logo 1988 Photo Contest
  • Calendar
  • Collection
  • 2025 Contest
  • Archive 1955 - 2025
  • Contest
  • Exhibitions
  • Education
  • Programs
  • Visual Literacy
  • Research
  • Publication
  • About us
  • News
  • Yearbook
  • Online magazine
  • Support us

Photo story: 1 of 10

View all photos
Share image
Twitter Icon Facebook Icon LinkedIn Icon

Nature - 1st prize

January 01, 1987

Mani Lal (63) is the head of a Gurung village in the foothills of the world's highest peaks. As did his father, a shaman priest, he travels to the Himalayan ravines every spring and autumn to collect the wild honey of 'apis dorsata', a giant bee. Mani Lal is the last of his village to have mastery of the technique.

January 01, 1987

Mani Lal (63) descends a 50m-long bamboo ladder, secured only by a cord around his waist, after collecting the wild honey of 'apis dorsata', a giant bee. Mani Lal is the head of a Gurung village in the foothills of the world's highest peaks. As did his father, a shaman priest, he travels to the Himalayan ravines every spring and autumn to collect the honey. He is the last of his village to have mastery of the technique.

January 01, 1987

Mani Lal (63) collects the wild honey of 'apis dorsata', a giant bee. He is the head of a Gurung village in the foothills of the world's highest peaks. As did his father, a shaman priest, he travels to the Himalayan ravines every spring and autumn to collect the wild honey of 'apis dorsata', a giant bee. The last of his village to have mastery of the technique, Mani Lal uses a 50m-long bamboo ladder, secured only by a cord around his waist. Aided by an experienced team he maneuvers the 2.75m hive until it breaks of the rock face and falls into a basket.

January 01, 1987

Mani Lal (63) collects the wild honey of 'apis dorsata', a giant bee. He is the head of a Gurung village in the foothills of the world's highest peaks. As did his father, a shaman priest, he travels to the Himalayan ravines every spring and autumn to collect the wild honey of 'apis dorsata', a giant bee. The last of his village to have mastery of the technique, Mani Lal uses a 50m-long bamboo ladder, secured only by a cord around his waist. Aided by an experienced team he maneuvers the 2.75m hive until it breaks of the rock face and falls into a basket.

January 01, 1987

Mani Lal (63) collects the wild honey of 'apis dorsata', a giant bee. He is the head of a Gurung village in the foothills of the world's highest peaks. As did his father, a shaman priest, he travels to the Himalayan ravines every spring and autumn to collect the wild honey of 'apis dorsata', a giant bee. The last of his village to have mastery of the technique, Mani Lal uses a 50m-long bamboo ladder, secured only by a cord around his waist. Aided by an experienced team he maneuvers the 2.75m hive until it breaks of the rock face and falls into a basket.

January 01, 1987

At the foot of the cliff from which Mani Lai collects wild honey, villagers hold out pots and pans to catch stray drops. Mani Lal (63) is the head of a Gurung village in the foothills of the world's highest peaks. As did his father, a shaman priest, he travels to the Himalayan ravines every spring and autumn to collect the wild honey of 'apis dorsata', a giant bee. The last of his village to have mastery of the technique, Mani Lal uses a 50m-long bamboo ladder secured only by a cord around his waist. Aided by an experienced team he maneuvers the 2.75m hive until it breaks off the rock face and falls into a basket.

January 01, 1987

Mani Lal (63) is the head of a Gurung village in the foothills of the world's highest peaks. As did his father, a shaman priest, he travels to the Himalayan ravines every spring and autumn to collect the wild honey of 'apis dorsata', a giant bee. The last of his village to have mastery of the technique, Mani Lal uses a 50m-long bamboo ladder, secured only by a cord around his waist. Aided by an experienced team he maneuvers the 2.75m hive until it breaks off the rock face and falls into a basket.

January 01, 1987

Mani Lal (63) is the head of a Gurung village in the foothills of the world's highest peaks. As did his father, a shaman priest, he travels to the Himalayan ravines every spring and autumn to collect the wild honey of 'apis dorsata', a giant bee. The last of his village to have mastery of the technique, Mani Lal uses a 50m-long bamboo ladder, secured only by a cord around his waist. Aided by an experienced team he maneuvers the 2.75m hive until it breaks off the rock face and falls into a basket.

January 01, 1987

Mani Lal (63) collects the wild honey of 'apis dorsata', a giant bee. He is the head of a Gurung village in the foothills of the world's highest peaks. As did his father, a shaman priest, he travels to the Himalayan ravines every spring and autumn to collect honey. The last of his village to have mastery of the technique, Mani Lal uses a 50m-long bamboo ladder, secured only by a cord around his waist. Aided by an experienced team he maneuvers the 2.75m hive until it breaks of the rock face and falls into a basket.

January 01, 1987

Mani Lal (63) collects the wild honey of 'apis dorsata', a giant bee. He is the head of a Gurung village in the foothills of the world's highest peaks. As did his father, a shaman priest, he travels to the Himalayan ravines every spring and autumn to collect honey. The last of his village to have mastery of the technique, Mani Lal uses a 50m-long bamboo ladder, secured only by a cord around his waist. Aided by an experienced team he maneuvers the 2.75m until it breaks of the rock face and falls into a basket.

Next

Sports - Honorable mention

Eric Valli

1988 Photo Contest - Nature - 1st prize
Photographer

Eric Valli

01 January, 1987

Mani Lal (63) is the head of a Gurung village in the foothills of the world's highest peaks. As did his father, a shaman priest, he travels to the Himalayan ravines every spring and autumn to collect the wild honey of 'apis dorsata', a giant bee. Mani Lal is the last of his village to have mastery of the technique.

More information about the photoLess information about the photo

About the photographer

Eric Valli

Read the full biography

This image is collected in

1988 Photo Contest

More information about the photo Less information about the photo

Related stories

Eric Valli

Eric Valli

1988 Photo Contest winners

Eric Preau

Igor Utkin

Eli Reed

Laurie Sparham

Mike Goldwater

Yuri Ivanov

Alexandr Polyakov

Jane Evelyn Atwood

Igor Gavrilov

Thomas Ernsting

Tim Clary

Harald Schmitt

Frank Fournier

Carlos Humberto TDC

Wilhelm Mikhailovsky

Alexander Shogin

David Graves

Valery Hache

George Rose

Jim Brandenburg

Jim Brandenburg

Ron Sanford

Harald Schmitt

Tim Clary

Christopher Steele-Perkins

Igor Utkin

Christopher Steele-Perkins

Yury V. Abramochkin

Carol Guzy

Peter Turnley

Gianni Giansanti

Yang Shaoming

Derek Hudson

John Davidson

James L. Stanfield

Frank Fournier

Wolfgang Kunz

Lynn Johnson

Thomas Stephan

Bill Eppridge

Igor Utkin

Evgeny Stetsko

Myoung Jin Go

Radek Sikorski

Anthony Suau

Carol Halebian

Anthony Suau

Paul Vathis

Leo Vogelzang

Anthony Suau

Igor Utkin

Programs

Through our education programs, the World Press Photo Foundation encourages diverse accounts of the world that present stories with different perspectives.

Go to Education

Our exhibitions showcase stories that make people stop, feel, think and act to a worldwide audience.

Go to Exhibitions

Our annual contest recognizes and rewards the best in photojournalism and documentary photography.

Go to Contest

We use cookies to analyse the use of our website, identify individual preferences after obtaining your explicit consent, and enhance your user experience.

By agreeing, you are giving us consent to set cookies and accept our Cookie Policy.

I agree
Decline
footer logo

Connecting the world to the stories that matter

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • Youtube

Get the latest on our activities

Sign up for the newsletter

Support World Press Photo

Make a donation
  • Contact
  • Legal
  • Partners
  • Media center