Last year, a swarm of honeybees landed just behind my backyard. Unsure of what to do, I turned to the internet for answers and stumbled upon the Swarm Hotline through portlandurbanbeekeepers.org. I gave them a call, and within 10 minutes, an incredibly enthusiastic beekeeper named Mandy reached out. Lucky for me, she lived nearby and was able to come over right away.
When Mandy arrived, I asked if I could film her catching the swarm, and to my delight, she was totally on board. What followed was some of the most stunning slow-motion footage I’ve ever captured—bees in flight, their movements mesmerizing in detail. I knew there was more to Mandy’s work that deserved documenting, so when the next swarm season rolled around, I reached out to her with the idea of creating a short documentary about her process.
This project is the result of that collaboration.
For me, there’s something deeply inspiring about capturing someone so passionate about their craft—whether it’s photography, painting, woodworking, or, in Mandy’s case, beekeeping. Her infectious enthusiasm and welcoming personality made the experience not just rewarding but something I wanted to explore even further.
There’s still more of Mandy’s story to tell, but for this swarm season, this documentary is just the beginning.…Last year, a swarm of honeybees landed just behind my backyard. Unsure of what to do, I turned to the internet for answers and stumbled upon the Swarm Hotline through portlandurbanbeekeepers.org. I gave them a call, and within 10 minutes, an incredibly enthusiastic beekeeper named Mandy reached out. Lucky for me, she lived nearby and was able to come over right away.
When Mandy arrived, I asked if I could film her catching the swarm, and to my delight, she was totally on board. What followed was some of the most stunning slow-motion footage I’ve ever captured—bees in flight, their movements mesmerizing in detail. I knew there was more to Mandy’s work that deserved documenting, so when the next swarm season rolled around, I reached out to her with the idea of creating a short documentary about her process.
This project is the result of that collaboration.
For me, there’s something deeply inspiring about capturing someone so passionate about their craft—whether it’s photography, painting, woodworking, or, in Mandy’s case, beekeeping. Her infectious enthusiasm and welcoming personality made the experience not just rewarding but something I wanted to explore even further.
There’s still more of Mandy’s story to tell, but for this swarm season, this documentary is just the beginning.WW…