The 2012 Rose Bowl was my fifth trip to an Oregon bowl game, my bowl record was 0-4 and I really wanted to see a win. The last three bowl trips have been as a fan, since I was not on deadline and had time to spare my plan was to force my brother to be a tourist in his own town. For the 2010 Rose Bowl we went to the Griffith Observatory, the La Brea Tar Pits and the Aquarium of the Pacific. On the top of my list this time was the Mission San Juan Capistrano.
At the end of August I found myself on the playa for a third time. Each year is different and each tribe member has a different experience at the burn. Here is the story of my burn:
One of our trailers blew a tire just outside Alturas, California. It was a good omen that in less than an hour we had installed the spare and purchased a new tire.
The incredible disappearing beers were spotted as we shifted the load on the trailer at our hotel in Cedarville.
We were on the road sometime between 4:30 and 5:00 a.m. to beat the crowd, everyone else must have had the same idea. The party began during the 2.5 hour wait to get to the greeters station. Last year I was the passenger and had a blast passing out cold watermelon to the neighboring cars. This year I had driving duty on the way in and missed an impromptu hula lesson.
Last year out big project was a mutant vehicle we called the Sistine Scaffold. This year we decided to have a stationary scaffold as he centerpiece of our camp. We thought the view might attract some of the neighbors. We arrived at our camp spot during the heat of the day, but for the first time I did not have to set up camp during a storm.
Here is a time lapse video of the scaffold going up
The dust rises as new residents move into Black Rock City.
Time for a well deserved break in the shade.
The neighbors dome had babies.
More dust as the population of Black Rock City grows, at least the light is getting better.
My first hug if you don’t count tribe members or greeters.
First visit out to the playa.
Spotted the lamplighters on the way out to the man. Two members of our tribe volunteered the first night and we got to see them in action as they finished at the temple.
Our first look at the man.
This year was a first for the man, he was striding instead of standing. After climbing the stairway you look right up the man’s crotch, hmm.
Then I looked out and fell in love. The Temple was an amazing structure and I returned many times to make photos.
One of my favorite mutant vehicles.
Another look at the man.
The temple was already attracting a crowd.
The next morning we played a little grab ass with some of the art.
Out near the trash fence on tutu Tuesday we found some nice people at the Black Rock Bijou. We did visit it once again but missed the movie.
Art on the playa.
The temple disappears in the dust.
God was not answering Tuesday morning.
Our neighbors dome had more babies and got some clothes for them.
Neighbors on the other side. Seems like I have seen California flags in this area each year.
Back out on the playa.
It can go from nice to this in just a couple of minutes. On Monday the wind was from the predominant direction. For the next couple days it shifted nearly 180 degrees and then calmed down for most of the rest of the burn. By far the best weather of my three burns.
Messages left at the temple.
Charon, my favorite piece of interactive art on the playa. There were ropes that had to be pulled to get it spinning. At night once the proper speed was reached strobes came on animating the skeletons.
You can see the skeletons in action about 1:10 into the video.
While I was taking this photo a cyclist rode by and commented that ” A fellow can get dusty down there.”
Yah another photo of the temple.
At this artwork visitors were encouraged to write their shame on it before it burned Saturday.
The Temple at sunset, we visited it three times at sunset to hear the earth harp concert.
The Trojan horse was one of the bigger burns.
A party out on the deep playa breaks up in the late morning.
The side of the Black Rock Bijou on our second visit.
Looks like I was not the only one who thought the street names were a little weak this year. What a cool gift.
Some of our tribe members arrived late and wanted to know what the must see items were. The first place we took them was the sunset earth harp concert.
Burning the art from regional events.
You develop a rhythm after a couple days, out early to see art on the playa and then back to camp for food and rest before one outing in the heat of the day. Back to camp for more food and rest and then out again for the night.
Camera under a balloon photographing the temple, brilliant idea.
At the temple.
Happy recipients of neck coolers out at the bicycle course.
Oldest , youngest and sassiest members of the tribe.
Enjoying the view from our scaffold after dinner.
See what I mean.
That must be a challenge landing in a huge dust cloud at dusk.
I had heard for years that there was nice sunset like light early in the morning. . .
Lots of other folks out to catch this light at the temple.
Even the shadows look cool.
Heck even the playa looks cool.
One last run into center camp on Sunday. Most of the camps on the esplinad were packing up. The party was still on at center camp where we spotted the flaming tuba and the rest of the burning band.
Getting rid of extra drinking water as we packed up camp.
We went to see the temple burn Sunday night and then planned for an early departure Monday morning.
Don’t ask why it is Burning Man after all.
There she goes.
Hope to see ya on the playa next year.
ABC
)’(
Yesterday I was sent to Alsea Falls to do a story on people visiting the falls during the holiday weekend. We had the falls to ourselves most of the visit, so I used the time while we were waiting for visitors to shoot a pair of panoramas. Click on the photo to see it larger and again to see it full size.
The cherry tree out back is blooming so I have been spending my spare time working on a new batch of hummingbird photos. You can click on the link to see some of my hummingbird photos from previous years. Last night I changed gears and shot some video because the wind was triggering the motion detector creating a lot of photos of an empty feeder. If you watch closely you can see some of the birds are better fliers than others.
Here are some more photos from my trip to the BCS national championship football game in Arizona. After a late breakfast at Tee Pee we went for a short hike at the Phoenix Mountain Preserve. It was nice to stretch our legs and get out and see some of the landscape that makes Arizona special. Arizona has the most amazing light early and late and possibly the worst light in the middle of the day. So here I am showing off a bunch of landscapes from a mid-day hike in Phoenix.
It looks like I picked the right time of day to fly and the correct side of the airplane to sit on. Here are a dozen photos from my flight to Southern California and back last month.
Stampede Reservoir
South Lake Tahoe Stateline Heavenly Mountain Resort
Once again I travelled to see my beloved Oregon Ducks get beat in a bowl game. Even thought they lost on the last play I had a great time with friends and family. Instead of shooting from the sidelines I chose to wear team colors and cheer during the game. We were originally set to sit near the end zone and much higher up, I am glad Stub Hub reserves the right to upgrade seat locations. Even though I was not on the sidelines shooting, I did bring a camera to the game. Here are a couple panoramas made from our seats. Click on the photo to see it larger.
Bruce Ely made a GigaPan image at the game, If you look closely you can find my brother and myself.
Travis Hise, left, and Heidi Eveland decorate the windows at SunWise at the intersection of 14th street and Main street in Philomath on Wednesday evening. For the first time in about seven years the street lights also had holiday decorations.
You can read Raju Woodward’s story here.
A pair of potential buyers examine the freezer cabinets at Richey's Market Thursday morning before the auction.
Recently I was sent to photograph an Auction at Richey’s Market in Corvallis, it was a bit sad watching as a local landmark was being dismantled. You can read Bennett Hall’s story here.
Here are some videos from Burning Man:
