Keeping It Real — Donna Hopkins

“Flowers always make people better, happier, and more helpful;
they are sunshine, food and medicine for the soul.”
—Botanist Luther Burbank

I came across some old issues of Kinfolk magazine from 2012 in a thrift shop, and I’ve been enjoying the stories and photographs. The magazines have held up well in terms of style and substance. The Kinfolk style of photography has influenced my own in meaningful ways, and it’s been fun to reflect on how my creative work has evolved. My pictures from this year have been largely floral still life vignettes, and I’ve grappled with how to keep things original but still sincere and authentic. It was good to be reminded that this is entirely possible; I just need to stretch.