Photographer Holly Lynton’s latest work explores the nuanced relationship between humans and the natural world through a series titled "Bare Handed," which captures individuals engaging with their environment in deeply respectful and almost spiritual ways. The project began with a personal incident involving a trapped bird in her backyard, prompting reflections on how people obtain resources while striving to be responsible stewards of the land.

One of the central images in the series features Les, a beekeeper from Albuquerque, New Mexico, who handles feral bee colonies without the typical protective gear. Lynton encountered Les after consulting with the director of a local exhibition space who had hired him to remove a hive from a tree. Unlike other beekeepers she had observed—often clad in full suits resembling astronaut gear—Les chose to work bare-handed, relying on his experience and gentleness to avoid harming the bees. Over three days, Lynton photographed Les tending his hives and immersed herself in the challenging, tactile process of beekeeping.

A pivotal moment occurred when Les’s apprentice, Amber, arrived and removed the queen bee from a cage in Les’s shirt pocket, prompting the colony to swarm onto Les’s hands. At Les’s suggestion, and with Lynton’s encouragement, he slowly moved the bees onto his face—a rare and striking gesture that resulted in an image the photographer calls her "ah ha!" moment. Les commented afterward on the profound sensory experience, noting that he could hear only the buzzing of the bees as they settled.

Lynton found that working so closely with the bees required a slow, deliberate approach to avoid provoking them. Despite the risks, she avoided wearing bulky protective gear for much of the shoot, opting instead for a shirt buttoned tightly at the wrists. She recalled the unsettling sensation of bees landing on her hands while she focused behind the lens but followed Les’s advice to move carefully, avoiding stings.

The themes of intimacy with nature and fearless expertise carried over into other subjects in the "Bare Handed" series, including interactions with wolves at a sanctuary and fishermen in Oklahoma practicing noodling—catching large catfish by hand in a method that involves physical wrestling with the fish. Lynton recognized a common thread: these practitioners exhibited no fear, embracing their craft as a form of meditation or spiritual practice.

Before turning to photography, Lynton initially planned to pursue psychology and writing. She appreciates photography for its capacity to convey complex, multilayered stories within a single frame, often drawing on elements of cultural memory to evoke mystery and allusion. Her work has gained international attention, with exhibitions displayed at venues including the Nelson-Atkins Museum in Kansas City and Bristol Cathedral in England, where her current show "Beyond the Bounds" runs through November 15 as part of the Bristol Photo Festival. Her book "Bare Handed," published by L’Artiere, further documents these explorations.

Lynton encourages photographers to seek authenticity, maintain curiosity, and remain open to evolving their creative process. She emphasizes that the journey of making art, even through difficult moments, holds more value than any final product.