Welcome to Leaders in the Field, a new column dedicated to spotlighting the passionate, innovative and driven individuals shaping the future of Australia’s shooting and hunting community. Whether they’re social media trailblazers inspiring the next generation of shooters, conservation-minded hunters, grassroots advocates or industry giants making real change behind the scenes, these are the people pushing our community forward.
Each month in Australian Shooter we’ll turn the spotlight on an industry figure to hear how they started, what they perceive as the biggest challenges we face as a community and what they’re doing to channel things in the right direction. The landscape of shooting and hunting in Australia is changing. From legislative pressures to shifting public perception, our community is at a crossroads. But within it there are voices of reason, experience and vision – people who are not only standing up for our traditions but reimagining them for a stronger, more united future.
To launch the series we’re delighted to feature someone whose work many of our readers will already know well. Chris Burns is a hunter and photographer whose images and stories have become a familiar and valued part of our Australian Hunter magazine. Through his lens Chris captures more than just the trophy, he brings to life quiet moments of the hunt, texture of the landscape and the deep connection between hunter and country.
His insight, both written and visual, offers a thoughtful and respectful portrayal of the hunting life, reminding us of the tradition, discipline and reflection which underpins it. In this first instalment of Leaders in the Field, Chris shares his journey into the outdoors, his perspective on the role of storytelling in modern hunting culture and how he hopes to contribute to a broader understanding of our community.
Chris Burns describes himself as a ‘commercial photographer and cinematic storyteller’. His spectacular photography, which can be seen on his Instagram account @chrisburns.photography, is driven by his love of hunting and absolute determination to protect it for future generations. Having crafted his skills and storytelling during the past 15 years, he’s developed a style to tell the full story of hunting and hunters beyond the ‘brag board’ ways of old. He spoke to Charlotte Fox.
Where did you grow up and how did that shape your love of hunting?I grew up in western Victoria about 50km west of Melbourne in a town called Bacchus Marsh, where I still live. It used to be a small country town but now, 35 years later, has expanded significantly. It’s quite busy but as a boy it was nice to grow up in a place where you could be surrounded by apple orchards, rivers and fishing spots.
I didn’t grow up in a family that went hunting but often went fishing as a teenager, which was essentially my gateway into hunting. Often I’d be down at the river trying to catch a few fish and see rabbits. That led my brother, when he was about 16, to pick up a bow and start hunting rabbits and foxes. At that time I was still into fishing but my brother, who was my biggest mentor, involved us more in hunting and working our way up from small game to pigs and goats.
From there we’d often travel to New South Wales with some mates and I really appreciated the freedom, camaraderie and adventure. It was also great to build relationships with local farmers and assist them with pest control.
Is that what you still love about hunting?
Yes and I still very much gravitate to being outdoors as it’s so liberating. I always enjoyed fishing, yet with hunting there’s a lot more to the whole journey and experience. It’s obviously different now with a family, so our trips take a bit more planning. I feel it recharges me even though it can be strenuous and you’re burning a lot of energy, but I come back refreshed from being in nature and under the stars.
How did you engage with farmers when you started hunting?
On the first few trips we connected through a directory of farmers who’d allow shooters on their properties. Most of the time they were specifically looking for assistance in eradicating wild pigs. In Victoria we’re also fortunate to have access to public land.
Do you think your kids will be involved in hunting?
Yes and my main goal with everything I do, from hunting to using social media, is never do anything detrimental to hunting to protect it for my children and other people. My kids may not choose to hunt but I’d like them to have that option.
I still love hunting as much as I did when I was 16 or 17 and would be heartbroken if my children couldn’t decide for themselves to have that opportunity and the benefits I have. It’s so valuable to be outside, disconnected from the grid and in nature. I think as humans we’re meant to be outdoors whether hunting, fishing, camping or something similar.
How did you launch your online presence?
In the beginning I’d go to Africa and do what everyone else was doing, safaris and those ‘grip and grin’ type photos. Through being involved in those trips I developed an understanding of safaris and how they help local communities generate income. Yet when I’d come back and post the photos, there would be a lot of negative comments and threats from animal welfare activists. It was around the same time Cecil the lion was killed and every day there’d be threats and nasty comments. The experience made me sit back and contemplate how I could tell that story differently.
How have you evolved your style since then?
I did that for about three years and was wondering ‘why don’t people understand what I’m doing?’ So I developed my imagery to a point where I’d tell more of the story before and more of the story after. I wanted to try and educate people who were on the fence about hunting and maybe didn’t quite understand the full story.
Basically I realised there was a chance to tell the story differently. I wanted to be able to explain the whole adventure, more like a documentary and step away from portraying what some might see as a single blood-lusting, grotesque image. I wanted to talk about being in nature, about travel, the adventure and camaraderie with the people you’re with and communities you’re visiting.
I know there are some who’ll never change their opinion but, for those open to it, I want to show a little bit more of the journey rather than just the final moment. I want them to be able to see the positive aspects of hunting. Traditionally I think we’ve missed out on explaining that important part of our story as hunters.
How has the change in style affected your online experience?
After 10-15 years of progress I don’t receive abuse any more. Platforms have changed too. Initially I was on Facebook but now largely use Instagram and my content isn’t being directed to people who aren’t interested in hunting. Because of that my experience is a lot more positive. There are now a lot of social media accounts which demonstrate we’re not just about killing an animal but respecting the animal and harvesting the meat for use. Sometimes it’s hard to capture the images you want but that’s the challenge and it drives me to keep developing as a photographer.
What are you trying to achieve with your online brand?
For me it comes back to not doing anything detrimental to hunting, I’m not invested in chasing numbers or followers. I’m committed to being authentic and to my main goal, which is to create content I’m proud of and which doesn’t portray hunting in a negative light. I’m not trying to be an ‘influencer’ driven by money, I’m genuinely trying to relay positive hunting stories.
How did you progress into working with clients?
At times hunting photography can be quite generic. For example, you’d see a review of a rifle with a photo of it sitting on a log and feel like you’d see that photo a hundred times. So I realised there was an opportunity to portray that image differently.
Through changing the way I was telling hunting stories and presenting images, I started to develop relationships in the industry which led to doing product videos and photography. I’ve taken a rifle into the back country on a hunt and, along the way, logged super-authentic imagery and content around it. In effect I’m using the product where it’s designed to be used. I also work with clients capturing their hunting trips.
How did you build photography skills and knowledge?
It started with David Attenborough documentaries. I always marvelled at how they could capture the amazing beauty of wild animals, especially in Africa. In relation to equipment I’m not formally trained, though I educated myself through deep dives into YouTube and exploring a lot of tutorials on that platform.
That’s another message I’d like to promote, that education isn’t a barrier for you to achieve your goals or pursue what fills your bucket, including capturing wildlife images. I also developed photography and video skills more when clients would ask me to record hunting trips. Often when you jump in at the deep end is when the most growth and development can occur.
What does your post-production or post-filming process look like?
For video it’s a long time. I have a process of starting with a rough cut then moving through multiple cuts, adding voiceovers and music to come up with the final product. As a rough guide it takes about two weeks minimum to produce a five-minute video, though I’m also a bit of a perfectionist. With stills I download them then decide where and what part of the story each section of those photos will tell.
I can tell from the answers you’re committed to visual storytelling. But do you still go hunting with your brother?
I do – it just takes a bit more planning these days!