Chris Burkard

Interview with the Adventure Photographer & Instagram Superstar

Chris Burkard is currently one of the most successful adventure photographers in the world. His Instagram account lists more than 3.4 Million followers and his clients are none less than Apple, Sony, Patagonia, and Land Rover.

But this devil of a fellow is much more than ‘just’ an award-winning photographer. He’s an explorer, a film director, a keynote speaker, a book author, a product designer, a brand director, a certified yoga teacher, a husband, a father of two boys and very likely a trillion things more.

Burkard strives to inspire humans to reflect on their relationship with nature and promotes to go off grid and explore, which he does without raising his moral finger or narcissistic self-promotion, but in a very refreshing, relaxed, fun and down-to-earth manner.

Recently we met up with the 33 year-old American, when he was promoting his film about surfing in polar waters, named ‘Under an Arctic Sky’ (also available on Netflix – watch it, it’s amazing!) and we can confirm; this cool guy definitely walks the talk!

We spoke to Chris about favourite secret spots, how to warm up when you’re freezing and the moments of fear and deep happiness.

Interview with Chris Burkard

Nature was doing all the work, I was just lucky enough to have put myself in the right place for it to happen.

Chris Burkard

Which was your favorite shoot ever and why?

CB: I took a trip to the Aleutian Islands, a chain of islands off the coast of Alaska, to shoot surfing. We didn’t really know what to expect when we got there except that some of the world’s biggest storms form there and that we had seen waves on Google Earth. After exploring the Islands for a few days we stumbled almost accidentally on a pristine right peeling wave with a snow covered volcano for a backdrop. When I started shooting images I knew I was getting something special but I still can’t believe I captured the moments I did. Nature was doing all the work, I was just lucky enough to have put myself in the right place for it to happen.

Which natural elements are the most challenging to capture?

CB: For me, the most difficult places to shoot tend to also be my favorite places to shoot. The harsh conditions that accompany my trips to the Arctic are by far the most difficult places to shoot. Most days, you are at the mercy of nature and have to put in a lot of time in grueling weather to get the images you want. Yet, even amidst the harsh climate there are glimpses of beauty, and finding them is by far the reward for shooting in the Arctic.

What was your most frightening experience on a photo shoot?

CB: My most frightening moment in my photography career was being arrested in Russia due to visa issues. I landed a few hours before my visa date issued on my passport and I argued about it for three hours. I was in Vladivostok, a port city on the Sea of Japan. It’s like the Wild West out there. Everyone else in my crew got to go through customs and we all submitted our visa dates the same way—mine were just wrong. I spent 24 hours in a dirty holding cell—it was basically a really gnarly private holding room with a one-eyed guard at the door, bars on the doors, and windows. Then I got deported and left on a flight back to Korea before returning to Russia the next day to meet up with my crew and finish the 12-day trip. Pretty interesting experience for anyone 22 years old. I laugh now but at the time I was really scared. I’ve never really had my rights stripped from me like that before.

Photography is moving toward those who are open to sharing.

Chris Burkard

With your photographs you invite the viewer to dive into an adventure and inspire him to go out and explore. Do you ever feel a conflict between sharing ‘unspoilt spots’ and therefore making them virtually accessible to the masses and feeling responsible to keep places protected or even a secret?

CB: Photography as a whole is really moving toward those who are open to sharing. Nothing’s a secret anymore. If you try to keep secrets, people just aren’t going to embrace it. They want to find people who are sources of knowledge and are able to share that knowledge.

Your children’s book ‘The boy who spoke to the earth’ is about a boy who sets out to find true happiness. When or where do you feel a deep sense of happiness?

CB: I would have to say I feel a deep sense of happiness when I’m with my family. If I had to choose a place that I have traveled to it would have to be the Westfjords of Iceland, Iceland in general would have to be my favorite place to be outside of California’s Central Coast.  

Best spot on the planet to pitch the tent for the night?

CB: By far my favorite place in the world is Iceland. It holds so much opportunity for adventure and surf. Every time I shoot there it is like walking on another planet. The geography along with the people of Iceland keep you coming back. Breanne (his wife) and I joke about living in Iceland when our boys get a little older for six-months at a time. I’ve been 25 times and have no intentions of stopping.

Ultimate tip to warm up frozen fingers and toes?

CB: Buy a bunch of those hand and feet warmers and constantly replace them. Once you get back to where you are staying start and fire and bask in the heat.

When you tell people you’re going surfing in Norway, Russia, or Iceland people look at you like you’re crazy.

Chris Burkard

Is there a difference between warm water surfers and cold water surfers (apart from the gear and water temperature)?

CB: I am a cold water fanatic at heart. Touristy beaches are always great but when you tell people you’re going surfing in Norway, Russia, or Iceland people look at you like you’re crazy and that’s the reaction that I want to get from people. Finding perfect waves in places that people would never even imagine going to surf is something that excites me and pushes me to create incredible imagery. I feel like we’ve all been sold the endless summer dream, and for me most of the warm places I’ve been to are littered with tourists and massive hotels – the mystery is lost.

Create your Chris Burkard Neverland / Lemuria scenario in landscape, flora, fauna, air temperature and water temperature….what would it look / feel / smell / sound like?

CB: Any place with beautiful backdrop, perfect waves, no one in sight and water temperature that most wouldn’t consider welcoming.
In many ways I’ve dedicated my career to searching and going to these places that shouldn’t exist. So instead of dreaming up a place that might not, I’m gonna stick to searching for the next place that might.

Are there ever situations you consciously choose NOT to press click and just enjoy the moment?

CB: Sometimes we can get so enthralled in the photography that we forget to enjoy the moment. Which is why I’ve been a big advocate of shooting with smaller gear and trying to be as involved as I can in the action and subject behind my photographs!

Watch the inspiring TED talk with Chris Burkard…

Chris Burkard wears a 5mm wetsuit for polar water surf photography. He preferably shoots with Sony A7riii (for all commercial shoots), Sony A7sii (for night and astro images) and Sony a6500 (for water shoots and trips that require light weight gear)

Watch this video to see what Chris packs on his trips…

For more information please visit www.chrisburkard.com @chrisburkard@burkgnar