27 Comments
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Ed Lefkowicz's avatar

Thanks for your thoughtful post, and terrific photos. I've never been, but as James Taylor put it in "Mexico," "I never really been so I don't really know ... I never really been but I'd sure like to go."

Linda Kuo's avatar

Terrific images. “Critics from the sidelines.” Hits the mark.

Simon Brooks's avatar

Love this piece and the photos. A friend of mine has been, I don't know how many times and says similar things. When I read that the reviewer said it was only a two hour walk, I knew he had never been there. Those sorts of comments are very tell-tale!

Survivor's avatar

The art is AMAZING!!! It’s so good to hear from someone who’s “been there,” in all aspects of Burning Man. Your life has been positively altered by your times spent in that place with those people.

Michelle McAfee's avatar

Love, love, love this!

Ken Zaret's avatar

Wonderful shots Dina! Please make a book!

I suppose a positive about all the critics who haven't been there is that they mutually reinforce themselves staying away.

Mary Martha's avatar

Wow, incredible photos! I saw an expo of Burning Man installations at the Renwick Gallery in Washington, DC years ago and loved how bright and playful it all was. My mom was a good sport coming with me, even it if it wasn't her favorite kind of art. We got to see the morphing-lighted mushrooms. Not sure how I'd handle all that wind and sand, but your article makes me more curious to go!

Howard Sherman's avatar

Stunning photos! I’m intrigued by it but too much dust for me. Also, I can’t rock a tutu no matter how many times I’ve tried.

Natalie's avatar

Great post. I think part of the “haters gonna hate “ phenomenon is that somewhere along the line - likely with that Ja Rule festival that went south- people began to equate all festivals with massive associated costs and another way for people to make money from something that should be exactly what you described. End of the day, only people attending can determine the worth of going or not going and what that experience means to them and what they are willing to deal with to have that experience.

Afi Koman's avatar

Fun article, great photography!

Merkstatt's avatar

How did your equipment survive all that sand?

Dina Litovsky's avatar

Plastic bag wrapped around the camera. One year, a lens died still.

Merkstatt's avatar

I would have been too scared to take even a single photo.

Dina Litovsky's avatar

I look at equipment as a tool to be destroyed through shooting.

Vincent S Coster's avatar

I'd love to go to the festival. Have wanted to ever since I heard about it in the 90s, but I live in Ireland and haven't been able to. It looks amazing.

Neill Archer Roan's avatar

If your images are representative of what can come out of Burning Man, it sure seems to be a target-rich environment. I already knew I love your eye (just incredibly consistent wow…) but the whimsy, grit, and otherworldly vibe in these images is really fun to experience. Thanks for taking the paywall down so that I could read and see this post. Grateful for you.

Avard Woolaver Photography's avatar

So interesting to hear about your experiences, and such awesome photos!