Foothills Honey at Okuku are a Canterbury crew headed by James and Sister Laura, and compared to the majority of commercial beekeepers has a younger work force. I was invited to their office and production area to meet the crew as they came back to ‘base’ after a day out with the hives.
While the Winter light was easier to manage, being flat, the brighter Springtime conditions do yield interesting results as I document the change of seasons.
I’ve been invited to head out with the crew as they work on the hives in the next 3 weeks, that will require me getting suited up. I can’t wait! When it comes to being out in the warmest part of the day in the coming weeks, as I document work on the hives, I’ll maybe need help with a scrim to help diffuse the harsh midday light. The photographic process is in a constant flux based on light, and I guess my commercial experience is going to come in handy with regards to avoiding harsh blown out highlights.
Saying that, watch this space, as it’s a new experience/ process for me on film as I generally avoid the harsh light of day. I’ve also decided to utilise my 35mm auto focus Canon setup for closer and more active image work on the hives alongside the 6×6 TLR’s to ensure I get the process captured in the most natural way. It will also be good to get some closeups of the hives and bees!
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