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Ryan Aw

@ryanaw.photos
4.7K followers 843 following 2.1K posts

Environmentalist, Adventurer, Cat parent, Outdoor Photographer 🔗 www.ryanaw.photos/links Conservation Through Composition

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Ryan Aw @ryanaw.photos · 24/09/2026
Masherbrum - 7821m/25,659ft Since 1856, only 4 expeditions of 15 climbers have summited. Its last ascent was over 40 yrs ago As we hiked to K2 basecamp, we saw countless seracs and avalanches collapse #pakistan #photography #landscape #nature #mountains #karakoram #hiking
A black and white photograph of Masherbrum
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Ryan Aw @ryanaw.photos · 22/09/2026
Sometimes, I do stuff other than run to remote corners of Earth! What a treat to get to see Gorillaz for a third time #musicfestival #shakyknees2026 #gorillaz #festival
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Ryan Aw @ryanaw.photos · 11/09/2026
I spent the summer hiking over 200km across Northern Pakistan for the sole purpose of photographing one mountain - K2 I made a video of the whole thing and it’s live on YouTube rn!!! It would make my year if you went and watched it 🫶 #pakistan #travel #photography #k2 youtu.be/4r9sq6l-Fcs
youtu.be
Chasing Giants in Pakistan | K2 Base Camp + Gondogoro La Trek
YouTube video by Ryan
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Ryan Aw @ryanaw.photos · 11/09/2026
You ever seen 3+ glaciers in one image? You have now!! Left: Vigne glacier Middle: Baltoro glacier Right: Godwin-Austen glacier Oh yea, that’s K2 and Broad Peak over there on the right (two of the tallest mountains on Earth) #pakistan #concordia #photography #glacier #karakoram #mountains
An aerial panorama from Concordia - the confluence of three glaciers in the Karakoram
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Ryan Aw @ryanaw.photos · 10/09/2026
New video out this Friday!! I convinced my friend Evan to join me on a 30 day expedition where we climbed, hiked, and drove over 2500km across Pakistan in search of the tallest mountains on Earth #pakistan #k2 #mountaineering #travel #photography #karakoram youtube.com/@ryanaw.photos
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Ryan Aw @ryanaw.photos · 30/08/2026
What’s your most unexpectedly useful photography tool? For me it’s a video game controller I’ve got it set up so I can rate and tag images in PhotoMechanic at light speed while being lazy on the couch 🤣 #photography #cat #steam #valve
A photo of my cat posing with the Steam Controller
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Ryan Aw @ryanaw.photos · 29/08/2026
Crazy to think that over 1000 people have watched a video of me rambling while filming cats in Mongolia! Thanks for watching, and if you haven’t, you should! youtu.be/m5qyjzixE0k #youtube #mongolia #pallascat #snowleopard #photography #wildlifephotography
A screenshot of my YouTube analytics page showing a milestone one of my videos just hit - crossing 1k views
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Ryan Aw @ryanaw.photos · 28/08/2026
I spent my summer driving 2,000km into the Central Karakoram and trekking over 200km to look at a mountain and take two photographs. I’d really appreciate it if you read my latest newsletter update! (Also pls subscribe 🤣) rawtalk.ryanaw.photos/p/in-search-... #pakistan #photography #travel
rawtalk.ryanaw.photos
In Search of Giants
Chasing heights at the top of the world
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Ryan Aw @ryanaw.photos · 23/08/2026
Chogori // K2 // The Savage Mountain 8611m / 28,251m At this time of the year, the North Star lines up near-perfectly with the tip of Earth’s 2nd tallest mountain With the altitude and remoteness, this was one of the darkest skies I’ve ever experienced #pakistan #astro #photography #k2 #mountain
A star trail composite image of the Earth rotating through the universe, aligned almost perfectly with the tip of K2, the second tallest mountain on Earth
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Ryan Aw @ryanaw.photos · 22/08/2026
Just 14 mountains on Earth rest above #8,000m, and 4 of them are in this image #Concordia, at the confluence of 3 glaciers, is the “city centre” for many notable peaks in the #Karakoram - #K2, #Broad Peak, #Gasherbrum I & II being the more notable ones Possibly my craziest work to date
A panorama of the Milky Way, arcing from K2 to Mitre Peak in the Karakoram. Three glaciers and four 8,000m peaks can be seen from this single image.
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Ryan Aw @ryanaw.photos · 20/08/2026
It’s a crazy thing to see the mountains half my climbing gear was named after Left to right -Trango II (6237m)  -Trango Tower (6239m)  -Great Trango Tower (6286m)  -Trango Pulpit (6050m)  -Trango Castle (5753m) #trango #trangotowers #climbing #photography #pakistan #karakoram #trekking #travel
A black and white photo of the infamous Trango Towers complex in the Karakoram mountain range, Pakistan

From left to right:

-Trango II (6237m/20,462ft) 
-Trango Tower/Nameless Tower (6239m/20,469ft) 
-Great Trango Tower (6286m/20,623ft) 
-Trango Pulpit (6050m/19,849ft) 
-Trango Castle (5753m/18,874ft) 
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Ryan Aw @ryanaw.photos · 15/08/2026
Pakistan is a lot of things, and undeniably beautiful is one of them #pakistan #photography #cherryblossom #sakura #mountains #landscapephotography #nature
A photo of a mountain in Pakistan with cherry blossom flowers still in bloom in the foreground
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Ryan Aw @ryanaw.photos · 15/08/2026
4:30am, 5600m Top of the Gondogoro La pass. Face to face with four of the tallest mountains on Earth. Directly in front, K2. On the far right of the image, Broad Peak. Further right off screen, G1 and G2 One of the toughest, sketchiest, & most exciting trips of my life #pakistan #k2 #photography
A photo of me standing atop the Gondogoro La pass at about 5600m / 18,300ft. Directly in front is K2, or Chogori, 2nd tallest mountain in the world and notoriously the most difficult to climb. To the right of the image is Broad Peak, another 8000m tall mountain. This image was captured about 10 days before the recent avalanche that killed 10 climbers including Nims, a well known mountaineer
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Ryan Aw @ryanaw.photos · 11/08/2026
In less than 24hrs, our resident star & satellite will look like this Having to settle for cloudy skies, thunderstorms, and the wrong continent this year, but good luck and clear skies to everyone chasing totality! Image is mine from 2024 #eclipse #totality #astrophotography
A photograph of the 2024 solar eclipse featuring the sun’s prominences and corona
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Ryan Aw @ryanaw.photos · 09/08/2026
Finally editing images from the trek and found one of us resting below Broad Peak basecamp while on the Godwin-Austen #glacier, otw to K2 basecamp On the right, #BroadPeak (8051m) The middle, Chogori/ #k2 (8611m) The left, Pastore Peak (6142m) About 2 weeks before the recent Broad Peak #avalanche
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Ryan Aw @ryanaw.photos · 30/07/2026
Things you get used to pretty quickly after spending a month living on one of Asia’s largest glaciers: jumping over crevasses #mountaineering #trekking #pakistan #baltoro #glacier #crevasses
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Ryan Aw @ryanaw.photos · 29/07/2026
It's way overdue, but my latest newsletter about my #spring trip to #Japan is finally live! It's my first since moving away from #Substack, which I abandoned due to moral conflicts I'd really appreciate it if you checked out the new publication! (Which I think is much nicer than Substack anyways)
rawtalk.ryanaw.photos
Trip Log: Japan | RAWTalk Ryan Aw - Environmentalist, Adventurer, Photographer
Chasing Spring in Japan - RAWTalk is a newsletter run by Ryan Aw, Atlanta-based outdoor photographer with a passion for the environment and conservation. For more of his work, visit his website at www...
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Ryan Aw @ryanaw.photos · 29/07/2026
I have officially become the cool uncle, also the worst nightmare of all the parents in my family as I inspire their kids to do insane stuff like meet strangers off the internet to go climb mountains in a foreign country 🤣 #travel #photography #family
A screenshot of a conversation between a relative and me. It reads “[name] wants to know where you are. She said she wants to be like you when she grows up lol. I’ve been showing her your pictures”
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Ryan Aw @ryanaw.photos · 28/07/2026
If my roadtrip doesn’t come in the form of a 70 year old Land Cruiser and certain death with one wrong turn of a wheel, I don’t want it 🤣 #pakistan #karakoram #offroading #roadtrip
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Ryan Aw @ryanaw.photos · 27/07/2026
My #K2 #trek experience was full of insanity, but a favourite moment was our rest day where we all sat outside enjoying the weather, reading our various books in front of 6000m+ monsters Books read: 3 Body Problem The Dark Forest Death’s End Neuromancer Project Hail Mary Currently: Annihilation
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Ryan Aw @ryanaw.photos · 23/07/2026
They said to never meet strangers on the internet, but when Evan said he likes to get high…I found a few solutions at 5600m/18372ft 5th trip so far with people I’ve interacted with only online, and I’m so grateful for the incredible company each time Who/where next??? #pakistan #k2 #mountains
A photo of me and my friend Evan atop the Gondogoro La pass at 5625m. A photo of me and my buddy Evan at K2 basecamp
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Ryan Aw @ryanaw.photos · 21/07/2026
Sleeping on Asia’s second largest glacier in front of the world’s second tallest mountain. Not a bad campsite! #pakistan #k2 #camping
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Ryan Aw @ryanaw.photos · 06/07/2026
Sitting in a plane at regular cruising altitude and being just barely above eye level of mountain peaks is…something else entirely Nanga Parbat. 8126m/26660ft. God damn she tall. #pakistan #karakoram #nangaparbat #mountaineering #climbing #windowseat
A photo of Nanga Parbat from the window of a plane.
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Ryan Aw @ryanaw.photos · 04/07/2026
Hi all! Some noticed I’ve not been active on my newsletter I’ve decided to leave #Substack, and move my publication to a platform that aligns with my values I can’t continue to enjoy a fiscal relationship with a platform that actively champions bigots, so find me here: www.rawtalk.ryanaw.photos
A screenshot of Substack promoting renowned piece of shit, sex trafficker, rapist, misogynist, narcissist - Andrew Tate - to the no. 1 spot on their “new bestsellers” list.
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Ryan Aw @ryanaw.photos · 04/07/2026
Earlier this #spring, my friends and I drove over 4000km across #Japan chasing #Sakura blooms across the country It was very different to my typical “in the middle of nowhere” style of adventure, but nonetheless an incredibly fun time Video of the trip is out on #YouTube now! youtu.be/7MJEa2hrcyo
youtu.be
Driving 4000km Across Japan Just To Look At Flowers
YouTube video by Ryan
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Ryan Aw @ryanaw.photos · 30/06/2026
So my new keyboard is kinda crazy #keyboards #keeb #flux
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Ryan Aw @ryanaw.photos · 29/06/2026
Please let me pack #cats #cat #packing #travel
A cat sleeping inside a backpack, with photography equipment surrounding the bag. The photo gear is supposed to be inside the bag.
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Ryan Aw @ryanaw.photos · 28/06/2026
I paid for DaVinci Studio so that I could make edits anyone else could have made in Windows Movie Maker At least I’m finally putting all the terabytes of footage I’ve recorded over the years to use 🤣 #davinci #youtube #videoediting #photography youtu.be/ad_gD37ZJJ0
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Ryan Aw @ryanaw.photos · 06/05/2026
Growing up, I never saw anyone like me. Let alone climbing rocks, crawling under glaciers, & embarking on crazy expeditions Despite my fear of being perceived, I’ve tried to show my face more to prove that the #outdoors is for everyone like me - #Asians, #immigrants, #POC #AANHPIHeritageMonth
A photo of me standing atop a mountain in MongoliaA photo of me standing at the bow of a ship in Antarctica with the Milky Way overheadA photo of me sitting in a safari vehicle in Botswana A photo of me standing in a lave cave in Iceland
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Ryan Aw @ryanaw.photos · 01/05/2026
Turns out something like 90% of travellers to Japan don’t leave the Tokyo-Kyoto-Osaka triangle; & I find that such a shame because the whole country is just staggering Are you one of the 10% that’s left? Where’d you go? #japan #cherryblossm #sakura #roadtrip
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Ryan Aw @ryanaw.photos · 30/04/2026
Still not over scenes like this from Japan #japan #sakura #spring #cherryblossom
A photo of a couple walking on a footpath while sharing an umbrella. There are cherry blossom flowers in the foreground.
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Ryan Aw @ryanaw.photos · 15/04/2026
Things have been kinda wild lately, so how bout a boop? Pay the tax below for more #japan #deer #nara #narapark #japantravel #wildlife #photography
A photo of a deer extremely close to my lens
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Ryan Aw @ryanaw.photos · 14/04/2026
Went to Japan, but left my shutter at home 🤣 #japan #sakura #icm #photography #longexposure
An “ICM” (intentional camera movement) photo of a Buddha statue surrounded by Sakura flowers
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Ryan Aw @ryanaw.photos · 06/04/2026
When all you wanted was an onigiri but turns out you parked at THE Lawson lmaoooo 💀💀💀 #japan #fuji #lawson #konbini #travel
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Ryan Aw @ryanaw.photos · 04/04/2026
My parents: what are you doing in Japan? Me: working…I swear #japan #photography #hiroshima #kabayaki
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Ryan Aw @ryanaw.photos · 27/03/2026
Given current events, it felt extremely important to visit the Atomic Bomb Dome while I was in Hiroshima last week Absolutely heartbreaking walking through the memorials and museums Not wanting to have wars should NEVER be a controversial opinion #hiroshima #japan #nowars
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Ryan Aw @ryanaw.photos · 24/03/2026
BEAR DAY!! Which is ur fav chonk? Click through the whole thread to spot all the murder babies! #canada #wildlifephotography #sonyalpha #photography #conservation #worldbearday
A photo of polar bears in Canada
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Ryan Aw @ryanaw.photos · 20/03/2026
Hullo I’m Ryan and I dragged a 400mm, drone, and a tripod up a 4000m tall mountain to make these images #mongolia #panorama #landscapephotography #nature #photography #sunsets
Three panoramas of the Altai mountains in Mongolia
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Reposted by Ryan Aw
Phil Plait @philplait.bsky.social · 15/03/2026
Re: www.scientificamerican.com/article/ramp...
scientificamerican.com
Don’t let mega-constellation-building billionaires steal your night sky
Satellites are wonders of modern technology that have improved all of our lives. But having more than a million of them in orbit could destroy our view of the heavens and seriously damage our planet
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Ryan Aw @ryanaw.photos · 15/03/2026
Hi I’m Ryan and I spent a month pooping in holes at -50c just to take a picture of a cat Here’s the cat: #mongolia #sonyalpha #wildlifephotography #conservation #pallascat #photography #travel
A Pallas cat

Photo by Ryan Aw
Sony A1 ii, Sony 400mm f/2.& GM + 2x TCA Pallas cat

Photo by Ryan Aw
Sony A1 ii, Sony 400mm f/2.& GM + 2x TCA Pallas cat

Photo by Ryan Aw
Sony A1 ii, Sony 400mm f/2.& GM + 2x TCA Pallas cat

Photo by Ryan Aw
Sony A1 ii, Sony 400mm f/2.& GM + 2x TC
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Ryan Aw @ryanaw.photos · 13/03/2026
One of the most stunning sunrises I’ve seen Clouds are rare in Mongolia, to see such a display so perfectly lit - is there any better way to start the day? #mongolia #sunrise #goldenhour #nature #photography #panorama
A 125 image panorama of the sunrise with a massive lenticular cloud above the Altai mountain range - Mongolia.
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Ryan Aw @ryanaw.photos · 08/03/2026
While looking for cats in the Mongolian winter, I got invited to a camel race held at the edge of the Gobi Desert Chaos ensued #nongolia #camel #racing #gobidesert #snowleopard #pallascat #photography #travel
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Ryan Aw @ryanaw.photos · 04/03/2026
Watch my latest video at YouTube.com/@rawcapturesdotnet Or if you’d rather, read about in my newsletter: open.substack.com/pub/rawcaptu...
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Ryan Aw @ryanaw.photos · 03/03/2026
I made a YouTube video about winter photography in Mongolia and I’m gonna keep posting about it until you make all your friends and relatives watch bc I hauled 40lbs of cameras up a 4000m Mtn 🤣 #mongolia #travel #nature #wildlife #snowleopard #pallascat #conservation #photography #youtube #panorama
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Ryan Aw @ryanaw.photos · 02/03/2026
The first minute of my new #YouTube video, where I document a month of living amongst herders, trackers, and researchers in the deep of the Mongolian winter. One of the toughest, most epic trips of my life #mongolia #nature #wildlifephotography #snowleopard #pallascat #wildcats
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Ryan Aw @ryanaw.photos · 28/02/2026
Sneak peak at the intro sequence of my upcoming YouTube video! I’m new to the whole YouTube thing, but it’s been very rewarding putting together these projects Consider subscribing if you’d like to see what I got up to in Mongolia this past winter! #youtube #mongolia #photography
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Ryan Aw @ryanaw.photos · 28/02/2026
I spent the first month of 2026 living amongst herders, trackers, and researchers as the winter temps plummeted down to -50c Together, we climbed 4000m tall mountains and traversed the expansive grasslands in search of some of the most elusive cats in the world Images below #mongolia #photography
A photo of me standing at the top of a mountain in Mongolia
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Ryan Aw @ryanaw.photos · 23/02/2026
Of all the staggering beauty on Earth, Antarctica’s the only place that left me truly speechless across my journeys Traversing this alien landscape…that familiar overwhelming sense of awe returned From earth to sky - slices of the raw, untouched beauty of my month in #Mongolia #photography #pano
A collage of panoramas from Mongolia
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Ryan Aw @ryanaw.photos · 21/01/2026
About last night. Missed the big CME event two nights ago due to my batteries, camera, and body not wanting to cooperate in -50c weather, but I was at least able to catch some remnants of glow last night Incredible seeing such a display this far south #mongolia #aurora #timelapse #photography
Aurora borealis above traditional Mongolian gers
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Ryan Aw @ryanaw.photos · 19/01/2026
Happy to report that I’m alive, and that I now know what it feels like to expose my bare genitalia in -50c weather. By far the coldest poo of my life 😭 It’s been a very tough winter in Mongolia #photography #travel #mongolia #wildlife #ulaanbaatar #altaimountains #easternsteppe
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