Dispatches: Over-Monking It | Laos — New York Times Assignment EP. 1

Over a decade ago I was wedged into a packed minivan somewhere in Laos with a few thousand dollars worth of gear on my lap, on assignment for the New York Times. One foot in photojournalism. The other foot getting pulled toward commercial work that paid a lot better. This is that story. I dig this NYT travel assignment out of the archive, walk you through images most people have never seen, and share what was actually going on behind the camera. A Norwegian backpacker asleep on a bridge. Kids launching themselves into the Mekong. Too many monks. And a version of me that was starting to like air conditioning more than packed minivans. Dispatches is about the real work, not the highlight reel. If you want to understand how a working photojournalist actually thinks, moves, and makes pictures on assignment for the New York Times, this is it. This episode is sponsored by Wotancraft, makers of my favorite camera bags for travel and assignment work. https://tinyurl.com/5cwvnxua JOIN THE PHOTOGRAPHY COMMUNITY http://www.askmott.com/membership ONE ON ONE COACHING http://www.askmott.com/coaching WORKSHOPS http://www.askmott.com/workshops NEWSLETTER http://www.askmott.com/newsletter ARTICLES AND INSIGHTS http://www.askmott.com/insights PORTFOLIO http://www.justinmott.com