Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
centres can be hard to find. Once you reach an aimag capital you can go to an internet
cafe and upload your pictures to the cloud or save them on a CD or USB stick.
Light In summer, days are long, so the best time to take photos is before 10am and
between 6pm and 8pm, when Mongolia basks in gorgeous light. As bright, glaring sun-
shine is the norm, a polarising filter is essential.
Dust If you do a jeep trip on an unsurfaced road, you can expect plenty of dust, so keep
the camera well sealed in a plastic bag.
Photographing People
Always ask before taking a photograph. Keep in mind that monks and nomads are not
photographic models, so if they do not want to be photographed, their wishes should be
respected. Point a camera at an urban Mongol on the street and chances are they will
cover their face. Don't try sneaking around for a different angle as this may lead to an ar-
gument. Markets are also places where snap-happy foreigners are often not welcome.
On the other hand, people in the countryside can be happy to pose for photographs if
you ask first. If you have promised to send them a copy, please do it. One way to do this
is to print out the photos at an aimag centre or in Ulaanbaatar. To simplify matters, bring
blank envelopes and ask them to write their address on the outside. On the inside, make
a note to yourself about who they were in case you forget.
When Mongolians pose for a portrait they instantly put on a face that looks like they are
in mourning at Brezhnev's funeral. You may need to take this Soviet-style portrait in order
to get a more natural shot later. 'Can I take your photograph?' in Mongolian is Bi tany zur-
giig avch bolokh uu?
Restrictions
» Photography is prohibited inside monasteries and temples, although you may photo-
graph building exteriors and monastery grounds. You can sometimes obtain special per-
mission to take photographs for an extra fee.
» Don't photograph potentially sensitive areas, especially border crossings and military
establishments.
PHOTOGRAPHY CHARGES IN MUSEUMS
In most museums throughout the country you need to pay an extra fee (often out-
rageously high) to use your still or video camera. The fees tend to vary, between
T12,000 to T25,000 for photos and T25,000 to T50,000 for videos. It is best to
have a look around first before you decide whether to fork out the extra tögrög.
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