Burning Man Photography Tomas Loewy

If you have been to Burning Man previously you would know what I am trying to describe without having the courage to start, as I will not end once I start. Burning Man is basically indescribable. Anything to anybody. Everything to many. Nothing to some. For the real information maybe better go to the official Burning Man page, read about the background of the celebration and especially the Media Myths page, where misconceptions about Burning Man are somewhat defused. For some personal impressions of a Burning Man virgin (that´s what I was in 2004) click thru the galleries of that year. Since then my involvement has grown and the need to go to Burning Man with it. The moment you leave it you want to be back to celebrate that illusion that builds in your mind.

I have tried to put the illusion into images. The photos which many of you have come to love still don´t show the real feeling of Burning Man, just the vast superficial attraction, which - as many superficial attractions do, being not only superficial - runs deep. I might try to come up with more and better explanations until another Burning Man, but for now I needed to sort out the pictures myself for continued work on them, so I am putting them into some kind of shoe box type categorization. Browse and wonder...

Please feel free to browse and look at the gallery most appealing to you by their lead image. Every image you see is just the storefront image for a whole photo gallery, described as well as words will carry. Click on the image and your browser will open that gallery in a new window.

warmer than usual, no nights with temps in the 40ies . less intense dust storms, although we got caught up in one and it was the most amazing and beautiful experience (depends who you are with in the middle of the storm and what you make of it...).

beautiful temple again. smaller artworks even than 2008, not comparable to the grandest of 2007. but that's fine, burning man is about the personal experience and that was different & wonderful. thank you for that, sandra.

50,000 people for the first time; three days of dust storms; the burn being some hours late; a beautiful grand, solemn temple; no monumental artworks as in 2007.

What a Burning Man year it was, maybe the best year yet? Some 39,000 people came, my wonderful camp mates had a superb new art car (thanks, Joe / Spider); I got two bikes stolen in a 20 hour period (but somehow that is OK, the sacrifice brought to the goddess of the playa, maybe), was able to photograph the burn from the inner circle (and got almost pushed into the fire by the running of the burners, definitely ended up with an overheated right side of my face); etc, etc.

Two innovations for 2006: you have the option to see the full galleries at one glance or the same gallery as a slide show. Also, you can now see some 360 degree images, which means you can spin on your heels and see around yourself. See below by loading the Quicktime VRs marked - what else - "360".

Here´s a new element: Quicktime VRs that give you a 360 degree view of the scene. They take a moment to load, but then you can navigate thru them by clicking inside the scene and moving your mouse left or right.

Most defining are the people who go to an event like this, obviously. Over 38,000 this year. Just to break it up a bit I put my impressions of people and their surroundings and situations and interactions with the landscape and with each other into four separate galleries, sorted by ... nothing but the chance sequence of the pictures. (Yes, there´s a fifth gallery, but that is secret, a more detailed view of some people posing).

As defining as the people is the landscape shown in the first gallery. Besides all else the site defines the climate, not an unimportant parameter for Burning Man. Very hot during the day (like 100F/40C or more). Very cold at night (maybe 40F/5C). The mountains hold the dusty desert together. The wind comes by from time and time and moves the dust into your eye, mouth, tent, sleeping bag. There can be whole afternoons of dust and sandstorm. No fun. Breezing masks become a must. Not pleasant but part of the deal...

You know you are confined to the playa and thats it. Behind the mountains there is a different world, some call it the "real world". Well this is as real as it gets for those 4, 5, 6, 7 days. But the playa changes. It feels so different during the day, mysteriously covered at night, and gets a unique ambience in the really early hours. Timing activities at different daily periods is one of the best precautions from falling into a routine.

My favorite day was the one where the feeling of the last remnants of night gave way to a very early morning with the sun rising in the freezing cold and the gradual change of temperature after that brought a fast changing light and the feel of life returning (not that it had ever dissappeared, it was just toned down for a short while).

My favorite place (unfair as it is to say this, as it only works in conjunction with all the other happenings and places and sights and sounds), far out from the mass gatherings, where you have to make an extra effort to reach it is the Sanctuary, the Temple. If you are ever there (and if they keep building a Temple) go out and pay the Temple several visits, ideally at different times of day. It is a unique and - dare I say, although not qualified to do so - spiritual experience.

Burning Man is a celebration of life as art, art as life and everything in between. And all over the place there is art. "Official", like the one selected in these images, and lots of just-there-art, which you see everywhee, also in the other image galleries. Art is what you consider art and artistic and you could be blind and still see the artistic nature of the event.

But there still is the Temple to be adored, tablets to be written there while playing the crystal bowls or praying or yoga-ing, personal and public ceremonies to be held. Look at the Temple gallery above. That last day at the Temple is solemn and moving and almost not "pictureable", although it looks pitoresque. It is much more quiet that day than the days before. And at night, yes, obviously at night, the TEMPLE is burned. No fireworks, just a giant fire, which lasts for hours. Wandering the playa away from the burning Temple and the thousands of bycicles just lying on the desert floor between the worshippers is a treat of its own. The noise dies down and one can contemplate the stars, the future and ... whatever. The universe, maybe?

(A little trick that you can always use in Internet Explorer: the F11 key will switch "full screen" ON and OFF. Try it. The galleries just look better in full screen). Enjoy and please comment and sign my GuestBook.


	Burning Man Photography Tomas Loewy presents: BurningMan Impressions What a great ... Yes, what a great "what"? If you have been to Burning Man previously you would know what I am trying to describe without having the courage to start, as I will not end once I start. Burning Man is basically indescribable. Anything to anybody. Everything to many. Nothing to some. For the real information maybe better go to the official Burning Man page, read about the background of the celebration and especially the Media Myths page, where misconceptions about Burning Man are somewhat defused. For some personal impressions of a Burning Man virgin (that´s what I was in 2004) click thru the galleries of that year. Since then my involvement has grown and the need to go to Burning Man with it. The moment you leave it you want to be back to celebrate that illusion that builds in your mind. I have tried to put the illusion into images. The photos which many of you have come to love still don´t show the real feeling of Burning Man, just the vast superficial attraction, which - as many superficial attractions do, being not only superficial - runs deep. I might try to come up with more and better explanations until another Burning Man, but for now I needed to sort out the pictures myself for continued work on them, so I am putting them into some kind of shoe box type categorization. Browse and wonder... Please feel free to browse and look at the gallery most appealing to you by their lead image. Every image you see is just the storefront image for a whole photo gallery, described as well as words will carry. Click on the image and your browser will open that gallery in a new window. Images from SIX years of Burning Man (2004 - 2009) . Enjoy responsibly! for BEST enjoyment: use F11 in your browser to watch! or as three animotos, the restrictions of ebay force me to separate it into three chapters. Check it out: 2009 . again almost 50,000 people - maybe surprising under economic conditions. warmer than usual, no nights with temps in the 40ies . less intense dust storms, although we got caught up in one and it was the most amazing and beautiful experience (depends who you are with in the middle of the storm and what you make of it...). the burn again late bcs of that storm, but as opposed to 2008 including fire performances. beautiful temple again. smaller artworks even than 2008, not comparable to the grandest of 2007. but that's fine, burning man is about the personal experience and that was different & wonderful. thank you for that, sandra. slide show individual photo galleries sorted by descriptive subject: Art People Transportation Temple Night Landscape Sunrise Man b4 Burn Infected Mushroom Shabbat on the Playa Burn the Man Glowfur Wedding Camp Tetrion/Overkill Sandra 2008 . 50,000 people for the first time; three days of dust storms; the burn being some hours late; a beautiful grand, solemn temple; no monumental artworks as in 2007. 10 minute slide show shorter 7 minute version individual photo galleries sorted by descriptive subject: Art People Transportation Temple Night Landscape Sunrise Man before Burn CT ... Burn the Man Pink Pussycat Wedding & Party Thunderdome Camp Overkill 2007 . Over 47,000 burners saw the most impressive art displays of my four years at the event. Amazing! Highlights 2007 or Slideshow here Best of Burning Man 2004 - 2007 People 2007 or Slideshow here Art 2007 or Slideshow here Landscape 2007 or Slideshow here Transportation 2007 or Slideshow here CT Ride . Burn the Man 2007 or Slideshow here Temple 2007 or Slideshow here Camp Overkill 2007 or Slideshow here Glowfur 2006 . What a Burning Man year it was, maybe the best year yet? Some 39,000 people came, my wonderful camp mates had a superb new art car (thanks, Joe / Spider); I got two bikes stolen in a 20 hour period (but somehow that is OK, the sacrifice brought to the goddess of the playa, maybe), was able to photograph the burn from the inner circle (and got almost pushed into the fire by the running of the burners, definitely ended up with an overheated right side of my face); etc, etc. Two innovations for 2006: you have the option to see the full galleries at one glance or the same gallery as a slide show. Also, you can now see some 360 degree images, which means you can spin on your heels and see around yourself. See below by loading the Quicktime VRs marked - what else - "360". Lean back and enjoy. And please e-mail me with comments. Highlights A or slideshow here Highlights B slideshow here Highlights C or slideshow here People or slideshow here Pink Pussycat Dawn Party or slideshow here Here´s a new element: Quicktime VRs that give you a 360 degree view of the scene. They take a moment to load, but then you can navigate thru them by clicking inside the scene and moving your mouse left or right. Art or slideshow here Air views slideshow here Landscape ... slideshow here Camp Overkill Art Car slideshow here other Transportation ... slideshow here The Man before Burn slideshow here Party after CT Ride . Burn the Man ... slideshow here Temple slideshow here Burn the Temple ... slideshow here Shabbat on the Playa slideshow here Camp Overkill ... slideshow here 2005 . Landscape People 1 Temple People 2 Art Burn the Man Moving Around Moving Around 2 Shabbat Camp 2004 . Landscape Impressions People 1 Most defining are the people who go to an event like this, obviously. Over 38,000 this year. Just to break it up a bit I put my impressions of people and their surroundings and situations and interactions with the landscape and with each other into four separate galleries, sorted by ... nothing but the chance sequence of the pictures. (Yes, there´s a fifth gallery, but that is secret, a more detailed view of some people posing). As defining as the people is the landscape shown in the first gallery. Besides all else the site defines the climate, not an unimportant parameter for Burning Man. Very hot during the day (like 100F/40C or more). Very cold at night (maybe 40F/5C). The mountains hold the dusty desert together. The wind comes by from time and time and moves the dust into your eye, mouth, tent, sleeping bag. There can be whole afternoons of dust and sandstorm. No fun. Breezing masks become a must. Not pleasant but part of the deal... You know you are confined to the playa and thats it. Behind the mountains there is a different world, some call it the "real world". Well this is as real as it gets for those 4, 5, 6, 7 days. But the playa changes. It feels so different during the day, mysteriously covered at night, and gets a unique ambience in the really early hours. Timing activities at different daily periods is one of the best precautions from falling into a routine. My favorite day was the one where the feeling of the last remnants of night gave way to a very early morning with the sun rising in the freezing cold and the gradual change of temperature after that brought a fast changing light and the feel of life returning (not that it had ever dissappeared, it was just toned down for a short while). As I have promised not to dwell on my own impressions here´s just some pictures... Daybreak and early morning My favorite place (unfair as it is to say this, as it only works in conjunction with all the other happenings and places and sights and sounds), far out from the mass gatherings, where you have to make an extra effort to reach it is the Sanctuary, the Temple. If you are ever there (and if they keep building a Temple) go out and pay the Temple several visits, ideally at different times of day. It is a unique and - dare I say, although not qualified to do so - spiritual experience. The Temple People 2 Art Burning Man is a celebration of life as art, art as life and everything in between. And all over the place there is art. "Official", like the one selected in these images, and lots of just-there-art, which you see everywhee, also in the other image galleries. Art is what you consider art and artistic and you could be blind and still see the artistic nature of the event. NightTime The Sara(h) Party Yes, a party for just people named Sara, Sarah ... and their friends. Hi, Sarah! People 3 So, here come the official highlights. THE MAN is burned. Something like 4th of July fireworks with a little pyromania mixed in ... Too cheesy? Burn the Man The day after THE MAN is burned many visitors leave. Exhausted? From what? OK, just kidding. But there still is the Temple to be adored, tablets to be written there while playing the crystal bowls or praying or yoga-ing, personal and public ceremonies to be held. Look at the Temple gallery above. That last day at the Temple is solemn and moving and almost not "pictureable", although it looks pitoresque. It is much more quiet that day than the days before. And at night, yes, obviously at night, the TEMPLE is burned. No fireworks, just a giant fire, which lasts for hours. Wandering the playa away from the burning Temple and the thousands of bycicles just lying on the desert floor between the worshippers is a treat of its own. The noise dies down and one can contemplate the stars, the future and ... whatever. The universe, maybe? Burn the Temple Shabbat @ Black Rock JCC Fire and Light TeddyBear Camp (A little trick that you can always use in Internet Explorer: the F11 key will switch "full screen" ON and OFF. Try it. The galleries just look better in full screen). Enjoy and please comment and sign my GuestBook. ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... . . . . Ó 2004 . . . . ... unique visitors since July 1st 2004 ... Free Web Counters ... individual hits since July 14th 2004 ... Free Hit Counter