Over a century now, photographs have been used to capture interests and moments of humanity and articles surrounding. Photography may mirror the truth, the authenticity, reality of the experiences. It is an added art where the artists pin their ideas, notions and fascinations on canvas and frames to show their creativity. It shows how photographers see the world or how they want us to see the world. In the wild honey collector photograph, Pieter Hugo uses high contrast, hue colors and sharp lighting effects to provide an evocative and sensational interpretation image of a Ghanaian wild honey collector.
The wild honey collector photograph, taken in 2005 in Techiman district Ghana was of interest to me because it had something unique in it that made me stare longer and comprehend the underlying layers. The picture comprises of a masked figure, trees and shrubs. The environment appears to be wild and isolated. Pieter Hugo’s image of Ghanaian worker, Kwadwo Konado is significant in the depiction of a person oppressed by the demands of labor. What the man is wearing plays a vital role in why the image works. His clothing heightens an absolute fear in the viewer. The polythene mask that he is using is barely enough shield from the bees. However, he has made small holes around his nose and eyes. It is apparent that the holes serve the purpose of breathing and seeing. Around his arms are leaf coverings that he also uses as protective gear. This person takes a significant risk daily by attacking the bees in order to extract the honey within. It is the mask that truly tells us that this is a hazardous task to undertake.
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The masked figure of Konado wears a red sweater around his neck and a green Mickey Mouse long-sleeved shirt that camouflages with the opulent jungle surrounding him. The fact that the background is also very much in focus heightens the parallelism of the image. It is almost apparent that he disguises in his green shirt to throw off the bees. His calm posture is contrasted with the dangerous way in which he has been driven to make a living. His pose stimulates the impression of a mere scarecrow. The extent to which he goes to procure the wild honey depicts that he entirely depends on it for survival. His surrounding is a forest that appears hostile and probably a home for wildlife. Challenges against wild animals might also make their honey extraction more vulnerable.
This image portrays the misery and hardships of bee hunters and wild honey collectors in Techiman District, Ghana. Poverty and uncertainty are displayed at an extreme level. No one would risk their lives at such extents if not propelled by their needs to do so. Their security is much endangered in the process by they seem not to care or rather; they are willing to take a leap of faith in the hopes of meeting their need for money. The honey business, however, looks like it's the better option for them even though it appears like the most challenging profession.
What matters in this photograph is lighting, colour, angle of view of the image and surrounding captured, which builds a narrative of its own. Pieter Hugo utilizes these features to generate an interpretation and simplification of reality, exactly as it occurred to everybody else present at the time. The lighting emerges as dim and appears directional. The weather seems cold. The photographer used emphasis, dominance and focal point whereby the focus is on the person more and the surrounding, which is plants and trees act as sub dominance. The principle brings about a sombre mood and an imagination on the process of honey extraction from wild bees. The lighting behind the masked figure appears blurry. The contrast between blurred and focus heightens the drama, it emphasizes on the person and the narrative behind the image.
The texture of the photo seems soft, and its focus is selective. There are sharp details to the image and smooth edges around it. The angle of view occurs to be closer to the masked figure. The photo was taken from the front. It seems as though a longer lens was used because we can barely see the sides of the object. The trees behind the object, however, have all been captured. The image is also in hue colours. For instance, the red sweater around the individual is saturated, but the green shirt he wears together his surrounding is muted. It makes the photo less intense and more neutral. If the photographer had taken the image in black and white, we wouldn't be able to tell the story, especially the camouflage of the man's clothing and the bushes.
Contrast also can be used to set the mood or quality of work. In this case, the photographer used little contrast which is more quiet, calm, subtle and reflective. Unity also describes the visual correlation between elements in a photograph. It aids to create a cohesive image. For instance, the coloured image presents unity as the two colours, green and red, complement each other and deliver a natural look.
In conclusion, the photographer has achieved his aim, of portraying wild honey extraction and protective gears used by Ghanaian honey collectors. We are able to see the difficulties faced by wild honey collectors and the danger they experience during the process of honey collection. The visual elements that the photographer has incorporated in the image enable the viewer to understand the intent behind this particular photograph clearly.
References
Glebova, A. (2018). Elements of Photography: Avant-garde Aesthetics and the Reforging of Nature. Representations , 142 (1), 56-90.
