Christine Sonvilla and Marc Graf

Coexistence is a recurring theme in Christine Sonvilla and Marc Graf's photography. The Canon Ambassadors met at university and have since been combining their efforts to raise awareness of humans and animals evolving together.

"It's not nature versus humans," says Christine. "We must find a way to get along with each other economically and from a conservation point of view. We need to find practical ways to save the natural world while being able to live off it at the same time."

"When we met towards the end of our studies, we realised we had a lot in common and there were projects we were both interested in," says Christine. "I realised I wouldn't be happy just as a scientist." Christine decided she wanted to work out in the field, gathering expertise from scientists and sharing that with the public through photography, and that's what they have both gone on to do.

Christine and Marc's photos have featured on the cover of National Geographic, BBC Wildlife, GEO and more, and they have published two illustrated books and worked on TV productions. However, story development takes time: "I spend hours researching and coming up with new ideas," says Marc. "The first phase is finding the subject, and the second phase is checking if it has already been done. After that, we'll be preparing the gear, talking to scientists and experts and gathering vital information – it can be several months before the project starts."

Photographing brown bears has been one of the proudest moments in Christine and Marc's careers, not only because one of Marc's resulting images was highly commended in the Wildlife Photographer of the Year awards, but also because it solidified the pair's faith in how animals and humans can coexist.

"We photographed the European brown bear next to a barn in Slovenia, with our camera trapping system," says Christine. "We photographed this apex predator with her cub, and I think it's one of the most emotionally powerful images we've captured as it shows the closeness between us and the animal kingdom."

For Marc, the most special images capture animals and humans in the same frame. "I like to capture the aspect of coexistence in one image," he says. "Whether it is the crowned eagle nesting in downtown Durban with human settlements in the background [pictured below], or the brown bears that show up in people's gardens or near their barns – those are the moments that stay with you."

Does your scientific background impact the way you approach animals?

"The credibility makes it easier to connect with scientists who offer their stories to us as there's a basis of trust because we understand how much effort and patience goes into getting a project off the ground," says Christine. "We do not go for an image just because we want to; we want to ensure it adheres with scientific knowledge and with the animals themselves. It's about respecting the expertise and the environment."

Which animal has been the most challenging to photograph or film?

"Wolves," says Christine. "We wanted to expand our big predators project, around the time when wolves were starting to return to Austria. We contacted the Austrian military because the first wolf pack had made its home on a training ground." Marc continues: "It took over a year to get permission to set up our cameras and camera traps, and all of a sudden, they decided against it. We would have been the first to photograph these wolves, but it wasn't meant to be."

What do you think are the biggest challenges in wildlife photography today?

"To keep people inspired and to let them know that they can make a difference," says Christine. "There's so much negativity in the news, so much doom and gloom. You end up asking, 'What's the point?' or 'Is there anything I can even do?'. Every contribution makes a difference, and there are so many sources of inspiration out there. You just need to block out the noise and do your own thing."

Is there any animal you really want to photograph?

"We have a long list!" says Marc. "We're going to try again with the European wildcats. Also leopards in Arabia and the Caucasus."

Does your kit choice impact your work in the field?

"We've missed out on some photo opportunities in the past when we were shooting on DSLR," says Christine. "Wildlife can be unpredictable. Once, I was standing in the way of a group of muskox but I had to stop photographing because the shutter noise would have scared them off. The silent shutter in EOS R System cameras means we don't have to worry about that. We can also be certain that the cameras and lenses will capture all the detail, whether we're shooting against the sun or in the shade."

"You have to have a vision," says Christine. "You often hear people say, 'That's not possible' when they're talking about publishing in a nature magazine, for example. But you can't stop. Follow your heart, follow your vision. The crucial thing is to develop a strong idea, follow it through, and don't let yourself be put off by people telling you that something is not possible."

Facebook: @Sonvilla Photo-Film-Writing / @Graf Marc Photography & Film

Instagram: @christinesonvilla / @grafmarcphotography

Website: sonvilla-graf.com