Featured Photos
Burning Man 2009-2013 Photos now online! Check them out here! Spread the link please. These were all taken by me(unless I am in them of course). I had a great time out there on the Playa and only wish I could explain it to you guys. However no words will ever give you the feelings I had at any given moment. So I can only hope these pictures will inspire you to go and feel what is unexplainable. To get a picture of how large scale this was, here is an aerial photo and a Burning Man Map. It was 50,000 people, yes 50 thousand. All set up across the desert in a circle of 2 miles in diameter from what I hear. You have a clock from 10 o'clock to 2 o'clock. Center Camp is at 6 o'clock. I do not know the mileage on this but I have walked the Esplanade from 9 o'clock Plaza to 3 o'clock Plaza several times and it took forever. You can also walk straight across the Playa of course which I also did many times.
Center Camp Dust Devil
These little treats pop up pretty frequently and are in no way a "Sand Storm". They make for good viewing. This was my first hour on the Playa while my mind was still being shocked left and right by the stuff I was seeing. We had a real sand storm on Saturday which you will see later in my pictures. Anyway's, this is Center Camp at 6 o'clock and Esplanade.
Kite on the Playa
I found this on a journey out across from 9:00 to 3:00. It was set up right off the path. It was funny because the kite was so huge it looked like it was going to pull the truck off the ground. Surely it would have lifted a person which is why it was hooked to a truck is my guess.
Class Room, American Studies
Oh how funny is this. So random and out in the middle of the Playa. The board and map were labeled "American Studies". One time when I walked by there was a bunch of people sitting down taking notes or more like doodling with the provided note pads and pens while one guy taught a lesson. So of course I joined. It was great! He was asking questions like, "How many countries has America gone to war with?" and people were saying things like, declared ware or peace keeping war? He also asked out of those countries how many have we raped and pillaged? Oh it was such a great lesson. I raised my hand and asked if Freedom was considered a country since I think America is at war with it. Everyone cracked up. One person asked why does the lesson have to be negative and about war, why can't we learn about blah blah blah. And the teacher said, "because this is American Studies". Good times. Oh yeah and any random drunk person could walk up and be teacher. One teacher was spanking girls with the ruler!
My cubicle
This really cracked me up. Last thing on my mind was my cubicle, yet somehow it followed me into the desert. I sat down and looked around only to be reminded that I must attach my T.P.S. Reports! Yet I could not find my stapler to do so... Someone took my stapler.....
Double Dome, the night spot
Well this place was crackin at night. The only problem is it was PACKED. One night Bass Nectar played there and it was funny because the Double Dome(yes another dome is attached but not visible from this angle) is way out at 10 o clock on the Esplanade. Pretty dark and inactive path. Well on that night every Art Car and their mom were all bundled into this area and it was insane! This is actually the only place on the Playa where I felt unsafe, way too many people in that place with one way out.
The Playa at sun down
This is one of my favorite pictures and here's why. I was on a solo journey from 9:00 Plaza to my friends camp at 2:30 or so, the Petting Zoo one of the many awesome open bars in the avenues. And the sun started setting behind me leaving this awesome golden glow on the mountains ahead. So I sat down and waited, talked to a few people and chilled in the dirt. It was very peaceful and wide open. This picture reminds me of how vast and open it is out there, even in the midst of a 50,000 person City you can find peaceful moment in the desert.
Playa Burning Sky
Well here I am on the other side at my friends camp finally, had to snap a shot of the sun setting on the mountains.
Leaving Burning Man Sunset
Leaving Burning Man...... have you ever sat in 4 and a half hours of traffic and gone NO WHERE and been EXTREMELY PISSED OFF? Well we sat in 4.5 hours of not moving dusty wind traffic and I didn't care one bit. I was calm, at ease and it went by really quick. Maybe because I was in good company? Or maybe because you're sad you're leaving Black Rock City? Maybe because you're still in awe at everything you saw while there? Either way, you have no anger or anxiety from a Playa Exodus traffic halt. You just wish you could stay.
Martian Party Art Car Duck
Well this sure was weird to run into at an estimated time of 4am way out in deep Playa. It was a party duck packed with people dancing all over, it parked next to another Art Car and they were just living it up. I would have joined but I just got off another Art Car and was on a walk back towards Deep Playa where some blinky lights(aka Tripper Traps) were pulling me in.
Party Float
Just another weird contraption full of happy people. I wish I had more pictures of all the insane unthought of machines out there.... They are all registered at the DMV (Department of Mutant Vehicles). They roll around, you can hop on any of them and join the party and see where it goes. I call them Sand Ships, Party Buses, Desert Boats and so on. They call them Art Cars.
Boom Box Radio Art Car
I wish I had a picture of this one in full swing at night. It was all decked out, glowing and all. It was a mobile DJ Booth, the DJ sits in it and it has stacks of speakers inside and a giant green lit up antenna. It roams the desert creating a party wherever it stops. Awesome!
Shagadelic Art Car
This Shagadelic bus was one of my favorite Art Cars. It is where I first dubbed them "Sand Ships" because I was chillen back at camp(Moonshine Tavern) when out of no where I hear a full fledged ship horn!!! This was my first night there and I was like wtf is that a ship? I hear it a few more times then I hear a lot of loud music coming my way. And around the corner comes a green glowing fuzzy double decker bus towing a fucking sound system you could not believe! The thing has a SHIP HORN attached to it! I hopped on it once while out in Deep Playa and it was sooo plush inside, the top was nice and wide open and had a stripper pole on it! Oh man how I wish I had this bus. lol.
Me @ Sun Up (Keep forgetting to sleep)
This was after my night of walking around Deep Playa alone. Yeah I lost everyone I was with but that doesn't matter when you're in Black Rock City because you make new friends. Well I was finally done exploring and head back to camp just to find out people are still awake and getting smashed at the bar! We do it big and head out to Double Dome for some morning dancing. I think I got to bed around noon that day.
Ravers at Dawn
Yup, some of my peoples that I was drinking with at Moonshine and heading to Double Dome with. Bay Area was in full affect out on the Playa. I ran into so many people.
And here we were at Double Dome. I jumped up on stage and had everyone come up and join me. I sorta took over like I owned the place but it all worked out because we made friends with the DJ and he thanked us for getting the crowd live at 10am.
Ravers at Night
I was looking for these guys since I got there and didn't find them till Saturday!! I was going to camp with them but in the long run I never set up my tent. I was a nomad and it was great. I slept in the randomest places and it was all good. Except when I was sleeping in Deep Playa on the 10 story tower. Some girl woke me up and asked me if I was ok. LoL
Sand Storm Saturday in the Avenues
Well we had a massive Sand Storm on Saturday and this was during a point where you could go out for a bit. I took a picture just because it looked pretty bad ass. I was actually out with our group, we were all ridding bikes through the storm, it was pretty fun.
Sand Storm Saturday @ Moonshine Tavern
Well this next set of pictures will speak for themselves. During the Sand Storm so many people joined us at Moonshine Tavern for some "Playa Juice" the red shit you see everyone drinking. We were having a blast the whole day, everyone was so nice. I met a lot of good people there and hopefully some of you find your way here. People from Minnesota, San Diego, Oregon, Canada, Washington and so on. And of course the Bay Area!
Me Drunk in the Dust Storm
Me Drinking red shit
This was funny cause this guy in the dress(just came from the Playa Prom or something) was all hey is my face all red like yours or something. So I was all oh shit yeah is mine red like yours??? So someone took a picture for us. He was one of the many good peoples in the bar that day.
Rangers on the scene
Well one of our good bar buddies who shall remain nameless had a little too much to drink. This was after the morning trip to Double Dome, he started puking violently so we got the med tent people over and he was resisting help so they called the Rangers. By the end of the ordeal we had at least 10 Ranger cars all outside our tent.
The Wings
These were cool, lot of people climbing on them, they spin if you push them. Seemed to be a place for girls to get up and pose for all the photographers. Which was pretty damn awesome if you ask me! There was even a guy set up with his tripod taking Polaroid's and handing them out.
The Man, Day, Night and Burn
And here you have The Man, well, just wow. The Burn was insane. Like a 30 minute long non stop Grand Finale Firework show with nuke like explosions and massive fire and fire balls. I'll get video up here soon.
While on the Playa as you can see they have open bars everywhere. I brought all kinds of beer and shit up that I did not even need. I ended up donating it to other bars and camps. I also had all kinds of food with me but I got free food left and right. They have free Pancake Camps, Bacon camps and so on. Free Hot Dogs at Deep End and this and that. Everyone is so giving and sharing. I was walking along and a girl on her bike rides by and her umbrella drops, so of course I call to her and she comes back. She was so nice and gave me a Burning Man necklace thing she made. It is pretty damn awesome, I love it!
This place is a bike city, you have never seen so many bikes in your life, and at night? Wow everything is glowing! Bikes are all decked out. They even have a "pimp my bike" camp!
The Art Cars are all very creative, you see them every where you go. A lot of fire shooting mobile devices as well. Fire is every where. The propane industry and glow industry must make a killing this time of year.
So I arrived Thursday at 9am, did not know where my camp was. They were registered wrong in the computer. I didn't find them till Saturday night. That means I was homeless the whole time! I was a nomad in the desert. It was great, I slept here, there, everywhere. I did a lot of sleeping @ my buddies camp Moonshine Tavern on the couch, trampoline and such. I slept on a friends cot at his camp on the other side, I slept on the 10 story tower in Deep Playa, I slept in a chair out in the avenues and so on. I didn't need my tent, I had no reason for it. I was too busy exploring and taking small naps here and there.
I can not wait for next year, I'll be so much more prepared!
Be sure to check out my Burning Man videos too!
Ok so some of these cracked me the fuck up because of course it's kinda true. But if you've never been to Burning Man don't let this list fool you. The pictures above should prove otherwise.
Burning Man Survival Guide Preparation:
1) Stack all your fans in one corner of the living room.
Put on your most fabulous outfit.
Turn the fans on full blast.
Dump a vacuum cleaner bag in front of them.
2) Tear down your house, put it in a truck.
Drive 10 hours in any direction, put the house back together.
Invite everyone you meet to come over and party.
When they leave, follow them back to their homes, drink all their booze, and break things.
3) Pay an escort of your affectional preference subset to not bathe for five days, cover themselves in glitter, dust, and sunscreen, wear a skanky neon wig, dance close naked, then say they have a lover back home at the end of the night.
4) Buy a new set of expensive camping gear.
Break it.
5) Lean back in a chair until that point where you are just about to fall over, but you catch yourself at the last moment. Hold that position for 9 hours.
6) Only use the toilet in a house that is at least 3 blocks away.
Drain all the water from the toilet.
Only flush it every 3 days.
Hide all the toilet paper.
7) Set your house thermostat so it's 50 degrees for the first hour of sleep and 100 degrees the rest of the night.
8) Cut, burn, electrocute, bruise, and sunburn various parts of your body.
Forget how you did it.
Don't go to a doctor.
9) Don't sleep for 5 days.
Take a wide variety of hallucinogenic/emotion altering drugs.
Pick a fight with your boyfriend/girlfriend.
10) Spend a whole year rummaging through thrift stores for the perfect, most outrageous costume.
Forget to pack it.
11) Tell everyone that you're going to a "Leave-No-Trace" event.
Shop at Wal-mart, Cost-Co, and Home Depot until your car is completely packed with stuff.
Empty your car into a dumpster.
12) Listen to music you hate for 168 hours straight, or until
you think you are going to scream. Scream.
Realize you'll love the music for the rest of your life.
13) Spend 5 months planning a "theme camp" like it's the invasion of Normandy.
14) Walk around your neighborhood and knock on doors until someone offers you cocktails and dinner.
15) Get so drunk you can't recognize your own house.
Walk slowly around the block for 5 hours.
16) Tell your boss you aren't coming to work this week but he should "gift" you a paycheck anyway.
When he refuses accuse him of not loving the "community".
17) Search alleys until you find a couch so unbelievably tacky and nasty filthy that a state college frat house wouldn't want it.
Take a nap on the couch and sleep like you are king of the world.
18) Go to a museum.
Find one of Salvador Dali's more disturbing but beautiful paintings.
Climb inside it.
19) Before eating any food, drop it in a sandbox and lick a battery.
20) Spend thousands of dollars and several months of your life building a deeply personal art work.
Hide it in a funhouse on the edge of the city.
Hire people to come by and alternate saying "I love it" and "this sucks balls".
Blow it up.
21) Set up a DJ system downwind of a three alarm fire.
Play a short loop of drum'n'bass until the embers are cold.
22) Make a list of all the things you'll do different next year.
Never look at it.