Burning Man 2016: Portraits of a Camp

Burning Man 2016: Portraits of a Camp by Diana Southern and Ian Norman

I say this every year, but I say it because it’s true. The people are what makes Burning Man such an incredible experience — friends and strangers alike. I don’t know what my Burn would have been this year without that group spiral hug at the Hug Deli, the helpful strangers who lowered me back down from that MAGIC artpiece I climbed, or the hilarious nude portraits we captured of some of our spontaneously sparkly friends.

In my three years of burning, I’ve found it’s the people closest to you — your campmates — who have the biggest impact on your Burn. You camp together, eat together, explore together. You experience Burning Man together. So this year we again turned the spotlight on our campmates for a sunset portrait session in the open playa.

With 14 Burners, ample booze, and a brief appearance by “El Guaco” (I still can’t believe I missed that), Ian and I did our best to capture the spirit of our Burner family on camera. 

The Burners of Camp Prosciutto Bay

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Burning Man 2016 portraits by Ian Norman and Diana SouthernBurning Man 2016 portraits by Ian Norman and Diana Southern

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This Burn we were fortunate enough to have five new Burners camping with us (Maryna, Jeff, Ray, Pam and Sam), all major contributors to the fantastic energy surrounding our camp as a whole this year. We also welcomed Dean and Doug as first-timers to Prosciutto Bay, giving our camp a perfect 50-50 balance of old and new.

As sunset approached on Thursday night Ian and I rounded up our campmates in their favorite costumes and headed out to the open playa for a fun night of photography.

Keep scrolling to see the resulting photos and meet the 2016 cast of Prosciutto Bay!

Kathleen

Burning Man 2016 portraits by Ian Norman and Diana Southern

This bad-ass bartender has more glow sticks than she knows what to do with. Bejeweled that rad hat herself. Will school you at Jenga and explode your kittens if you give her the chance.

burning-man-2016-portrait-kathleen-by-ian-norman-1 Burning Man 2016 portraits by Ian Norman and Diana Southern

Jeff

Burning Man 2016 portraits by Ian Norman and Diana Southern

His normal volume is yelling. Enjoys sing-alongs and Tutu Tuesday. Find him at night by his blinky hat and booming voice offering you a spin on the Shot Wheel.

Burning Man 2016 portraits by Ian Norman and Diana Southern Burning Man 2016 portraits by Ian Norman and Diana Southern

Doug

Burning Man 2016 portraits by Ian Norman and Diana Southern

New to camp but not to Burning Man, this surprisingly late sleeper enjoys hot dogs with mac and cheese and projects that require hours of tedious labor to complete. Smiles in every photo. Even when wearing a mask.

Burning Man 2016 portraits by Ian Norman and Diana Southern Burning Man 2016 portraits by Ian Norman and Diana Southern

Sydney

Burning Man 2016 portraits by Ian Norman and Diana Southern

Master of the hoop and disguise, she changes her hair color for every Burn. Loves onesies, stick people, and tutus. She’ll teach you how to hoop if you ask.

Burning Man 2016 portraits by Ian Norman and Diana Southern Burning Man 2016 portraits by Ian Norman and Diana Southern

Ray

Burning Man 2016 portraits by Ian Norman and Diana Southern

Most well-prepared virgin Burner ever to camp at Prosciutto Bay. Party bus driver and ice cream chemist. Enjoys freestyle poetry jams, fresh tomatoes, not locking his ridiculously well-lit bike, and wielding excessive amounts of liquid nitrogen. Eager to go all the way… to the trash fence.

Burning Man 2016 portraits by Ian Norman and Diana Southern Burning Man 2016 portraits by Ian Norman and Diana Southern

Sam

Burning Man 2016 portraits by Ian Norman and Diana Southern

First time Burner unafraid of solo adventuring. Crushes cans in one stomp with his stylish leather boots. Enjoys sunset tricycle rides and clicking his heels.

Burning Man 2016 portraits by Ian Norman and Diana Southern Burning Man 2016 portraits by Ian Norman and Diana Southern

Maryna

Burning Man 2016 portraits by Ian Norman and Diana Southern

First-time Burner experiencing everything. Sends stories of serendipity by postcard to the Default World. Drinks mimosas for breakfast and eats olives with every meal.

Burning Man 2016 portraits by Ian Norman and Diana Southern Burning Man 2016 portraits by Ian Norman and Diana Southern

Anthony

Burning Man 2016 portraits by Ian Norman and Diana Southern

Allergic to (almost) everything, this expert chef specializes in delicious recipes that won’t kill him. Cleans dishes until you tell him to stop. Bar builder and not-so-expert wielder of the “shot” gun. (Cover your eyes!)

burning-man-2016-portrait-anthony-prosciutto-bay-1 Burning Man 2016 portraits by Ian Norman and Diana Southern

Dean

Burning Man 2016 portraits by Ian Norman and Diana Southern

This stylish suit wearer is slightly dangerous with rubber cement. He enjoys sleeping in cars and scrambled eggs in the morning. Expert at mask-making and locating community bikes. (They do exist!) Also loves hot dogs and mac and cheese.

Burning Man 2016 portraits by Ian Norman and Diana Southern Burning Man 2016 portraits by Ian Norman and Diana Southern

Pam

Burning Man 2016 portraits by Ian Norman and Diana Southern

Burning Man virgin. Most likely to be exploring every second of every day. Expert karaoke singer. Amateur tickle masseuse.

Burning Man 2016 portraits by Ian Norman and Diana Southern Burning Man 2016 portraits by Ian Norman and Diana Southern

Keith

Burning Man 2016 portraits by Ian Norman and Diana Southern

This spontaneous back-flipper loves sleeping late and eating homemade donuts with vintage entertainment. Cooks delicious dinners (when he can find the ingredients). When night falls he enjoys skateboarding, climbing, and lifting people in the air at Center Camp.

Burning Man 2016 portraits by Ian Norman and Diana Southern Burning Man 2016 portraits by Ian Norman and Diana Southern

Robert

Burning Man 2016 portraits by Ian Norman and Diana Southern

Early to arrive and late to depart, this first-year Ranger enjoys tricycle train rides and loud music. Brings two chairs but never has a place to sit. Probably only wore this outfit for the photo shoot.

Burning Man 2016 portraits by Ian Norman and Diana Southern Burning Man 2016 portraits by Ian Norman and Diana Southern

Diana

Burning Man 2016 portraits by Ian Norman and Diana Southern

That’s me. I enjoy swinging bear hugs from strangers, sketchy zip lines, bike ramps, and sneaking over the trash fence. Bruises easily and likes things dust-free. Afraid of heights but will climb almost anything. Stoked to try acro-yoga this year!

Burning Man 2016 portraits by Ian Norman and Diana Southern Burning Man 2016 portraits by Ian Norman and Diana Southern

Ian

Burning Man 2016 portraits by Ian Norman and Diana Southern

Camp photographer. Loves Indian food and skippy.  Surprisingly ungraceful playa cyclist and unintentional water jug MOOPer. Hear that screeching? That’s his bike. A mile away.

Burning Man 2016 portraits by Ian Norman and Diana Southern Burning Man 2016 portraits by Ian Norman and Diana Southern

The Camp

Each year we set up camp in the same general area with the same large shade structure, but we increased our public presence this year by setting up our structure right along J street where Robert staked out a spot for our camp.

Burning Man polaroid project photo by Diana Southern
Camp Prosciutto Bay 2016 — Polaroid Project coming soon

Keith and Anthony’s new bar (tended semi-regularly by Kathleen and Jeff), Sydney’s mad hooping skills, and Ray’s school bus with rooftop view drew in the passersby.

Burning Man 2016 Burning Man 2016 Burning Man 2016

To our uniquely amazing campmates:

Thanks for making our Burning Man memories extra special this year and allowing us to share these photos we captured with the Default World. I hope you enjoyed the brief, semi-sarcastic biographies I’ve created for each of you. I love you all and hope I haven’t offended anyone. 🙂

A Few Closing Notes

Whoever you are, I hope you enjoyed this post as much as we enjoyed putting it together! Almost all photos you see here were taken by Ian Norman with the Fuji X70, dust-protected with gaffers tape and brush-cleaned with love almost daily.

PHOTO EQUIPMENT

Please feel welcome to share your thoughts in the comments below!

We’ve got more Burning Man 2016 posts coming, including this year’s Polaroid Project, our 2016 Burning Man packing list, and a Swamp Cooler How-To, so stay tuned on Facebook or subscribe here so you don’t miss anything. Check out all of our Burning Man posts here.

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