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"Q. What is the essence of [Burning Man]? What makes it all work?
"A. The best answer to this question is 'come and figure it out yourself.' Personal experience is essential to the nature of the event." --Burning Man FAQ
I've been asked many times by non-burners, "What's Burning Man all about?" To me, it's another way of asking, "Why would anyone want to spend a week in the middle of desert with a bunch of [ravers, hippies, geeks, fill in your favorite stereotype]?" Burning Man has certainly become somewhat mainstream enough by now that many non-burners look at it with a set of ready preconceptions.
Those preconceptions may well be right. I certainly can't (and won't) try to come up with any reasons why anyone should make the effort to come all the way to a remote spot on the Nevada playa--and stay there. My own personal 1/30,000th slice of the Burning Man experience this year certainly didn't revolve around nudity, drugs, raves, or orgies. And I can't really draw any conclusions about how it compared to the experience of others.
The fly in the ointment is participation -- everyone chooses to participate (or not to) in a different way at Burning Man, making it radically different for everyone. And though cameras have been the source of some contention out on the playa, photography is the fullest and most honest way I know of to share the hours of Black Rock City with my fellow burners. Many yahoos carry cameras, but not all photographers are spectators. I hope the range of activities I've tried to capture in these pictures have succeeded to some extent in conveying how photography can be a fully participatory process, rather than being just about harassing women or bringing home pretty postcards.
Non-burners may have different, perhaps incredulous reactions to some of the bizarre sights here. Or perhaps they feel a tug, a fascination toward a certain scene. Or they may see something in particular and recognize it as an invitation flashing by. Looking at pictures can be a funny thing. And only you yourselves will know what it was that nudged you from behind the line of merely spectating to cross to the other side. The playa beckons -- or it doesn't. Only you can tell whether you've been invited, and why..
A big thanks to my fellow borrachos and borrachas at Camp ByB for making this burn possible for me. See you all on the playa -- or before then.
Please email me if you appear in any of these pictures.
UPDATE 09/28/04: Thank you for all of your kind words--please feel free to share the pictures with others. Also, you are welcome to leave a comment below or to email me. If you'd like to see additional pictures, I have another gallery of pictures of me and my campmates as well. Thanks, and see you at the SF Decompression on October 10th for those of you who can make it!
Great pictures! But, um, where are all the shots of naked women? Oh, wait, I forgot, that's not what Burning Man is about.
Posted by: Zak at September 15, 2004 07:11 PM
really great work. pic & words. you have captured it well. if you are around next year we would be honored if you stop by BINDILICIOUS / FANDANGO. allow me to gift you a beverage.
right on with your right on...
REED
Posted by: REED at September 18, 2004 04:29 PM
Bob-
Blue here, I cleaned radios with you last week. Excellent photography and a very real statement that followed. You got it, without doubt. Keep passing along your message. Everyone that ventures out there has potential.
BYB Rocks!!!
Peace,
Blue
Recycle Camp
Proj. Mgr./Spatial Advisor
Posted by: Blue at September 21, 2004 05:39 PM
Beautiful photographs -- and a wonderful non-description of the playa.
Thank you so much for sharing your images.
Posted by: Reagan at September 22, 2004 08:02 AM
Hey Bob. Thanks. One of the more moving diaries of an experience had on the playa.
Posted by: MizAng at September 22, 2004 09:22 AM
Wonderful! You have a way of tugging at one's heartstrings with this series. I completely agree with you that your camera's images are participation. This series is definitely a succesful one! I wish you good tidings and wonderful experience through these photos and the ones you will take later. Thank you for sharing these and I look forward to your future work.
Posted by: Brain at September 22, 2004 09:56 AM
that was awesome - thank you so much. i haven't been back since 2001. a lot of people do a lot of griping about 'how much it's changed blah blah blah' but even with the changes it appears that so much as stayed the same - it's still doing what it needs to for people.
Posted by: dori at September 22, 2004 11:12 AM
Thank you for pushing back the colors with the B&W imagery and words. Brings the "pictured" memory more to life for me, you and everyone else who really "sees"...personally provoking of emotions, experiences, and passions that IS the Burn! The Burn is a growing and changing "organism" specific to us each and all, and whether you get it or miss...it is changing to each participant...realized and perceived or not. Thank you for being a Brother in Vision!
Posted by: Little Bear at September 22, 2004 05:18 PM
These photos, and words, moved me to tears. This year was my first burn, next year will be better, for 7 years I've held my invitation.
Thanks for sharing your work.
Posted by: Cynthia at September 23, 2004 11:28 AM
As the Burning Man art curator and photo editor of our Image Gallery, I must say this is a very beautiful and moving tribute to Black Rock City. You are a sensitive soul, and your perceptive images and commentary are greatly appreciated. For those of us who have been going for ten or more years, it's wonderul to see our event through fresh eyes. Thank you for your gift!
LadyBee, Art Curator
www.burningman.com
Posted by: LadyBee at September 24, 2004 04:47 PM
I couldn't make it home this year... and I've enjoyed viewing this year's event through your eyes. Thank you for sharing your vision.
Posted by: Girl Chaos at September 28, 2004 12:16 PM
Nice! Very well done. Thank you.
Posted by: Jason at September 28, 2004 12:46 PM
Truly stunning. Thank you.
Posted by: Maribeth Van Dien at October 1, 2004 11:01 AM
Really nice, Mr. Hsiao, your words and pictures. I wish I'd written that. And, you don't know what I've seen!
xo
shibumi
publisher
black rock gazette
1999 - 2001
+++
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communications & identity development,
graphic design & print management tales
s i n c e 1 9 8 4
vicki olds
designer/producer
studio reflex
534 sixth avenue
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ca 94118
http://www.studioreflex.com
...go to the edge of the universe*
and look around
_____________________________
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* One light year equals 5,878,000,000,000 miles.
Posted by: shibumiburningman.com at October 11, 2004 10:33 PM
absolutely breath-taking....thank you for doing this. I really love your eye for photography.
:)
I believe in us.
mj
Posted by: MaryJ of Kingdom of Slack at October 15, 2004 03:27 PM
really nice work. I wonder if you'd like to do some kind of show at our space in Oakland. you can find us at LaunchPad.tribe.net.
Posted by: jvol at October 15, 2004 11:42 PM
thank you! not only are your pictures astonishing and poignant, but so are your words. beautiful work, participation, energy.
peace
shira
Posted by: Shira Loa at October 19, 2004 07:53 PM
Thank you so much for sharing this, and especially for your last words.
Burning Man is a source of incredible fascination for me, but every time I mention it to a friend, I get the whole "I've heard of that. People just go there to get messed up in the desert." Your comment reinforce that while some of those elements are present, it's certainly not the whole of the experience.
Thanks again. Hope to see you there someday.
Posted by: Trey at October 20, 2004 08:36 AM
I've enjoyed your site several times. Nice thoughtful work.
Thanks,
Mari
Posted by: Mari Stephenson at October 30, 2004 12:21 AM
Beautiful photos. I came here chasing a ghost, and was taken by your photos and words. Burning Man is hard to capture in photos, I'm glad you got a good bite! I hope to see you next year. Thank you for being a link in the wonderful chain....
Firey love, Scotty C. -- Member of The Liquid Diet Lounge
Posted by: Scotty C. at November 10, 2004 04:33 AM
I love your photgraphic story of Burning Man. Missed this year, and needed a burning boost.
This is perfect for even the most jaded of those "it-was-so-much-better-five-years-ago" Burners; and greatly appropriate for sharing with those who are just finding their way to a new home.
Thanks.
--spaceboy--
North Cackalak
Posted by: spaceboy at December 9, 2004 07:08 PM
Bob,
Nowhere Under the Sky is the best photopoetic treatment of Burning Man that I have ever seen.
Corky
)^(
Posted by: corky at February 22, 2005 02:27 PM
Brother,
I met you at Lamplighters. I been there all week, you just blew through. We met and interacted.
Rock On.
All I got to say about that.
That and "Lamplighters Rock!"
Take care.
Thank you so much for this gidt of a link.
Thank you.
~Vic 'Diesel' Coffin
Posted by: Diesel at March 1, 2005 01:15 AM
It is believed that great fires are a gate to our ancestors relm. By consuming that which binds our spirit to earth, one is set free. Tears of rage, sorrow, love and peace. All man. The WHOLE EARTH together as one we will survive the ravages of time. Divided, we fall.
Posted by: Bill at June 24, 2005 01:11 PM