Artists of APN: @MaresaSinclair

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AnimalsPlantsNature
Your Home for APN Photography


Hello and welcome to an interview series that will introduce you to the artists of Animals, Plants and Nature Photography - with a touch of Macro-Nature - here, at AnimalsPlantsNature! We are excited to be bringing you an interview with a well-known photographer, to get a closer look at her photography and the thoughts behind the amazing photos she shares with the DeviantArt community: MaresaSinclair.

Enjoy the interview!

Making do by MaresaSinclair

Before we get started, please take a moment to introduce yourself and talk a bit about how you were introduced to the world of photography.

:iconmaresasinclair:
I am basically a happy snapper who gets even happier and snappier when I'm in nature. My love for animals only translated into a love for photography when my husband bought me my first small digital camera for my birthday. A few months later I got asked to take wedding pictures by a co-worker who saw some of my photos and we upgraded to my first DSLR camera. After about eight weddings where I took more photos of the insects, flowers and birds around the venues than of the brides, I realized I wanted to focus on doing animal photography.


At Kinlochleven by MaresaSinclairAutumn by MaresaSinclair

Not too long ago, you moved from South Africa to Scotland, which must have been quite a shift in climate, nature and perhaps even culture. What did you find to be the most different from what you were used to, and the hardest to adapt to?

:iconmaresasinclair:
Firstly I have to say that I love the weather here. I've always been a winter person so getting away from the heat in South Africa was a real treat. Also seeing snow for the first time was a dream come true. Where South Africa is renowned for it's abundance of wildlife, Scotland offers a winter wonderland with very different species of wildlife. As an added bonus, Scotland is relatively safe so I can wonder around with my gear and just forget about the world around me. The only real hardship is missing my family and friends still living in South Africa.


A balancing act by MaresaSinclairBuzzard by MaresaSinclair

Browsing through your gallery is a realy delight; it is filled with all kinds of photography, but Animals, Plants and Nature are highly prevalent. Do you have a favorite nature subject you enjoy photographing the most?

:iconmaresasinclair:
Thank you very much!
I get excited about photographing any animal, but capturing birds of prey in the wild is definitely my favourite. There is just something so majestic and powerful about them that I feel in awe of being in their presence. Another dream is to photograph dolphins and whales in the wild.


Mrs Siskin by MaresaSinclairBaby love by MaresaSinclair

One of the notable things about your gallery is that you have a remarkable ability of photographing the animals in their natural habitat. Where and how do you find your photography subjects?

:iconmaresasinclair:
In South Africa I have a wonderful friend, Sanette Smit, who used to go out with me and we visited areas where we hoped we would find animals in the wild. Sometimes I also visit bird sanctuaries, zoos and butterfly gardens just to see species I would not find in the wild in South Africa.


Sunset in Africa by MaresaSinclairBlue cranes against the sunset by MaresaSinclair

You have an amazing eye for photographing animals, and you've done so in many different places. What would you say are the main differences and challenges in photographing animals in the wild and photographing animals in zoos?

:iconmaresasinclair:
With zoo animals it is more difficult to make the picture look natural, unless you specifically want to portray the zoo environment. There are always fences and walls to content with and you may not have much time to take the photo that you want because there are more often than not, other visitors and photographers around.
With animals in the wild, the photo will always look natural, but you have to find the animal first and then hope and pray it will stay long enough for you to take the picture. It is helpful if you know a little bit about the animal's normal behaviour so that you can predict when and where to find them and how to not be in their way or restrict or disturb their natural behaviour with your presence.


Winter wonderland by MaresaSinclair

The photo above shows a mesmerizing winter wonderland. Could you tell us a little about the circumstances and creative choices you made in taking this photo?

:iconmaresasinclair:
I am very new to landscape photography, I've never really experimented with it in South Africa so I still have a lot to learn!
The mountain in this photo is Buachaille Etive Mor in the Scottish Highlands. I wanted to showcase the moodiness of the scene but I also wanted a longer exposure for the water without loosing the blue of the sky. I really wanted to capture the reflection of the sky in the river. I still have a tendency to overexpose the sky way too much when I use a slower shutter, so I opted to go with 1/64 second shutter with a F22 aperture.


On my hedge by MaresaSinclairWoodpecker by MaresaSinclair

In 2017, you challenged yourself to photograph more using the manual settings. What made you challenge yourself, and why did you set this challenge?

:iconmaresasinclair:
My brother Jacques, who is an amazingly talented photographer, gave me really good advice. He said when you think it is time to upgrade your camera, it is usually time to upgrade your photography. So when I became frustrated with the results I was getting on auto and on Av, I decided to put my camera on manual. I was really scared to do this as you often have only a second or two to take a picture of a bird in the wild. I have lost the opportunity to take some shots, but on the whole, I've learned a lot more and I think it was worth it.


Waxwing by MaresaSinclairKestrel by MaresaSinclair

If you had to choose one photo from the aforementioned challenged that you're really proud of, which one would it be and why?

Raven by MaresaSinclair

:iconmaresasinclair:
I think this one (above) of the raven, because it happened in a split second and if my camera was on auto at the time, the shot wouldn't have worked so well.


Building material by MaresaSinclair

In the photo above, you've captured a weaver collecting material for building - or weaving - his nest. Could you talk us through the process in taking this photo?

:iconmaresasinclair:
I took this in South Africa when we went back for a visit. I knew this breeding spot very well as Sanette and I have been there a few times. I was actually trying to get a decent shot of a Red Bishop, but the reeds kept getting in my way. So I just sat down and watched the weavers for a while and just snapped away and that's when this shot happened.


Loch Etive by MaresaSinclairDuckling by MaresaSinclair

Could you walk us through the standard equipment you pack when you go out to photograph nature? Is it very different when you, for instance, visit a zoo?

:iconmaresasinclair:
If I plan on doing landscapes, I will take my tripod, my remote and a wide-angle lens which I don't normally take with when I do animals or flowers.
For any animal or nature photography, I would take a 18-250 lens and my 50-500 sigma lens.
I also have a 50mm 1.4 lens for taking portrait shots but I haven't really used that as much as I thought I would.
I still dream of buying a really good macro lens.


In the forest by MaresaSinclairLittle Wren by MaresaSinclair

In closing, do you have any tips for aspiring photographers?

:iconmaresasinclair:
While I really don't think I am qualified to give anyone advice, the advice I would've wanted when I started out was to take my camera off manual from my first photo and to photograph the things you love.
Also to take the time to appreciate other photographers and ask a lot of questions. The DA community is generally very generous with their help and advice and there are many wonderful and knowledgeable photographers on DA.


Now for a feature of MaresaSinclair's work!

Tattered by MaresaSinclairAlready watchful by MaresaSinclair
A new life by MaresaSinclair
Cape Grey Mongooses by MaresaSinclairDance me to the end of love by MaresaSinclair
Inside the Cango Caves by MaresaSinclair
Power by MaresaSinclairChatty Sue by MaresaSinclair
Spoonbill Solo by MaresaSinclair
Blue Duiker by MaresaSinclairMe? by MaresaSinclair


Journal skin by UszatyArbuz
Photo by The-Panic
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