STUNNING EXAMPLES OF RADICAL SELF EXPRESSION
AT BURNING MAN 2015
You don’t get a second chance to make a first impression! Especially in this age of instant gratification we are often judged fast and ruthlessly. When we meet a new person, it’s our natural inclination to make very quick decisions about them with very minimal information. Psychologists call this tendency “thin-slicing.” Now imagine all the shells you put on every day just to funtion in this world – that’s how many layers a person has to look through to see the real you. So if you were to shed for a moment your job, the rules as you know them, and even moral restrictions, you might get quite a different person….
This is one of the reasons Burning Man is so fascinating when it comes to self-expression, especially as achieved through clothing. As a fashion designer I find it very interesting to watch the line between fashion and style blur and even disappear. When clothing, jewelry and makeup begin to appear as an extension of a person, rather than something that represents their line of work, for example, that’s when they becomes really fascinating. Those are my favorite moments to capture.
This is why I find it so interesting to shoot portraits at Burning Man. You get a chance to capture a person’s true colors, you get to peek underneath the layers and sometimes, if you’re lucky enough, you get to see a magical creature beaming though.
“This is like Saturday morning cartoons as a kid, only WE are the cartoon!” Overheard At Burning Man, http://sound-fix.com/overheard-burning-man-2015/
Last year I published Faces of the Playa which was the beginning of this creative journey, and this year I wanted to continue the dialogue by sharing with you my new collection of portraits from this year’s Burning Man, Carnival of Mirrors.
My body art work while volunteering my creative time to the 747 Big Imagination camp this year at Burning Man 2015 Carnival of Mirrors
Layne is one of the brightest stars I know. And to think that he bought his first costume only 5 years ago!
Anastasia, Lana (of Aminimal) and me at Burning Man 2015 Carnival of Mirrors
Erika Rogers who recently performed at Alexander Wang’s after party, during New York Fashion Week.
My dear friend Michel Madie in a Miss G Design headpiece. Photo by Ben Henretig
This magical creature was in charge of our food every day! Obviously our camp was very hard to live in.
This year I made sure to make as many outfits as possible. A more detailed post about this is coming up!
There’s also a bit of a Coachella vibe at BM. But everyone is welcome, as long as rules and principles are respected.
Some people don’t adjust their lifestyles much for Burning Man. And let me tell you, ladies, there’s men for every taste and perversion here!
There’s no shortage of hot guys at BM! Just add Playa dust.
Radical self expression at Burning Man 2015. Some people just come home.
“Burning Man is a place where you leave things behind….like time. And underwear.”- overheard at Burning Man
Burning Man is part of a festival culture that has begun to blend into the outside world and, like it or not, it IS trickling down to the mainstream and affecting the culture of self-expression. It remains to be seen how society will adapt to this brave new world filled with sparkles and unicorns.
You can read the first part of the story HERE.
To be continued.
