Just saw these on Fark but worth spreading. Some of the most impressive imagesI’ve seen in ages.
Warning, arguably very (very) mildly NSFW (topless woman in crowd in background in one shot, a few scantily clad other people).
Which have you Dopers have been there? We need a “Ask the Burning Man Attendee:” Thread. I’ve got a ton of questions.
First question: Have the drugs worn off yet?
Great pics. I can smell them all the way from here.
I know a fair amount of people who go. When I look at pictures I think “Man, that looks amazing” and then I’ll see something like “the bunny parade” and thing “oh eff that.”
One thing these pictures convince me of… I’m no way NEAR weird enough to go there. 
J.
Me, neither. But I’m fascinated by the art and people there.
That’s the same thing I think. Could someone just show me where all the people in the jeans and t-shirts are. Oh, and is there somewhere I can stand where it isn’t dusty. Seemed there was a lot more people with handkerchiefs over their mouths then normal. Also, a lot less boobs in this set of pictures then I’m used to from past years.
I’m impressed by the recreated Thunderdome from Mad Max, but I had to laugh at the choice of weapons.
-Two persons enter, one person leaves his Nerf.-
Exactly. I like building stuff and like the art and don’t mind camping but I just feel I’d drag the weirdness average down too far.
Ever notice there are no fat girls at Burning Man?
Not true… it’s just photogs only take pictures of the girls they want to sleep with while tripping on molly.
I’ve been twice. Ask away.
I’ll just look from a safe distance, thanks.
What’s with all the bunnies?
What is with the outward extensions at 5:30 and 6:30 ? (the one at 5:00 is obviously to the airport)
Brian
Are those structures permanent? Do they build them on site? And what about the vehicles? Do people create them there, or can you see them travelling across country on the highway on the way there? If they build the stuff there where are all the support trucks? If it is so darn dusty there why are the bare legs on all the skinny girls so clean? Isn’t it too hot with all the fires? Is there a theme each year, or is the general sense always steampunk/post-apocalyptic/Firefly? How much do all those structures cost to ship in and build? I would assume a lot, so is this a rather elite rich weird people event? When I first heard about it I thought it might be cool to go, but I agree with others upthread…I’m too average and boring and heavy to attend. Where do people sleep/eat/pee? Is there a minimum and maximum number of petticoats to wear? and yeah…things were looking pretty cool until the shot of the people with the marching band helmets and cheap-ass bunny ears…what’s with the bunny ears?
I’ve been to Burning Man three or four times (I’ve forgotten – it all blends together for me). I’ve never constructed anything, so someone else may be able to answer some of these questions with more authority than I can.
Are those structures permanent? – Everything gets brought in during the week before the event, and everything that hasn’t been incinerated leaves after the event. By “everything”, I mean literally everything. Some of the structures (e.g., Thunderdome, the rotating monkey carousel thing) return year after year, and are also partially erected during local decompression (after party) events.
Can you see them travelling across country on the highway on the way there? – Maybe. Everything was already mostly set up by the time I hit the road, so I don’t know. I’ve seen some art cars on the highway, though.
If it is so darn dusty there why are the bare legs on all the skinny girls so clean? – Some people set up self-contained showers. Or use wet-wipes/Wet-Ones. I was always covered in dust.
Isn’t it too hot with all the fires? – It’s a little chilly at night, actually. The fires are nice.
Is there a theme each year, or is the general sense always steampunk/post-apocalyptic/Firefly? – There’s a new theme each year (“The Green Man”, “American Dream”, “Evolution”, etc), but in practice, the theme is post-apocalyptica.
How much do all those structures cost to ship in and build? – A lot. There’s some sort of Burning Man art grant program, I believe. It’s likely a drop in the bucket, though.
Where do people sleep/eat/pee? – Sleep: I slept on a mat in a tent. Eat: I ate whatever I brought with me – cold packaged food, granola, water. Your appetite vanishes when you’re in the desert. I wouldn’t be surprised if I was eating about 1000 Cal a day. People who come in RVs often bring grills and have a cookout. Pee: Portable toilets. I think there was a photo of a line of them in that link.
What’s with the bunny ears? – Don’t know. I unknowningly stumbled into a geodesic dome of Furries, once. I got out of there quick.
Is this a rather elite rich weird people event? – Everyone I know who’s gone is, or was at the time, a poor artist or a poor science grad student. Then again, I don’t know anyone in charge of building all the structures you see.
I thought the same thing, but there seem to be a bunch of regular-looking people in the background of some of these shots. They just don’t get the photog’s attention, I guess.
Sorry to take so long to respond. Let me take a crack at some of the ones that haven’t been handled yet.
Bunnies
There’s an event out there known as the Billion Bunny March. It’s a spoof of the Million Man March in DC from a few years back. There’s a parade, protest signs and chants, counter-protests by people dressed as vegetables, etc. It’s big. The number of pissed off bunnies is north of 1000 easily. A couple of unassociated groups have gotten into the spirit of it by building Animal Control vehicles and patrolling the city. They scoop up people dressed in animal gear and “lock” them in their vehicle. These are basically cars that have been converted into a rolling bar.
If I had to trace the origin of the bunny movement, I’d look to one of the higher-ups in the org named Steven Raspa. He’s one of the nicest, most intelligent people I’ve ever been around, but his appearance could put somebody in therapy. Google him, but realize he dresses like this all the time. Even on airplanes. Anyhow, Steven has a thing about bunnies. If he calls you one, it’s high praise.