John Ogden

John "Oggy" Ogden is an Australian photographer, cinematographer, writer and publisher, whose wide ranging career has encompassed producing television commercials, international documentary making, music video production, drama, and fine art photography. Early life Ogden, also known as Oggy, was born in South Australia of Anglo-Irish descent, and may also have some Palawa heritage. He has worked all over the world, his projects spanning diverse cultures and nations including SE Asia, Sri Lanka, China, Japan, Europe, South America, the USA, and Indigenous Australia. His work with imagery associated with Aboriginal Australians resulted in the books Australienation (1999), and Portraits From A Land Without People, released in 2009 to coincide with the first anniversary of Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's apology to Australia's Indigenous peoples. Education and early career Ogden began his career as a photo-journalist, and continued his personal development by completing an English degree, with a focus on film history and theory. After graduating in 1979, Ogden began his career in filmmaking and advertising. Work in film and documentary Ogden credits his documentary filmmaking experience with giving him a good sense of natural lighting, as well as the invaluable experience of witnessing how real people behave in a variety of situations. Notable credits include work as Director of Photography on As Time Goes By, Bad Boy Bubby (second-unit, 1993) and Mission: Impossible (second-unit, 1988–89). His short film House of Sticks (2011) was screened at Flickerfest (Bondi Beach), HollyShorts (Los Angeles) and several other festivals. Some of his photographs and early 16mm footage appear in the award winning documentary Sea of Darkness.