I started loading, developing and processing my own film and photographs when I was fourteen years old. I sweet talked my high school art teacher into letting me start photography early since freshmen were not allowed to even go in the darkroom let alone check out a camera and shoot. Honestly, I have my sister Maijaliisa Burkert to thank for this, who my teacher loved because of her outstanding photographs but it wasn’t that easy. I had to prove myself to her. I took my mom’s Olympus 35mm camera from the 1970s and shot a couple rolls of film one Fall weekend and the rest is history.
After high school I began to pursue a degree in photography. I attended Wilbur Wright College in Chicago where I had two amazing photography teachers who taught me how to perfect a photograph not only in taking it but printing it as well. One of my teachers would always tell me I needed just a little bit more or less of this or that. I had a few of my photographs published in the schools Annual Arts publication and also had several photos in the Annual Fall Art show.
After a year of studying at Wilbur Wright College I moved back to Minneapolis and finished my degree at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities. I graduated with a Liberal Arts Degree in Studio Arts-Photography. Since graduation I have worked as a freelance photographer having my photos published in local newspapers City Pages, Star Tribune, Vita.mn and Pulse of the Twin Cities, regionally based PLS Mag and National publication URB Magazine. I have also involved in the first two years of B-Girl Be’s visual exhibition at Intermedia Arts as well as a show at Joan of Art Gallery in Minneapolis.
Peep the technique:
Analog