AMERICAN PHOTOGRAPHER BABS PERKINS DOCUMENTS HERZEGOVINA'S CHEESE-MAKING TRADITION

Babs Perkins, a former professional chef turned photographer and writer, has become a well-known figure in Herzegovina, having spent the past decade documenting the region’s rich cheese-making traditions. With a special focus on the art of producing cheese from sheep’s and goat’s milk in traditional methods, she has traveled extensively through Eastern Herzegovina in search of the finest cheeses.

Perkins, who began her journey after reading an article about the decline of traditional cheeses in France, decided to explore how such practices were preserved in other regions. 

Her fascination with Herzegovinian cheese led her to cover more than 10,000 kilometers across the region, during which she immersed herself in local culture and cheese-making processes. Over the years, she discovered that these cheeses can easily rank among the finest in Europe, largely due to the unique climate and natural resources of the area.

- I wanted to explore the traditional ways of preparing food in these areas, which is a rich intangible heritage of Herzegovina,” says Perkins. “The people who make these cheeses need to realize the value of what they are doing. I’m not here to save these traditions, but to encourage people, especially the younger generations, to continue this important work.

In addition to her written and photographic work, Perkins has prepared an exhibition titled "10,000 Kilometers in Search of Cheese", which will be displayed at the Museum of Herzegovina in Trebinje.