If your on Instagram and love images of surfing and adventure, chances are you’ve probably already heard of Chris Burkard and seen some of his work on your regular feed. If not then you’re in for a real treat. Chris is a self taught photographer and artist from the Central Coast of California, whose work primarily focus’s on surf, dramatic landscapes, the outdoors, and adventure based subjects. Chris’s work can range from a photograph of some guy screaming down the face of a mutant wave in Russia, to Yosemite’s beautiful half-dome. Not only does Chris’s locations change dramatically, his style of photos also seem to have a range as well. Some are punctuated by vibrant light and scream an adventurous energy; while others depict a more subtle tone. I think that the outdoors has a great way of presenting itself in these two manners, and Chris is really good at capturing both of them. Chris’s main focus is the ocean and he uses surfing as his proponent to express the emotions he sees in the big blue. Like many surf photographers, Chris spends just as much time behind the camera as he does on the board, but its rare that we get to see that event take place on camera. Most of his work stems from week long surf trips, where in between beaches he finds time to take some epic shots. One of my personal favorite projects by Chris is the California Surf Project which features a trek from the edge of northern California to basically the tip of Mexico. The project is very inspiring and I hope to one day venture on such a trip myself. I also feel its worth mentioning his team suiting up in 12inch deep snow. The hunger for surf is deep, and Chris’s work truly shows that. And if your not totally into surfing, then maybe your into adventure and the outdoors…either way Chris has got your covered. Also he’s just a rad guy, I met him once at a rock climbing gym on the Central Coast; and when I say met I mean that my friend told me he was in the gym with us after we had left the facility. So kind of but not really…but I’m sure he’s a rad dude; this story basically means I have bad friends. Anyways, check him out, follow him, get inspired, and go surfing.
