The Three Hunters by Lise Leino

Captured during the Autumn migration in August 2023, this evocative image features the Kazakh eagle hunter Arman and his companions as they traverse the Sagsai River in Ulgii, Mongolia. The photographer sought to document the profound, ancestral connection between these hunters and the natural landscape. By focusing on the movement across the water, the image captures a fleeting, authentic moment of a traditional way of life. It is an award-worthy photograph because it masterfully balances the raw, rugged environment with the quiet dignity of the subjects, offering a compelling narrative of cultural heritage and human resilience.