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Portraits of Traditional Mongolian Nomads by Brian Hodges
Mongolia – July 17, 2013: Mongolian family traveling by a motorcycle © Brian Hodges / Offset
Mongolia – July 22, 2013: Mongolian man with a little fawn © Brian Hodges / Offset
Driven by what he describes as his “insatiable curiosity,” Santa Barbara-based photographer Brian Hodges is continuously reaching towards terra incognita, always in search of forming connections with unexplored landscapes and peoples. For Assouline’s upcoming book Gypset Living, he documented life in the traditional nomadic communities of Mongolia and lived himself in a traditional Mongolian ger. These families, he explains, migrate based on the season and the needs of their animals, who require ample grazing space and safeguarding from extreme temperatures.
Daily life in rural Mongolia revolves around the animals, who are free to roam the landscape without fencing or any sort of confinement. When the people move, every single belonging is moved with them, including the gers, solar panels, bikes, and televisions. When they are not working, the men enjoy wrestling, throat singing, drinking, and playing polo. Hodges explains that the Ghenghis Kahn Polo Club, now thirteen years old, harkens back to the Mongols’ heritage; the sport was especially popular during the Middle Ages. Writes Hodges of his time in Mongolia, “There is something intrinsically peaceful about living in a round room. No space is wasted.”
Mongolia – July 16, 2013: Children on horseback in Mongolia © Brian Hodges / Offset
Yurt with a solar panel in Mongolia © Brian Hodges / Offset
Mongolia – July 17, 2013: Portrait of a Mongolian girl with her grandmother © Brian Hodges / Offset
Mongolian quiver and bow © Brian Hodges / Offset
Mongolia – July 14, 2013: Mongolian polo players © Brian Hodges / Offset
Mongolian cheese and yak butter tea © Brian Hodges / Offset
Mongolia – July 22, 2013: Mongolian boy playing basketball © Brian Hodges / Offset
Three Mongolian yurts under the starry night © Brian Hodges / Offset
Grazing horses near a Mongolian village © Brian Hodges / Offset
All photos featured in this post can be found on Offset, a new curated collection of high-end commercial and editorial photography and illustration from award-winning artists around the world. Offset is an exclusive category channel partner on Feature Shoot.
