12 Facts About Chris Burkard

Chris Burkard is an American photographer and artist, based in the California Central Coast region.

Chris Burkard specializes in photographing in cold places, including in Iceland, Norway, the Faroe Islands, India, Cuba, New Zealand, Russia, Switzerland, and Italy.

Chris Burkard was raised by a single mother; she married his stepfather when Chris was 12 and they joined a family of five.

Chris Burkard is a graduate of Arroyo Grande High School.

Chris Burkard became exposed to photography as an art form and the idea of composition quickly captured his attention.

Chris 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.

Chris Burkard then borrowed a camera from his girlfriend's mom, and began shooting regularly, experimenting with different lighting and contexts.

In 2006, Chris Burkard shadowed large format landscape photographer Michael Fatali, whose images of the American Southwest desert are published frequently.

Later that year, Chris Burkard interned under Transworld Surfing photo editor, Pete Taras.

Chris Burkard operates a full service studio in Grover Beach, California shooting commercial and editorial work.

In 2006, Chris Burkard interned at Transworld Surf Magazine for four months prior to becoming assistant photo editor.

In 2008, at age 21, Chris Burkard earned a position as the senior staff photographer at Surfline, a global surf forecasting and content site, based in California.