Brad Templeton's Photography
Decompression Party

Decompression Party

About 6 weeks after Burning Man each year a "Decompression" fair is held on a closed San Francisco street. It's a reunion, and a chance for newcomers to get a small taste of Burning Man with cell phones and without the dust. (It does seem that a sizable fraction of the crowd has never been.)

I set up 3 installations -- a wall with the latest giant panoramics, the star map and the Phone Booth, offering free calls to anywhere in the world, this time over wireless to a more mundane DSL connection. To make is surreal, we planted it in the middle of the street. One person tried to tilt it up to see where the wires were. Of course, in a world where all have their cell phones, it's not quite so bizarre.

Here are shots of scenes and people at the Decompression. You can also see the 2003 Decompression.

Off to do serious hoop spinning, and telling her friends
(682 x 1024 - 109K)
Off to do serious hoop spinning, and telling her friends
A woman contributes a slogan
(1280 x 853 - 169K)
A woman contributes a slogan
Imaginative costuming
(1129 x 1024 - 114K)
Imaginative costuming
Decked out for decompression
(1280 x 952 - 203K)
Decked out for decompression
More art cars
(1280 x 783 - 174K)
More art cars
Art car collection on Indiana
(1280 x 815 - 169K)
Art car collection on Indiana
This art car was a boat on wheels, filled with water via a fountain, containing other float toys.  (Did they have boats in them?)
(1280 x 853 - 146K)
This art car was a boat on wheels, filled with water via a fountain, containing other float toys. (Did they have boats in them?)
Some people are serious about their costuming
(638 x 1024 - 134K)
Some people are serious about their costuming
The alien semaphore machine spins by day
(682 x 1024 - 108K)
The alien semaphore machine spins by day
Another participant goes through the tunnel.  It made for cool pix
(734 x 1024 - 182K)
Another participant goes through the tunnel. It made for cool pix
Jigsaw puzzle required assembly of the real constellations.  It was done by night.
(1280 x 853 - 238K)
Jigsaw puzzle required assembly of the real constellations. It was done by night.
K. goes through the tunnel
(793 x 1024 - 178K)
K. goes through the tunnel
Fresnel lenses do more than make you look funny.  They burn wood really quickly.
(741 x 1024 - 155K)
Fresnel lenses do more than make you look funny. They burn wood really quickly.
Silver man phones home?
(682 x 1024 - 120K)
Silver man phones home?
A chance to see the scope of the panos with a thinner crowd
(1280 x 853 - 236K)
A chance to see the scope of the panos with a thinner crowd
A crowd, present almost all day, examines the panorama wall
(1280 x 853 - 203K)
A crowd, present almost all day, examines the panorama wall
Couple with art-scooter act playful for the camera
(682 x 1024 - 122K)
Couple with art-scooter act playful for the camera
Another crowd at the pano wall
(1280 x 853 - 274K)
Another crowd at the pano wall
No feathers on the playa, but here a beautiful effect
(682 x 1024 - 97K)
No feathers on the playa, but here a beautiful effect
Free calls for people with purple wigs
(682 x 1024 - 83K)
Free calls for people with purple wigs
Spectators watch and take photos from the overpass.  For cheap you can actually meet some of them, guys
(1063 x 1024 - 85K)
Spectators watch and take photos from the overpass. For cheap you can actually meet some of them, guys
All ages can dress playa-style, and use the playa phone
(682 x 1024 - 95K)
All ages can dress playa-style, and use the playa phone
The incomparable Camera Girl
(682 x 1024 - 95K)
The incomparable Camera Girl
Spectators crowd the overpass at dusk
(724 x 1024 - 63K)
Spectators crowd the overpass at dusk
Couple shares a secret
(682 x 1024 - 84K)
Couple shares a secret
A local resident with a photo studio sets it up for portraits of decompressors
(682 x 1024 - 77K)
A local resident with a photo studio sets it up for portraits of decompressors
True love
(737 x 1024 - 84K)
True love
Lemme use the phone
(682 x 1024 - 108K)
Lemme use the phone
Two of the star-boys walk by.
(756 x 1024 - 103K)
Two of the star-boys walk by.
Silver people and blue can get along, but blues are outnumbered.
(1280 x 853 - 173K)
Silver people and blue can get along, but blues are outnumbered.
Ah, silver man is also a photographer
(1280 x 853 - 127K)
Ah, silver man is also a photographer
Now we learn that silver, blue and pink people can all get along.
(753 x 1024 - 125K)
Now we learn that silver, blue and pink people can all get along.
A rooster examines the panorama wall closely
(682 x 1024 - 69K)
A rooster examines the panorama wall closely
So the top is a drink holder?
(682 x 1024 - 80K)
So the top is a drink holder?
Platform on wheels pulled by fellow drummers
(1280 x 853 - 120K)
Platform on wheels pulled by fellow drummers
One ringey-dingey
(682 x 1024 - 100K)
One ringey-dingey
Why are phone pedestals so low?
(682 x 1024 - 88K)
Why are phone pedestals so low?
A butterfly flutters-by on stilts
(758 x 1024 - 84K)
A butterfly flutters-by on stilts
Navigating the tunnel of glowing plastic strings
(1280 x 932 - 154K)
Navigating the tunnel of glowing plastic strings
Array of plastic strings under black light at night, with blacklight cloaked participant
(1280 x 975 - 142K)
Array of plastic strings under black light at night, with blacklight cloaked participant
The alien semaphore at night with flying, glowing green fluorescent tubes
(1280 x 962 - 102K)
The alien semaphore at night with flying, glowing green fluorescent tubes
This guy had a radio controlled helicopter with LEDs, a time exposure shows its path.  It looks like a UFO
(1280 x 853 - 149K)
This guy had a radio controlled helicopter with LEDs, a time exposure shows its path. It looks like a UFO
This airstream would travel the Playa as well, a popular favourite
(1258 x 1024 - 108K)
This airstream would travel the Playa as well, a popular favourite
Spinning wheel of fire in time exposure traces many tracks
(1280 x 853 - 124K)
Spinning wheel of fire in time exposure traces many tracks
Sculpture with fire
(1275 x 1024 - 138K)
Sculpture with fire

Burning Man 2004 Index

Art | Scenes and People | Above BRC | Art Cars and Transport
Fire | Free Phone Booth | The Man and the Temple of Stars | Decompression Party

This is the first event shot with my new EOS-20D camera, 8 megapixel and much better at high ISO for dark and night shooting.