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benhasten: Silent Hunt photo by John Delaney “‘Fine horses and fierce eagles are the wings of the Kazakhs’ - Ancient Kazakh Proverb Nobody knows exactly when man tamed the Golden Eagle of Central Asia.   Herodotus refers to nomadic eagle hunters in 5th Century B.C.  Genghis Khan is said to have had over 5000 ‘eagle riders’ in his personal guard. We do know that since the 15th Century, nomadic Kazakh tribes on horseback, with eagles alert at their sides, have roamed freely across the borders of what is today Russia, China, Kazakhstan and Western Mongolia. But at the dawn of the 21st Century, the nomadic way of life is fragile and in danger of being eradicated. History has long threatened these legendary horsemen: the Bolshevik Revolution, Stalin’s purges and China’s cultural revolution drove the roaming Kazakhs to the mountains and valleys of Mongolia, where they have found refuge and the freedom to live as they have for centuries. But now globalization and the encroachment of  the West in Mongolia may irreversibly change the eagle riders’ way of life. My ongoing project is to document these remarkable people before their traditions are lost forever. Taking B&W portraits with a 5x7 field camera, I try to capture their spirit of pride and nobility. In the mountains, on horseback, I shoot with medium format color film to document the hunt and the vast beauty of Mongolia. In winter 2008, I return to document the harsh winter living conditions and to observe further changes. The nomads of Mongolia have warmly welcomed me and I am honored to observe and share their way of life in such an intimate and personal manner.” John Delaney’s Golden Eagle Nomads/Silent Hunt Thanks to uncertain times

benhasten:

Silent Hunt

photo by John Delaney

“‘Fine horses and fierce eagles are the wings of the Kazakhs’

- Ancient Kazakh Proverb

Nobody knows exactly when man tamed the Golden Eagle of Central Asia.  
Herodotus refers to nomadic eagle hunters in 5th Century B.C.  Genghis Khan is said to have had over 5000 ‘eagle riders’ in his personal guard. We do know that since the 15th Century, nomadic Kazakh tribes on horseback, with eagles alert at their sides, have roamed freely across the borders of what is today Russia, China, Kazakhstan and Western Mongolia. But at the dawn of the 21st Century, the nomadic way of life is fragile and in danger of being eradicated.

History has long threatened these legendary horsemen: the Bolshevik Revolution, Stalin’s purges and China’s cultural revolution drove the roaming Kazakhs to the mountains and valleys of Mongolia, where they have found refuge and the freedom to live as they have for centuries.

But now globalization and the encroachment of  the West in Mongolia may irreversibly change the eagle riders’ way of life.

My ongoing project is to document these remarkable people before their traditions are lost forever. Taking B&W portraits with a 5x7 field camera, I try to capture their spirit of pride and nobility. In the mountains, on horseback, I shoot with medium format color film to document the hunt and the vast beauty of Mongolia.

In winter 2008, I return to document the harsh winter living conditions and to observe further changes.

The nomads of Mongolia have warmly welcomed me and I am honored to observe and share their way of life in such an intimate and personal manner.”


John Delaney’s Golden Eagle Nomads/Silent Hunt


Thanks to uncertain times


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