Worn Out Wednesday – Photographer Chris Burkard

I began my career with more of an art background. Shortly after I decided to pick up a camera, I knew it would be my weapon of choice. I interned for landscape photographer Michael Fatali, which definitely helped refine my eye. Growing up I wasn’t able to travel and always had an urge to see the world. I landed my first surf trip in 2004 slated to Dubai. I didn’t really know what I was getting myself into but immediately got hooked. After that, I knew photography was the career path I would follow.

Photography is a tough industry to establish yourself in. Like everyone else I started my career working long days and doing whatever it took to further my skills. I’ve always been drawn to storytelling and that’s what helped me make the leap when I was 19. I owed it to myself to give it a shot. At the time I was working a job that I hated. I decided to give myself four years to pursue a career in photography and if it didn’t work out I would reevaluate after my four years were up. Driving long distances to unpaid internships and spending time sleeping and living in my car wasn’t great but I stuck through it and learned as much as I could from my mentors. Slowly my passion and hard work grew into a full on career. I was gaining recognition from companies and people within the industry that enabled me to take my work to the next level. In fact one of the pivotal moments in my career was winning the Red Bull Illume Contest in 2010.

As for my personal style:

Jeans: Simple. I like stretch. I hate the idea of function over fashion but it’s a part of my life. When you have to pack so little, I like to make sure every piece is multifunctional! Prana’s Theorem Jean is killer. Their dark indigo hides any stain you can throw at it.

Shirts: The Burbia Pocket Crew Tee, simple and super comfy.

Pants: I never leave home with out my Brion Pants.

Suits: The only suit in my life is a wetsuit. I’ve been rocking Axxe custom suits for a while.

Shoes: I’m a sucker for a good pair of Chelsea boots.

Accessories: Northwest Provider Ball Cap, Northern Lights Optics NL6 Sunglasses, Goal Zero Venture 30 Portable Charger, and the Cotopaxi Luzon Daypack. I love having a pack that is small and easily packable, it’s always great to work with a company that listens to your feedback and uses it to produce even better products!

Outerwear: Arteryx Atom LT, coyote brown. My favorite jacket hands down.

Favorite Cologne: This is the only smell I ever want to have on me, Big Sur Trail Resin Cologne.

Your favorite App: Instagram, it’s just pure fun. Sharing and interacting I really dig the way you can publish your work with one thumb.

Favorite piece of technology: Sony A7Rii – It’s my camera of choice from the mountains to big commercial jobs.

Next tech purchase: Probably a Petzl headlamp (I loose them all the time… it’s bad).