The Golden Eagle Festival, Mongolia – 2
You have seen a few of my photos of the spectacular the Golden Eagle Festival in Mongolia. Because it was not put on for tourists it was definitely one of the best festivals I ever have photographed. The Kazakh eagle hunters want to preserve their heritage and get together for the festival every year in October. This year they broke the record with more than 80 eagle hunters participating.
The conditions for photography were tricky because of very strong and cold wind gusts which kicked up a lot of dust and sand. Protecting the cameras was a challenge and I advised my Wolfies not to change lenses out in the field and go back to the car and do it there. With the strong wind, fast shutter speeds were a must in order not to shake the images. Here is a selection from more than 2000 images of the festival.
Tim and Kooksie with an eagle hunter.
Nikon D3, Lens: 24-70mm f/2.8G, Focal Length: 35mm, Focus Mode: AF-C, AF-Area Mode: Single, Aperture: f/6.3, Shutter Speed: 1/640s, Exposure Mode: Programmed Auto, Exposure Comp.: -0.3EV, Metering: Matrix, ISO 400, Copyright: Wolfgang Kaehler
Eagle hunters arriving at the festival grounds.
Nikon D4, Lens: VR 70-200mm f/2.8G, Focal Length: 155mm, Focus Mode: AF-C, AF-Area Mode: Dynamic, 9 points, Aperture: f/5, Shutter Speed: 1/640s, Exposure Mode: Programmed Auto*, Exposure Comp.: -0.3EV, Metering: Matrix, ISO 200, Copyright: Wolfgang Kaehler
Portrait of an eagle hunter and his eagle.
Nikon D4, Lens: VR 70-200mm f/2.8G, Focal Length: 200mm, Focus Mode: AF-C, AF-Area Mode: Dynamic, 9 points, Aperture: f/8, Shutter Speed: 1/400s, Exposure Mode: Programmed Auto*, Exposure Comp.: -0.3EV, Metering: Matrix, ISO 200, Copyright: Wolfgang Kaehler
The last years winner is a teenage girl.
Nikon D4, Lens: VR 70-200mm f/2.8G, Focal Length: 200mm, Focus Mode: AF-C, AF-Area Mode: Dynamic, 9 points, Aperture: f/6.3, Shutter Speed: 1/640s, Exposure Mode: Programmed Auto*, Exposure Comp.: -0.3EV, Metering: Matrix, ISO 200, Copyright: Wolfgang Kaehler
An eagle is released for the competition from the hillside.
Nikon D3, Lens: 24-70mm f/2.8G, Focal Length: 34mm, Focus Mode: AF-C, AF-Area Mode: Single, Aperture: f/9, Shutter Speed: 1/125s, Exposure Mode: Programmed Auto, Exposure Comp.: -0.3EV, Metering: Matrix, ISO 200, Copyright: Wolfgang Kaehler
The eagle festival’s opening parade.
Nikon D4, Lens: VR 70-200mm f/2.8G, Focal Length: 200mm, Focus Mode: AF-C, AF-Area Mode: Dynamic, 9 points, Aperture: f/5.6, Shutter Speed: 1/500s, Exposure Mode: Programmed Auto*, Exposure Comp.: -0.3EV, Metering: Matrix, ISO 200, Copyright: Wolfgang Kaehler
The eagle has to land on the hunters arm after it is being released from the hill.
Nikon D4, Lens: VR 70-200mm f/2.8G, Focal Length: 170mm, Focus Mode: AF-C, AF-Area Mode: Dynamic, 9 points, Aperture: f/4.5, Shutter Speed: 1/500s, Exposure Mode: Programmed Auto*, Exposure Comp.: -0.3EV, Metering: Matrix, ISO 200, Copyright: Wolfgang Kaehler
The eagle has to land on the hunters arm after it is being released from the hill.
Nikon D4, Lens: VR 70-200mm f/2.8G, Focal Length: 200mm, Focus Mode: AF-C, AF-Area Mode: Dynamic, 9 points, Aperture: f/7.1, Shutter Speed: 1/500s, Exposure Mode: Programmed Auto*, Exposure Comp.: -0.3EV, Metering: Matrix, ISO 400, Copyright: Wolfgang Kaehler
The eagle has to land on the hunters arm after it is being released from the hill.
Nikon D4, Lens: VR 70-200mm f/2.8G, Focal Length: 165mm, Focus Mode: AF-C, AF-Area Mode: Dynamic, 9 points, Aperture: f/6.3, Shutter Speed: 1/400s, Exposure Mode: Programmed Auto*, Exposure Comp.: -0.3EV, Metering: Matrix, ISO 400, Copyright: Wolfgang Kaehler
After it is being released from the hill the eagle has to land on a fox skin the hunter is dragging behind.
Nikon D4, Lens: VR 70-200mm f/2.8G, Focal Length: 135mm, Focus Mode: AF-C, AF-Area Mode: Dynamic, 9 points, Aperture: f/7.1, Shutter Speed: 1/800s, Exposure Mode: Programmed Auto*, Exposure Comp.: -0.3EV, Metering: Matrix, ISO 200, Copyright: Wolfgang Kaehler
After it is being released from the hill the eagle has to land on a fox skin the hunter is dragging behind.
Nikon D4, Lens: VR 70-200mm f/2.8G, Focal Length: 200mm, Focus Mode: AF-C, AF-Area Mode: Dynamic, 9 points, Aperture: f/6.3, Shutter Speed: 1/640s, Exposure Mode: Programmed Auto*, Exposure Comp.: -0.3EV, Metering: Matrix, ISO 200, Copyright: Wolfgang Kaehler
The eagle is approaching the bait. Nikon D4, Lens: VR 70-200mm f/2.8G, Focal Length: 125mm, Focus Mode: AF-C, AF-Area Mode: Dynamic, 9 points, Aperture: f/7.1, Shutter Speed: 1/800s, Exposure Mode: Programmed Auto*, Exposure Comp.: -0.3EV, Metering: Matrix, ISO 200, Copyright: Wolfgang Kaehler
Close-up of an eagle.
Nikon D4, Lens: VR 70-200mm f/2.8G, Focal Length: 200mm, Focus Mode: AF-C, AF-Area Mode: Dynamic, 9 points, Aperture: f/5.6, Shutter Speed: 1/400s, Exposure Mode: Programmed Auto*, Exposure Comp.: -0.3EV, Metering: Matrix, ISO 100, Copyright: Wolfgang Kaehler
A wind gust kicks up a lot of dust and makes the competitors almost invisible. Nikon D4, Lens: VR 70-200mm f/2.8G, Focal Length: 135mm, Focus Mode: AF-C, AF-Area Mode: Dynamic, 9 points, Aperture: f/5, Shutter Speed: 1/1000s, Exposure Mode: Programmed Auto*, Exposure Comp.: -0.3EV, Metering: Matrix, ISO 100, Copyright: Wolfgang Kaehler
Two competitors in the tug of war competition.
Nikon D4, Lens: VR 70-200mm f/2.8G, Focal Length: 200mm, Focus Mode: AF-C, AF-Area Mode: Dynamic, 9 points, Aperture: f/5.6, Shutter Speed: 1/400s, Exposure Mode: Programmed Auto*, Exposure Comp.: -0.3EV, Metering: Matrix, ISO 100, Copyright: Wolfgang Kaehler
If you are interested in a future trip to Mongolia, please email me: [email protected]