Alan McFetridge

Alan McFetridge is a photographic artist and researcher from Aotearoa/New Zealand, based in London. His work examines landscape fire, ecology, climate change and public memory through photography, books, exhibitions, field research and public programming.

His long-term projects consider how communities live with fire and how photographic practice can contribute to ecological understanding, public memory and cultural repair. Working across Canada, Australia, Aotearoa New Zealand, Greece, Turkey and the UK, McFetridge brings together field photography, environmental history, fire science and collaboration with artists, researchers and community partners.

Biography

Alan McFetridge is a visual artist and researcher whose work examines the global impact of landscape fire, ecological change and public memory. His projects combine photography, environmental history, field research and collaboration with communities, artists, scientists and cultural institutions.

In 2016, McFetridge was awarded the Royal Photographic Society Environmental Awareness Bursary, enabling fieldwork in Fort McMurray, Alberta, after the Horse River Wildfire. This work became the foundation for On The Line and the long-term project Fire North: Book One, a photographic monograph on the aftermath of one of the most significant urban wildfires in modern Canadian history.

His field studies have taken him to Canada, Australia, Aotearoa New Zealand, Greece, Turkey and the UK. Across these sites, McFetridge has worked with the aftermath of wildfire, Indigenous fire knowledge, experimental burns, satellite imagery, photographic publication and public ecological reflection.

McFetridge’s work has been presented through exhibitions, books, talks and academic contexts. His photographic series Songs of the Dead was published in Sophia Journal, and he has presented research at the Association for Art History Annual Conference and Johns Hopkins University. His work has received five Prix Pictet nominations and he was a finalist for the International Marianne Brandt Award for Connectedness – Experiments on a New Relationship with Nature.

His practice continues to ask how photography can help people look carefully at fire, landscape and ecological transformation. The central message of the work remains: we must relearn how to live with fire.

Selected Projects

Fire North: Book One
A photographic monograph on the aftermath of the 2016 Fort McMurray wildfire in Alberta, Canada, bringing together field photography, satellite imagery, essays and community testimony.

On The Line
The first book to emerge from McFetridge’s Fort McMurray fieldwork, reflecting on evacuation, displacement, roadways and the social memory of fire.

Pyrocumulonimbus Super Outbreak
A photographic study of the Black Summer fires in Australia and the fire-driven thunderclouds that marked a shift from landscape fire to atmospheric event.

Healing Flame
A project exploring regenerative fire, Indigenous fire knowledge, scientific burns and the possibility of fire as an ecological ally.

Centre for Ecological Philosophy
An artist-led platform for ecological thinking, public programming, publishing and collaboration.

Selected Publications, Awards and Editorial Recognition

2022
Finalist, International Marianne Brandt Award, Connectedness – Experiments on a New Relationship with Nature.
Nomination, Falling Walls Breakthrough of the Year, Art and Science category.

2021
Five Prix Pictet nominations.
Speaker, Climates of Colonialism, Association for Art History Annual Conference.
Feature, The RPS Journal.

2020
On The Line selected for Fotobook Festival Oslo.
Royal Photographic Society artist talk.

2019
On The Line, published.
Feature, The Guardian Australia.
Feature, The RPS Journal.

2006
Judges’ Choice, Association of Photographers Awards, selected by Michael Schnabel.
Included in 200 Best Ad Photographers Worldwide, Lürzer’s Archive.

2005
Work published in Communication Arts Photography Annual 46.

2004
Silver Award, Structures Series, Association of Photographers 21st Photographers’ Awards.
Featured in Creative Review coverage of the Association of Photographers Awards.

2002
Work published in The Association of Photographers 19th Awards.

2001
Silver Medal, Royal Photographic Society 144th International Print Exhibition.
Featured in RPS Journal, May 2001.

Chronology

Alan McFetridge, practice chronology, 2013–2023
Mapping fieldwork, publications, exhibitions, awards, nominations and the development of the Centre for Ecological Philosophy.

Exhibitions

2024
Earth Day exhibition, Lauderdale House, London

2021
RPS Gallery, Bristol, with RPS IPE 162

2020
Beverley Art Gallery, Beverley, with RPS IPE 162
Oriel Art Gallery, Theatr Clwyd, with RPS IPE 162
RPS Gallery, Bristol, with RPS IPE 162

2019
Wedge Gallery, solo exhibition, Sydney, Australia

2018
Blatna Foto Festival, Czech Republic

2017
Syngenta Photography Award, Grow/Conserve, Somerset House, London
RPS 160th International Print Exhibition

2015
RPS 158th International Print Exhibition
Hidden in Plain Sight, Norwich University of the Arts

2014
Flat 15 | 12 Balfron Tower, Bow Arts, London

2013
Composites, solo exhibition, Long White Cloud Gallery, London

2012
2x2, solo exhibition, Long White Cloud Gallery, London
Disappearing Act, solo exhibition, Long White Cloud Gallery, London

2011
Blink, East London PhotoMonth, Long White Cloud Gallery, London
Into the Wild, Long White Cloud Gallery, London

2009
RPS International Print Exhibition
Lens Modern Exposed, Daylight Zone Studios, London

2006
Because you’re worth it, g&A Studios, Sydney

2001
John Kobal Portrait Prize, National Portrait Gallery, London
Royal Photographic Society International Print Exhibition

Awards and Nominations

2022
Falling Walls Breakthrough of the Year nomination
International Marianne Brandt Award finalist
Selected for London Creative Network

2021
Five Prix Pictet nominations

2017
Syngenta Photography Award

2016
Royal Photographic Society Environmental Awareness Bursary
LeBook Berlin Creative Awards, personal project
Sunday Best, publication

2014
Shortlisted, Royal Academy Summer Exhibition

2013
Capture One endorsement
Capture Magazine interview, Australia

2008–2007
Communication Arts Photography Annual
Photo District News Photography Annual
200 Best Ad Photographers Worldwide
Lürzer’s Archive

2006
The Awards, Association of Photographers
Photo District News Photography Annual
Cones of Zonact, publication

2004
Silver, The Awards, Association of Photographers
200 Best Ad Photographers Worldwide
Creative Review

2002
The Awards, Association of Photographers

2001
John Kobal Portrait Prize
Silver Medal, Royal Photographic Society International Print Exhibition
AN for Artists, interview

The East London SUPERLAB is a photographic printing studio and workshop.

Alan McFetridge CV PDF Download

Features and Publications.

2022 Sophia Journal - Landscapes of Care in Unstable Territories

2021 The RPS Journal - Feature

2020 Book Launch On The Line - The Photobook Cafe, UK Prints for Communities - If Not Who Then Us, Indigenous Landcare

2020 On The Line selected for Fotobook Festival Oslo - The Norwegian Association of Fine Arts Photographers Paper

2020 Speaker at Climates of Colonialism panel at Annual Conference for Association for Art History, UK.

2020 Artist Talk, Royal Photographic Society Artist Talk, Norwich University of the Arts If Not Us Then Who - Fundraising prints for communities

2019 Book Launch On The Line - Australia Guardian Feature - After Fire. 2018 The RPS Journal, feature.

2015 Judge for Australia’s Top Emerging Photographers, Australia.

2012 Lurzer’s Archive, International.

2011 Lurzer’s Archive, International. Jungle City, publication, UK.

2010 Lurzer’s Best Automotive Photographers in the World, International.

2009 Royal Photographic Society, Print Exhibition, UK. Speaker at Tate Britain’s initiative Raw Canvas, UK.

2005 Unrealised Projects, Vol. 3, publication, Australia. Communication Arts - Photography Annual, USA. Lurzer’s Archive, International.

2003 Communications Arts - Photography Annual, USA. Lurzers Archive, International.

Alan McFetridge Photography Ltd is a company registered in England and Wales with company number  8174116 and VAT registration number 140932236