Keeping it Real — Donna Hopkins

I wonder what happens when the act of making something becomes not just a personal experience but a public performance. And how does that impact the experience? Taking pictures is one of the truly joyous practices in my life. Because of this, I protect the practice fiercely. I don’t want to dissect each picture, fret over perceived mistakes, regret the lighting conditions, or judge the scene before it even settles on the sensor. The more I analyze the work, the harder it becomes to feel it. There is great comfort in saying to myself, “I don’t know why I love this photo, but I’m going to take it anyway.” I think it is this uncertainty that makes the work matter—and this awareness lets me live fully in the moment. I don’t have to explain my work in public. I can honor it in private.