Wanda Martin

Inspired by art but professing no patience to paint, Canon Ambassador Wanda Martin has created a body of work through the medium of photography that nods stylistically to her creative heroes.

Enamoured with fine art from a young age, the Hungarian portrait photographer's creative endeavours have become revered for their combination of historical and modern styles. "I am strongly inspired by the aesthetic and visual norms of Pictorialism," Wanda explains. "I'm especially fascinated by Renaissance portraiture, the avant-garde attitude of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood of the late 1840s, and the visual characteristics of the likewise rebel-at-the-time 20th century subcultures – in particular the rock 'n' roll lifestyle. They were all 'outsiders', turning their backs on their reality and establishing a new system of values for their era."

Whether she's shooting fashion models or world-famous musicians, Wanda's style is as era-defining as it is timeless. "It started subconsciously, but as I – and my work – matured, it became a deliberate approach," Wanda says.

Today her images have graced the magazine pages of Vogue, Wonderland, Rollacoaster, FOXES, i-D and Numéro Russia. She has worked with an impressive array of musicians – Atlantic Records and Sony Music are among her clients – and on advertising campaigns for fashion brands Marc Jacobs and Dior.

Wanda's passion for art has also influenced her personal projects. In the standout series Painting Paraphrases, she celebrates her favourite painters with self-portraits showing her styled as some of art history's most iconic women, including Vermeer's Woman Reading a Letter, Allori's Judith with the Head of Holofernes, Da Vinci's Lady with an Ermine and Rossetti's Lady Lilith. Wanda also claims to draw inspiration from "unusual love stories and movies about weirdos", stating, "these are the main characters of my universe". Youth culture, subcultures, the notion of 'belonging versus opposing', gender and, more recently, love, are all topics Wanda has enjoyed exploring alongside her professional career.

Wanda's projects have formed part of collaborative exhibitions held in Budapest, London and Luxembourg. She's also shot several music videos and short films, although she admits she needs to develop her narrative skills before she'll commit to something more substantial. "I'm better with visuals and transferring an atmosphere and ethereal mood rather than telling a specific story," she explains.

The Canon EOS R5 Mark II is helping Wanda to develop her craft, though. "It’s become an important part of my filmmaking," she adds. I’ve shot multiple music videos on it – having one camera that allows me to move seamlessly between high-quality stills and video really suits the way I work."

In what way can a photographer's personality affect their photography?

"I like a friendly atmosphere on set, and because I'm good at communication I find it quite easy to make the models feel comfortable. We'll chat, get to know one another, listen to loud music – preferably rock 'n' roll – and even though it's hard work, we're still having fun, which always gives a better result in the end."


A key trait of your style comes from how you play with light – how has your technique evolved during your career?

"I used to prefer shooting on location only with natural light, but that came from insecurity. Over the years I've honed my studio lighting skills but I still prefer natural light. When natural light comes through the window, it gives a very artistic edge, much like Vermeer's work. I also like mixing natural light with little pointy lights, even in a very DIY way, with the help of a little torch or flash."


What's been the most valuable lesson you've learnt during your career?

"I am an extremely impatient person when it comes to my work, and at the same time I'm a perfectionist, which is an exhausting combination. I'm learning to appreciate where I am right now, instead of being constantly on the road, moving from one shoot to the next, without enjoying the journey itself. It does mean I've never been bored, though."


Is there a particular commission that stands out in your mind as being the most poignant or unique?

"In October 2018 I was photographing for FOXES Magazine at a festival in Joshua Tree, California, called Desert Daze. I was told I had five minutes to take backstage photos of the band Eagles of Death Metal. Five minutes became 20, and the lead singer Jesse Hughes suddenly asked, 'do you wanna see my gun?' I laughed and said, 'yeah… sure?'. So he went back to his room and came back carrying his gun. He started loading it in front of me and I kept taking photos of him. All the while he was telling me about the terror attack at their show at the Bataclan, Paris, in 2015, when almost 100 people were killed, and how he felt about it. To this day, I still think those portraits are some of my strongest."


What piece of Canon kit can you not live without, and why?

"My Canon EOS R5 Mark II is my main go-to camera, and definitely something I couldn’t live without. For me, the best tools are the ones that don’t limit you in any way – they give you the freedom to concentrate on your ideas and help you capture exactly the images you have in your head. When it comes to lenses, I absolutely love the Canon RF 28-70mm F2L USM – having that range in a zoom lens gives me the dynamism I need. And I still have my old Canon EF 8-15mm f/4L Fisheye USM in my kitbag. It helped me push my photography in an even more surreal direction."


What else could we discover in your kitbag that helps you elevate your work?

"You’ll usually find a few prisms and different filters in my kitbag – and sometimes even a little Vaseline! I love experimenting with anything that can alter the image in-camera and make it feel more dreamlike and otherworldly. Sometimes I’ll put a tiny amount of Vaseline on a UV filter to soften or distort parts of the image and create unexpected flares and imperfections. I’m always looking for ways to push photography slightly away from reality and towards something more painterly and magical."

"Being present on social media is essential: it's your online portfolio and the best platform for networking. I remember at university thinking an agent was the key to success but it's different today. Today, you have to be your own agent. Even if you have an agent, you still need to network by being active on social media. Just be enthusiastic about what you are doing and people will respond to that."