Palani Mohan is a photographer who has captured astounding images of the Altai Kazakh eagle hunters: a small community based in Mongolia who use eagles to find and hunt their prey.
Palani Mohan is a photographer who has captured astounding images of the Altai Kazakh eagle hunters: a small community based in Mongolia who use eagles to find and hunt their prey.
© Palani Mohan, images courtesy of Merrell Publishers
Mohan first became intrigued with the Altai Kazakh eagle hunters when he found an image in a newspaper. "I saw a picture of a man standing on top of a mountain in a faraway place with a golden eagle in his hand. It was an incredible image, I've never forgotten that photograph."<br />
Mohan first became intrigued with the Altai Kazakh eagle hunters when he found an image in a newspaper. "I saw a picture of a man standing on top of a mountain in a faraway place with a golden eagle in his hand. It was an incredible image, I've never forgotten that photograph."
© Palani Mohan, images courtesy of Merrell Publishers
Upon arrival, he became aware of the culture and story of the eagle hunters. "I just wanted to photograph these guys. But soon after I got there I realized there was a bigger story there that needed to be told."
Upon arrival, he became aware of the culture and story of the eagle hunters. "I just wanted to photograph these guys. But soon after I got there I realized there was a bigger story there that needed to be told."
© Palani Mohan, images courtesy of Merrell Publishers
Decades later, Maloni received an e-mail notification about a flight route from Hong Kong -- where he is currently based -- to Mongolia. "I just took off with very little planning, and just went. I didn't really know what the story was and why I was going there."
Decades later, Maloni received an e-mail notification about a flight route from Hong Kong -- where he is currently based -- to Mongolia. "I just took off with very little planning, and just went. I didn't really know what the story was and why I was going there."
© Palani Mohan, images courtesy of Merrell Publishers
According to Mohan, there are very few "real" eagle hunters alive today. "They're getting old, and each winter claims a few more."
According to Mohan, there are very few "real" eagle hunters alive today. "They're getting old, and each winter claims a few more."
© Palani Mohan, images courtesy of Merrell Publishers
"I thought, wouldn't it be great to go and try to photograph all of them. So that was really the anchor of the project really, that was the reason why I wanted to do it."
"I thought, wouldn't it be great to go and try to photograph all of them. So that was really the anchor of the project really, that was the reason why I wanted to do it."
© Palani Mohan, images courtesy of Merrell Publishers
Mongolia hosts several eagle festivals, and there are opportunities to photograph men with golden eagles at these events, but according to Mohan these are not true eagle hunters. "Just because you have an eagle doesn't mean you're an eagle hunter."
Mongolia hosts several eagle festivals, and there are opportunities to photograph men with golden eagles at these events, but according to Mohan these are not true eagle hunters. "Just because you have an eagle doesn't mean you're an eagle hunter."
© Palani Mohan, images courtesy of Merrell Publishers
Mohan points out that real eagle hunters would actually avoid these festivals out of concern for their eagles. "They don't want to put their eagles through the hardships of bringing it to a very noise-polluted environment, so they don't even turn up."
Mohan points out that real eagle hunters would actually avoid these festivals out of concern for their eagles. "They don't want to put their eagles through the hardships of bringing it to a very noise-polluted environment, so they don't even turn up."
© Palani Mohan, images courtesy of Merrell Publishers
Instead, he has to go to them. "I spent a long time researching and trying to find who they are. I lived with many of them."
Instead, he has to go to them. "I spent a long time researching and trying to find who they are. I lived with many of them."
© Palani Mohan, images courtesy of Merrell Publishers
The majority of eagle hunting takes place during winter months, so in order to capture these moments Mohan had to endure harsh conditions. "It's brutally beautiful but a brutally harsh environment."
The majority of eagle hunting takes place during winter months, so in order to capture these moments Mohan had to endure harsh conditions. "It's brutally beautiful but a brutally harsh environment."
© Palani Mohan, images courtesy of Merrell Publishers
"My hands were frozen, my feet were just a mess. I'm from Madras in India, I'm not built for the cold climate and I'm mainly a vegetarian. I was all kind of wrong for this project. That was part of the challenge."
"My hands were frozen, my feet were just a mess. I'm from Madras in India, I'm not built for the cold climate and I'm mainly a vegetarian. I was all kind of wrong for this project. That was part of the challenge."
© Palani Mohan, images courtesy of Merrell Publishers
But for Mohan, enduring the ruthless conditions was wroth the opportunity to capture these eagle hunters in their natural environment. "I hope people understand that people like this still live and it's not just something from a museum."
But for Mohan, enduring the ruthless conditions was wroth the opportunity to capture these eagle hunters in their natural environment. "I hope people understand that people like this still live and it's not just something from a museum."
© Palani Mohan, images courtesy of Merrell Publishers
But Mohan is concerned about how long the eagle hunters will last. "The young generation don't really want to be eagle hunters anymore. They want to wear jeans, listen to music, go to the capital -- all the things teenagers want."
But Mohan is concerned about how long the eagle hunters will last. "The young generation don't really want to be eagle hunters anymore. They want to wear jeans, listen to music, go to the capital -- all the things teenagers want."
© Palani Mohan, images courtesy of Merrell Publishers
"It really is a privilege to be allowed into their homes and their life and I made friends. They found me incredibly eccentric, they didn't understand who I was, why I kept leaving my family and coming back to the cold."
"It really is a privilege to be allowed into their homes and their life and I made friends. They found me incredibly eccentric, they didn't understand who I was, why I kept leaving my family and coming back to the cold."
© Palani Mohan, images courtesy of Merrell Publishers
"I hope that when I return with a copy of the book, I'll get it translated to Kazakh, and then maybe they will get a better understanding on why I was there all this time."
"I hope that when I return with a copy of the book, I'll get it translated to Kazakh, and then maybe they will get a better understanding on why I was there all this time."
© Palani Mohan, images courtesy of Merrell Publishers