A city in the desert. A culture of possibility. A network of dreamers and doers.’ Is the tagline for the Burning Man festival, and it lives up. Once a year people of all races, ages, and stages join together at Black Rock City to experience art and community in the most radical way possible. Less words - More pictures.
Flower Girl
Another vision of beauty, with flowers in her hair and a smile on her face, this woman poses in front of Burning Man art looking at one in her environment.
Don't close your eyes yet, there's more...
Love
Photo by Gerome Viavant
A defining feature of Burning Man is the art installations people create for the festival, all of which are burnt at the end of this extraordinary event. One such installation is named‘ Love’. The art piece, made by Ukrainian artist Alexander Milov, is an expression of the conflict between man and woman as well as the eternal struggle of human nature.
Sandstorm Shields
One of the sights you will see often around the festival are these funky looking goggles. To shield themselves from desert sandstorms, Burners wear protective gear. This guy used the look for his fashion statement, pairing it with a captain hat and penguin print scarf.
Smells Like Free Spirit
Instagram/ stephssimon
Once again, an epic photograph capturing the free spirit of the Burning Man campsite. It’s just wide-open desert spaces with weird and wonderful breaks of art and interesting people in between.
Endless Sands
A simple picture that had endless beauty. The scene of the sand dunes which seem to go on forever in the distance is what surrounds festival-goers when they attend Burning Man
Unicorn Lady
She is riding a unicorn bike through the long sands of desert sand in one of the most majestical outfits. This woman certainly went all out when it came to bringing her A-game to Burning Man fashion.
Embrace
Photo by Raquel Baranow
Embrace is an installation which was created at the 2014 Burning Man. This 7-story tall wooden cathedral shows two humans embracing. The group responsible for its creation stated, "It is a spiritual center dedicated to the moment and our relationships with our loved ones."
Teddy Bear's Picnic
You never know what weird and wonderful sights you will find at this festival where anything goes. Take this line of Teddy bears looking like they’re doing their own thing. Nobody even seems a little bit confused!
Balloon Chain
Photo by Wolfram Burner
One powerful installation is this balloon chain created in 2012. No, it is not as complexed and giant as some others, but the simplicity of the balloons wondering through the sky day and night is enchanting.
Love Chain
The expression on this woman’s face says it all. Dressed in a light grey ballgown, she holds hands with other Burning Man festival goers as they look onto a Burning Man art installation.
Transportation in Style
This group of people knows how to transport a cart across the desert in style. With the jewel-toned matching outfits, they make the process look like an art-form.
The Temple of Transition
Yet another breath-taking art piece found among the desert dunes of Burning Man, The Temple of Transition was a feature in 2011, created by a crew of over 150 people from around the world! This outstanding structure was the 5th-tallest wooden construction in the world at 126-feet. It offered a peaceful. Contemplative and emotional space for festival goers.
Sandy Scott Eastwood
Scott Eastwood/ Instagram
Actor Scott Eastwood, son of Clint Eastwood, who is known or his work in movies like “Suicide Squad” was also in attendance for 2017 Burning Man, clearly, he is barefoot, in his element, and weathering the sandstorm.
Medusa Madness
Photo by sedriks.
California artist Kevin Clarke created this trippy installation. The towering steel statue is of medusa’s head, and the snake-shaped structures spit fire, how cool can you possibly get Burning Man?
Feeling the Beat
Instagram/ David Kong
Another striking aspect of the festival is the music. Festival goers are able to fully let loose and get into the vibe with some incredible dj's covering all genres of music. This picture captures the musical madness.
Unique Festival
Instagram/ vascobilbao
Another unique aspect of the festival is that nothing is provided, and participants are responsible for bringing everything they need, including food, water and shelter!
A Neon Katy Perry
Katy Perry/ Instagram
Katy Perry full-on embraced the neon vibes when she attended Burning Man in 2016. She aptly captures her Instagram post ‘luminary fairy’.
Magical Ride
The sites you see are Burning Man are sure to be weird and wonderful as they come. Take this light-strung vehicle that looks almost majestic in the sandy background.
Crude Awakening
The theme of this structure created in 2007 was to envision the downfall of the US empire and fossil-fuelled civilization. Heavy stuff, I know, but after some serious hard work, including a 90-foot oil derrick, nine figurative steel sculptures, and 900 gallons of jet fuel, this ambitious installation came into being.
Dancing Away
This gorgeous scene from Burning man shows participants dancing as around 70,000 people from all over the world gather together in this colorful celebration of unity, love, and freedom.
Braided
Model and personality Cara Delavigne pulled out all the stops for Burning Man 2016 and went for these crazy colorful braids- looks like someone was fully tapping into the free spirit of the festival.
Classic Scene
A classic Burning Man scene. Half-naked people, bicycles for days, and endless sand. You can almost feel the good energy radiating from this un-posed photograph.
Arriving in Style
Instagram/ oliverkoletzki
Festival goers may arrive by train, car, or as these guys did it best- by ‘mutant vehicle’, a souped-up theme car. We can only imagine these guys were in for a wild ride.
Key Note
Photo by: William Neuheisel
This structure, by artist Michael Christian, was made in 2009. It is made entirely of locks, from bike locks to padlocks. Imagine seeing this image through the dust storm, dragging a large key behind him he is looking for another key, as the artist points out, it is a paradox of life as we know it.
Love is in the Air
Instagram/ Sara Sampaio
Another selfie from the gorgeous Sara Sampaio, and this time with her man Oliver Ripley. Kitted out with her goggled and fur coat she captioned this sweet pic ‘Because this place wouldn't be the same without you!’
Mirror Man
Instagram/ reviewjournal
This festivalgoer, Steve MacWhithey, aka "Man in the Mirror," handmade his famous glass suite containing over 5000 mirrored pieces. He claimed, "The suit allows people to see themselves and the energy they're giving off as they talk with me,"
Fire Away
Another breath-taking image of the Burning Ceremony at the end of Burning Man. This structure is hardly recognizable anymore as the huge flames surround it- a breath-taking sight.
Tribal
This group of people make for one incredible photograph. Walking through the desert with white robes with flames, what a sight.
Furr-man
Guys can make a hell of a fashion statement too when it comes to burning man, just check out this fur-coated man. Although it is a desert, and he must be melting under there.
Entertainment
The beauty of the festival is that people are in charge of their own entertainment and their own experience. Take this photograph which perfectly illustrated a scene at Burning Man. A man mid-juggling with a bike rider scarved from head to toe in the distance.
Paris the Gladiator Goddess
Instagram/ Paris Hilton
One celeb who is a huge fan of the festival, attending it multiple times is Paris Hilton. Here she brings out her inner gladiator goddess posing as only Paris knows how.
The Portal
This is an interactive art and music project which includes a simple hall that has a wind harp at one end, two massive fire organs which make sound with torch flames, and an interactive whispering wall.
One of the creators of the project stated, “When you come into this space, when you encounter this portal and these still beings, it is like you are immediately transported into a childhood fantasy story, but it's got a weird strange alien twist to it.”
Mask Mania
Who says only girls can bring their A-game when it comes to Burning Man fashion- just check this guy out who is rocking his weird and wonder look and is ready to party.
Barter System
Another unique factor about Burning Man is that no money changes hands throughout the event, rather people are given gift items to one another.
Charon
At first glance, this installation may look pretty morbid, but the artists’ aim is for viewers to not dwell on the morbid tones, but one the positive changes we can make in our life from human passage to the afterlife
Burn Baby Burn
As we mentioned, the key factor of the Burning Man Festival is that all the installations are burnt at the end of the festival, this is a breath-taking scene of one structure on fire as the ceremony comes to an end.
Puppeteer
@xmasons
The images taken at this festival sometimes seem like they are otherworldly. Take this one which captures an incredible structure of a giant puppet making her way across the sand.
Mohamed in the Desert
Instagram/ Mohammed Hadid
Mohamed Hadid is another one of the Hadid family that hates to miss a Burning Man. Here he is pictured next to one weird looking vehicle amidst the desert sand in 2015.
Plane Crash
Don’t worry, an accident did not just happen on the Burning Man grounds. Rather this is a classic scene of using and every article to create a piece of art.
Sandy Susanne
It is not only the young celebs who are attracted to the good vibes of this festival. Actress Susan Sarandon is amongst the celebs who are huge burning man fans.
Ego
The Ego Project was an installation created in 2012. A small word with huge connotations, each letter stands 20-foot tall and 10-foot wide. Don’t forget the symbolism, the Ego will be burnt at the end of the ceremony hopefully symbolizing a burning of your own ego!
Lights, Camera, Action
An iconic photo taken at Burning Man. This scene almost looks like it is taken at least 100 years ago. Festival-goers pose ready for their picture to be taken in the background.
Black Rock Desert
This landscape picture shows the entire campsite, 50,000 people meeting in the remote Black Rock Desert of Nevada engaging in the kind of social experiment found nowhere else in the world!
All You Need Is Love
This awesome Burning Man shot encapsulates the spirit of love which the festival aims for. Against the background of the installation of two figures embracing, this couple holds o to one another.
Loving Life
A shot captured mid-action at the festival. This guy carries the sign I Love My Life and it certainly seems like he is having the time of his life!
Attention Please
This is one way to draw attention to yourself! This guy looks super interesting… carrying a pot plant, some multi-colored pieces of clothing and…a rocket? You never know what you’ll come across in this wacky desert-land!
Clowning Around
What a moment. This photographer captured a couple with clown inspired face paint looking on to some spectacular scenery. We can only imagine what it may be, perhaps the burning of an installation at the end of a ceremony? Whatever it is they looked transfixed!
Night Lights
The scene in the Nights at the Burning Man festival always look something like this- neon lights from the structures lighting up the grounds as festival goers socialize and party.
Truth is Beauty
This monumental sculpture created by artist Marci Cochrane and inspired by singer and dancer Deja Solis is an expression of womanhood and promotes female rights and humanity.
Brain Child
Photo by angeldye
This illustration, created by Californian artist Michael Christian, has a powerful message, as stated by the artist himself: "Brainchild embodies two of the elements of creative exploration I love most- celebrating the inquisitive spirit of play and exploring the plurality of forms that can be expressed through biologically inspired shapes and patterns found in nature."
Name Yourself
Many festival-goers adopt means of really getting into the free headspace during the festival, one such custom is to go by “play names” instead of real ones, such as the woman pictured below who calls herself Lulu.
Dust Storm
Another classic scene found during the festival, this woman sits in a shelter during a dust storm in 2007, covering her mouth to try breath in some fresh air.
Unicorn Rider
Another festival goer who is in her magical element. Riding the unicorn structure, fist in the air, and an expression of pure joy- this is the classic scene at Burning Man.
All You Need is Love
This Burner incorporated a heart-shaped structure to get the perfect shot. And it worked. She looks like a white goddess.
Fashionistas
