ONE MOMENT BY TOM HEGEN

"In the final result you don’t see how big the effort behind the image was. All the preparation, the communication with the helicopter companies, cancellations, language barriers in all those countries, waiting out option days because of bad weather. But when you finally get into the air and realize through the camera – now this perfect shot has come together. When that moment happens, all the effort was worth it for me," Tom Hegen.

“One Moment” celebrates the instant when everything comes together. What’s your One Moment? For me, it’s the moment when all the effort pays off. When the image in the viewfinder is perfect – composition, light, lines. That’s when I know: this one will make it into the exhibition. But getting there is a path full of preparation, travel, and sometimes setbacks. That single click is the essence of it all.

How do these shots come about? With enormous effort. I research for months, plan routes, and obtain permits. In the air, it’s a team effort with the pilot – often with open doors, in cold temperatures and strong winds. You have only seconds to get the perfect composition. When everything aligns, I feel it instantly: this is the moment.

Your work shows landscapes from a perspective rarely seen. How did it all begin? Actually by chance – during my civilian service in New Zealand. I had my first camera with me and photographed those breathtaking landscapes. Over time, I understood how crucial the right moment is: the light, the mood, the composition. Later I studied communication design and focused more and more on photography – until I realised my passion was aerial photography.

Your Salt Series is known for its intense colours and graphic structures. What fascinates you about it? For me, salt symbolises our relationship with natural resources. We use it daily without thinking about where it comes from. In large salt ponds, evaporation creates colourful basins that from above look like abstract paintings. The boundaries between photography and painting blur – I work with surfaces, contrasts, colours, almost like on a canvas.

You’ve been working with WhiteWall for a long time. Why? For me, the goal is not the file but the printed image. A work truly unfolds its impact only on the wall. For that, I need absolute quality and variety – fine art papers like Hahnemühle, large-format prints, mountings, acrylic glass for depth. WhiteWall delivers exactly what I see on my monitor. This precision and reliability are essential to me.

Why is presentation so important to you? It’s just as important as the photo itself. A good print and the right framing turn an image into a work of art. That’s why I love working with WhiteWall – because I know my moment will get the stage it deserves.