Brad Templeton's Photography
The Burn

The Burn

This year, the burn went off with few hitches. There wasn't a lighting ceremony that I could see, the as you will see below in many frames, the burning was spectacular. This time we were placed edge-on to the man, as it was about all that was left after our "Save the Man" march. Plus it let me include the moon in some shots.

After the burn we picked up our two Save the Man signs and marched, just K. and I. Me ahead, her in the man suit. I called out "Save the man?" in the saddest, most plaintive voice I could imagine. People all laughed and greeted us with sympathy, especially seeing K in her suit of man-worship.

Again some didn't seem to get the joke, or just wanted to yell "burn the signs" -- which of course we planned. But I continued to chant that it was not too late, that it was just a flesh wound, that we could still call the fire dept. and save him -- though at that point he was a pyre just a few feet high. It was a great time, and all enjoyed it.

Finally we ceremoniously tossed our signs upon the pyre.

As you can see below, this year they placed the fireworks away from the inside of the Man to avoid the accidental lightings of past years. Seemed to work great.

The burn begins
(683 x 1024 - 37K)
The burn begins
Fireworks shoot from the base this year, not from the man, to avoid screw ups.  It worked
(683 x 1024 - 39K)
Fireworks shoot from the base this year, not from the man, to avoid screw ups. It worked
(683 x 1024 - 57K)
(683 x 1024 - 41K)
Now the neon begins to fail and the base burns in earnest
(683 x 1024 - 39K)
Now the neon begins to fail and the base burns in earnest
(683 x 1024 - 81K)
Viewers all raise their hands in exultation ad the burn expands
(683 x 1024 - 72K)
Viewers all raise their hands in exultation ad the burn expands
Now he is a skeleton
(683 x 1024 - 39K)
Now he is a skeleton
(683 x 1024 - 38K)
(683 x 1024 - 42K)
The pedestal starts to lose structure
(683 x 1024 - 47K)
The pedestal starts to lose structure
(683 x 1024 - 45K)
Rivers of flame descend the temple of wisdom as the Man burns
(683 x 1024 - 43K)
Rivers of flame descend the temple of wisdom as the Man burns
(683 x 1024 - 33K)
Burning Man with the full moon
(683 x 1024 - 26K)
Burning Man with the full moon
K. and I, after the burn, still paraded with the Save the Man signs.  See full story above.
savetheman.jpg
(1280 x 853 - 75K)
K. and I, after the burn, still paraded with the Save the Man signs. See full story above.

Burning Man 2001 Index

The Art | Vehicles | Scenes | People | Before the Burn | The Burn
Camps | Critical Tits | The Man

Panoramic Photos for this trip