Chris Burkard Instagram – California’s Carrizo Plains & Cuyama Valley provide little access even with a good 4×4 vehicle for those hoping to photograph the surrounding ridges… while planning this particular assignment, we felt that flying in an Lightweight Aerial Trike and a Cessna seemed the best way to capture the dramatic effects of the super bloom in a way that gave genuine context to the landscape… something I value when putting together a body of work. Throughout my career, @natgeo has always been an incredible example of showcasing the earth and the important stories that it has to share… so this assignment to document California’s super bloom following significant winter rainfall in 2023 felt a little extra special being so close to my home.