Conservation storytelling has never been a straight line for me. Like conservation itself, it is a journey shaped by learning, unlearning, reflection, and growth. With every project, every review, and every conversation with mentors, my understanding of how stories can influence people and protect nature continues to evolve. One of the most important lessons I have learned along this journey is simple, yet uncomfortable, especially when it challenges how you see your own work.
When Feedback Feels Hard
Not long ago, during a review of my work, a reviewer made a recommendation that caught me off guard: “Try working with a 28mm lens.”
I will be honest, my first reaction was disappointment. Photography, after all, is deeply personal. It is about vision, instinct, and artistic freedom. Being advised to change something as fundamental as focal length felt restrictive, almost as if my way of seeing the world was being questioned.
But this is precisely why mentorship exists. Good mentors do not exist to affirm our comfort zones; they exist to expand them. After sitting with the feedback, I decided to act on it rather than resist it. I reached out, got my hands on a Canon 28mm lens, and committed to using it intentionally in the field.
How a 28mm Lens Changed the Way I See
That decision changed everything. The 28mm forced me closer physically and emotionally to the story. It pushed me to stop isolating subjects and instead place them within their environment. And through the lens i would see how to frame the conservation story taking into consideration the space, context, people, and place.
The images I produced didn’t just meet technical expectations, they made me smile. They felt connected. Most importantly, they felt closer to the kind of conservation storytelling I believe in: one that shows ecosystems that is connected to its people.
Mentorship as a Conservation Tool
In conservation photography, mentorship is not a luxury; it is a responsibility. We carry narratives that can influence policy, funding, and public perception. Without guidance, it is easy to repeat dominant visual tropes or unintentionally oversimplify complex conservation challenges.
Feedback can arrive bluntly. Sometimes it bruises the ego. But when we accept it with humility, it sharpens both our craft and our impact.
Mount Kenya Wildlife Conservancy: A Story Worth Stepping Into
I put this lesson into practice during a recent visit to Mount Kenya Wildlife Conservancy (MKWC) an organisation doing critical work to support the conservation of the Mountain Bongo, one of Africa’s most endangered antelopes. With fewer than 100 individuals remaining in the wild, the Mountain Bongo represents both fragility and hope. MKWC’s work spans breeding, habitat protection, research, and long-term plans for rewilding all rooted in scientific rigor and local conservation leadership.
Using the 28mm lens at MKWC transformed how I documented this story. Instead of isolating animals, I was able to show:
Bongos within their forested environment
The human care, infrastructure, and science behind conservation
The scale and intimacy of conservation work happening on the ground
The images became less about spectacle and more about process, commitment, and coexistence.
Five Images, One Lesson
From this visit, I selected my five strongest images not because they are perfect, but because they represent a turning point in how I see conservation storytelling.
They are a reminder that:
Feedback is not failure
Mentorship is a gift
Tools can reshape vision
Conservation stories are richer when told with context
A Closing Reflection
If there is one thing this experience reinforced, it is this: we do not grow alone. Conservation photography, like conservation itself, thrives on collaboration, critique, and shared learning.
To mentors who speak honestly, reviewers who push us, and organizations like Mount Kenya Wildlife Conservancy who trust storytellers with their work — thank you.
And to fellow photographers and conservationists: take the feedback, even when it feels hard. It may just help you see the story more clearly.
All images captured using a Canon camera with a 28mm lens during a recent visit to Mount Kenya Wildlife Conservancy.