The Ancient Lady of the Yucatàn

In the small town of Maní, Yucatán, a quiet figure tends to his bees with practiced hands and unwavering devotion. Father Luis Armando Quintal Medina, a 70-year-old meliponiculturist from Huncuma, has spent the last 30 years caring for the sacred stingless bees known as Melipona beecheii. His bee farm, shaded by native trees and filled with the hum of wings, is more than a source of honey—it is a sanctuary of culture, ecology, and tradition.

Nima Taradji

I was born in Iran, grew up in France, and then moved to the United States, where I attended college in Texas. After graduation, I moved to California and now reside in Chicago, Illinois. My documentary work revolves around humanitarian concerns and social issues that I find compelling.

My photographs have been published in various national and international magazines and periodicals, including The New York Times' Lens Blog, Crain's Business Journal, Today's Chicago Woman, CNN, ZEKE Magazine, Corriere Della Serra, French Morning, Photo District News, CBS Chicago, and Interview Magazine, among others.