Mark Sanchez, 26, West Cambridge.
Veteran subscriber of the TWI magazine and professional Nature and Wildlife Photographer.
Answers your questions!
What is your history with this magazine?
From early in my life, I’ve always had a passion for
photography, particularly wildlife photography, for me
but I never thought I was good enough to pursue it,
above the level of a hobby. However, being able to
interact with other likeminded individuals in the TWI
magazine and on its accompanying website has built up my confidence and I
decided to enter the monthly fan photography competition, back in 2022. I came first.
A year onwards I’ve become a professional wildlife photographer and have already been acclaimed three times for my work. My first submission to this magazine is shown above this article and compared to my current work, it is rather unimpressive. However, if I hadn’t submitted it, I wouldn’t have won the competition and chances are I wouldn’t have pursued a career in photography and gotten to where I am now.
What is your current plan?
Below is an example of my current work, in order to show the level, I am at now; Although I have strayed away from my previous genre of Animal Photography however, I intend to pick this back up again in the Summer as through Winter and Autumn, I have found it increasingly difficult to photograph the species I want. Which is to say don’t feel that you must follow the same genre throughout your photography, experiment by combining different genres, and looking at other photographer’s work. I also want to do some more travelling, as I have yet to photograph the diverse landscape of the Alpines. (I would always recommend this. Even if you are going away for business make sure to take in the view every once in a while.)
What is your advice for budding Nature photographers?
In order to excel in life, you don’t just need determination and perseverance, but you also need confidence in your own abilities. As well as this you also need to take a leap of faith occasionally; now they might not always work out. For instance, I remember ordering for an experimental thermal imaging camera, only for it to be taken off the market forever and getting half my money back. However, I also took a leap of faith when sending in my first pieces of photography to this magazine and I wouldn’t be where I am now if I hadn’t. So, my parting advice is this, even if it is a bit cliched, follow your heart as much as possible because it will always tell you what you want. But it always needs to be balanced by listening to your brain, because dreaming is all well and good, but planning and researching is what makes the difference.
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