Dutch photographer Jeroen Toirkens has traveled the edges of Greenland, Russia, Mongolia, Turkey, and Morocco, from the desert tribe lands to the ice-covered towns, documenting the nomadic people that dwell in these places, far from metropolitan realities, always traveling. The photographer’s full color and black and white captures reveal these societies’ daily lives and bonds, the isolated, quiet, severe landscapes and those details: a withered crossword puzzle on the table next to gutted meat and the television dish outside a hut. Gathered in the gorgeous 150-photo tome Nomad and spotted by Brain Pickings, see these striking photos in our gallery.
Zuun Taiga, Mongolia, 2007. Photo credit: Jeroen Toirkens
Innuiet East, 2009. Photo credit: Jeroen Toirkens
Baruun Taiga, Mongolia, 2004. Photo credit: Jeroen Toirkens
Altai Mountains, Russia, 2006. Photo credit: Jeroen Toirkens
Kola Sami, Russia, 2006. Photo credit: Jeroen Toirkens
Nenets, Russia, 2005. Photo credit: Jeroen Toirkens
Nenets, Russia, 2005. Photo credit: Jeroen Toirkens
Gobi Desert, Mongolia, 2007. Photo credit: Jeroen Toirkens
Kola Sami, Russia, 2006. Photo credit: Jeroen Toirkens
Zuun Taiga, Mongolia, 2007. Photo credit: Jeroen Toirkens
Zuun Taiga, Mongolia, 2007. Photo credit: Jeroen Toirkens
Berbers, High Atlas Mountains, Morocco, 2002. Photo credit: Jeroen Toirkens
Kazakh, Altai Mountains, Russia, 2004. Photo credit: Jeroen Toirkens
Nenets, Russia, 2005. Photo credit: Jeroen Toirkens
Tiniteqilaaq, Greenland, 2009. Photo credit: Jeroen Toirkens
Innuit East, 2009. Photo credit: Jeroen Toirkens
Sami, Karesuvanto, Finland, 2001. Photo credit: Jeroen Toirkens