Brendan Ó Sé is a multi-award winning fine art photographer/mobile photographer, photography educator and speaker from Cork, Ireland. Brendan offers regular mobile photography and street photography workshops in association with Cork’s Glucksman Gallery and the Photo Museum of Ireland in Dublin. He also delivers bespoke workshops for corporate clients and has worked with Bord Gais Energy, Ireland, Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, the Health Service Executive of Ireland, Dublin City Libraries, Google, Facebook, Paypal, and the National Museum of Ireland. He has been invited to provide guest lectures and workshops for Dublin City University Business School. From time to time, he gives workshops overseas, travelling to such places as Iceland, Scotland, Madrid, London, Porto, Cyprus, Lithuania, Bangkok, Jakarta, Singapore, Penang, Hong Kong, and Bali.
Brendan has offered online workshops in aid of the Irish Society of Prevention of Cruelty to Children. The workshops in 2020 raised €5288. 100% of this went to the charity.
Brendan has won many competitions and awards. Most recently, in October 2024, he won first place in the People category in the Exposure Awards. Back in February, 2020, he won first prize in the Architecture category in the Mobile Photography Awards. In May, 2018, he was awarded the prestigious MojoFest Photographer of the Year for 2018. In June, 2017, Brendan won First Place – Photographer of the Year in the 10th iPhone Photography Awards. In January, 2016, Brendan won first place in the Street Photography category in the annual Mobile Photography Awards. In April 2015, Brendan won the Mira Mobile Photography Prize. He was awarded ‘Best in Show’ at the Florence International Photography Awards in June 2015. Brendan also won the Mediterraneo Foto Festival in May, 2015. In October, 2015, Brendan was awarded first place in the Everyday Life category in the Stark Awards 2015.
Besides his incredible passion for photography, Brendan is a huge sports fan; in particular the Irish game of hurling. In May, 2018, Brendan’s To the heart of hurling project was a photographic journey discovering what hurling means to Irish people. He set out to document the year’s championship in photos; exploring the relationships among fans that form around our unique game. Over 15 weekends, Brendan travelled to see all the counties play and photograph the fans and document their stories, learning what makes their relationship with each other, with their county and with the game of hurling. Capturing images that show how these relationships are what makes the GAA so special, so unique and so Irish. The work was on exhibition for the month of September, 2018 in the Hunt Museum, Limerick. You can see a photo essay of it here on RTE and also here.
There is a blog report of each match Brendan attended here, and you can follow him here on Instagram.
His work has been exhibited in Cork, Galway, Dublin, Berlin, Bologna, Cologne, Frankfurt (Ireland in Frame), Miami, Idaho, Florence, Brussels, Lecce, Victoria, Ontario, Rome, Porto, Madrid, Lima, Buenos Aires, Santiago, Bangkok, Singapore, Penang, Bali and Jakarta. Brendan was part of the original Apple World Gallery of images shot on iPhone 6 in 2015. His photograph was showcased on billboards and posters in cities such as Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, Paris, Bangalore, Seoul, Tokyo, Bogota, Kuala Lumpur, Berlin, Boston, Milan, Singapore, Sydney and many more throughout the world. It was also featured in many print magazines, including The New Yorker. In June 2015, Brendan’s photograph in this campaign was awarded a Cannes Golden Lion in the advertising world’s Oscars and also won Gold in the Clio Awards 2015. He is currently part of a rolling exhibition of Irish street photography organised by the Irish embassies around the world.
In summer 2017, Brendan was on a photography talk tour and gave talks and workshops in Penang, Hong Kong, Singapore and Bali. In April, 2017, Brendan was part of the first 8 x 8 Street Photography Conference organised by Monogram Asia in Bangkok. Brendan was the first ever photographer to be invited by the Royal Photographic Society of Thailand in March 2016 to talk about mobile photography. Monogram Asia invited Brendan to also gave a talk in Veteran’s Cafe, Jakarta in April of 2016. In April 2015, Brendan was invited to London to talk about his iPhone photography as part of Apple’s Meet the iPhone Photographer series hosted by the popular designer/photographer, Dan Rubin. Brendan’s photography, both with the iPhone and other cameras, has been featured on numerous online photography publications and magazines.
Brendan is one of the founding members of the international mobile photography competition: Mobiography Awards.
Using either the iPhone, Fuji X100V or a Nikon D7000, he tries to see and create in unusual ways and this results in some unique imagery and striking street photography.
Brendan offers photography workshops regularly. All details are here.
For licensing of images enquiries and commission work, please use the contact page.
Prints
From time to time, Brendan offers limited edition sale of photographs in the galleries. These fine art prints are printed professionally using the best paper and ink. Price includes post and packaging. For different print sizes, please use the contact me page.
Solo Exhibition
September, 2018: Heart of Hurling – Hunt Museum, Limerick.
Awards
2024: Exposure Awards. First place People
2020: Mobile Photography Awards – Winner – Architecture & Design category & 10 honourable mentions across various other categories.
2018: MojoFest Photographer of the Year.
2017: First Place – Photographer of the Year in the 10th iPhone Photography Awards
2016: 1st place in the Street Photography category in the Mobile Photography Awards, 2015 and 5 Honourable Mentions across four other categories.
2015: First place in the Everyday Life category in the Stark Awards, 2015.
2015: Winner of The Mira Mobile Photography Prize 2015.
2015: Best in Show at the Florence International Photography awards.
2015: Winner of Mediterranean Photo Festival 2015.
2015: Winner Cannes Lions – Golden Lion – for Apple’s Shot on iPhone 6 campaign.
2015: Winner Clio Awards for Apple’s Shot on iPhone 6 campaign
Shortlisted image in Mira Mobile Prize, 2016 and 2017.
2 photographs in the top 50 in Tiger Camera Competition 2015.
2 photographs in the Irish Times Amateur Photographer of the Year 2015 (here and here)
3rd place in the People category in the iPhone Photography Awards 2015 (and two honourable mentions in Other category)
6 Honourable Mentions in The Mobile Photography Awards 2014.
2 Honourable Mentions in The Mobile Photography Awards 2013.
3 images shortlisted in the Irish Times Amateur Photographer 2013.
Cork Salon of Photography 2014 – 3 accepted images
Cork Salon of Photography 2013 – 4 accepted images and1 PSA Ribbon.
Salon of Photography Čakovec 2014 – 4 accepted images
Lectures and Presentations
March and October 2024: My Photo Club UK
February 2022 – Harbor City Photography Club, Canada
April 2021: Dublin Camera Club
January 2020: Dundee Photographic Society
May 2018: MojoFest, Galway, Ireland
August, 2017: ZafigoX Travel Conference, Penang, Malaysia
August, 2017: Apple Store, Singapore
August, 2017: Hong Kong Maritime Museum
August, 2017: DOF Chapter Bali
August, 2017: ZafigoX, Penang, Malaysia
April, 2017: 8 x 8 Street Photography Conference, Bangkok, Thailand. (Read my review here)
May, 2016: Do Mobile: Using Mobile Photography in business. Omagh, Northern Ireland.
March, 2016: Royal Photographic Society of Thailand
April, 2016: Monogram Asia – Jakarta, Indonesia
April, 2015: Meet the iPhone Photographer. Apple Store, Regent Street, London.
March, 2015: MojoCon. Dublin, Ireland.
Features and Interviews
Video and Podcasts
September 2024: Amateur Photographer – print edition
July 2023: Guardian Newspaper – print and online – Smart Shot
June 2022: A video of one of workshops and out shooting with Jon Gill – I love this video!
June 2021: Mobiography Awards Live Workshop: How to Take Great Photos with Your Smartphone
June 2021: The first Mobiography Podcast
January 2021: Irish Tech News Podcast
August 2020: Mobile Creator Podcast
July 2020: Facebook Live chat with Pixerf
April 2020: Interview with Irish Start Up TV
December 2018: Video Podcast with Pixerf
July 2018: Limerick Live FM – talking about my #heartofhurling photo project.
August, 2017: ZafigoX Travel Conference, Penang, Malaysia
April, 2107: Interview with Eric Kim and another interview with Sheldon Serkin and Eric Kim here.
September, 2016: Podcast with B&H Photography.
March, 2016: Interview with Irish TV – begins at 11:56.
February, 2016: A video interview with Adorama TV.
May, 2015: A video interview Irish Start up TV did with me.
April, 2015, I was invited to be interviewed by the well-known photographer, Dan Rubin as part of the Apple Meet the iPhone Photographer series. You can watch the interview here.
March, 2015, I was invited to speak at the world’s first mobile journalism conference MojoCon in Dublin, 2015. You can see my talk here.
March, 2014: To learn more about my iPhone photography you can watch this short film Glen Mulcahy (Innovation Lead, Technology with RTÉ-Ireland’s National Public Service Broadcaster) made about me here.
Print & Online
September 2024: Amateur Photographer – print edition
July 2023: Guardian Newspaper – print and online – Smart Shot
May 2002: Photography is my passion – Echo, Ireland
May 2021: La Calle es Nuestra (Spanish street photography group)
February, 2021: Feature of photographs shot in my Cork on Yay Cork website.
January, 2020: The best iPhone photos ever taken on Techsmash.in
August, 2019: Harper’s Bazaar (Korean edition) – print and online.
August, 2019: iPhone Photography School – 8 easy ways to shoot creative street photography on iPhone
May 2019: Feature on Moment’s blog on my portrait work.
May 2019: 9 Photographers Proving the iPhone is a Great Camera
August, 2018: Feature on my #heartofhurling photo project in Irish News, here and here.
August, 2018: Two features on my #heartofhurling photo project, here and here on RTÉ.
August, 2018: Apple’s Official Instagram account.
July, 2018: Irish Examiner – feature on my #heartofhurling photo project.
May, 2018: The Photographer Academy
January, 2018: Irish Tech News – review of 2017 #shotoniPhone
November, 2017: Out of the Phone – Mobile Street Photography Book
August, 2017: Business Insider Magazine
July, 2017: Brought to Light series on The App Whisperer site.
June 2017: CNN Español – Feature of my iPhone Photography and Tips for iPhone Photography.
October, 2016: MaklumFoto (Indonesian publication)
August, 2016: Nylon magazine (print).
December, 2015: My takeway point about Mobile Photography for 2015 – Mobiography.
December, 2015: Interview and feature in 121 Clicks website.
November, 2015: Feature in Eye Photo – Street Photography magazine.
November 2015: Feature in Cult of Mac, Peta Pixel and F-Stoppers about receiving the Apple Shot on iPhone 6 books.
October, 2015: Interview with Irish Tech News about Mobile Photography workshops in October and November, 2015.
September, 2015: Feature on my night photography shot on iPhone with Enlight blog.
August, 2015: Feature in print version of Stuff magazine.
August, 2015: Feature and interview with Pichit.
July, 2015: Interview and feature in The Irish Sun.
July, 2015: Interview and feature in Chinese photography magazine fotomen.cn.
July, 2015: Interview and feature in Cult of Mac.
July, 2015: Feature and interview in Inspired Eye July 2015.
June, 2015: Feature and interview in Irish Tech News in June 2015.
May, 2015: Feature in Street Photography magazine – Edge of Humanity – of my Korean photographs.
May, 2015: The popular camera bag and accessories company, Pompidoo did a feature on my photography here.
April, 2015: A feature of my Tokyo photography in the German photography magazine Kwerfeldein.
April, 2015: Irish state broadcaster’s, RTE, report of my winning the Mira Mobile Prize and The Journal’s report.
April, 2015: German magazine On! featured 5 of my images with background description. Check it out here.
April 2015: An interview with Knomo London about my iPhone Photography.
March, 2015: It was a great honour to be asked to help convene the panel of speakers for the mobile photography for the world’s first mobile journalism conference in Dublin, March 2015, organised by Glen Mulcahy and RTE. You can read about my experience of speaking at this here.
March, 2015: Here is an interview with iPhone Photography School I did.
December, 2014: Read about the image I am most proud of in 2014 on the mobiography website.
November, 2014, the Cork Camera Club invited me as guest speaker. I also judged their Street Photography competition in January 2015.
The online magazine Mobiography did a feature on my iPhone work with a video also.
French art magazine Plateform did a feature on my iPhone series of photographs taken in the corridors of my workplace. You can see it on p. 112 of this publication.
Travels with my Camera in Asia on the wearejuxt website in May 2014.
iPhoneography Central featured my iPhone photography with this video on their site.
‘The (iPhone) photo I am most proud of‘ on the excellent mobiography website.
Feature on my photography in Chicago Center for Literature and Photography.
‘More than a snapshot‘ – a feature of a series of iPhone images taken in Asia in spring 2012. (mobiography)
‘A day in the life‘ – interview on the appwhisperer site.
An interview and feature on one of my favourite street photographer’s website – Stephen Cosh.
Some travel and people photographs on the www.dphoto.com site.
May 2002: Photography is my passion – Echo, Ireland
May 2021: La Calle es Nuestra (Spanish street photography group)
February, 2021: Feature of photographs shot in my Cork on Yay Cork website.
January, 2020: The best iPhone photos ever taken on Techsmash.in
August, 2019: Harper’s Bazaar (Korean edition) – print and online.
August, 2019: iPhone Photography School – 8 easy ways to shoot creative street photography on iPhone
May 2019: Feature on Moment’s blog on my portrait work.
May 2019: 9 Photographers Proving the iPhone is a Great Camera
August, 2018: Feature on my #heartofhurling photo project in Irish News, here and here.
August, 2018: Two features on my #heartofhurling photo project, here and here on RTÉ.
August, 2018: Apple’s Official Instagram account.
July, 2018: Irish Examiner – feature on my #heartofhurling photo project.
May, 2018: The Photographer Academy
January, 2018: Irish Tech News – review of 2017 #shotoniPhone
November, 2017: Out of the Phone – Mobile Street Photography Book
August, 2017: Business Insider Magazine
July, 2017: Brought to Light series on The App Whisperer site.
June 2017: CNN Español – Feature of my iPhone Photography and Tips for iPhone Photography.
October, 2016: MaklumFoto (Indonesian publication)
August, 2016: Nylon magazine (print).
December, 2015: My takeway point about Mobile Photography for 2015 – Mobiography.
December, 2015: Interview and feature in 121 Clicks website.
November, 2015: Feature in Eye Photo – Street Photography magazine.
November 2015: Feature in Cult of Mac, Peta Pixel and F-Stoppers about receiving the Apple Shot on iPhone 6 books.
October, 2015: Interview with Irish Tech News about Mobile Photography workshops in October and November, 2015.
September, 2015: Feature on my night photography shot on iPhone with Enlight blog.
August, 2015: Feature in print version of Stuff magazine.
August, 2015: Feature and interview with Pichit.
July, 2015: Interview and feature in The Irish Sun.
July, 2015: Interview and feature in Chinese photography magazine fotomen.cn.
July, 2015: Interview and feature in Cult of Mac.
July, 2015: Feature and interview in Inspired Eye July 2015.
June, 2015: Feature and interview in Irish Tech News in June 2015.
May, 2015: Feature in Street Photography magazine – Edge of Humanity – of my Korean photographs.
May, 2015: The popular camera bag and accessories company, Pompidoo did a feature on my photography here.
April, 2015: A feature of my Tokyo photography in the German photography magazine Kwerfeldein.
April, 2015: Irish state broadcaster’s, RTE, report of my winning the Mira Mobile Prize and The Journal’s report.
April, 2015: German magazine On! featured 5 of my images with background description. Check it out here.
April 2015: An interview with Knomo London about my iPhone Photography.
March, 2015: It was a great honour to be asked to help convene the panel of speakers for the mobile photography for the world’s first mobile journalism conference in Dublin, March 2015, organised by Glen Mulcahy and RTE. You can read about my experience of speaking at this here.
March, 2015: Here is an interview with iPhone Photography School I did.
December, 2014: Read about the image I am most proud of in 2014 on the mobiography website.
November, 2014, the Cork Camera Club invited me as guest speaker. I also judged their Street Photography competition in January 2015.
The online magazine Mobiography did a feature on my iPhone work with a video also.
French art magazine Plateform did a feature on my iPhone series of photographs taken in the corridors of my workplace. You can see it on p. 112 of this publication.
Travels with my Camera in Asia on the wearejuxt website in May 2014.
iPhoneography Central featured my iPhone photography with this video on their site.
‘The (iPhone) photo I am most proud of‘ on the excellent mobiography website.
Feature on my photography in Chicago Center for Literature and Photography.
‘More than a snapshot‘ – a feature of a series of iPhone images taken in Asia in spring 2012. (mobiography)
‘A day in the life‘ – interview on the appwhisperer site.
An interview and feature on one of my favourite street photographer’s website – Stephen Cosh.
Some travel and people photographs on the www.dphoto.com site.
