Monday, 12 May 2014

Artist Kelly Hofer captures images of his own Hutterite sect for the first time


  • Kelly Hofer grew up in a Hutterite commune in rural Manitoba, Canada, and began taking pictures at age 11

  • He is perhaps the only photographer to show the Hutterites from and insider’s perspective

  • Hutterites are an Anabaptist sect that share some values with the Mennonites and Amish


By

Michael Zennie



Published:


18:50, 11 May 2014




|
Updated:


17:25, 12 May 2014



Kelly Hofer has been a photographer since age 11 – a remarkable fact considering his craft is considered sinful in the remote Hutterite colony where he grew up in Manitoba, Canada. 


‘I think it’s based off the bible verse “thou shalt make no graven image.” But I personally think they’ve taken it out of context.’ Mr Hofer told MailOnline.


‘I was always told it’s sinful. And it’s frowned upon as well.’


Mr Hofer was forced to leave his family and his people two years ago at age 19 to pursue his love of photography, but before he left he captures some of the first intimate images inside a conservative Christian sect that is closed off from the outside world.


His pictures of the Green Acres Colony are a loving depiction of life in a small community that is struggling to embrace new technology while sticking to the traditional religious principles of leading a simple, communal life.


Scroll down for video


A simple life: Kelly Hofer spent nearly all his life documenting life inside the Hutterite commune where he grew up - a place where photography is considered a sin


A simple life: Kelly Hofer spent nearly all his life documenting life inside the Hutterite commune where he grew up – a place where photography is considered a sin



Outcast: Far from being welcomed, Hofer found that many of his friends and neighbors - especially the older members of his community - were not pleased to be the subject of photographs


Outcast: Far from being welcomed, Hofer found that many of his friends and neighbors – especially the older members of his community – were not pleased to be the subject of photographs



Tender: Hofer


Tender: Hofer’s images show the gentle, caring nature of his Hutterite community



The Hutterites are a people in transition. They believe in living a simple, peaceful communal life - but are adopting some modern technology, as well


The Hutterites are a people in transition. They believe in living a simple, peaceful communal life – but are adopting some modern technology, as well



Hofer


Hofer’s images offer an intimacy of daily life in a Hutterite commune that has never been seen before – because he was one of them



Hofer says his Hutterite commune was the best place to grow up.


Hofer says his Hutterite commune was the best place to grow up. ‘It’s a carefree childhood – running in the woods, swimming in rivers. It’s irreplaceable,’ he told MailOnline



The Hutterites, like other Anabaptist like the Amish and Mennonites, form tight-knit communities that are largely based on farming.


Unlike they Amish, many Hutterites embrace technology – if only in a limited capacity. Every home is wired with the internet – but mostly to allow children to connect with Hutterite schoolteachers in other communes hundreds of miles away. 


Cameras are allowed, but only to document progress on work or building construction.



Mr Hofer is entirely self-taught. He fell in love with the craft when he picked up a point-and-shoot camera that his father, the school principal in his community of 110 people, had taken home.


‘Being the only Hutterite photographer at the time, no one else in the colony knew anything about photography,’ he said.


And the community was anything but encouraging.


 





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Hofer started taking pictures and age 11 and is entirely self-taught. There were not even books about photography in his school library


Hofer started taking pictures and age 11 and is entirely self-taught. There were not even books about photography in his school library



Cameras are allowed - but only to document work progress like new construction. Taking pictures of people is frowned upon - and even considered sinful


Cameras are allowed – but only to document work progress like new construction. Taking pictures of people is frowned upon – and even considered sinful



Hofer said he mainly only had problems with members of the older generation of his community. Younger Hutterites didn


Hofer said he mainly only had problems with members of the older generation of his community. Younger Hutterites didn’t object to his photography nearly as much



Hofer


Hofer’s work focuses on the innocence of the close-knit community. Many of his images are of children and teenages



Farm life still plays a huge role in the Hutterite community - with children and teenagers pitching in to learn the importance of hard work


Farm life still plays a huge role in the Hutterite community – with children and teenagers pitching in to learn the importance of hard work



Often when he began photographing his subjects – friends, neighbors and family members – they threatened to tell the minister and have his camera taken away.


At one point, his camera was briefly confiscated.


When he first posted his pictures online, he was called in front of the council of elders and forced to delete the images off his Flickr account in front of them.


But he kept shooting, anyway, because he felt people outside of his commune needed to understand his community.


Some 45,000 Hutterites live in North America – the vaster majority in western Canada and the northern Great Plains if the U.S.


‘The reason why I kept doping it is they constantly had the idea that the outsiders didn’t understand how Hutterites work. It’s to educate the outside world. Hutterties aren’t black ad white they aren’t like the Amish,’ Mr Hofer said.


‘I’m still trying to educate people. You see Hutterites everywhere but nobody knows Hutterites. Most of the conversations because people want to know about Hutterites.’


Hofer


Hofer’s subjects were all his friends, family and neighbors – his commune only has a population of 110



Farm life: Growing food for the commune is one of the primary activities of the Hutterites in the warm months


Farm life: Growing food for the commune is one of the primary activities of the Hutterites in the warm months



Hofer now lives 700 miles from home in Calgary, where he is pursuing his career as a photographer - something that would have been impossible on his Hutterite commune


Hofer now lives 700 miles from home in Calgary, where he is pursuing his career as a photographer – something that would have been impossible on his Hutterite commune



Hofer described his images as


Hofer described his images as ‘warm’ and maintains a high degree of love for his community, despite having to leave



There are some 45,000 Hutterites living in North America - most of them in western Canada and the northern Great Plains of the United states


There are some 45,000 Hutterites living in North America – most of them in western Canada and the northern Great Plains of the United states



Hofer said he wanted to show the outside world what living in a Hutterite commune was like - in an attempt to help people understand his people


Hofer said he wanted to show the outside world what living in a Hutterite commune was like – in an attempt to help people understand his people



Beauty: Hofer, who has chosen to live in the modern world, still regards the simple beauty of Hutterite life with respect


Beauty: Hofer, who has chosen to live in the modern world, still regards the simple beauty of Hutterite life with respect



Hofer is making a new life for himself as a photographer and working to navigate his new life in the modern world


Hofer is making a new life for himself as a photographer and working to navigate his new life in the modern world













Comments (516)


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Diane,


Bolton, United Kingdom,


1 hour ago


Beautiful care free images.





Matt,


Sheffield,


2 hours ago


An amateur article with amazing pictures. Still, this is the sort of thing I love to see DM.





redappletini,


Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom,


2 hours ago


canadian amish





Maurice,


Humber Bank, United Kingdom,


1 hour ago


Not at all. That the point of the article to explain that they are very different than Amish. This is what the photographer is trying to explain through his photographs. He is showing that the Hutterites unlike the Amish do indeed embrace some modern technology. I think this is a first class article.





P.m,


Finland,


2 hours ago


That picture of the boys going swimming and the girls lying in the grass — those are some damn fine pictures!





FictionFighter,


The Funny Farm, United Kingdom,


2 hours ago


Seems like a better life than the modern cesspit we’ve created, best of luck to them.






DeafMute,


Oakland, United States,


2 hours ago


That is an impressive set of photographs. Extremely well done.





waterwitch,


manchester, United Kingdom,


2 hours ago


what is it with religions and hiding hair? and what is it with religions that love to control people. The pics are great tho.





Nicky,


Lincs,


3 hours ago


Yet another of these “women and little girls must cover their sinful hair because otherwise a glimpse of it will drive innocent men into throes of lust”sects. honestly, do these people ever take a step back and realise how blumming Irrational they are? I bet God busts his braces laughing at their peculiar little ways.





KTyson,


Mobile,


4 hours ago


The idea that the Hutterites view photography as sin is just wrong. There have been numerous documentaries over the years on this group without photography or film ever being an issue.





toadel,


Buxton,


4 hours ago


I wish I could grow cabbages that big!





Maurice,


Humber Bank, United Kingdom,


1 hour ago


When I saw that photograph. Those same thoughts were mine exactly!



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Article source: http://venturebeat.com/2013/10/15/sony-electronics-launches-36-4-megapixel-camera-for-pros/


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