Tag: Nature

Snow Leopard of Mongolia Workshop Report January 2026

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In January of 2026, I ran an all-new Snow Leopard workshop in far northwestern Mongolia. This workshop ran from the 13th of January until the 23rd of January and took us into an all-new region in the Hungai mountains. This location is lower in altitude than the previous location we had been using and has significantly less hiking (although the climbing is still considerable and not for the faint of heart). Like my Pallas Cat of Eastern Mongolia Report, this trip report will be a little different to the norm and includes a number of daily video updates from the field. Due to my heavy travel schedule, I will come back later in the year and update this post with still photographs from the trip as time permits.

Our journey to the snow leopard began in the capital city of Ulanbataar, with a two-hour flight to Khovd in Mongolia’s northwestern region. From here, we then drove seven hours to our remote camp nestled amongst the Margaz mountains (a smaller area of the Hungai mountains) – our cozy home away from home for the duration of the workshop. Each Gyr, or Yurt, is equipped with a coal-fired stove for warmth, a bed, a wash basin, lighting and even wifi. Our base served as the perfect location to search the vast mountainous landscape for the snow leopard.

As fortune would have it, we never even made it to camp before our first encounter with a snow leopard. With our spotters and trackers already in the field, we took a short detour not far from camp to see a mother with two cubs our trackers had found high on a rocky mountain just prior to sunset. Although sunset was upon us and it was too late in the day to begin an arduous climb to attempt to photograph them, we still relished the experience. To find and see a wild Snow Leopard with her two cubs so early in our trip was an absolute blessing. The cherry on the cake was several Ibex that posed, silhouetted for us high on the precipitous mountain tops.


Finding and photographing the snow leopard is one of wildlife photography’s greatest challenges, demanding extraordinary patience, endurance, and respect for the harsh environments these elusive cats call home. Often referred to as the “ghost of the mountains,” snow leopards blend seamlessly into vast alpine landscapes, making even a single sighting feel like an extraordinary gift. Days can pass scanning ridgelines and valleys in biting cold and thin air, with no guarantee of success, which only deepens the emotional impact when a snow leopard finally reveals itself. Each encounter is a true privilege—a fleeting moment of connection with one of the planet’s most secretive predators that serves as a powerful reminder of both the fragility and the wonder of the wild. Every encounter is an absolute gift and is never to be taken for granted.

Over the course of the next eight days, we made daily sunrise and afternoon sojourns into the field in search of leopards. From our camp location, we were ringed by mountains, all of which had potential for leopard sightings (as well as Corsak fox and Ibex). Using our team of expert local trackers, we had multiple encounters with snow leopards during our trip. As luck would have it, the very best of these encounters was with a mother and three first-year cubs. We were able to spend most of the day photographing the cubs high on the mountainside with superb results. An encounter such as this is an absolute gift and very much a once-in-a-lifetime experience. In addition to snow leopards, we also photographed Golden Eagle and Little Owl.

Temperatures throughout our workshop were extremely cold, with lows consistently around -40ºC and highs in the afternoon often only rising to -25ºC. It was below -35º Celsius many mornings when we departed in search of the ghost of the mountains. This necessitated proper equipment and dressing to ensure protection against the cold. As we traversed the landscape in 4-wheel-drive vehicles, we stayed warm while searching for wildlife.

At the conclusion of our workshop, we packed up and drove roughly four hours to the nearest town for return flights to Ulanbataar and concluded our workshop in the evening of the 23rd of February.

Photographing Snow Leopard with us offers a rare opportunity to encounter one of the world’s most enigmatic wild cats in an ethical, immersive, and deeply rewarding way. Success with snow leopards is never guaranteed, and it is well worth remembering that even a fleeting sighting can be hard-won, making every potential encounter a very special gift. This is a carefully curated workshop built around our local guides’ intimate knowledge of the landscape, respectful fieldcraft, and small-group experiences that maximise both photographic opportunities and meaningful wildlife encounters. In the vast mountain environments where Snow Leopards live, we prioritise patience, conservation awareness, and time in the field—allowing photographers to move beyond fleeting sightings to genuine observation. The result is not just exceptional imagery of a seldom-seen species, but a richer understanding of its behaviour, habitat, and fragility, making the experience as emotionally powerful as it is creatively inspiring.

Who is this Workshop For? This workshop is designed for photographers who have a deep love of wildlife and a genuine passion for capturing it thoughtfully and artisically in the field. It is ideally suited to those who value time, patience, and observation over crowds and hurried encounters, and who thrive in a small-group environment where individual attention and shared experience matter. Whether you are refining your craft or seeking a more meaningful connection with the natural world, this workshop appeals to photographers who are inspired by rare species, remote landscapes, and the emotional power of storytelling through images, and who appreciate learning in an intimate setting alongside like-minded people who share the same respect for wildlife.

If you would like to photograph this incredible wildcat, please get in touch via email. We limit the workshop to a maximum of five photographers to ensure each has their own private room and to ensure we offer the best possible photographic experience. Groups larger than five are far from ideal for this experience if high-quality results are your goal. Our next planned workshop for the Snow Leopard is in 2028.

Pallas Cat of Eastern Mongolia Workshop Report January 2026

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This year’s workshop report for our Wild Nature Photo Travel workshop for the Pallas cat in the far east of Mongolia will be a bit different from usual. As I am travelling extensively over the next four months and have very little free time to actually process images from our trip, I am instead including the short videos (not in chronological order) I made on location throughout the workshop. As time permits, I will then come back and update this post with photographs once I get a chance to process them on my home machine with a high-quality display (likely later in the year).

This year, our workshop began in Ulanbataar on the 2nd of January with a seven-and-a-half-hour transit drive to our remote eastern base camp (our home for the duration of the workshop). We concluded on the 9th of January with a return drive to Ulanbataar. Our base camp consisted of sufficient Yurts for each participant to have their own private room, as well as a separate meals Yurt. Each Yurt is heated by a coal-fired stove and has power, a bed, a wash basin, and plenty of storage space. The Internet is provided through a Starlink system, making each Yurt a cozy home away from home.

During the course of the workshop, we encountered a total of six Pallas cats in the field; five of which we had the opportunity to photograph at close range, typically at sunrise and sunset, when the cats are at their most active (and when the light is at its best). Although I packed both my 600mm and 100-300mm lenses, I predominantly shot with the 100-300mm lens (as did all participants). Snowfall this year was slightly above average, but there were still quite a lot of grasses to contend with, which meant it was always preferable to get as close as possible to the cat to minimise distractions between the lens and subject. The Pallas cat is a small wildcat with short legs that keep it close to the ground. Its method of defence (from predators such as Golden Eagles and Steppe Eagles) is often to lie as flat as possible and hide in the grasses, which means it’s necessary to get as low as possible when photographing the cat.

Our typical day began with a hearty breakfast at 7am, and then we departed for the field at 7:30am (half an hour before sunrise). Typically, our local guides depart even earlier to find and locate a cat before sunrise (often spotlighting for them), in the hope we can photograph it in the soft light of pre-dawn. In the afternoon, we would take lunch at 1pm before departing for the field at 2:30pm. With sunset around 5pm at this time of year, we have plenty of time to scout before the soft light of evening. Success is never guaranteed with any workshop to find and photograph this endangered wildcat. With six cats in as many days, we had a superb result: each participant went home with a full memory card of wonderful images of this stunning cat.

Photographing the elusive Pallas’s cat is an experience charged with quiet intensity and deep emotion, shaped as much by patience and anticipation as by the moment itself. In the vast, austere landscape of this Steppe region, every sighting feels hard-won, heightening the sense of privilege and connection when a Pallas’s cat finally emerges, its ancient (and grumpy!) expression seemingly etched by time. The result is not just a photograph of a rare and charismatic species, but a lasting emotional imprint—one that speaks to wildness, resilience, and the power of being fully present in one of the planet’s most unforgiving environments.

Our next workshop for the Pallas cat will be in January 2027. The workshop will run from the 2nd of January until the 8th of January (seven days / six nights), and some places have already been spoken for. Full details are on our website at www.jholko.com/workshops

Photographing the Pallas’s cat with us offers a rare opportunity to encounter one of the world’s most enigmatic wild cats in an ethical, immersive, and deeply rewarding way. This is a carefully curated workshop built around our local guides’ intimate knowledge of the landscape, respectful fieldcraft, and small-group experiences that maximise both photographic opportunities and meaningful wildlife encounters. In the vast steppe and mountain environments where Pallas’s cats thrive, we prioritise patience, conservation awareness, and time in the field—allowing photographers to move beyond fleeting sightings to genuine observation. The result is not just exceptional imagery of a seldom-seen species, but a richer understanding of its behaviour, habitat, and fragility, making the experience as emotionally powerful as it is creatively inspiring.

Who is this Workshop For? This workshop is designed for photographers who have a deep love of wildlife and a genuine passion for capturing it thoughtfully and artisically in the field. It is ideally suited to those who value time, patience, and observation over crowds and hurried encounters, and who thrive in a small-group environment where individual attention and shared experience matter. Whether you are refining your craft or seeking a more meaningful connection with the natural world, this workshop appeals to photographers who are inspired by rare species, remote landscapes, and the emotional power of storytelling through images, and who appreciate learning in an intimate setting alongside like-minded people who share the same respect for wildlife.

If you would like to photograph this incredible wildcat, please get in touch via email. We limit the workshop to a maximum of five photographers to ensure each has their own private room and to ensure we offer the best possible photographic experience. Groups larger than five are far from ideal for this experience if high-quality results are your goal. This is a workshop I eagerly look forward to each year and is not to be missed.

Departing for Mongolia Pallas Cat and Snow Leopard 2026

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My time in Australia has already come to an end, and as soon as I finish this post, I am leaving for Melbourne airport, where I will make my way to Mongolia for both my Pallas Cat and Snow Leopard expeditions. The last two and a half months have gone by in a blur (Christmas makes this whole period crazy), and it is now time to hit the road again. I am very excited to return to Mongolia in Winter to photograph these two amazing wild cats: the Pallas Cat and the Snow Leopard. For the Pallas cat, we will be based in the far eastern steppe region of Mongolia. For the Snow Leopard, we will be based in the northwestern region. For these two workshops, I will spend the better part of a month (January) in Mongolia.

I had full intentions of doing a detailed packing list and a podcast on this departure, but time has gotten away from me, so in lieu of that, I am squeezing in this quick packing post. For these two trips I am packing 2 x Canon EOS R1’s with two spare batteries. I am taking a selection of lenses, including the 20mm f1.4, 14-35mm F4L IS, 100-300mm F2.8L IS, 600mm F4L IS and an RF 1.4 Teleconverter. Although this leaves a gap from 35mm to 100mm, I find I use this focal range very little when working with wildlife and tend to be either at the longer or wider ends. All of this will fit in my SKB Roller case and Gura Gear Chobe. In the field, I will use my Lowe Pro 600mm Trekker for hiking with the Snow Leopard. For the Pallas cat, we tend to shoot very near the 4-wheel drives, so equipment doesn’t need to be carried very far. I am also packing my DJI mini-drone, binoculars, and, of course, plenty of cold-weather clothing. See you in Mongolia for New Year’s! And P.S: The 2025 retrospective podcast I will be recording and releasing from Mongolia.

White Horses of the Camargue France Workshop Report October 2025

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I’ve recently returned from leading our White Horses of the Camargue Photography Workshop in France. This workshop was our first workshop in this region of France and was a wonderful photographic experience, very different to the usual polar environment we thrive in. The blend of horses, water, light and the quiet poetry of watching these animals thunder across the shallows, salt spray rising around them like mist made for both superb photography and a powerful experience.

For those unfamiliar, the Camargue region of southern France is a vast delta of wetlands, salt flats, and shallow lagoons stretching between the arms of the Rhône River. It is home to one of the most beautiful and iconic equine species on Earth: the White Horses of the Camargue.

Our days began early on this workshop, before the sun crested the horizon over the marshes and dunes. The Camargue mornings are soft and cool, with a delicate veil of sea mist that lifts slowly as dawn warms the air. The white horses, often coated in a thin film of mud and salt, move with a kind of effortless grace that makes them a joy to photograph.

Each morning session began around sunrise, when the light is at its most gentle and the air still carries that quiet, expectant hush. Working alongside local horsemen, we positioned ourselves in the shallows, cameras poised, waiting for that moment when the herd would burst forward. The water exploded around them in a dance of energy and light, droplets suspended midair, manes flying. Other mornings, we worked with quiet back-lit silhouettes of the horses and riders on the coastal dunes.

This is where the challenge and reward of this workshop lie: balancing the chaos of motion with the artistry of composition. The horses move unpredictably, their power raw and untamed. Yet within that wildness, there are fleeting instants of perfect geometry — a raised hoof, an arched neck, a shaft of light catching an eye.

This workshop provided an opportunity to experiment with shutter speeds, angles, and focal lengths. The longer focal lengths — 200 to 500mm allowed for intimate compression and detail, isolating expressions and motion within the herd. Those working wider (myself usually between 70 and 200mm) could capture the full scale and energy of the group, the interaction of light, water, and form.

By late morning, we’d return to our base, a relaxing and comfortable hotel nestled not far from the reeds and salt fields. The smell of sea air mixed with the warmth of croissants and coffee as we gathered for breakfast. Later in the day, we met at 2 p.m. for image review sessions as well as camera settings and a discussion on how to improve our work further.

Image review sessions are one of my favourite parts of any workshop: the opportunity to look, to learn, and to refine. Photography isn’t simply about pressing the shutter — it’s about seeing, about understanding why an image works (or doesn’t), and about finding your own visual voice within the chaos of the natural world.

We reviewed sequences from the morning sessions, discussing everything from exposure balance in backlight to maintaining focus on fast-moving subjects. We explored the creative use of motion blur, the subtle influence of angle and height, and the compositional language that helps translate energy into elegance.

Participants discovered that some of their most powerful frames were not the obvious, high-action shots, but quieter moments — a horse pausing, droplets falling from its mane, or the soft glow of dusk reflected in its eyes. The Camargue offers both spectacle and subtlety, and the ability to shift between the two is what separates documentation from artistry.

Our evening sessions began as the sun dipped toward the horizon. The light in the Camargue at this hour is extraordinary — low, warm, and honeyed. Dust and moisture in the air turn the landscape golden, and as the horses move through the shallows, they seem to ignite with the glow of the setting sun.

Here, we worked to capture action shots, the fine spray of water turned to gold, and the luminous quality of light that defines this region. It’s both technically demanding and deeply rewarding. A fraction of a second can mean the difference between a good photograph and one that truly transcends.

Between moments of intensity, there were long, quiet stretches where the only sounds were the gentle lapping of water and the distant call of flamingos. These are the moments when the experience becomes something larger than photography — a meditation on movement, nature, and the passage of time.

The Camargue horses are unlike any others. They are smaller and more muscular than most breeds, their coats turning near white with age. They are strong, intelligent, and deeply connected to the land and the people who care for them. Photographing them is as much about respect as technique. The traditional horsemen of the region play a vital role in this workshop. Their deep bond with the horses and their skill in managing the animals allow us to photograph authentically, without artifice. The scenes we capture are not performances, but natural expressions of an age-old relationship between human, horse, and landscape.

One of the strengths of this year’s workshop was the variety of conditions we encountered. From luminous mornings of perfect silhouettes to evenings washed in rich, copper light, every session offered new opportunities. We photographed the horses in open lagoons, beaches, dunes, and salt marshes, as well as against textured backgrounds of reeds and sand. Each location demanded a slightly different approach — different focal lengths, exposure settings, and timing. It was this diversity that gave participants the chance to build a truly comprehensive portfolio by the end of the week.

By the time our final evening session faded into dusk, each participant had grown not only in skill, but in sensitivity to the rhythm of the moment. As I watched the last of the light dissolve into the horizon, I was reminded that these horses, wild in spirit yet gentle, embody something timeless — a spirit of freedom and grace that refuses to be tamed. Capturing that essence is a privilege. As we packed our gear and shared one last meal under the warm southern sky, there was a quiet sense of completion.

The White Horses of the Camargue will always hold a special place, not just for their beauty, but for what they represent: wildness within reach, grace within chaos, and the eternal dance between light, subject, and photographer. Until next time — au revoir, Camargue.

Client Workshop Feedback and Testimonial October 2025

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Earlier today, I received a wonderful, unsolicited email from frequent traveller and photographer, Kevin Hall. Kevin has been a frequent traveller with Wild Nature Photo Travel in recent years, and his work from our trips has been published by both the BBC and BBC Travel. We live in a fast-paced, chaotic world today, where people rarely take the time to provide positive feedback or express gratitude, so I wanted to take a moment to publicly thank Kevin (thank you, Kevin) for taking the time to offer such wonderful feedback. From my perspective, it has been wonderful to share these experiences and to see your work published and in print from such high-profile organisations as the BBC.

“If you are reading this, you will probably be doing so because you are considering going on a workshop with Joshua Holko, and want to know what other photographers think.   So let me tell you how it is… 
Joshua Holko is out to mislead you.  He calls his trips ‘photography workshops’, as so many in the industry do.  Well, I can tell you, as someone who has been on eight of his ‘workshops’ in 2023-25 and signed up for two more in 2026-27, that they are not ‘workshops’, as the term ‘workshop’ simply does not do what Joshua Holko delivers anywhere near justice.  So don’t be fooled when he uses the term ‘workshop’!

If you sign up for a trip with Joshua Holko and Wild Nature Photo Travel, you get the ‘Big 5’ …

  1. Practical support from the best polar photographer on the planet.  

    From the time you sign up to the time you return, Josh deals with you personally.  He will answer any question you put to him regarding any aspect of the trip whether you require clarity or advice, with impressive speed providing he’s not out of signal travelling.  He will willingly pass on his experience based on his 20+ years of travelling to and photographing in some of the remotest places on Earth.  He is a man of integrity who provides honest, objective and helpful support and advice.  He’s also very passionate about what he does, and that comes through if you are one of his clients.
  2. Detailed packing lists sent out well in advance so you have time to prepare properly.  

    After all, most of his trips take you to some pretty isolated locations with extreme temperatures that few on the planet will ever get to see, so it is critical that you take the right equipment, be that clothing or gear, that will allow you to make the most of it.  Imagine going on what might be for you the trip of a lifetime and forgetting a vital item of clothing or gear!
  3. Excellent logistics.  

    Let’s face it, travelling to some of the locations on his list is not for the feint-hearted and impossible to do on your own.  It would be fool-hardy and dangerous to try.  Joshua Holko’s trip logistics are comprehensive and impressive at every level.  He thinks of everything and releases you from this burden so you can focus on your photography and enjoying the experience.  His trips attract a certain kind of person; generally people who are passionate about their photography, interesting to be around and good travelling companions.  And that matters when you are with people in close quarter for many days or even weeks at a time.  Many people who go on workshops with Josh have been on many workshops with Josh, and that speaks volumes in itself if you think about it. 
  4.  Getting your bucket list shots by placing you in the right place at the right time, with your photography and your safety as his number one priority.  

    Josh is quite incredible in this regard.  He won’t be found talking to camera for a YouTube video that he needs to post whilst you are in the field photographing.  He is not a YouTuber.  Similarly, he won’t be standing over you interfering with your photography.  But he will be leading you in the field to where you will get the best shots and assist with any settings if asked.  He will be photographing on the floor alongside the group, not in a ‘directors chair from afar enjoying a coffee’!  And this is probably what I like the most about travelling with Josh; he lets you realise your own creative abilities by inspiring you with his knowledge and experience of all matters photography, wildlife and nature.  
  5. And lastly an immersive ‘life and photographic experience’ that provides the opportunity for you to grow as a person and photographer.  Indeed, I personally think ‘photographic life experience’ far better describes what you get when you travel with Joshua Holko.  Never did I think that I would go to East Greenland on a 100 year old Dutch sail ship to take photographs of monumental icebergs that subsequently be published by the world’s leading on-line Fine Art magazine, or ride on a dog sled driven by an Inuit over pack ice to one of the remotest places on Earth to photograph polar wildlife and landscapes with an article that I subsequently wrote about the trip being published by BBC Travel, or spend nearly three weeks in the High Arctic photographing polar bears.  But I did, and have come back with some amazing life long memories and award-winning photographs.

There is one more thing I would like to add, and that is that I have never met anyone who is more knowledgeable about wildlife, nature and photography than Joshua Holko.  He truly is a master in his field.  His post processing knowledge of Adobe is also incredible and he will willingly sit alongside you during the trips to help you edit photos, again if you ask him, or sometimes will lead an impromptu class on editing if there is a desire by the group for him to do so.   So in summary, I have no hesitation in recommending Joshua Holko’s ‘life and photographic experiences’ to you.  Your only question should be ‘which one?’  And if it is, why don’t you do what I did when I first looked at his website, and that is ‘ask Joshua Holko’?  I guarantee you will be amazed with what comes back!

Note:  This testimonial has been written by me.  I offered to provide it; I was not asked by Joshua Holko, and Joshua Holko has had no involvement whatsoever in what I’ve said.  These are my words and my thoughts alone.  And if you would like to see some of his influences on my work, please check out my website and look at Galleries and Featured Location.  https://kevinhallphotography.co.uk

With best wishes,  Kevin (Photo Credit Below: Kevin Hall).