Burner Video/Film and DVD Resource - Burning Man Photos (1999-2006)

"...photographers are sometimes harassed. And not necessarily because they're being intrusive or violating someone's personal boundaries, but simply because the use of a camera indicates, to somebody that they're a spectator. Sometimes I wish we'd never promoted the phrase, 'No Spectators.' Who are these people to say that these individuals aren't participating? The fruit of a photographer's work doesn't appear until after the event when they produce images. They're engaged in a creative pastime, it just isn't immediately apparent..." -Larry Harvey

AquaBurn, the film that started it all, captures the energy and spirit of Burning Man 2002's "Floating World Theme".

In July of 2002, Head of media operations, Jim Graham offered Bill Breithaupt a spot in the 1st annual Burning Man Film Festival. Jumping at the opportunity Bill headed to Burning Man for his fourth year in a row, partying and filming the entire week as usual. When he returned home he locked himself in his office and edited. In the three weeks between the end of Burning Man 2002 and the day of the film festival he worked a total of 180 hours. The final result was Aqua Burn. The 300+ audience that packed into the Rio Theater that day was astounded. At the end of the film they cheered, then quieted to watch all the credits, and then cheered again. They also gave Bill a standing ovation (at the end of which he thanked his mom). The festival's director, Jim Graham described the film as "a cross between Koyaanisqatsi and an extreme sports video". The events of the evening far surpassed Bill's expectations. An additional 620 hours of editing time was put in and then it was ready to travel. It premiered in New York and London, winning The Coney Island Short Film Festival 2003's Best Documentary Award and the Action/Cut Short Film Festival 2004 Documentary Special Jury Award.

"Burning Karma", filmed at Burning Man 2003, and "AstroBlaze", filmed at Burning Man 2004, follow in Aqua Burn's footsteps. Both were edited in under a month and premiered at the 2nd and 3rd annual Santa Cruz Burning Man Film Festivals. The Aqua Burn Trilogy, a collection of Burning Man Films by Burning Man sanctioned filmmaker Bill Breithaupt, is now available on DVD. Also available for your viewing pleasure is a HUGE gallery of photos from Burning Man 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 & 2005.