Portrait photographer Wanda Martin's first exhibition included a series of diary-style collages, which she created by hand. "Songs of Innocence and Experience is an ongoing collage project on mixed media," she says. "It's a reflection on post-modern love and about the clash of expectations and reality." © Wanda Martin
Professional photographers have always embraced the tools of the future while being inspired by – and nostalgic for – the past. London-based photographer and director Wanda Martin creates editorial and fashion work featuring a vintage look and subdued tones reminiscent of Romantic art.
"I started shooting at age 15 and using digital first gave me the freedom to experiment without the associated costs of developing film," explains Wanda. "I was attracted to an archaic look that's related to my two main inspirations: the mix of painterly beauty with rock and roll subculture."
Wanda's style is recognisable and unique. She shoots the majority of commercial work on her Canon EOS-1D X Mark II (now succeeded by the Canon EOS-1D X Mark III) and Canon EOS R5, which produce the excellent colour accuracy and quality she needs for high-end clients such as Dior and Louis Vuitton. "These cameras are also amazing in low-light conditions, which means I can shoot at up to ISO 6400 and get barely any noise," she adds.
Having grown up near her father's photography studio, Wanda also loves developing 35mm and medium format films when she has time. "There is something very magical about the process," she says. "You never know exactly what the result will look like."
Here, Wanda shares how her love of film continues to inspire her approach, and how Canon's professional printers have helped her to experiment in the same tactile way as the darkroom for exhibition-worthy prints.