Maxine Lampers

We visit Steven early march at his home where he also keeps bees, and does preparation activities for the beekeeping seasons. We are starting with a picture of a bee on Stevens finger to show the relation between the two. Then there is a picture of Steven looking at how Maxine is taking a picture of a bee in a crocus, the shining sun and blooming croci are showing us that it is the end of winter, early spring. Steven tells us that the bees get their food from the croci, which they bring to the beehives. On the next picture you can see pollen (food) on a tray, and Steven teaching us about parasites. One of the efforts Steven makes to kill parasites and protect his bees, is by putting frames with parasites into a freezer that is in his shed. Old frames are stacked in his shed, showing material culture. This time of year Steven makes a lot of new frames, shown by the last four pictures. The day ended with rain, which he catches with a water tank. Also a picture that shows us it is the beginning of March. Spring is coming but, it is not here quite yet.

“Close-up of Steven showing a bee on his finger in his garden. Shows the relation between Steven and bees; he is confident enough the bee is not going to hurt him. Steven is teaching us about how bees breath, he enjoys explaining.”

“A full shot of Steven looking at how Maxine takes pictures of blooming croci which he planted especially to accommodate his bees (food); shows the relation between beekeeper and nature. Shows how Steven is leaning forward, checking what Maxine is doing and (again) teaching about bees. Also shows the season; end of winter; early spring”

“Close-up of a bee inside a crocus covered in pollen. Crocus contains pollen; Steven plants flowers as food for his bees. Season: beginning of march”

“Close-up of Steven pointing out to us a parasite on a beehive tray with pollen; teaching. Parasites are a challenge for Steven since they kill the bees”

“Extreme close-up of a beehive identification number. This helps Steven catalogue them in Microsoft Excel. This way he knows all the different details of each beehive population. System of beekeeping”

“Medium shot inside Steven’s shed of him examining a frame taken out of the freezer (in the background). The frame is placed inside the freezer to kill the parasites and to protect his bees. Since the frame is cold Steven is holding it with gloves.The light coming through the window gives the feeling of the early spring sun”

“Medium shot showing several parts of a beehive and two beehives underneath the counter. The different parts are stocked on top of each other on a counter. This picture shows part of the beekeeping material culture and the way Steven stores his materials”

“A wide, high angle shot of the material culture of Steven’s shed. It shows what materials Steven uses for beekeeping and how he organizes them; which also says something about his personality and his ‘work flow’. Except one object, he managed to find all the other materials he needed to make the frames. An outsider like ourselves would not have been able to and might even consider his workplace as ‘too crowded“

“Close-up of home made frame making with a ‘transformer’. Steven is using a transformer to attach the beeswax sheet to the frame, which can then be placed inside a beehive. Frame making constitutes a big part of the work Steven carries out during this time of year; the ‘preparation phase’ before bees start to be more active and more work has to be done. This picture shows something about how Steven approaches beekeeping; he prefers to make the frames and beeswax himself, instead of buying them pre-made”

“Wide shot of the outside of the shed. This picture especially shows the season and the weather of the time the pictures were taken: it was the end of a rainy, early Spring day (since we see flowers). The rain barrel says something about Steven’s relation to nature; he likes to work with what nature provides (like rain to water the flowers which he especially planted for the bees)”

Insights gained by performing this photography supported observation

Steven’s shed is full of different beekeeping materials

Steven does not seem to need a ‘calm’ workbench

Steven seems to care about the environment

Steven likes nature

Steven plants special plants/flowers in his garden for his bees

Steven makes his own frames and beeswax sheets

Steven knows when he can let a bee touch him

Points unable to observe without a camera

The structure of the wings of the bee (in the first picture)

The pollen taken from the flower by the bee (third picture)

Contextual knowledge & insights not conveyed through images

It is end of winter, early spring

He is in the preparation phase of beekeeping

Steven keeps his bees inside the beehives until it is warm enough outside

Steven keeps beehives at different locations

Steven teaches about beekeeping

Steven’s wife Prem makes cosmetic products and candles out of beeswax

Steven talks and explains a lot

Steven moves quickly

Steven uses Microsoft Excel to catalogue his different beehives