Marina Cano was born in Santander in northern Spain, where her love for wildlife began close to home. As a child, she had the Cabárceno Wildlife Park just 15 minutes away which sparked a fascination that would take her around the world. She graduated in music and taught classical music, but photography was always there in the background.
She was took photographs since she was a teenager, honing her skills at Cabárceno. With over 25 years of experience, she turned professional and traveled to Africa where she fell in love with the continent. Her work have appeared on the cover of National Geographic multiple times, and she has published five books, including *Wild Soul* and *Drama & Intimacy*.
Her style blends intimacy with romanticism creating what she calls “emotional photography”—work that awakens feeling and empathy in the viewer. She follows her instinct, waiting for scenes that make her feel tenderness or drama. She wants to create art, not just documents capturing rare moments and extraordinary weather conditions.
“I understand photography as art, not as document.”
Her talent has been recognised with many awards, including twice in the BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition. She is a European Canon Ambassador and a Global Skylum Ambassador. She also collaborates with Vital Impacts, WWF, and Remembering Wildlife using her images to support conservation and protect vulnerable species.
Marina leads safaris in Africa and organizes workshops around the world especially in northern Spain. Her work is admired by almost one million followers on social media. For her, photography is a way to connect people with animals and encourage awareness of the need to prezerve our fragile planet.
Her inspirations include her father’s love of nature and photographers like Gregory Colbert and Nick Brandt. She believes in waiting patiently for the right moment, letting the animals reveal themselves rather then chasing shots. Her photographs are a testiment to patience, passion, and the beauty of the wild world.
Q: What makes Marina Cano’s wildlife photography unique?
A: Her intimate, emotional approach sets her apart. She aims to capture the “soul” of animals through a blend of intimacy and romanticism, creating images that awaken empathy and feeling. Her background in music and deep passion for her subjects, combined with technical skill and patience, produce images that are both artistically compelling and deeply moving.
