Traversing the vast, enigmatic Land of the Nomad — from the dusty streets of Ulaanbaatar across the Great Steppe to the edge of the Gobi Desert and back again — was truly one of the most exhilarating and memorable photographic adventures of my life.
Each day brought a fantastic new experience to document: I witnessed soaring Golden Eagles, explored centuries-old architecture, observed a camel train crossing mountainous sand dunes, camped under an endless star-filled sky, met traditional artisans, skateboarded with Ulaanbaatar teenagers, and stepped backstage at a traveling Mongolian circus.
But one of the most memorable photographs I made was of a nomadic horseman herding and breaking wild horses on the grasslands outside the capital city; the sheer strength of both the man and the beasts was palpable. In a nation where horses outnumber people, it is famously said that, “a Mongol without a horse is like a bird without the wings.”
‘Wish You Were Here’
Travel + Leisure Southeast Asia
June 2017
Browse more of my photography from Mongolia on my website.
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