Chris Burkard - The Art of Suffering

May 26, 2020

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Chris Burkard is a world-renowned photographer, filmmaker, and storyteller whose work captures the beauty and rawness of some of the earth's wildest places. Whether documenting iconic climbs in Yosemite or frigid surf trips deep in the Arctic Circle, Chris has established himself as a committed artist who is willing to suffer extensively to get the perfect shot. And because of his love and respect for these wild places, Chris is also a committed conservationist, using his artistic skills to showcase the importance of endangered places and effect positive policy changes.

Born and raised on the Central Coast of California, Chris spent much of his youth exploring the mountains and coastline of his home state. During high school, he fell in love with photography and eventually left college to pursue it as a full-time career. After several years of working to establish himself in the business, Chris’s commitment and hard work paid off—he’s now one of the most sought after photographers for a wide range of clients, from corporations like Apple to independent publications such as "Surfers Journal" or "Modern Huntsman." Chris’s career is a testament to the power of hard work, positivity, boundless energy, and laser-like focus.

I’ve been a fan of Chris’s for years, so it was a real pleasure to have the chance to chat with him. We both took a break from our respective quarantines and kid-wrangling duties to meet up via Skype for a fun and wide-ranging conversation. The specifics of Chris’s photography career have been documented extensively in audio and print, so I wanted to learn more about what makes Chris tick—why he chooses to suffer in dangerous environments, how he and his wife engrain grit in their two sons, and how he manages to muster positivity during tough times. We also talked a lot about his commitment to conservation, as well as his commitment to working with smaller, independent outdoor publications. And as usual, we discuss favorite books, places in the West, and Chris offers some timely words of wisdom. Links to everything are in the episode notes.

A huge thanks to Chris for taking the time to chat during such a crazy time. I hope you all enjoy this conversation—it’s a much-need burst of energy and optimism during this challenging time!

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https://www.chrisburkard.com
Full Episode Notes: https://mountainandprairie.com/chris-burkard/

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TOPICS DISCUSSED:

3:30 - “Pain is a shortcut to mindfulness”
7:15 - The process of learning to appreciate pain
10:00 - Growing up in California
14:00- When photography entered Chris’s life
16:00 - Deciding to leave school to pursue photography
18:30 - Choosing to be positive
22:30 - Thoughts on cultivating grit in children
25:00 - Striving to live up to one’s full potential
27:15 - Outdoor adventure as a parenting tool
29:30 - Re-evaluating risk as a parent
36:00 - Training for mental stress
37:30- Ultra-endurance bike riding
42:00 - Meditation training
43:00 - Dealing with the stress of COVID-19
46:30 - Work in the conservation world
53:45 - Commitment to working with smaller outdoor publications
58:30 - Favorite books
1:02:30 - Favorite places in the West
1:04:45 - Parting words of wisdom

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