Wildlife photojournalism is often strongest when it shows the human relationships surrounding conservation. Justin Mott’s long-term personal project, Kindred Guardians, documents threatened animals alongside the people working to protect them.
In a new interview with The Global Chic Voyage, Justin discusses photographing the last two northern white rhinos, orphaned elephants in Kenya, rescued gibbons in Malaysia and other stories developed through years of research and self-funded travel.
Research, access and ethical wildlife storytelling
The interview examines the work that happens before a photographer arrives: researching conservation organisations, understanding why people are close to animals and deciding whether that access benefits the animals being photographed. Trust is essential. It allows the photographer to move beyond spectacle and show the patient, daily work of conservation.
Justin also explains why he describes the project as wildlife photojournalism. The photographs are not portraits of animals isolated from their circumstances. They are stories about responsibility, loss, care and the people who have chosen to stand between threatened species and extinction.
This approach changes the visual language of the project. Rather than chasing a single dramatic encounter, Justin photographs the quieter relationships that reveal how conservation works: routine care, physical proximity and the trust built between guardians and animals over time. Those details give viewers context and help each image function as part of a larger story.
Read the full interview in The Global Chic Voyage →
Documentary experience applied to commercial production
The research, patience and access behind Kindred Guardians also inform the way Mott Visuals approaches work for brands and organisations. Our team builds productions around people, place and a clear story, then supports that story with experienced local crews and complete production management.
Explore our video production and photography work, or contact the team to discuss a project in Vietnam or elsewhere in Asia.
