Collaboration
This shot of an indigenous Kazakh man with an eagle epitomizes Jimmy Nelson’s photographic style – raw, historical, and breathtaking. Already achieving international acclaim in his 20s, Nelson eagerly continued traveling, capturing photos of war, indigenous cultures in China, and ultimately, a group of 35 indigenous communities in his “Before They Pass Away” anthology. In the wind-swept valleys of the Altai Mountains, where snow-capped peaks pierce an endless sky, an ancient partnership between human and raptor continues to thrive against the backdrop of our modern world. The weathered face in traditional fur tells a story that spans generations—one of survival, tradition, and an unbreakable bond forged in the crucible of one of Earth’s most challenging environments. High in the remote corners of Kazakhstan, Mongolia, and western China, the Kazakh eagle hunters maintain a tradition that predates written history. These remarkable individuals, known locally as “bürkitshi,” represent one of humanity’s most extraordinary relationships with the natural world. Wrapped in layers of fox, wolf, and sheep fur to ward off temperatures that can plummet to -40°F, they venture into landscapes where few dare to tread.
The golden eagle perched beside the hunter is no mere pet or trained animal—it is a partner in the truest sense. These magnificent birds, with wingspans reaching up to eight feet, possess eyesight eight times sharper than humans and can spot prey from over two miles away. In the hands of a master hunter, they become extensions of the hunter, capable of taking down wolves, foxes, and other prey that would otherwise remain beyond reach in this harsh terrain. The relationship between hunter and eagle begins not with capture, but with respect. Traditional practitioners often take eaglets from nests, but only after careful consideration of the parent birds’ wellbeing and the sustainability of the local population. The young eagle is never truly “tamed”—instead, it chooses to work with its human partner through a complex system of trust, reward, and mutual benefit.
This is not domination, but collaboration. The eagle retains its wild instincts and, remarkably, many hunters release their birds after several years of partnership, allowing them to mate and return to their natural lives. It’s a practice that speaks to a deep understanding of the temporary nature of their alliance. In a world often characterized by humanity’s dominance over nature, the bürkitshi demonstrate a different path—one of partnership, respect, and mutual benefit. This relationship challenges our modern assumptions about the boundaries between wild and domestic, free and trained, human and animal. The eagle that returns to its hunter’s call is making a choice—one based on trust built over seasons of shared experience and mutual respect. As we face our own environmental challenges and seek sustainable ways to coexist with the natural world, perhaps we have something to learn from these masters of the sky. Their tradition demonstrates that human survival need not come at the expense of wildlife, that partnership can be more powerful than domination, and that we can transcend the boundaries we typically draw between species.
How do think about this photograph?
Artwork: Jimmy Nelson
The similar coloring of the eagle’s feathers and the man’s fur hat connect the two beings, revealing their kindred spirits and conjoined nature. Both man and bird are strong, powerful, and graceful in their demeanor. Conversely, the side-by-side composition asks us to consider all the ways in which these two beings differ. I think this pictures unravels all the advantages and limitations of both mankind and the animal kingdom, and it asks us to think about how far we have progressed from our natural state.