Interview: A Photojournalist’s Resolute Expedition to Discover Mongolia’s Altai Mountains
Mongolia, October 2019. Father and son, Alakosh (l.) and his twelve-year-old son Arkalak, ride alongside their golden eagles close to their family residence in the Altai Mountains.
Monitoring all of Claire Thomas’s escapades is a daunting challenge. Over her career, the photojournalist has explored the West Bank, documenting the experiences of Palestinians living under military rule; she has captured the burning oil wells in Qayyarah, Iraq, ignited by retreating ISIS forces; she has investigated Ghanaian women accused of witchcraft and exiled to isolated camps; and she has journeyed throughout the expansive American West. Yet, among all her travels, there remains one location that Thomas cannot seem to forget: the Altai Mountains.
Spanning Mongolia and naturally separating the country from China and Russia, the Altai Mountains host a secluded array of ethnic communities. Thomas had cultivated a keen interest in this area, aiming to portray the lives of Mongolia’s semi-nomadic herders and the legendary Kazakh eagle hunters. In October 2019, she accomplished that lifelong goal. Accompanied by a small group of fellow photographers, she ventured to western Mongolia for the first time, seeking to meet the people who embody the region’s heritage, culture, and traditions.
“Horses were integral to my upbringing in Wales, and I found myself attracted to places where the bond between humans and animals was crucial for daily survival,” Thomas shares with My Modern Met. “I distinctly recall feeling an immediate sense of tranquility and belonging in the Altai Mountains. There was a quiet resilience in the way people lived, deeply intertwined with the land, the seasons, and their animals.”
In the seven years following her initial trip, Thomas has revisited Mongolia’s Altai Mountains innumerable times, strengthening her ties with its dramatic scenery and the communities that inhabit it. These images are now gathered in the photographer’s forthcoming monograph, Altai: Hunters and Herders of Mongolia. Set to be released later this spring by the boutique publisher Hemeria, the book features photographs of hunters with eagles resting on their arms; herders caring for camels, cows, sheep, and horses; glimpses of domestic life against breathtaking mountain vistas; and instances of determination as the seasons gradually change.
“These communities uphold traditions that have been inherited through the ages,” Thomas notes. “I aspire for the photographs to express both the beauty and the intricacy of this lifestyle, allowing viewers to look beyond well-known symbols or idealized notions. Most importantly, I hope they highlight the uniqueness of the individuals themselves.”
In anticipation of the book’s release, we had the opportunity to chat with Claire Thomas regarding her role as a photojournalist, unforgettable experiences throughout her career, and her time in Altai. Continue reading for our exclusive interview with the photographer.
Mongolia, October 2019. Kazakh eagle hunter Arkalak sits alongside his golden eagle in the Altai Mountains, where the age-old practice of eagle hunting persists.