MPB Meets: Drone Photographer Hugo Healy

This week, MPB speaks with award-winning photographer, drone operator and videographer Hugo Healy—a winner of MTV’s 2020 Video Music Awards and Europe Music Awards. We chatted about his start in image-making, equipment choice and how to stay motivated during challenging times.

MPB: Can you tell us about yourself?

Hugo: I’m 24 and I’m from Brighton, UK. I work as a freelance drone/cam op and professional photographer. As well as my photography and filmmaking, I work as a part-time firefighter in my spare time. I’ve always been creative and had a passion for photography, film, art and drama, studying all these at college. However, after college, I lost my drive for photography/videography and was confused as to what I wanted to do. I took a year out and travelled through Asia. I was blown away by the cultures and landscapes, and documented my travel with action cameras. After returning, I joined Brighton Film School. While studying there in the first year, I bought a drone—mainly for my filmmaking. However, I started taking photos again too. I was so fascinated and blown away by this new perspective, I feel it allowed my creativity to be endless and reignited that passion for photography/videography. I could push and develop my work, and start sharing it more. I knew then this was something I loved and wanted to do.

MPB: What got you interested in drones and why do you use them?

Hugo: I find drones fascinating, firstly because of the technology behind them. A flying camera that folds away and fits in a tiny bag, but at the same time takes incredible high-quality video and photography—it’s mind-blowing. I look forward to seeing where the technology will go. I’ve always loved flying. The fact I can control a flying camera with ease, it completely changes the way I shoot. I love the unique perspective you get, it allows me to view the world from an angle that I haven’t before. I’m able to position my camera wherever I want it in a matter of seconds or minutes. I can find unique compositions from a bird’s perspective, finding patterns or symmetry within a landscape—whether natural or artificial—creating stunning and sometimes confusing images. 

In terms of filmmaking, I love the way I can get shots. I’m able to fly through some crazy small gaps and openings. This really creates a wow factor for anyone viewing, I can compose a unique line or scene and people wonder how on Earth a camera was operated through there. Sometimes you wouldn’t even know it was a drone.

MPB: What equipment do you usually take with you?

Hugo: I take a Sony A7 III with a Sony 16-35mm f/4 ZA OSS T*, 85mm f/1.8, 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS and a Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III RXD FE, a travel tripod and DJI Ronin-S. For any sound, I’ll bring my Sony XLR-K3M or use radio mics. I take a Syrp Genie Mini, which is a motion tracker for timelapses. I'll take variable NDs for my camera lenses, I find these the most adaptable for changing environments. I use PolarPro. For my drones, depending on the type of job, I’ll take the DJI Mavic 2 Pro—two of them—I bring both so I have a backup. I then might also take a DJI Mavic Air 2 to get some more risky shots, as this drone is slightly smaller. I can fly it in more risky situations and it’s less expensive to repair. I again use PolarPro Polariser NDs for my drones too.

MPB: Why did you choose this equipment? 

Hugo: I chose the Sony A7 III because I think it’s an incredible camera for the price. It's lightweight, robust and versatile. It’s brilliant at both film and photography—for me, it's crucial I have a camera that can do both well as I don’t want to be carrying around two camera bodies. I like the Tamron lenses, I feel they are just as good as the Sony alternative and about half the price. I chose the DJI Mavic 2 Pro as my main drone due to its photo and video capabilities and the fact that it’s still tiny and will fold away—I can take it anywhere and it’s still incredibly powerful. I’ve printed images from this drone 1.6 square metres, and the quality is still fantastic. However, I’ll upgrade to the Mavic Pro 3 when it comes out.

MPB: Your Instagram is incredibly inspirational and filled with images from abroad—is going away something you tend to do as part of commissions or more to do with your own personal wanderlust?

Hugo: My travels are more part of my own personal wonderlust, although I do sometimes get to travel for work. This normally means I’m shooting for someone, 12 to 14 hours a day, and get no time for my personal work. Most of the content you see on my Instagram are self-funded trips, I find travel to be the best and most rewarding thing I can spend my money on. I’m constantly saving so I can go away. Winning photography competitions has helped to fund my travels too. I do like to try to bring sponsors on board for trips though, and at the very least I will contact hotels or AirBnbs and offer them a service for free accommodation.

MPB: What’s your favourite place to photograph?

Hugo: My favourite place I have visited to shoot has to be Iceland, closely followed by the US and Indonesia. All these countries have incredible, diverse and unique landscapes that left me in awe. However, I think Iceland tops it because everything is so close and the landscapes are so alien-like and fascinating. Iceland is also the perfect place to shoot with a drone and definitely leans towards aerial bangers, which is definitely a reason I love it.

MPB: The pandemic has forced many photographers and videographers to reconsider their creative plans—how did you try to make the most of the situation?

Hugo: The pandemic has forced me to shoot a lot more closer to home—and I love it! I have spent a lot of time exploring the world, and it’s nice to take some time exploring my local landscapes. I have discovered loads of new local places this year. Also, it’s developed my photography and filmmaking. Rather than just shooting landscapes, I have been setting up shoots at home and experimenting with different ideas—like using local forests to practice my close-proximity drone flying and unique lines.

MPB: After this is all over, where is the first place you’d like to visit?

Hugo: I have actually been fortunate enough to land a drone job in Dubai and Saudi Arabia. I will be there for a year, maybe longer. But, in terms of places I want to visit, China is somewhere I’ve wanted to explore for a while, as well as Japan during spring for their blossom season. I also really want to see Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Greenland, South America... the list goes on—there is so much beauty in this world!