Travis Burke (@travisburkephotography) Instagram Analytics

This morning, as I stood between the two palm trees, with a lightning storm approaching and the universe overhead, I felt small in the best kind of way.

For most of human history, skies like this were something we all shared. We lived by the stars. They guided us and kept us connected to something far bigger than ourselves.

Now, over 80% of the world lives under light-polluted skies, and for many, this view no longer exists. It’s not just about us, artificial light is disrupting entire ecosystems that rely on darkness to survive.

Photographing and learning about the night sky has always been one of my biggest passions, and with this week being International Dark Sky Week, I wanted to share a simple reminder:
Our night skies are changing fast, but we still have the chance to protect them.

When was the last time you saw a sky like this?

(Self-portrait, shot alone on a remote beach in Costa Rica)

Camera Settings:
Shutter Speed: 15 sec
Aperture: f/2.8
ISO: 6400

Wow! I can’t believe we got the shot of my dreams!
Tomorrow is the last supermoon of the year. Make sure you go outside and enjoy it!

This project is really special to me because it combines three of my biggest passions: skateboarding, astronomy, and photography.

After weeks of planning, scouting locations, and obtaining permits, a once-in-a-century flood destroyed the road to my original location. With the supermoon approaching fast and some camera equipment still delayed in shipping, I had to find a new location with clear skies and the right topography.

We ended up driving three hours into the desert and spending the day skating at the incredible @desertskateranch in 110°F (43°C) heat. All day, I felt the pressure, knowing that we only had one chance to capture the final image as the sun went down.

As Sean ran up the mountain, I raced into position almost a mile (1.6 km) away, hoping that I had made all the correct calculations. In those few brief seconds, when everything lined up perfectly, it truly felt like a dream come true! Huge thanks to @klarifiedproductions and @avocadosforlunch for helping to make this possible!

If you’ve read this far, please leave a comment or share this post with someone who might enjoy it! Your support goes a long way. Don’t forget to step outside at night and look up!

#supermoon #skateboarding #photography

Volcano of Fire.
We hiked to 13,000 ft (4,000m) and camped beside one of the most active volcanoes on Earth.

Standing there, you see the eruption… then feel the shockwave hit your body seconds later.

A mix of awe and humility, watching new earth being created by one of the most powerful forces on the planet!

Watch till the end, it only gets better after the sun goes down.

Wow, I can’t believe I managed to capture yesterday’s total lunar eclipse while camping next to one of the most active volcanoes on Earth! 

We hiked to the summit of Acatenango 13,045 ft (3976 m) and camped above the clouds with a direct view of the explosions of Volcán de Fuego erupting roughly every 15 minutes.

At the same time, the sun, earth, and moon were all somehow perfectly aligned as we spin at 67,000 mph (107,000 km/h) through space. The Universe and this little rock we live on are humbling, mind-blowing, and inspiring.  

The first image is a composite captured over several hours as the eclipse unfolded. The exposure shifts dramatically from full moon to totality, which makes moments like this both technically challenging and fun to experiment with. This is why I fell in love with photography, it pushes me to places that feel bigger than me.

Huge thanks to @glamping.acatenango.campify for the incredible experience, and @dwarflab for helping make this adventure possible. It was so cool to be able to hike a portable telescope up a mountain.

One year through Mexico. A journey of people, connection, stillness, and growth.

Following dirt roads, shared meals, and quiet moments ingrained more lessons in me than any amount of books or screen time ever could.

I learned from artisans whose knowledge had been passed down in the same small towns for centuries, wandered through Mayan ruins swallowed by jungle, and surfed empty waves along the wild coast.

These moments felt sacred, so I chose to shoot each of them in black and white. Something about it feels more honest and timeless.

This series is a little different from my usual style. Let me know if it speaks to you, and if you’d like to see more along my journey south.

Gracias por todo México 🙏🏼

I was a bit nervous when I started driving solo down the coast of mainland Mexico. I had no idea what to expect, but that was kind of the point.

What unfolded over the next six months was my complete disconnection from the online world. I connected with strangers who became close friends, shared my love of skateboarding with local kids, spent countless hours in the ocean, and rediscovered myself in the stillness in between.

Most of the experiences went undocumented, but here are a few moments that were captured along the way.

Living on the road is not easy (I’ve been doing it for over a decade), but the people, the landscapes, the smiles, and the personal growth make it all worth it!