An Interview with Wildlife Photographer Marina Cano — In Love with The Nature

Marina Cano is an award-winning wildlife photographer, based in Cantabria, in the North of Spain. She aims to raise people’s awareness of endangered wildlife and protect our environment.

What is the one thing you wish you knew when you started taking photos?

I would have loved to have more confidence in myself. That everything can be possible if you are really determined. I started taking pictures when I was very young, at 17, and I decided to study music instead of photography. I became wildlife photographer in my forties.

Why do you take photos? What inspires you?

Photography is a kind of creation and I like any kind of creativity, through music, writing, any sort of art.

I find inspiration in other people’s attitude, in books, photographs, in new projects.

Which photographers influenced you, and how did they influence your thinking, photographing, and career path?

I admire the work of Steve Bloom, Nick Brandt, Gregory Colbert. Each one in a different way, from Steve his successful career, from Nick his style and from Gregory his full idea of creating art beyond photography.

What do you want to say with your photographs, and how do you actually get your photographs to do that?

It’s not my intention to talk through my photographs, they speak by themselves. I mean I don’t go out of my way to do that. It’s the subject who is so wonderful that moves to emotions. If my pictures are beautiful is because Nature is.

What technology/software/camera gear do you use

My camera and lenses are Canon, brand that I’m ambassador of. My computer is a Mac and I use Photoshop.

How do you choose what you are going to shoot?

Sometimes the beauty of the animals, sometimes the challenge to photograph them. And finally I like that nature surprises me with some unexpected delicious moments. I confess that I like to improvise.

What kind of tools do you use for post-processing? Explain your workflow.

My workflow is very simple, I select different areas in my   photograph and work on that to create more interest in the main subject. My favorite tools are levels, exposure and black and white.

Among your works, which one is your favorite? Why?

As you probably know, this is not easy to respond. I have several pictures that gave me fantastic accomplishment.

The cover of Nat Geo twice with my elephant and the Kilimanjaro, and a mother elephant with her baby.

Also my most known one the watusis picture: “Once in a life time” and “Heaven on Earth” the picture that reached the final of the Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2015.

What was the most curious story behind your photograph?

The first time after many year photographing in the wild that I was witness of a lioness family hunt. It was a cloudy afternoon and we followed the wildebeest herd for hours. When the lioness decided to attack, while we were taking pictures, our Masai driver had a phone call. His youngest son 3 years old died that afternoon drowned. It was my saddest time in Africa.

Three new things (names, places), you learned in the past year about the photograph?

I learn from all my photography students, I learn from them passion, love for what they do, humility. I feel very lucky for that. With regards to places any single corner with wildlife in Africa would make me happy, but in the list Erindi in Namibia, Amboseli in Kenia.