Not everyone can go this year...
BURNING MAN: ART IN THE DESERT
By A Leo Nash
Abrams ($29.95)
A Leo Nash captures the stark landscape of the Playa-and the outrageous artworks that cover it-in subtle black and white. His photographs are mostly
without people, adding to the post-apocolyptic feel of a landscape without plant life or definition. Many of the pieces are photographed in the middle of assembly, yet their construction remains a mystery. When the final product is again pictured, delicate details stand out and the awe-inspiring works come to life.
DESERT TO DREAM: A DECADE OF BURNING MAN PHOTOGRAPHY
By Barbara Traub with Les Blank, Larry Harvey,
Leonard Nimoy and Lawrence Ferlinghetti
Immedium ($29.95)
Photographer Barbara Traub documents the ever-changing atmosphere of Burning Man. Traub focuses on both the art and the performances that make the festival one of the most famous counterculture events in the world. Her black-and-white and color images show the emotion and camaraderie of Burning Man in motion, with bicycle riders whizzing by and flocks of people dancing in front of stages. Short essays by filmmaker Les Blank, Burning Man founder Larry Harvey and pop culture icons Leonard Nimoy and Lawrence Ferlinghetti complete the experience of being part of Black Rock City.
BURNING BOOK: A VISUAL HISTORY OF BURNING MAN
By Jessica Bruder
Simon Spotlight Entertainment ($28.95)
By using images from a wide variety of photographers, Jessica Bruder presents various viewpoints on Burning Man. Her new book is also lauded far and wide on the Internet by Burning Man vets, many of whom felt that they knew all about the festival, but have been surprised by the insider info Bruder has to offer. The New York Times and Washington Post journalist offers a first-hand account of the festivities without losing an artistic flair and love for the festival itself.