True Adventure

Acclaimed photographer Chris Burkard seeks big waves and adventure in the fjords of Iceland.

By Charles Villeneuve

Catching massive waves and hanging around with fellow surfer buddies may sound like a lot of fun initially, but photographer Chris Burkard, filmmaker Ben Weiland, and a bunch of experienced thrill chasers were looking for a lot more than just waves in the winter of 2017. In the remote fjords of Iceland’s Hornstrandir Nature Reserve, the group searched for abnormally large waves in the dead of winter, not at all expecting the largest storm in 25 years bellowing straight for them. With nowhere to escape, the group had to wait out the storm for five days, resulting in some of the most challenging and exciting events Burkard ever faced.

Burkard initially met up with Weiland and other surfers to shoot an epic travel story in Iceland, hoping to surf the best waves on that side of the equator. However, the trip did not go as planned as the storm not only derailed the trip but possibly even threatened their lives. Having no choice but to ride out the storm, they had to make a difficult decision: hope for good waves or simply return home. Burkard could not help but feel the thrill of real adventure lurking in these dire circumstances.

After sticking it out, they accomplished their goal. With the Northern Lights above and some gnarly waves below, they managed to get the best shots of their careers and experienced something dangerous but rewarding, telling a story unlike anyone had ever done before.

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Born in 1986 in San Luis Obispo, California, Burkard had a normal upbringing, raised by his mother and stepfather. After graduating from Arroyo Grande High School in 2004, he was exposed to photography for the first time. His big opportunity came when he shadowed landscape photographer Michael Fatali and later interned under Transworld Surfing photo editor Pete Tara. This sparked his adventurous spirit and made him want to see the world.

Currently, Burkard is known for his outdoor travel photography, often filming his experience traveling to new and exciting climates like the Arctic Circle. When making films, he ponders the meaning of his subject, such as the freedom of surfing in the Arctic or trekking through Iceland. For Burkard, adventure isn’t something you can just read about in a book. To do it justice one has to see it for themselves to truly understand the vast greatness of the world. Burkard made it his mission to tell people’s stories and show people parts of the world they cannot see for themselves.

Early in his practice, he realized there was more to photography, that it was a passage to the new lands that lay beyond the borders of his known world, and with the power of photography, Burkard saw new horizons. “It was the byproduct of basically not traveling as a kid. I didn’t have a passport and I never really went anywhere,” says Burkard. “So it was kind of this thought of when I was younger it was like there was maybe some way I could potentially... go and see the world and (photography) was kind of a tool to get me there.”

His adventures aren’t as simple as getting on a plane with a camera. Hours upon hours are needed to plan expeditions, and at times he has struggled with the idea of whether or not it is even worth it. Burkard says, “where you’re spending your time is really valuable and when you’re going away from your family it becomes more and more critical, too. It can feel like you are running away from your family, running away from places you know because you love (traveling).”

Where he travels also counts, and Burkard primarily focuses on colder climates, always hoping for an increased sense of adventure. Ideally, somewhere far from civilization, somewhere not reachable by car.

At first, traveling to the Caribbean, New Zealand, and Australia seemed really cool, “but there’s often like a high rise hotel right behind where we were surfing or something like that,” says Burkard. “It just kind of became really hard to deal with.”

Burkard began to question what truly constituted an adventure. Was an adventure merely leaving your home country, or was it something bigger and more meaningful? He gradually arrived at his answer after a trip to the Arctic Circle. He felt anxiety, impatience, joy, and challenge. To Burkard, adventure meant leaving your comfort zone, getting away from society, and truly being in the moment, completely focused on new surroundings. There, miles away from the nearest hotel, he felt exhilaration, a new sense of freedom. It dawned on him, he should switch to colder, more exclusive climates, away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. As a result, Burkard felt more immersed in his surroundings, focusing more on the trip and less on unimportant things. To Burkard, adventure isn’t just a faraway, previously unknown destination. It’s that feeling of newness, experiencing the unknown, living purely in the moment with no secular distractions. All that is needed is a leap of faith.

Ultimately, the most important factor is what constitutes an adventure. “I want to go to places that feel more remote, unique, more challenging, and things will be a lot harder,” says Burkard. “Somehow, someway I thought maybe I would find those answers in the cold.”

He believes that by documenting these natural wonders people’s perspective widens, creating a deeper appreciation for nature. Adventure isn’t just going somewhere new but traveling somewhere unfamiliar and challenging. In Burkard’s case, it was the fjords of Iceland, the place where he felt the most stress and satisfaction. Burkard has seen only a little of this world but with adventure lurking around each corner, he’s excited to keep searching.