Altai

Witness the ancient tradition of hunting with golden eagles in ALTAI: Hunters and Herders of Mongolia in this debut photobook from photojournalist and fine art photographer Claire Thomas.

Up in the Bayan-lgii province of western Mongolia, the land and wildlife set daily rhythms, and traditions are practiced, not merely preserved. Horses, once ridden by Mongolian warriors across frontiers and battlefields in the time of Genghis Khan, are now anchors of nomadic life. For centuries, they have also been inseparable from eagle hunting, with horse, bird, and hunter performing a tightly choreographed dance in symbiosis, each with a role to play, perfected over time. The eagle: the eye in the sky. The horse: the heartbeat that carries hunter and tradition across the landscape.

ALTAI is an invitation into the highlands, homes, and hearts of ethnic Kazakh golden eagle hunters, where captivating photography meets thoughtful essays shaped by experience. The fruit of nearly 7 years of riding, flying, and growing alongside these nomadic families, this book pays tribute to ancient traditions in action, passed down through generations, and documents a world in flux as living heritage adapts in the name of progress and survival.

Explore culture in the Altai mountains across four themes:

• Horses: A tribute to the partnership between people and horses, essential to work, travel, and heritage
• Hunting: A window into the trust and companionship between hunter and golden eagle at the heart of this centuries-old tradition
• Herding: A glimpse into a world where the herd remains the foundation of everyday life
• Home: A celebration of the intimate, domestic moments that anchor rural life, where Kazakh culture lives on in the warmth of home and the closeness of family.

ALTAI holds a world in suspension within its pages, inviting us to treasure what must be cherished and carried forward and to consider how to live in balance with animals, our environment, and one another.