Soon after dawn at Lemek Conservancy, Kenya, spotted hyenas arrive at a pond to drink. Widely misunderstood, hyenas are fierce, intelligent, and social, living and hunting as members of matriarchal clans. I captured this close-up with a remote controlled robot.

Jen Guyton is a photographer and ecologist who is passionate about photographing the natural world. Her recent feature on spotted hyenas for National Geographic Magazine uses technology like infrared cameras and remote-controlled robots to get an intimate look into the softer side of these misunderstood creatures.

Follow Jen on Instagram @jenguyton.