Oliver Lang

Hailing from Sydney, Australia, Oliver Lang (@Oggsie) is a London-based photographer who pioneered the crossover of mobile street photography and professional fashion photography. His work has been constantly featured across fashion magazines, news organisations, blogs and 'Instagramers to follow' lists - placing him as one of the elite in mobile fashion photography. He's also been often asked by brands to road-test new technologies or take on assignments as a photographer. To many, Oliver is predominantly known as a central pivot for many mobile photography communities since their emergence, having networked intensely across the globe, most recently co-founding the Mobile Photo Network.

“Once you realise how the mobile phone has combined the ability for creation and consumption so perfectly you realise why it has become such a personal device.”

You’ve recently relocated from Sydney to London, it’s great to have you here! In terms of photography – has there been much acclimatisation needed?

No, Sydney and London are both great places to live. I’m lucky to have arrived just in time for a really great English summer.

Do you have any forthcoming projects lined up?

Yes there are a number of personal and professional projects that I’ve begun working towards. I’ll be teaching at the V&A Museum and later in the year at FORMAT in Derby. I’m also consulting the use of mobile imagery in both cultural and commercial projects. It’s a very exciting time to be exploring several of the frontiers of mobile photography.

You recently founded the Mobile Photo Network with Misho Baranovic (@MishoBaranovic), what inspired it and what are your main objectives / hopes for the project?

MPN was launched at the start of 2013, since that time we’ve been exploring the potential for mobile photography. We focussed on high quality mobile photography from everywhere in the world. We’ve been approached to curate mobile photography exhibitions in both the United Kingdom and also Australia. We’re connecting with early adopters and dedicated explorers of these new photographic devices. MPN sees an incredible future for the connected photographer and mobile photography is the defining form of connected photography. Once you realise how the mobile phone has combined the ability for creation and consumption so perfectly you realise why it has become such a personal device.

Looking at the mobile photography community, which fellow mobile photographers do you admire most?

’m interested in mobile photographers who share a unique vision and exploration. I also admire the mobile photographers who understand that mobile photography is about creating a sense of community. We’ll be featuring some amazing mobile photographers who we admire on MPN later this year, so you’ll have to check it out and see the incredible work being created.

You were commissioned by Samsung to road-test the Samsung Galaxy – how did it go and moreover – what kit do you take out when shooting?

The Samsung Galaxy Camera was exciting to use as it was essentially the Portrait of Carrie mobile photography experience but with a bigger sensor, optical zoom and a fun pop-up flash. Despite not having the potential to make phone call, it was an excellent device for image based social media and sharing. I’m currently working with Samsung again, so part of my kit is one of their latest mobile phones the Galaxy S4 Zoom. I carry several cameras, depending on what I’m heading out to shoot. I’m really enjoying shooting film with my Contax T2 and my Nikon 35Ti, and I think shooting instant film during portrait and fashion shoots is a great way to connect with the subject.

”As more and more images appear, it’s only the incredible mobile photographs that will linger both online and in the minds of the viewer.”

Your street photography has seen you link your mobile photography with commercial photography, especially in fashion. What do you feel are the strengths of mobile photography as part of your commercial toolkit?

Honestly? Mobile is really too convenient! The potential for quality mobile photography only appears when you set out to exceed your previous quality of image. If you then also leverage the convenience you not only create amazing images but you can also share them in “real time”. There’s an intrinsic value in real time imagery in today’s online media. Image value starts high and usually ends low due the attention span behind media consumption. Mobile devices are providing an extension of your eyes and ears, extending your senses and how you perceive the world. Fashion shows are now lit so that the audience can shoot and Liverpool Street, Sydneyshare mobile photographs from the show across social media. As more and more images appear, it’s only the incredible mobile photographs that will linger both online and in the minds of the viewer. Real time fashion images are a growing requirement of the fashion industry. And as more people perceive the world through a mobile photograph aesthetic there is a demand for images with a mobile look and feel. There’s always going to be a need for high-end fashion photography, but there’s a growing need for fashion to be beautifully captured on a mobile phone.

Which assignment that you’ve done has been your most memorable?

I’m happiest when I simply go out and shoot street for myself. It helps me see the world in new ways. But, I think the most enjoyable assignment was a real-time fashion shoot in Sydney earlier this year with the crazy people from Estate of Mind. Also, I’ll always remember the mobile photo walk through Sydney that I was asked to lead by Earth Hour International. It‘s great to see how the power of photography can go beyond the image itself.