SYSTEMS IN EXTREME COLD

RICHARD MARK DOBSON

- Photographer · Filmmaker · Visual Storyteller -

PATHFINDERS

A documentary journey exploring people who choose their own way.

Belinda Du Toit - Nieu-Bethesda, The Karoo, South Africa 2025

The Vision

A long-form documentary series following extraordinary individuals who have stepped outside conventional definitions of success.

Explorers
Craftspeople
Wilderness guides
Adaptive athletes
Conservationists
Artists

People who have chosen a different path.

Jurg with one of his eight Celestron Telescopes - Sutherland, The Karoo, South Africa 2025

Jurg Wagener — Rediscovering Wonder

Jurg Wagener’s story is an example and reminder that a new path can begin at any stage of life. After decades working as a bank manager in South Africa, he reached a point where the security of his career no longer provided the sense of purpose he was looking for. Together with his wife Rita, he moved to the small town of Sutherland and began building a different kind of life—one shaped by simplicity, curiosity and connection....read more about Jurg and other Pathfinders here...

The Creator

Richard Mark Dobson

Kosi Bay - South Africa 2008

Nesna Northern Finland 2023

Sea Point - Cape Town South Africa 2024

Slussfors - Central Sweden 2023

Sigiriya - Sri Lanka 2015

Ninh Binh - Vietnam 2013

Stories of people who choose a different road

For more than thirty-seven years, I have travelled the world as a documentary photographer and filmmaker, telling stories about people, places and the lives they lead.

Pathfinder is the natural evolution of that journey — a long-form documentary project exploring individuals who have chosen unconventional paths and built meaningful lives through curiosity, craftsmanship, resilience, service and connection to the world around them.

People who are not necessarily famous, but whose lives reveal something important about what it means to live with purpose.

Through photography, film and conversation, Pathfinder looks beyond what people do and explores why they do it.

At the heart of every story is one question: What kind of life is worth living?

The Honey Family - The Karoo, South Africa 2004

The Journey

Pathfinder is built around movement, discovery and human connection.

The project will involve traveling across Europe and beyond, meeting people whose stories reflect resilience, curiosity and a deeper relationship with the world around them.

The road itself becomes part of the story.

The landscapes.

The communities.

The encounters.

And the vehicle that carries us there.

PATHFINDERS + VOLVO

A creative collaboration?

Throughout my career, I have photographed automobiles not simply as objects, but as expressions of design, movement and human aspiration.

My automotive work has always focused on placing vehicles within a wider human context — showing not only the machine itself, but the journeys, environments and stories connected to it.

As Pathfinder develops, I am looking for organisations that share these values.

Volvo's heritage of safety, exploration, design and responsible mobility creates a natural connection with the philosophy behind Pathfinders.

I would like to explore whether there may be an opportunity for collaboration — potentially through access to a Volvo vehicle that could become part of the journey.

The vehicle would not simply provide transport. It would become a character within the story: photographed and filmed across landscapes, communities and encounters throughout the Pathfinder journey.

In return, I would create original photography and film content documenting this relationship between mobility, people and place.

The intention is not conventional advertising, but authentic storytelling — creating work that reflects the spirit of exploration and the belief that the most meaningful journeys are often found away from the obvious roads.

I would welcome the opportunity to discuss whether Volvo might like to become part of this story.

A few of my classic automotive ads?

Nissan 350Z. Title. The Most Beautiful Car in the World. TBWA Paris. Cannes Lion Advertising Awards Winner 2008

Honda CR-V, Grey Advertising. Johannesburg 1998

Continuing the Journey

For more than three decades, my work has been guided by curiosity — a desire to understand people, places and the stories hidden within them.

Pathfinders is the continuation of that lifelong exploration: documenting individuals who have chosen purpose over convention, and the landscapes that have shaped their lives.

I believe the most meaningful collaborations are built on shared values, authenticity and a genuine belief in the story being told.

Volvo has always represented more than mobility.

It represents design, innovation, safety and a connection between people and the world they move through.

If there is an opportunity for Volvo and Pathfinders to travel this road together, I would welcome the conversation.

Richard Mark Dobson
Documentary Photographer & Filmmaker

The Baltic Sea - Klaipeda Lithuania 2018

Published Editorial

GEO (Germany), GEO (France), GEO Special (Germany),GEO (Russia) GEO Saison (Germany), Frankfurter Algemeine Zeitung, Financial Times (UK), National Geographic Adventure (USA), National Geographic Traveler (USA), Toyota Infront Magazine (UK), Landrover ONELife Mag (UK) Guardian (UK), Restaurant Magazine (UK), Guardian on Sunday (UK), MERIAN Magazine (Germany), 100 Ideas Jardin (France), Conde Nast Traveler (USA), Air France Madam (France), Outside Magazine (USA), World Traveler (USA), New York Times, Departures (USA), International Herald Tribune, New York Times, Asia Inc (Hong Kong) Discovery (HK), Expression (Amex Publishing), Islands Magazine (USA), Forbes Magazine (USA),Travel & Leisure (USA) Town & Country (USA),Orient Magazine (Hong Kong), Morning Calm (Korean Air), Silk Road (Dragon Air) Business Traveller (Hong Kong), Business Traveller (UK), Mandarin Oriental (HK), Outside Magazine (USA) Lufthansa Magazine (Germany).

Published Advertising

Couldrey Jones (Hong Kong), Thompson’s (HK), Couldrey Jones (HK), Couldrey Jones (HK), BATES Advertising (Thailand), Old Shanghai Firecracker Factory (South Africa), Grey Advertising (SA), BLGK BATES Advertising (HK), Ogilvy & Mather (SA), Mc Cann Erickson (SA), Network (SA), Saatchi & Saatchi (SA), SMLB Leo Burnett (SA), The Agency (SA), Grey Advertising (SA), DMB&B (SA), King James Advertising (SA), Ogilvy & Mather (SA), TBWA Fusion (SA), TBWA Paris Nissan Z350 ‘cops’ Cannes ’05 TBWA Paris Spontex Cannes Silver ’05,TBWA Fusion, Jupiter Drawing Room (SA), Joe Public (SA).

Published Corporate

Business Enterprises Dong Fang Hotel Brochure China, HKTDC (Hong Kong Trade Development Council), Hill & Knowlton H.K. Ltd, Re-Act Communications Credit Lyonnaise, Hilton Hotel Hong Kong, Dalat Resorts Inc, Dalat Pine Lake Golf Course, Island Shangri-La Hotel. Hong Kong, Kowloon Shangri-La Hotel Hong Kong, Park Lane Hotel Hong Kong, DWC Tang Development China Club-Peking, International Herald Tribune China Summit-Beijing, DWC Tang Development. China Club Peking, Shanghai Tang Hong Kong, International Herald Tribune-Korea Summit, Stocks Leisure Resorts. Bakubung, Kwa Maritane, Andersen Consulting (SA),TheYamu Thailand, Movenpick Jordan.,Abu Dhabi Golf & Equestrian Centre, PearlValley golf estate Cape Town, New World Hotel Saigon, Ramana Hotel Saigon, DWP Saigon, Veolia Water Systems, Ale Heavy Lift UK, Strategic Marine Australia.

NGO’s

Greenpeace Africa, Medicine Sans Frontiers, British Red Cross.

Books

Karoo Moons ‘A photographic journey’.

Films

Pendulum Control.

Winner Palandino D'Oro Sports Film Festval 'Best Extreme Film' 2025

Awards

Cannes Lion festival and D&AD for his advertising work, and has been included in the prestigious London Association of Photographers awards 2007 & 2008 and SILVER 2009.

LIFE CHRONOLOGY

1963

Born. Bradford, England

1975 – 1985

Johannesburg South Africa

1985 – 1989

London

1990 – 1997

Hong Kong

1997 – 1999

Johannesburg South Africa

2000

New York

2001 – 2003

Cape Town South Africa

2004

Paris

2005

Cape Town

2006

Seoul

2007-2008