Kazakh Hunter

• Prize
• Photographer
  Yan Li, United States
• Website
  https://www.yliphotos.com/
• Instagram
  https://www.instagram.com/yli.photos/

A well-known tradition of Kazakhs is hunting with trained eagles.
Mongolian Kazakhs are proud people, intent on maintaining their unique
culture, religion and way of life. As modernization progresses in Mongolia,
Mongolian Kazakh’s habit of nomadism persists, so does the love and
knowledge of falconry.

Yan Li is a documentary photographer whose work explores the fragility and richness of human experience. With a focus on long-term, narrative-driven projects, he aims to capture fleeting moments, reveal personal stories, and preserve the intangible heritage of cultures facing rapid transformation. His photographs often center on communities at the margins — workers, elders, artisans — whose lives echo broader human truths. Yan's commitment to visual storytelling has earned him international recognition, including awards from the Sony WPA, TPOTY, IPA, and Px3.

Awards - Winner, Travel Category, Sony World Photography Awards (Open Competition), 2024
- 4th Place (Commended), Travel Photographer of the Year (TPOTY), 2024
- 1st Place, People and Lifestyle Category, International Photography Awards (IPA), 2017
- 1st Place, Editorial, General News Category, International Photography Awards (IPA), 2017
- 2nd Place, Press, People/Personality Category, Prix de la Photographie, Paris (Px3), 2017