Good morning friends.
We have a fantastic feature today. This was an incredibly enjoyable piece to do. Say hello to Travis Burke. We have all heard the term “Home is where the Heart is” — Well Travis must have a big heart because he lives all over the country. He has seen and done things that I never even knew existed or was doable.
The Wave in Arizona
At 29 years old Travis is an exceptional photographer with an incredible sense of adventure. You might think of him as a 21st Century Indiana Jones. He doesn’t just want to live behind the camera, he also wants to be the object. Between Surfing, Kite-Skateboarding, high-lining, or hanging off a 500 foot bridge to capture the perfect shot of base jumpers in Twin Falls, Idaho, Travis is a hands on photographer.
Salty reflections along the California coast. This is a 40 minute exposure creating star trails around Polaris (the North Star)
Taking pictures is one thing, and experiencing it is another thing. When a photographer also participates in the activity, it brings a lot more passion and authenticity to the picture.
Quick to note, “High-Lining” is the sport of walking the Tight Rope. Yes, Travis (pictured above) has walked a tight rope 130 feet long and 400 feet high. He is no ordinary photographer. World renowned High-lining specialist, Jeremy Miszewski has said only 100 people in the world can walk that kind of line. Travis is now one of those people.
Beautiful yet dangerous Ice Caves in the Pacific Northwest. See more of Travis’ work on Instragram;
About 7 years ago on a family trip to Yosemite National Park in California, Travis bought a Nikon D300 and his world changed forever. He did not know that taking pictures on a family vacation would turn into unshakable passion and profession. Its like they say, if you love what you do, you’ll never work another day in your life.
Backpacking the Lost Coast Trail with my girlfriend in California
Travis caught his break a couple years back when working for Grind TV. He was an outdoor adventure photographer for them. He specializes in photographing all different types of athletes and sports.
My van after I just finished fully customizing it for my road trip around the country
Travis took his grandmother’s 1994 Dodge Ram Van and converted it into an “Adventure Mobile,” which allows him to work and travel full time, continuously photographing diverse locations. He’s been traveling and working out of his Van for about 2 years now. Below is the video of how Travis transformed his van into a high tech travelling home. Folks, don’t miss this video. Its hard to believe
“Traveling allows me to constantly shoot in diverse locations and meet up with different types of adventurers around the world. Choosing the “van life” made the most sense for me because it fits all my essentials (My surfboard, skateboard, slackline, camera gear, mountain bike, etc.) yet can still get me everywhere I want to go.
Wandering through the depths of Southern Utah
Travis’ diverse and creative approach to outdoor adventure photography stems from his own perspective on life. His dedication to conquering anything thrown at him and living life with no regrets shines through in his photographs.
Hidden waterfalls in Washington
Work days range anywhere from spending countless hours on the computer editing photos, to backpacking in search of hidden waterfalls! Whether it’s highlining over a 400-foot canyon, backpacking the entire John Muir Trail in the Sierra Nevada mountain range or, capturing the Milky Way Galaxy in remote locations, Travis is constantly pushing himself and the boundaries of his craft.
Happy campers along the Oregon Coast
Travis is able to make his journey, which is currently open-ended, thanks to a few select companies who sponsor what he does. Some of his sponsors include GoPro Cliff Bar, GoalZero and several others.
Stargazing along the Back roads of Vermont
Travis says marketing his work to the right clients is a mixture of social media channels that have the target audience he’s looking for as well as working with different companies that have the same passion. He currently has 300,000 followers on Instagram and more than 12,000 likes on Facebook. Some of his clients include ESPN, Dragon Alliance, Crossfit760, Matuse Wetsuits, Under Armor Personal Trainers, Travis Pastrana’s Nitro Circus, NIK Software and the X-Games.
My girlfriend Shay swimming with Rays in San Pedro, Belize
“Being an adventure photographer is an opportunity to have a blast and see the world, but there are also sacrifices that accompany traveling full time. I miss family and friends, and not every day on the road is as glamorous as people think. Making financial ends meet, flat tires, lack of showers and even dirty laundry can make the open road a frustrating but ultimately a rewarding challenge.”
Summer nights in San Diego, California
“Fortunately, I’ve grown up in southern California allowing me to participate in all kinds of athletic activities. Some are traditional, like surfing, others slightly more obscure, like kite-skateboarding. It seems fitting to me that the images I shoot be of ventures I either participate in already or have a desire to. I don’t simply want to be behind the lens. I want understand the feeling and excitement then capture that through photography.”
One of my favorite campsites in Southern Utah
As I mentioned above this was one of the most interesting stories we have done on “The Good News Channel” — Many people can dream of this kind of life but Travis Burke is actually living it. Travis and I corresponded several times over email and I can hear is passion come out in his words. He’s a real gentleman with an incredible passion for photography, sports, and an overall Zest for life. It was a privilege having him featured on our website.
You can find Travis on Instagram; https://www.instagram.com/travisburkephotography/
Also Travis Burke can be found on Facebook; https://www.facebook.com/TravisBurkePhotography
