This Californian photographer with a new lease of life after battling drug addiction and alcohol has become an online sensation for his amazing images of local landmarks, even landing him in Vogue.

Christopher Balladarez, 27, told Newsflash that he became passionate about photography when he left rehab in 2017.

He explained that he had gone through a bad period in his life that involved drugs and alcohol, but after getting sober, photography gave him a new perspective about life and it allowed him to express himself differently, and to view the world in a way he never did before.

Balladarez added: “I ended up going the wrong way with no parents, no father or mother to really guide me as I grew up as a child. Unfortunately, my biological mother used drugs when I was in her womb, so I am a crack baby because when I was born I was having seizures from withdrawal, so the first time I used and drank, I became addicted.

“Having been adopted 4 times, I was really resentful, the older I got, so It led to bad choices. I went to rehab when I was 23 years old and It allowed me to learn about myself in a different way.”

The young man from Palmdale, California, chooses the subject matter for his photographs based on various criteria. Mostly, their popularity plays a role, but the weather conditions are the most important factor.

Balladarez said: “Most of the time you’ll find me in nature, isolated in locations where cell phone service
does not work, because I have noticed that the best pictures are made in those situations.”

Since childhood, he was adopted and had no desire to travel and experience different things but when he got sober, his photography business started expanding quickly. He said: “It gave me a reason to travel and visit all of these amazing places, being inspired to create images that have not been created at some of these popular spots. It fuels my creativity.”

At present, Balladarez sells his work through print orders and commercial photos, even being published in Vogue Magazine at one point.

Speaking about how he goes about capturing such incredible moments, he said: “I rarely use special effects and filters, my style of photography is more on the natural side with a pop of colour.”

Balladarez added: “Photography is my full-time job and I have been a working photographer for about two and a half years now.”

The talented snapper says that he loves to travel a lot and some of the countries he has visited include Switzerland, Italy, France, Spain, Thailand, Canada, Mexico and Guatemala.

The Californian photographer says that 4 years ago, he was heavily addicted to drugs and alcohol and had absolutely nothing to his name and no motivation to do anything, but now “anything is possible. If you want something in life, you’ll go through any length to get it.”

He added: “I am getting married. My fiance and I are building out a Van to live in full-time in October to travel the USA and really chase the dream. National Geographic is the goal.”