American photographer
Chris Burkard |
|---|
 |
| Born | (1986-03-12) March 12, 1986 (age 37)
|
|---|
| Nationality | American |
|---|
| Occupation | Photographer |
|---|
| Website | chrisburkard.com |
|---|
Chris Burkard is an American photographer and artist, based in the California Central Coast region. He photographs landscape, lifestyle, surf, outdoor, and travel subjects. Burkard takes a photojournalistic approach to make editorial projects, using multiple media.[1] He uses natural light to capture humanizing moments.[2][3][4]
Burkard specializes in photographing in cold places,[5][1] including in Iceland, Norway, the Faroe Islands, India, Cuba, New Zealand, Russia, Switzerland, and Italy.[6][7][8] Burkard has been named a top travel influencer.[9][10]
Early life and education
Burkard was born in San Luis Obispo, California. He was raised by a single mother; she married his stepfather when Chris was 12 and they joined a family of five. He is a graduate of Arroyo Grande High School. After completing high school in 2004 at the age of 18, Burkard enrolled in classes at Cuesta Junior College.[11] He became exposed to photography as an art form and the idea of composition quickly captured his attention.[12] Growing up near the ocean and participating in water sports such as body surfing, bodyboarding, and surfing, Burkard sought to use photography as a mode of expression to highlight the movement of water and document his friends.[13][14]
Burkard purchased his first camera from a Goodwill auction for $65, and after shooting and developing an entire roll of slide film he realized the camera didn't work. He then borrowed a camera from his girlfriend's mom, and began shooting regularly, experimenting with different lighting and contexts. Raised on the cusp of photography's mainstream transformation from film to digital in the mid-2000s, Burkard is self-taught in both.[15]
In 2006, Burkard shadowed large format landscape photographer Michael Fatali,[16] whose images of the American Southwest desert are published frequently. Later that year, Burkard interned under Transworld Surfing photo editor, Pete Taras.[7][15][17]
Career
In the early years of his career, Burkard worked as a freelance photographer on both editorial and commercial projects, as well as having work published on over 35 national and international covers of magazines including Surfer Magazine (both print and digital),[18] The New Yorker, National Geographic Adventure EandSPN.com[19][20]
Beginning in 2009, Burkard was contracted by Patagonia, Inc. as a project photographer. Burkard also operates a full service studio in Grover Beach, California shooting commercial and editorial work.[21] Burkard has spoken at TED.[22]
In 2006, Burkard interned at Transworld Surf Magazine for four months prior to becoming assistant photo editor.[23][24] In 2008, at age 21, Burkard earned a position as the senior staff photographer at Surfline, a global surf forecasting and content site, based in California. At this time he also served as senior staff photographer at Water Magazine until his departure in 2010.[15][25] Burkard was hired at Surfer Magazine in 2010. As of May 2013[update], he holds the position as senior staff photographer.[5][26][27][8]
Personal life
Burkard is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Burkard lives in Grover Beach with his wife Breanne; they married in 2007 and have two sons, Jeremiah and Forrest.[28]
