British photographer Andrew Newey spent two weeks in December last year in central Nepal photographing the dying, ancient tradition of honey hunting.
The honey hunters of the Gurung tribe gather in the Himalayan foothills twice a year to harvest honey from the world’s largest honeybee.
Honey hunting is a centuries-old practice that requires great skill, and sadly both the numbers of bees and hunters are rapidly declining due to commercialization and climate change.
Newey’s amazing shots capture the magnificent beauty and danger of this sacred tradition; most of the hives are located on steep, south-facing cliffs to avoid predators and direct exposure to sunlight.
Hunters perch precariously on home-made rope ladders and collect honey with long sticks called tangos, lowering them to helpers below.
Check out Newey’s photographs below and view more at his website.
[via The Guardian, images via Andrew Newey]