Burning Man 2005

In 2005 I attended the Burning Man in the Black Rock Desert in Nevada. I had wanted to attend the event since I first heard of it’s existence in 1994 when I was 16, as a raver it was like Mecca to me. It was a fantastic event to take part in and document. Burning Man is a hard to describe arts festival, situated on a dusty dried up lake bed 1000 meters above sea level it has to be the harshest environment I’ve ever stayed in for a prolonged period of time. No money changes hands at Burning Man, you have to bring everything you need with you including water. People barter for things but in reality people just give stuff away with an expectation of getting anything in return. 2005 Might not seem like a long time ago, but back then decent camera phones did not exist, digital SLRs ownership was not that common and you can forget about camera drones and GoPros. Back then not many burners had a camera with them, this has now of course changed and every burner will document the event in some way.

Open desert burning man 2005 by Kevin Meredith

The Burning Man is mostly open space.

Center Camp burning man 2005 by Kevin Meredith

Center Camp is only places where money changes hands, you can buy coffee and ice.

Burning Man 2005 by Kevin Meredith

Burning Man is so large it actually has a circular grid system of streets so it's very easy to find your way around.

Bikes burning man 2005 by Kevin Meredith

The mane way to get around the Burning Man is by bicycle. Nothing fancy is required as there are no hills and the alkaline dust is only doing to destroy a nike anyway.

Face mask burning man 2005 by Kevin Meredith

Face masks and eye protection are essential for protection from the frequent dust storms.

The man at the burning man 2005 by Kevin Meredith

The man by day. At the centre of the festival is effigy that is burnt on Saturday night.

empty dance floor burning man 2005 by Kevin Meredith

Music it's not a big part of Bringing Man, mostly small sound systems are set up burning man attendees.

desert cruser art car burning man 2005 by Kevin Meredith

Anyone participating the Burning Man can apply to bring an art car, basically it's a modified vehicle that moves around the playa at no more than 5mph. This pirate ship is a built around a bus.

burning man at dusk 2005 by Kevin Meredith

Dusk on the playa.

burning man elaborate bicycle 2005 by Kevin Meredith

Some people go to extreme lengths pimping their bicycles, Burning man really comes alive at night.

burning man ladder to nowhere 2005 by Kevin Meredith

This ladder to nowhere was one of the many art pieces dotted around the playa. Anyone wanting could of climbed to the top, health and safety is not a big feature of the Burning Man!

burning man Light wall 2005 by Kevin Meredith

Light wall made from LEDs, it dose not look like it but at night it was so bright that it hurt your eyes to look at it.

Burning Man 2005 eye ball bikes by Kevin Meredith

Some people take modding their bikes to the extreme.

Burning Man 2005 neon man by night by Kevin Meredith

The central focus of the Burning Man. In 2005 the man stood at 22 meters.

Burning Man 2005 by Kevin Meredith

Burning of the man.

Burning Man 2005 flame throwing robot by Kevin Meredith

Giant flame throwing Robot.

Burning Man 2005 remains of the man by Kevin Meredith

The remains of the man the morning after the burn.

Burning Man sleeping 2005 by Kevin Meredith

The neon man is not the only thing that gets brunt out at the Burning Man. After a late night you are woken up in the mornings by the hot desert sun so people tend to sleep in any shade they can find.

Burning Man foot massage 2005 by Kevin Meredith

There is no money at Burning Man it's all about what participants can bring to the Burn to make it better. Burners gift things to each other without expectation of receiving anything in return. These people set up a foot care tent, to care for tired weary dusty feet.

Burning Man dust storm 2005 by Kevin Meredith

Blackrock sands is dried up lake bed, so periodically dust storms blow up at which point all you can do is take shelter.

Burning Man self portrait by Kevin Meredith

Self portrait taken in dust storm.

Burning Man 2005 art installation by Kevin Meredith

One of the numerous large scale art installations on the Playa.

Washoe county senior services bus at Burning Man 2005 by Kevin Meredith

Burning man allows local residents of the old peoples home to come on a day trip to burning man for free. They were driving around in there bus and all got out on mass like tourists on a day trip.

Vigina art car at Burning Man 2005 by Kevin Meredith

One of the more bizarre art cars at the Burn. This was a giant vagina, there was even a space where someone can put there head at the top to become the clitorus.

Burning Man 2005 by Kevin Meredith

Burning Man 2005 by Kevin Meredith

Burning Man 2005 by Kevin Meredith

Burning Man 2005 by Kevin Meredith

Burning Man 2005 by Kevin Meredith

Burning Man 2005 by Kevin Meredith

Burning Man 2005 by Kevin Meredith

Burning Man 2005 by Kevin Meredith

Burning Man 2005 by Kevin Meredith

Burning Man 2005 by Kevin Meredith

Burning Man 2005 by Kevin Meredith

Burning Man 2005 by Kevin Meredith

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