Honey Hunters of Nepal

[phc1]

I've just pulled a long forgotten book, "The Honey Hunters of Nepal",

down from the shelf and realised again how remarkable it is.

 

The title is self-explanatory, the stunning images (some of them

reproduced 56x39cm) are by Eric Valli and Diane Summers.

 

To quote the intro: "All the photographs were taken with Leica R

cameras on Kodachrome professional 64 and 200 film. Only this

combination allowed such high quality enlargements. Most of the

photographs were shot at full aperture because of low light

conditions. The Leica lenses used were: 19mm, 28mm, 35mm, 60mm, 80mm,

90mm, 180mm, 280mm, and doubler [this guy must have shoulders like

Schwarzenegger]. The 80mm lens suffered a fall of over one hundred

yards from the top of Samser Bir [a granite cliff], and we were able

to continue using it..."

 

All in all, quite a testament to Leica ruggedness, I'd say. Not to

mention Valli & Summers weightlifting ability - you wouldn't have as

much as a frozen daquiri's chance in hell of getting me to carry all

that glass around the Himalayas. Maybe they used sherpas.

 

Has anyone else seen this book?

[albert_smith]

Several years ago "Outdoor Photographer" magazine had the story on this photographer and this very project. He told in great detail about dropping that 80mm f/1.4 lens. Many of the shots were made while hanging from ropes, making stability very unsure.

[albert_smith]

Wow! I can't believe I was able to locate this old issue from my many stacks of old magazines. If anyone is interested and has access to a library, the issue is "Outdoor Photographer" December 1991. It is worth seeking out if hard working photographers are of any interest to you.

[john_r._fulton_jr.]

VolvoMagazine, from Volvo Cars of NA, has an article called Life Through a

Lens, about NatGeoSoc photographers. Main featured photographer is Eric

Valli and his photography of the Honey Hunters. Worst thing about

photography in addition to hanging high in the air to get the shots was getting

stung by bees as he was hanging and photographing. There was nothing he

could do but concentrate on photography and climbing. He had to ignore the

bee stings best as he could. BTW, I'm not a Volvo owner--this magazine was

passed to me. I have no idea how you'd get a copy. It's the Summer, 2002

issue.

[frank_bunnik]

It is a great book with beautiful pictures. I also enjoyed his film Caravan/Himalaya. There is another book by this guy about honeyhunters in lower Nepal, called Hunting for honey. I picked it up a couple of years ago in Kathmandu.

 

The statement that only by using kodachrome and leica the pictures could be printed this big is very very bold. Ever seen pictures by McCurry, Frans Lanting, Don McCullin, Galen Rowell, all using Nikon, not to mention the many pro's with Canon?

[andy_piper2]

I haven't seen the book, but still have the Nat. Geo magazine that ran the "Honey Hunters" pictures - as well as several others containing Valli stories from India and Nepal.

 

Good stuff!

[xavier_dalfort]

Paul:

 

Eric Valli is exposing the pictures related to the film named Himalaya (http://www.himalaya-fr.com/) here in Jardin du Luxembourg, Paris. These are stunning "clichés"

 

Have you checked the site: http://www.ericvalli.com/

 

A few more pictures.....

[omkar_gauchan]

Is video also available of Honey Hunters of Nepal? I am trying to buy one.

Omkar Gauchan