When photographer Brian Hodges was shooting in the east central Asian country of Mongolia “there was not a shortage of fresh scenery” to capture.

“When taking pictures, I have a simple litmus test to determine whether or not it is worth stopping to make a photograph,” Hodges told weather.com. “Basically, if I’m confronted with something I don’t see every day, I force myself to stop and reflect. More often than not, these are the moments that yield the most interesting photos.”

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Hodges had a lot of these moments in Mongolia when he was on a shoot for the book “Gypset Living,” which allowed him to spend weeks exploring the country with the book’s author Julia Chaplin.

For the book, Hodges documented the everyday life of traditional nomadic societies throughout Mongolia.

“When confronted with linguistic and cultural barriers, I approach strangers with an open heart and look them straight in the eyes to communicate my interest,” he said. “Ultimately, this works just as well as sharing words. My process is simple – find beauty in everyday life.”

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The Santa Barbara-based photographer has traveled the globe trying to capture those striking moments.

“My photography has taken me to more than 50 countries… from Mongolia, to Papua New Guinea to Timbuktu,” Hodges said. “Every experience is dramatically different and I always come home enriched by my travels.”

To see more of Hodges work visit his website.

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