! I just wish you had captions under some of them explaining them. I found your site while visiting Hutterites.org. I have no negative opinions about the colony based on the show at all.
June 14, 2012 at 11:15 pm
A masterful use of light and composition to tell their story.
June 16, 2012 at 12:19 am
I just read your story in the National Post, Kelly, and although I understand you have left your community behind, never let go of your belief in Christ. It will be your strength as you go forward in your new life. (Philippians 4:13) Your photographs show tenderness and grace. God Bless!
June 17, 2012 at 12:57 am
You have captured the heart and soul of Alberta in your amazing images. Beautiful skies, hardworking people and the joys of family.
June 19, 2012 at 4:49 am
kellyhofer.com is super!! Love to come back here
June 22, 2012 at 7:07 pm
Kelly I Love your pictures ,You have great talent
July 9, 2012 at 1:46 am
tonight I was going through my stack of unread papers, found your story in the western producer. You have a good eye in photography, enjoyed your pictures.
July 10, 2012 at 5:09 am
I found this website through the blog on the The Hutterites website. Interesting stuff going on there… I never even heard of it until Nat Geo. Anyways your pictures are amazing! You have a great eye. Is there a place to read your story? I’m curious as to why you are an ex-Hutterite?
July 11, 2012 at 7:55 pm
Some of my story was told in a recent issue of the national post. But give me a few Weeks and I’ll write about it on my blog.
July 11, 2012 at 10:47 pm
Very refreshing photos of hutterite life great talent
July 13, 2012 at 4:54 am
Hello. splendid job. I did not anticipate this. This is a impressive story. Thanks!
July 14, 2012 at 3:30 am
I noticed that most of the women in these photos do not look happy. The men are generally smiling and look like they are contented with life. The women do not. I think that is very sad, indeed.
July 24, 2012 at 2:21 am
We just viewed the pictures. Beautiful!
K. roberts
July 27, 2012 at 11:42 pm
Kelly, you really do have an eye for what you capture on camera. Amazing work…I can truly see Gods work having a big part in your life from what ive seen so far…keep up the good work!
July 30, 2012 at 8:02 pm
I read your story today in Our Canada. Wow! Then I heard about you on CBC Calgary this morning. I was pretty sure it was the same person. So I looked you up on line and see even more fantastic photos. Keep on catching those poignant moments. J. Hatch in calgary.
July 31, 2012 at 4:53 pm
Thanks for sharing your various and diverse photos with us. They are great. I have been seriously especially interested in intentional Christian communal living since I was a teenager, and now I am 75 years old. My wife, our family, and I have had some very real communal experiences over the years, in the Gospel Mission Corps here in Central New Jersey and also in the Pillar of Fire Church, which unfortunately is not as communal as it had been over past generations. We were taught this lifestyle as coming from that of the early Christan church as recorded in the Acts of the Apostles folllowing Pentecost. In fact, in Bishop Alma White’s book entitled THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH, there is a chapter on the subject of “Pentecostal Giving” from which the emphasis was made through which many of us sensed.this vocational call. The more recent book entitled LIVING TOGETHER IN A WORLD THAT IS FALLING APART by Dave and Neta Jackson is a tremendously helpful presentation of how this can be done with Jesus Christ being at the center. What are called “religious orders” of sisters and brothers, or deaconry ministries, that have been a longtime practice in certain churches, have been the means through which God has accomplished so much and fulfilled His divine purposes that could not have been reached otherwise. . . “doing together what we could never do separately.” As long as the participants are regenerated believers who are yielded to the Holy Spirit, this way of life can bear true and faithful witness for the Gospel. However, if or when the self-seeking individuals are in charge, it can become dreadfully corrupt and fail to realize the will of God for His people. Where there are counterfeit communities, and this turns folk against such lifestyle, this only goes to prove that there are the genuine some where. Men only counterfeit that which is real and has great value, and the devil pulls the same technique, particularly in the ways that Christians and churches too often malfunction. May God give us the genuine, the real thing, and may we be sensitive to receive it on the basis of the Word of God and not human distortions and perversions. Blessings on you, Kelly. If there is a Grange in your area, why not look into it. Here in New Jersey, our Granges have anjual photography contests. Perhaps the Granges where you live may do the same. Your beautiful photos may possibly win a prize. The love, joy, and peace of Christ be with you.
Sincerely, Pastor Bob and Sandy Turton, E-mail: GospelWorkers@aol.com
GOSPEL MISSION CORPS, P O BOX 175, HIGHTSTOWN, NJ 08520–0175
August 3, 2012 at 3:01 am
Loved your photos! Watched a segment that CBC news aired about you & your photography! Keep taking wonderful pics!
August 8, 2012 at 10:44 pm
Heard about you in a segment on the news this evening and decided to Google you, and found this site. Your work is very beautiful as it must be how you see the world. Too often we never notice the simplest things as we rush past them in life and it takes someone like you to slow it all done and capture it in a moment in time that would otherwise be lost. Congratulations on an amazing start to what I am sure will be a wonderful career, look forward to seeing more of your work.
August 9, 2012 at 3:52 am
Wow!
August 19, 2012 at 8:26 am
I saw your story on the news, and decided to google you. Your photos of Hutterite life are touching. I am not a professional photographer, but your photo composition is excellent. Your photos tell a story. Sometimes, captions would be helpful. You are very talented!
August 21, 2012 at 4:07 pm
I saw your photos In a magazine today about a hutterite colony and said that i met someone at nuit Blanche who was an ex hutterite and oh my gosh it was you! Im not a stalker or anything i promise. Your portraits in landscapes are magic. I was the woman who knew there was poetry in your soul. Have a lovely creative life.
Heidi
September 22, 2012 at 1:11 am
You take such beautiful pictures!
Wonderful job capturing the Hutterite culture.
September 27, 2012 at 2:07 pm
listened to David Gutnick CBC radio documentary show, very interesting indeed. thanks for the beautiful, intimate, playful photo-gallery.
October 22, 2012 at 3:55 am
Hi Kelly,
I wanted to check out your pictures, but nothing shows up, only people’s comments. Any ideas why?
Thanks!
Birgit
January 23, 2013 at 11:27 pm
The photos are hosted on Flickr. So if Flickr is blocked then the photos will be too
January 24, 2013 at 1:29 am
LOVE YOU WORK JUDY WALDNER WONNENBERG RETIRED TEACHER
March 5, 2013 at 2:43 am
Gorgeous and sensitive work. Keep shooting
March 7, 2013 at 9:26 pm
These are beautiful.
March 7, 2013 at 9:57 pm
Hello from England. I watched the Hutterite documentary on the BBC last night and it moved me. I wanted to say I hope you have found support and love in your new life. I am the granddaughter of a member of a similarly exclusive community in the UK (Plymouth Brethren), I am not involved, but my cousins are. My mother married out at 20, she is now 68, and it has continued to define her life in some ways, and to some extent, in regard to religion and authority, it has coloured mine too. I wish you and your remarkable sister love and peace.
March 8, 2013 at 8:14 am
Saw you on the BBC 2 programme “How to get to Heaven with the Huterites” last night in the UK and was compelled to find your website. You are obviously a very gifted young man, and I feel you have a great future recording social history in photographs. All the very best for the future.
Dianna Janes
March 8, 2013 at 8:49 am
Hi Kelly,
I can spell Hutterite, I do apologise for the error. No offence intended.
Dianna
March 8, 2013 at 8:51 am
I just watched the BBC documentary and had to find more of your pictures. They are wonderful in both colour and composition. I look forward to watching out for more of your work.
March 8, 2013 at 12:30 pm
Love your work and enjoyed the documentary. I think you and your sister are very brave to have made the decision to leave the colony. Very best wishes for the future to you both.
March 8, 2013 at 1:22 pm
I just watched the BBC documentary. I am a Canadian from Alberta living in England. I grew up near the Holt colony. Your photography is amazing. You have a special talent. Keep up the good work!
March 8, 2013 at 2:51 pm
Just watched you in “How to get to Heaven with the Hutterites” on the BBC in the UK – fantastic documentary. I cant help but wish you all the very very best Kelly with life on the outside… every joy and success to yourself and your beautiful sister who have made such a big decision to move away. Your photos are stunning, keep up the good work!
March 8, 2013 at 4:23 pm
As with the last few replies, I too had to come and check out your website following that BBC documentary. Your work is seriously impressive, particularly as you taught yourself, demonstrating a natural ability that frankly would have been wasted if you’d stayed in the colony. No point telling you to keep it up; it’s obviously your reason for living. I do wish you even greater success, though – your name deserves to be more well-known. It saddens me to think that there must be more ‘butterflies in their cocoons’ too afraid to let their talents shine.
March 9, 2013 at 3:14 am
Hi Kelly I also watched the bbc program last night and went through hutterites website to find your work. Its stunning such a beautiful talent all the best for you and your sister.x
March 8, 2013 at 8:57 pm
Another UK viewer. Beautiful photography. You have a gifted eye. Glad you are exploring life. The best of luck to you
March 8, 2013 at 10:00 pm
Watched the documentary on the BBC, had to look you up, as your photography is amazing! I look forward to seeing a lot more of it. Hope you are doing well.
Kieran
March 9, 2013 at 4:16 am
Hi Kelly, I’ve also just watched the BBC documentary and felt so happy for you, that you made the decision to spread your wings and fly! I also had to see more of your photographs! They are fantastic and I hope that you will one day have an exhibition here in London, UK. I hope you’ll become a household name in the photography world! All the best for the future!
March 9, 2013 at 3:43 pm
I watched the film on BBC about the Maple Grove Community and wanted to see more of your photos which are stunning. I grew up in Saskatchewan although I now live in London (UK) and still think it’s a very beautiful part of the world – and, oh, how wonderfully you show it off. I visited a local community with my Aunt several years ago – she was friendly with many of her Hutterite neighbours – but I was amused that some of the men (and not just the young ones) used to come down to her farm to watch TV, smoke and drink beer!
March 10, 2013 at 11:45 am
Another Brit here, I have just seen the documentary, by complete accident. I was very moved by your departure from the colony, which clearly tore you up inside. Your butterfly analogy was very apt and the scenes at the end in Calgary show that you have indeed emerged from your cocoon a happy and complete person,
I would like to add my best wishes for your future to all those already expressed. You have a significant talent and you deserve every success.
March 10, 2013 at 8:33 pm
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March 10, 2013 at 9:30 pm
These are beautiful. Always follow your passion
March 12, 2013 at 6:45 pm
It’s said that beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. What a beautiful life….carry it through. The ground you’ve tilled will produce it’s own bountiful crop.
From a Christian Writer and Physics Researcher.
March 19, 2013 at 3:15 pm
Good stuff, Kelly. I saw Lynne Alloway’s film on British TV and the quick glimpse of your diving board photo really caught my eye. Lynne, by coincidence, is a second cousin of mine who I have never met so I wrote to her and she sent me a link to your site. Now I have to work out which of your prints I want most. I am fascinated by your ideas for the renewal of your community through art. Keep on keeping on.
April 12, 2013 at 10:54 am
Nice work Kelly! You really captured Hutterite life in these photographs.
April 27, 2013 at 7:20 pm
beautiful shots Kelly. i learned Hutterite’s culture thru your pics. Hope one of these days, I will visit one of the colonies in here in Alberta.
June 3, 2013 at 3:05 am