MONGOLIA PHOTOGRAPHY AND TRAVEL TIPS
Having led numerous workshops in Mongolia, I thought it would be good to put down my feelings regarding how to get the most out of your Mongolia photography trip, photo ops, camera and lens choices, and other gear you're considering for your Mongolia trip. Oh, by the way, we return at least once a year to lead workshops. There are plenty of options for visiting Mongolia - but if you're serious about photography, I really recommend a photo-specific trip!
One reason for this is that the country is so vast. At 600,000 sq. miles, Mongolia is the 18th-largest and the most sparsely populated sovereign state in the world. Without having experience in the country, its sometimes overwhelming when trying to decide on where to go, and to photograph.
With a photography-focused trip you be among a group that is like-minded, and not "rushed along" to get to the next spot on a tour itinerary.
Some small travel details: try avoiding Ulaanbaatar during rush hour. The city gets extremely congested. A drive that would normally take you 15 minutes can take you an hour or more. During holidays like Naadam, this can exponentially be amplified.
Seeing and Photographing
Yep - as trite as it sounds - ANYone can take a photo of an Eagle Hunter, a Camel and Reindeer Herder, or an amazing mountain vista - but the key to amazing photos is how you see and compose the shot! Stay away from "clinical" shots that you'd find in a textbook and strive for something way more interesting! Change your point of view, play with the backgrounds in your images or put some action into your images when photographing the people and animals. There are so many opportunities for creative compositions with the photographic subjects you will see in Mongolia - and this is something we teach every day and night on our workshops.
TIMING OF YOur TRIp
Be smart about choosing when you go. I go in the fall for a reason, and YES, it may cost more, but let’s look at the reality of the seasons.
1 – I see some people going to the Gobi Desert in June and July. It is uncomfortably hot. Why would you go to a desert in the summer? Unless you like uncomfortable heat, stay away from the Gobi in June and July.
2 – A big reason to go to Mongolia are the Eagle Hunters. There are some people that choose to go their off-season. And, YES, I have done trips in the off-season. But I would never do it again. I would not go see the eagle hunters between April and August. The eagles are not in hunting shape and are not used to hunt. The Eagle Hunters are not thrilled to be wearing the traditional hunting attire you expect. It’s hot. The weather is more unpredictable in June-August. There will be more precipitation than the fall season… and I speak from experience having been there anywhere from one to three times a year since 2012.
Cameras and Lenses
If you're serious about your photography, you're going to agonize about gear for this trip, that's understandable! I can make it easy. You'll of course need two cameras (in case of failure or accidental damage). You will be VERY close to many subjects like the nomadic people you will visit on your trip, and then of course there are some you'll need "reach" for. My recommended kit is as follows:
A fast-focusing and responsive Mirrorless or DSLR body: Sure, a Sony a9 or Canon 1Dx or a Nikon D5 is going to help with animals in motion but most subjects in Mongolia are quite cooperative and the super-fast frame rate of these cameras isn't necessary. You can do just fine with a full frame or crop body from Sony, Canon, Nikon.
Lenses: In general, zooms are your friend in Mongolia, giving you the most flexibility. You can be very successful in Mongolia with just two lenses in your kit, a 24-70, 70-200 and a 100-400, or 24-150 and a 150-500. Don't ignore the Micro 4/3s systems out there either. The image quality, lens choices, and body performance of the latest Olympus and Panasonic systems are very good. Heck, Panasonic just announced a full frame mirrorless camera that is getting decent reviews. If you carry a kit like I'm describing, you'll never miss a shot in any situation.
Having that 400mm lens on a crop body gives you a 600mm field of view, and is quite handy for any situation you will encounter in Mongolia. Some of you are thinking: Kevin, why not my 200-400mm Nikkor or my 200-400 Canon, or my 500, 600mm primes? Simply put: they are way too heavy and difficult to handle and use on location in Mongolia where you will use them. One needs to be light, nimble and quick - and so that's why I recommend the 70-200, 80-400 or 100-400 zooms.
There are some great 4x 150-600 zooms from Tamron and Sigma as well. To be clear: I'm not saying that you can't use the super long Canon or Nikon Teles - I am saying that there are really good alternatives and you'll be happier with something easier to handle. So there you have it, as far as camera systems. Focals from 24mm to 400mm (even 600) in two bodies. And backup! If you're asking about other lenses because you are a more advanced shooter. If you have the space, bring along a macro lens, and a super wide lens like a 16-35 or 14-24mm.
When choosing a tour, keep this in mind
Regular tours don’t take the light into consideration. The tours start after breakfast and end before dinner. Of course, on our workshops in Mongolia, we're all photographers, so we get on location first thing in the morning, stay as long as possible at great sightings, and we're the last to leave in the evenings. This is an important factor to consider when planning your Mongolia photography trip - you can't do this when you're part of a general tourist "tour".
Do not be swayed by composite images. I have seen photos that are impossible to take. Heck, I’ve seen one photographer place a milky way in front of the milky way, and the camel had rim lighting. I don’t know about you, but I don’t think we are close enough to the milky way to create lighting that can create rim lighting. Ask the tour company if their promotional images are composites…
Accessories
First, the obvious: plenty of batteries (at least two or three for each camera) and chargers; lots of SD/CF or XQD cards (I like to travel with enough SD/CF or XQD cards so that I don't have to format any cards while traveling); a laptop with current software; external hard drive to back up your images (or enough disk space on the laptop). I would suggest the new SSD external hard drives for speed and durability. Lens cleaning cloths and a rocket blower.
Filters:
You'll need Circular Polarizers for your main lenses, and contrary to my general beliefs, a UV filter for protection from the sand. ND filters if you intend to try for some slow shutter work.
Tripod:
A tripod is difficult to deal with because you won’t frequently use it. But can be used for the amazing night skies and colorful cloud formations at sunrise and sunset. If you bring one, make sure it is super light!
Gear Protection:
We prefer to be "light, nimble, and quick"—carrying only what we really need in order to get the shot! As I previously mentioned, this usually means two camera bodies, one with a 24-105 (or similar) and one with a 100-400 (or similar) when you leave the vehicle. Stash an extra lens in a pocket of a small pouch-type sac, add spare battery, lens cloths, memory cards, filters, and really, you're done. Also, make sure you have impact protection for your smartphone.
Speaking of Backpacks:
You'll likely travel from home to Mongolia with some camera backpack (we love the Backlight bags by MindShift!), but for your walking excursions, you'll also want something smaller, to carry your 2nd camera and lens, spare battery, wipes, etc. We love the Multi-mount Holster for this. Questions or recommendations? Just contact us.
Clothing, Etc.
If you are traveling in the summer (June to Aug) - Do not bring too much cotton to Mongolia. The summer months can be EXTREMELY hot and humid Have quick-dry sport t-shirts and shorts, and maybe one pair of quick-dry longs pants... you'll be glad you have them. Also, you can easily wash these items in your shower in your room and hang them out to dry. Footwear? You do NOT need hiking boots! Recommended: 1 pair of Merrill/Keen ankle high shoes with closed toe area, and a pair of Teva or similar sandals if you are traveling there in the summer. That's really all you need, trust me. Bring a light rain jacket in case of foul weather. Add: bathing suit, hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, a fleece pullover for cool nights and you're done.
If you are traveling in the fall months for the Golden Eagle Festival – Layering is key. The temperatures will be 50-60 degree F (10-20 degrees C) during the day and could get down to 40 degrees F (5 degrees C) at night. But I have also been at the festival when its been hovering around the freezing mark. Bring jeans or other heavier long pants, and thermal underwear that has moisture wicking properties, as well as sweaters, T-shirts and thermal tops to keep warm. Also, bring a heavy windbreaker to cut the wind. The sun can be strong, so a hat is in order to protect your face and neck from the sun. Even a winter hat to stay warm when its cold. A good pair of hiking boots with ankle support are suggested. Plan for the cold, rejoice if its warmer.
If you are traveling, there in the winter – Here is an extensive list of gear to bring. Bring 2 pairs of wool long underwear bottoms and tops. Winter-weight expedition-style pants (Kuhl Rydr, or Destroyr, or similar) Winter snow pants or bibs (insulated, windproof). Expedition level down parka, capable of -30°C temps. This will need to be the warmest parka you’ve ever worn. It’s not the parka you wear on Christmas Day at home, unless it’s -30°C. Plenty of warm, thick, comfortable wool socks. -40°C Winter boots You will want to wear two pairs of socks inside your boots. Kahtoolah Micro Spikes, or similar. Hand warming solutions. In general, you want some light gloves or photo gloves that are covered by big heavy warm mittens. And, you want backup gloves and mittens as well, this is very important. Plan on one set being wet, and plan on losing one. Neckwear: Neck Gaiter and also have a balaclava. Warm Hat: Beanie, bring 2. HotHands Hand and foot warmers. These are allowed in checked and carryon luggage so you should bring a good supply. This is NOT an option; you really need them.
Accommodation in Mongolia:
Ulaanbaatar has a number of choices. From quaint and cheerful 3* hotels to 5* luxury hotels. But once you get outside of the capital your choices are far narrower. It is definitely a country you want to book early and research. TripAdvisor will be your friend to find satisfactory accommodation for your taste and budget.
On a planned Photography Workshop with someone experienced in the country like us. We book the best Private Ger Tents with en-suite facilities. Upgraded Ger tents when staying with the nomadic people in Mongolia that people sometimes refer to as “Glamping”, and book into some of the best hotels in Ulaanbaatar.
The Food in Mongolia:
Generally, any restaurant you pick is a good choice. But do your research. There are a number of great restaurants in every town, and most of the hotels have choices to satisfy any palate. Our experience has found the best 4- and 5-star restaurants in Ulaanbaatar, with a choice of local and internationally-known foods. In the Gobi, we'll eat foods you know and understand, but cooked in the Mongolian way. At the eagle family, we have our own private chefs, and they will cook food you know and like in the traditional Mongolian ways. Beef, chicken, lamb, pastas, vegetables are all featured. We can accommodate food allergies and special dietary requirements throughout the workshop in all locations, no problem.
Transportation:
Your choices generally are using larger tourist buses in and around the capital. When you depart the capital, you can rent and drive yourself. Or you can hire a driver that will take you around in sturdy Russian minivans, or land cruisers. You can alternatively fly between locations on one of Mongolia’s commercial airlines. Remember I said in the beginning, “Mongolia is vast”? It can generally be a three-hour flight to get from one location to another if you want to travel around the country.
A well-organized Photo Tour will preplan commercial in-country flights. We have paid for extra weight allowances for your camera gear, so you are not surprised at the airport. When driving, we are in comfortable and modern minivans, with three guests to a van, and plenty of room to stretch out. When off-road and when out at the eagle families, we are in Toyota Land Cruisers, again 3 guests to a vehicle with plenty of room for you and your gear. The roads can range from extremely bumpy dirt tracks to smooth paved highways throughout the trip.
Physical Fitness:
Generally, there is not much hiking when you visit Mongolia, though you should be fit enough to walk a mile on level ground with your photo pack, and a half mile in shifting sand if you visit the Gobi Desert.
If you spend some time with the eagle hunters, the walks are usually less than 500 meters to a kilometer from the vehicle. In the Gobi, some of the shoots will require you to climb up or down short sand dunes, and you might walk on heavy sand for a little while. Optionally, you can climb some of the largest dunes on earth!
With all the distance between locations on a regular tour, expect long days traveling on a bus.
On a photography workshop, we always have some downtime in the afternoons, then it's off to another photo outing, followed by dinner and then critiques or instruction.
I hope this has been helpful, photographing in Mongolia is truly a special thing to do!
If you have any questions, please contact us
I hope you enjoy Mongolia photography as much as I do.
- Kevin