Abigail Urlich

During her studies at Otago Polytechnic, Abigail Urlich discovered a love for sports photography. Abi is now the photographer for the Southern Hoiho basketball team.

Abigail Urlich, 25, was born and raised in Tāmaki Makaurau and came to Ōtepoti last year to study photography at Otago Polytechnic.

What inspired you to study photography?

I didn’t grow up like a typical photographer who always had a camera in hand. I was a sports girl through and through – if I wasn’t playing on the court, I was training. After high school, I joined the production team at my church and began learning about live streaming, camera setup, and the behind-the-scenes side of things. That’s where I discovered my love for being behind the camera.

What got you into sports photography?

Coming to Otago Polytechnic opened so many opportunities. Midway through this year, we had the chance to photograph the Highlanders. I didn’t think much of it at first, but I was excited to try something new. After capturing one of their training sessions and a home game, I got the opportunity to photograph the Otago Nuggets for an assignment, and I was hooked. I started going to every training session and game I could. With each shoot, I learned more about how to capture the atmosphere of the game, the emotion of the players, and the energy of the crowd in a creative and dynamic way.

Even though I’ve only been doing sports photography for about six months, I love that it allows me to combine my lifelong passion for sport with my growing love for photography.

What do you enjoy most about Otago Polytechnic?

What I enjoy most about OP is the environment, like the building, the classrooms, and all the resources that are available to us. It feels like a space that really supports creativity. I also love that the learning is so practical, we’re always creating, experimenting, and putting what we learn into action.

What have you enjoyed about your programme?

I’ve really enjoyed being around other creatives and learning new skills from them. It’s great because everyone has their own photography style, so there’s always something new to learn from your peers. I also like that even though some assignments have specific objectives, we can still tailor them to suit the type of photography we’re most interested in, so the work never feels limiting.

How have you found the equipment, software, and facilities for the photography programme?

One of the most valuable resources at OP is the wide range of camera gear available to us. For students who are just starting out and don’t yet have their own equipment, the school provides access to quality cameras and lenses. While I already had my own camera body and lenses, the biggest help for my basketball photography has been using the f/2.8 70–200mm lens. It allows me to capture close-up action shots as well as wider scenes from a distance, all while maintaining sharp focus and strong lighting.

You’ve done some live sports photography for your assignments. What was that process like? What was the coolest project you got to work on?

The process of live sports photography is both thrilling and creative. You can really feel the energy of the game and the crowd, and it’s exciting to move around and capture those moments as they happen. I’m always thinking about new ways to portray the sport while also capturing details that fans might not usually get to see.

The coolest project I’ve worked on so far is the one I’m currently doing with the Southern Hoiho women’s basketball team. The workflow is completely different from anything I’ve done before. I produce, edit, and send photos while the game is still happening so that Tauihi can use them for graphics and social media posts. I also send images to the Hoiho team, capturing everything from the crowd and merchandise to branding and gameplay. There’s a lot to keep track of, but it’s been such a valuable experience and great practice for what it would be like to do this kind of work full time.

What’s your current job title, and what do you love about your work?

My current job is working as a full-time ECE teacher and photographer for the Southern Hoiho. I love working with kids and having time to focus on my creative side but eventually I would love to be a full-time sports photographer.

Would you recommend Otago Polytechnic?

If you’re wanting to build a strong foundation in how to operate a camera, gain confidence, and develop your portfolio, Otago Polytechnic is definitely a great place to do that. You’re exposed to so many opportunities and get to have fun creating new work every week.

Photographs courtesy of Abigail Urlich.