Dispatches: Temples and Traditions | Indonesia — New York Times Assignment EP. 3

I was in Yogyakarta, Indonesia on assignment for the New York Times, photographing a travel story that took me from ancient temples to traditional puppet troupes, bustling markets, and quiet portraits of everyday life. This is the full behind the scenes breakdown of how that assignment actually came together. I walk you through my complete editorial workflow. Planning, scouting, building trust quickly, reading light on the fly, balancing the writer's vision with my own creative instincts, and making strong publishable images under real deadline pressure. You will see how I approached a renowned choreographer, documented street life, and navigated the unpredictable moments that define assignment photography. I also reveal what the editor chose to publish and the photos I wish they had picked instead. This is not a tutorial. This is what editorial photography actually looks like from the inside. Dispatches is about the real work, not the highlight reel. If you want to understand how a working photographer thinks, moves, and makes pictures on major assignments, 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