Hey, I'm Lucas.
I'm an adventure photographer from Vorarlberg, Austria.
My work? Capturing significant moments and bringing uniqueness to life again and again. My secret? Endless patience and the ability to sleep standing up. My home? A place where nature writes the rules and I merely try to capture its beauty. This is my story.
Believe it or not, I hated hiking.
I was a little explorer from the start. My parents took me into the mountains constantly and I wanted to see what was around the next corner. That has not changed since.
The hiking itself I often did not enjoy. Sometimes I got a little angry. But a handful of gummy bears usually made up for that.
Skiing needed no explanation. I was on skis before I could properly walk.
At first I just pressed a shutter button.
It started with my parents' old film camera. You could only press the shutter and wait weeks for the prints. Most of mine were blurry, crooked, or both.
Then my older brother bought one that actually made sharp pictures. The envy of a little brother is a powerful thing, so I saved up for a Canon 700D. That one changed everything. These are some of the first photos I took with it.
I had a lot of dreams and this was one of them.
After that camera I never stopped. Every mistake ended with the same question, how do I do this better next time.
Photo books, YouTube videos, tutorials, courses. Slowly the photos started to look like how I imagined.
Behind all of it was one dream, to see the world with my camera. The perfectionist in me made sure I was never quite happy with a photo. For a long time I could hardly like my own pictures, but it kept pulling me back out to try it one more time, a little better than before.
But I followed my heart.
Right after business school I got self-employed as a photographer. Many said I should follow a "real" job. But I didn't listen and went full time.
It was a jump into cold water. But I got my first clients and was truly happy.
A dream came true.
After saving money for years it was time to explore the world. I went on my first trip around the world.
It changed me for good. I came home with more ideas than I had left with and it still makes me dream bigger than is reasonable.
And it was only the beginning. A few years later South America followed, all the way down to Patagonia and the list of places I still want to see has only grown since.
I never thought this would happen.
Making it into the finals of Red Bull Illume had been one of my biggest dreams for years. When it actually happened in 2023 with a photo of a skier above Zürs, I could not believe it. I had never been given that much appreciation for a single picture.
A few years later I was able to add another highlight, first place in nature and wildlife at Austria's national photography award.
If someone had told me all of this as a teenager, I would have laughed.
Now I take others with me.
Seven years full time now and the road here was anything but straight. What stayed is the reason I started: being out there, where nature sets the rules and coming home with moments I won't forget anytime soon.
I still head out on my own a lot, at first light or long after dark. But more and more often I take others with me: couples up the Arlberg for their shoot, skiers into fresh powder and a whole community on free mountain adventures, where my main job is convincing everyone that the sunrise is worth the 4 a.m. alarm. It usually is.
Go out. Dream big. Repeat.
People told me none of this was realistic. They were right. I went anyway.
Whatever you're dreaming about, go and try it, even the parts that sound unrealistic. And if one of my photos gets you out there, that's the best compliment I could get.
How the prints are made
I don't print at home. Every order goes straight to WhiteWall in Frechen, Germany, a lab that prints for photographers and galleries and is made there just for you.
You choose the finish: acrylic glass, fine art paper or framed.
Hey, don't run off just yet!
Whether it's a question, an idea for a shooting, or a tricky spot on your wall you want a print to fit, I'd love to help. Pick whichever feels easiest:
- Email info@lucastiefenthaler.com
- WhatsApp +43 650 6936659
- Instagram @lucas_tiefenthaler