/ 2024 / Portraiture / Culture

• Prize
  Honorable Mention
• Photographer
  Apostolos Kaloudis, Greece
• Date of Photograph
  16-02-2024
• Website
  https://beacons.ai/alpha0929
• Instagram
  https://www.instagram.com/alpha0929

Hunting with eagles is traditionally passed down from the father or grandfather to the child at a young age. But, not all children develop that special bond with the eagle. For example here is 16y.o Ardabek, son of Eagle Hunter Koki Tolek & grandson of the great Master Baytei Babii. His father explained, that Ardabek expressed his desire to be trained in the art of eagle-hunting from a very young age, but his twin brother Ordabek did not. Eagle hunter's don't push their children to follow. The bond formed between the hunter & the eagle is profound, it is a call built on mutual respect.

Apostolos Kaloudis sees himself as an adventurer/explorer rather than a photographer. His passion for exploration has been significantly influenced by his studies in Medieval History, which sparked his fascination with the intricate narratives and details of military campaigns. This enthusiasm has motivated him to journey through remote regions, including the Silk Road, the vast steppes and deserts of Central Asia and northern China, as well as former Himalayan kingdoms.

In 2015, he became a member of the National Geographic Global Community (NatGeoyourShot).

Awards - Prix de la Photographie de Paris 2022 Bronze Winner in Portraiture__Aymoldr the Eagle Huntress
- IPA 2022 Top 5 Selection Portrait__in Portrait/Culture Shinasl Mana Lord of Birds
- Tokyo International Foto Awards 2022 Silver Winner in Portrait/Culture__The Next Generation of Eagle Hunters
- Better Photography Magazine 2022 1xSilver + 3xBronze__Taming a mere Bird + Shinasl Mana Lord of Birds, Aymoldr the Eagle Huntress, The Next Generation of Eagle Hunters.
- Head On Photo Awards 2022 Finalist__Shinasl Mana Lord of Birds
- Kolga Tbilisi Photo Award 2023 & 2025 Finalist__Swift-foot & Bürkit, Eaglehunter Huanjol, Last of his Name.
- Tokyo International Foto Awards 2023 Bronze Winner Sports for Swift-Foot & Bürkit
- Chromatic Photography Awards 2023_1st Place Winner & 3rd Place Winner for Swift-foot and Bürkit & The Next Generation of Eagle Hunters
- Head On Festival 2023_Landscape Finalists: The Balancing Castles
- ND Awards 2023 & 2024_1st Place Gold Star Award__People/Family:The Next Generation of Eagle Hunters + Le Chant de l'Aigle
- reFocus Awards 2023 - Silver: Swift Foot & Burkit
- Better Photography Magazine 2024__2xSilver for A Bond Beyond Words & Le Chant de l'Aigle
- Prix de la Photographie de Paris 2024 Silver Winner for Le Chant de l'Aigle [Ardabek & Ordabek, The Twins]
- AAP Magazine issue 41__Captivating Monochrome Masterpieces 2024__Eagle Hunter Huanjol, Last of his Name
- IPA 2024 Top 5 Selection Portrait__Le Chant de l'Aigle
- Tokyo International Foto Awards 2024__Bronze in People/Culture Eagle Hunter Huanjol, Last of his Name
- Eyeshot Open Call 2024 Street & Documentary Photography Finalist__
Le Chant de l'Aigle
- Prix de la Photographie de Paris 2025_2nd Place Winner in Portraiture, Eagle Hunter Huanjol, Last of his Name
- FotoSlovo 2026__Gold Winner in Documentary/Reportage_Trip Essay, Le Chant de l'Aigle
- The Independent Photographer_Black & White Awards May 2026, Cultural Inheritance and Modern Aspirations