“The man Ira Jacob. What I admire most about this guy is his courage to cross the chasm of cultural difference to make friends with anyone. Share a laugh, jump on the bike with a local herder and ride across the desert. Dive deep into questions about what it means to live in a certain place, who they are as a people, what the value and love, and leave a place better than he found it. LEGEND”. Tyler Hanson, Fireland Filmworks
I document isolated and remote cultures.
Living abroad in remote areas since 2004, I have a unique understanding and depth of different cultures and languages, allowing me to connect with my subjects intimately. My photography is a conduit for learning about and engaging in their ways of life.
My work positively reveals the beauty and wonder of isolated peoples and their cultures.
I blend documentarian and fine art photography to create a new sense of discovery to inspire viewers to explore familiar and different persons and places around them
Ira specializes in how current events and global development are impacting remote peoples and cultures around the world. Focusing on the Pamir, Karakoram, Himalaya, and Taklimakan regions. Ira also documents reconciliation efforts in areas of conflict, and helped write the conflict reconciliation curriculum for an organization in Jerusalem.
Born and raised in Alaska, Ira’s first love was the mountains. Based in Seattle since 2009, Ira lives in the mountain regions of Asia giving him easy access to the areas he is passionate about working in. Living abroad in remote areas since 2004, Ira has a unique understanding and depth of different cultures and languages.
“I’ll say it again. I love the stories you’re able to tell through your images.” Marcus & Dilan photography
“I love the connection between you and the people you meet. There’s an amazing, intense feel in all of your portraits.” - Giulia Valente portrait photographer
“Capturing the character of any place takes relationship. In this I think you are well suited. Gaining peoples trust in the region can’t be easy, but you make it look like you have known these people forever.” R.P. Schimd
“Your photos from Mongolia and Central Asia are amazing! You can feel the emotions from the pictures!” Berry Dana blogger
Ira has documented people and events in North Korea, the Middle East, Himalaya, Pamir and Karakoram mountain ranges, The Silk Road, Central Asia, Taklimakan and Gobi Deserts, Siberia, The Caribbean, North and South America, Africa and Europe.
Ira has photographed corporate CEOs and unknown mountain nomads. He loves the diversity life has to offer, and enjoys sharing about his experiences through photography education and tours, private coaching, and speaking engagements. Ira has also been helping NGOs tell their stories for the past two decades.
Ira has also led tours in China, Tibet, the Wakhan Corridor, Turkey, Israel, Palestine, Central Asia, India, North & South America and Africa.
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