We loved hearing from alumni and international photographer Lucinda Grange about her successful career. Lucinda has worked on some amazing projects and travelled the world for her work. She has been published by MoMA, BBC, New York Post, The Independent, The Guardian and many more

Climbing buildings such as the Chrysler building in New York and historical monuments such as the Great Pyramids Lucinda’s practice encapsulates her sense of adventure. Read on to find out more:

You have had a fantastic career as an adventure photographer, can you elaborate more on this genre of photography and tell us more about how you got started?

You could say I’m technically a landscape/documentary photographer. I explore the urban environment, document it and the people that climb it. But that doesn’t really describe how I work. And the way I work, I apply to any commission, be it portraiture or landscape based.

I’ve always had a sense of adventure and wanderlust. As a child I’d be climbing about in the old disused quarry next to my grandparents house. In the summer my friend and I used to move into the quarry. We’d live in a tent and cook on an open fire. It all started there. It was this Grandfather that got me into photography too!

Can you tell us about a pivotal working opportunity at the beginning of your career that you think helped you get to where you are?

While studying at CCAD I managed to get a meeting with a member of staff at Hartlepool Art Gallery, this really started everything. I was added to the line-up for a solo exhibition a couple of months after graduating and they commissioned me to work on an exhibition linked to the London Olympics. The PR from these two shows introduced me and my work to many future clients. I’m so incredibly grateful to the gallery, and the School for supporting me through those two exhibitions.

You work in multiple locations all over the world, what are the perks and challenges of working on location and travelling a lot?

The biggest perk of moving around so much is keeping momentum*. *Being constantly on the move is something that’s really good for my motivation and my mental health; I recently discovered that my mind and mood stagnates if I physically stagnante. The biggest challenge is being split between multiple addresses as I’m not always able to keep track of things, my passport, my camera batteries, anything.

Can you give us an example of a project that you felt was a highlight for your career (this can be anything you’d like to share, favourite location or client or project concept)

I’d have to say a single location that is one of my career highlights is the Chrysler Building in New York. I was able to climb up onto the eagles twice and camped in what used to be the ‘Cloud Club‘ at the base of the spire multiple times. I even managed to have my hen party at the same place and it’s become such an important building to me – it’s absolutely breathtaking.

Can you tell us about any projects you are working on

With personal work I like to keep my cards close to my chest, but I will say I’m working on a New York based collaborative project with three other photographers; @tomdurate , @max.box and @light.feet , and it’s incredibly exciting!

You studied at our school, what did you learn the most from your time studying with us and what’s your favourite memory of your time as a student? 

When I applied to the Northern School of Art (then CCAD), I had no qualifications in Photography, and was only part way through an AS, so I pretty much learnt everything there. My old qualification in art was an AS in Textiles, so everything felt very new to me. Knowing I’d have a lot of catching up, I knew the Northerns School of Art was the right choice due to the class size, and that all the lecturers are practitioners, still working in the sector.

There are so many amazing memories to choose from, but one thing that has always stuck with me was being told by a lecturer to photograph and make a portfolio of whatever I wanted most to be paid to do. Nobody will hire you without any evidence of what you are able to do. And that’s exactly what I did.I concentrated on creating a portfolio of travel and adventure based work. Thank you Northern School of Art, that’s now what I’m paid to do!

You can see more of Lucinda’s work on her Instagram and website. If you are interested in studying photography take a look at our photography page or find out more by booking on an open day!