Photographer of the Month: Brendon O'Hagan

Brendon O'Hagan has been in the business for over sixteen years. Over that period, he has watched photography grow from the days of Black and White film, which he used during his time working at the newspapers, to high-definition image and video standards of today.

Having recently documented in images the building of a range of super-yachts as well as a few sailing shoots overseas, Brendon is a very sought after photographer.

What attracted you to photography?

Probably more the 'adventure and creativity' side of it - and that's what has kept me going the most. You see a sample of life that you would otherwise never get to see, go places you normally wouldn't go; I've shot a ballet recital on Monday and by Sunday a photo of the PM for a magazine cover.

What is/has been your greatest challenge as a photographer?

To keep learning all the time. You can't stop; you can't just sit back and let things happen.

What has been your most memorable assignment and why?

Probably when I went to India to shoot a book on street cricket. It was my first book. It was most memorable mainly because it was entirely for myself and funded largely by me. So there was no assignment, no brief, no strict timeline, just a lot of fun.

If not a photograper, where would you see yourself?

I have absolutely no idea, I really wouldn't have a clue. I thoroughly enjoy what I do and it's something I have always wanted to. I guess something in the media, but I'm not sure what exactly.

If the chance arose, who or what would you most like to photograph?

Most things I've wanted to shoot, I've ended up shooting one way or another. The Olympics would kind of appeal to me - I've never shot one of those.

What tips or advice do you have for budding photographers?

Learn video - because it's always good to have more skills up your sleeve. I do think it's going to be a very large part of what we will be doing down the road; the world is a multimedia place afterall. You need to learn as much like that as you can.

Has the advent of digital photography been beneficial or detrimental to professional photographers?

[Digital Photography] is not really a good or bad thing. I was lucky enough to have started my career in newspapers on black and white film, but to be able to do things so much quicker is kind of a good thing. Either way, it's here now and it's here to stay, there's not much you can do about it. And nowadays with complex shots, digital has the advantage in quality as well.

Can you see clients moving away from stills to video, with the advent of HD video capabilities in digital SLRs?

I do a lot of video. I think you need to be able to move stills across new media. Still pictures are always going to be around and there are a lot of instances where a picture will be better than a video. They [stills and video] complement each other more than they cancel each other out.

Are you a fan of flash?

Yes. I work in the sort of industry where I don't always have the luxury of available light. And with some of the advanced techniques out there, there are a lot of possibilities. When I do use it, though, it is always an off-camera flash.

If you were on death row, what would your last meal be?

If I was on death row I probably didn't deserve to eat anyway, I should probably be going hungry.

Check out Brendon's official website: http://www.brendonohagan.co.nz/