beekeepers

Bees are modern day superheroes, and vital for the earth to exist, from the smallest flowers to the largest forests.

Without bees, most of our food production would cease. Their role as pollinators is key to making this beautiful home of ours flourish, and feed us.

This 2021 project set out to discover who the beekeeping people of Canterbury New Zealand are, and to explore their working environments. Spending time with these unique farmers and hobbyists, highlighted that their relationships with the bees is of fundamental importance. Without beekeepers, bee colonies would simply collapse. What became apparent as the weeks passed, was that New Zealand honey farmers are a diverse and passionate community, that are united in their quest to keep bee populations alive.

New Zealand Beekeeper’s, whether individuals, hobbyist groups or large honey making enterprises, all maintain the same caring relationships with the environment. Their bonds with the bees and the environment are grounded and proactive. While acting independently, the culture is observant of others, and overall supportive towards common goals. Their efforts are constant, repetitive, seasonal, and vital for the bees to survive.

The Beekeepers project was my final year submission as a series of prints and a 200+ paged book, that at ARA Christchurch gained an A+ grade and the Noeline Mcllroy Bequest, ARA award for academic excellence in photography. The goal is to complete the portraits, and book for publication in the coming years.

View the project archives here.