Burning Man
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One of the most famous music festivals, held every year at the end of August and the beginning of September in the Nevada desert.
The Burning Man Festival and Its History
In 1986, Larry Harvey was struggling after a breakup with his girlfriend. On the summer solstice, he decided to step into a new chapter of his life and make a symbolic final point to his sadness. On Baker Beach in San Francisco, he burned a large wooden effigy of a man with a dog.
The spectacle attracted many onlookers, and this happening — letting go of old sorrows and welcoming new beginnings — began to be repeated every year.
However, the proximity to a residential area did not please the local authorities, so the tradition continued on the dry lakebed in northern Nevada. Each year, an improvised city called Black Rock City rises there.
What began with hundreds of participants gradually grew to tens of thousands. The festival is now attended by more than 50,000 people each year and has become a showcase of art and original costumes. Participants and artists often spend several months preparing for the event. It is a truly unique experience and an extraordinary spectacle.
Absorbed by the Atmosphere
As soon as I saw the first video from the Burning Man festival, I was amazed and fascinated. I wanted to experience it, to see it with my own eyes, and to photograph it. I had never visited anything like it before.
Impressive sculptures, art cars, and elaborate costumes worth thousands of dollars. You can have a cocktail at a bar inside a former transport aircraft and spend day and night moving between thematically designed stages. After sunset, the desert lights up with vibrant colors, and the place fills with an incredible atmosphere and energy.
Photos Like from the Nevada Desert
Before I fulfill my dream and make it to the Burning Man festival, I want to capture its atmosphere in a series of photographs. I’ll need willing models and sexy costumes. Many hours of work lie ahead, and I’m still missing one small detail — finding a Nevada desert here in the Czech Republic.
Locations with sand and a desert-like landscape are quite rare here, but with a bit of luck, long searching, and the right composition, it’s possible to capture the feeling of the desert even here. The costumes come from the USA, some of them borrowed from dancers’ wardrobes. The photos from the Czech “desert” are a small preview before I travel to photograph the real Nevada desert.
