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BIFA 2024

A Lifelong Bond

  • Photographer
    Thibault Gerbaldi

This series captures the deep bond between eagle hunters and their birds in Bayan-Ölgii, where Kazakh traditions have withstood time and adversity. Hunters raise their eagles from a young age, reflecting a relationship of mutual respect and loyalty between human and nature. Taken in the Ger of Jenisbek, surrounded by the furs of animals hunted by his eagle, these portraits evoke the timeless essence of 17th-century Dutch masters, highlighting a way of life still practiced by around 250 eagle hunters in the Altai Mountains.

Thibault Gerbaldi is a self-taught photographer and enthusiastic traveler whose adventures have spanned the globe. His sensitivity enables him to establish a unique rapport with the subjects he photographs, reflecting strong emotions and authentic narratives in his work. Beyond his passion for photography, Thibault is driven by a desire to promote cultural understanding and support charitable causes. In 2019, he joined the board of directors for The Forgotten International, leveraging his photography to raise funds for communities in need.