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Why I'm doing this campaign:

Welcome to my campaign to create a book of portraits to help fund future temple constructions at Burning Man...you may not know it, but BM Org almost always come up short on the construction expenses and have to take money from other projects.  

My minimum goal is to print 1,000 books for distribution to burners and book stores.  My ideal goal is to print 2,000 books.  All profits, less production costs and tax considerations will be donated to Burning Man for future temple construction costs.

I'm doing this project in remembrance of my late wife, Ilene Kouzel, who never got to go to Burning Man and all those who have lost loved ones.  You can read more about that in the background section toward the end of the story.  

What your contribution will do:

Your contribution to "Burners" will enable me to publish the book and donate as much of the profits as the IRS will allow to the construction of the Temple.  The book will reveal our diversity as a creative cross section of global society.

What We Need:   $20,000 to $50,000

$20,000 is the minimum needed to print 1,000 books of 100 pages in length.  For every $5,000 raised above $20,000 I can add 16 pages and If we reach $50,000, I can print 2,000  144 page books.  My Burning Man contribution goal through the sale of books is $30,000 or more.

What You Get: Books, Cards, Portraits, & Portfolios  

I’ve created 16 different contribution levels (one for every year of the Temple from 2000 to 2015) from $15 to $10,000.  I’m  especially excited to offer you an opportunity to receive very unique, custom and personalized products in return for your contribution. 

The Temple of Stars offer is a beautiful trade edition hardback book of 144 pages with a dust jacket.  Below is an example of the current draft design for the dust jacket cover of the book using my photograph of the 2007 Temple of Forgiveness burn.    However, I am going to take a survey of you contributors to give you an opportunity to participate in the selection by giving me your thoughts as to the best image for the cover.  

WANT SOMETHING SPECIAL?  CHECK OUT THE

                         TEMPLE OF HOPE: 

Uniquely Personalized Collector's Edition  

For Burners I have photographed (or photograph in 2016), the Temple of Hope offer is truly unique.  You will not only receive a signed (to you personally if desired) book, you can receive a book that has a "chocolate" image of your choice from our session “tipped in” (printing trade lingo for impressed) on the cover of the cloth covered, hardbound book with slipcase.  

If I have not photographed you and you come to the 2016 Burn, I will schedule a session with you and you can pick the image you want from that session to have impressed on the cover of the book.  If an image from 2016 is used, this will delay your receiving the book until November.

Below is an example using the 2007 Temple Burn Photo:

Here is an example of what the book and slipcase would look like with a photograph from a session with me:

Alternatively, you may choose your own favorite portrait from the book or my color photograph of the 2007 Temple Burn and Temple Guardian tipped in on the cover. 

Below are additional examples of what a personalized book could look like:

Additional Perks

The Temple of the Mind offer is a set of 12 "Chocolate" postcards.  Below are possible images for the set I will create.  There will be at least one image from each of the book's divisions: Adventure, Creativity, Community, Discovery, Play & Joy, Sensuality & Sexuality, and Spirituality. 

Some of these images may not be in the book but, so far at least, this is the pool from which I will select the ones for the postcard set.

These and other images from the book--or your portrait session with me--are also available as individual prints as described below.

The Temples of Tears, Joy, & Honor offers are: 

Your Choice of Individual prints (color or chocolate)  in three different sizes (8x10, 11x14, & 13x19) mounted on archival board & suitable for framing.  Example below.

The Temple of Dreams combines a book, postcards and a 9x12 print.

For Collectors wanting something even more special

I am also offering several opportunities for you to have individual fine art prints or a portfolio of images from the book and mounted on archival matt board. 

The Temple of Flux offer is a custom, hand made cloth covered clamshell box holding both the book and ten fine art prints of your choice (Temple Burn in color; Chocolate image from the book, or from your session).  The pocket on the left holds the 9"x12" or 8"x10" print.

Another individual offer is the Basura Sagrada Temple portfolio.  This is a set of 10 individual 9X12 prints from the book mounted on 14x18 archival matt board suitable for viewing or framing and contained in a folio similar to the example below (color may vary a bit).   Once you receive your book, you can order the prints you want from the book so they will be unique to your collection.

Multiples for better prices:

In addition to the individual offers above, there are several multiple sets that can be purchased which will result in additional savings.  So...consider getting a group of burners together to order the baker's dozen or other multiples.  These are:

Temple of Forgiveness:  13 books for the price of 12.

Temple of Transition:  13 books, sets of postcards & prints for the price of 12.

Temple of Juno:  3 custom books & portfolios of 5 prints

Temple of Wholyness:  5 custom books & portfolios of 5 prints

Temple of Grace:  13 custom books & prints

Temple of Promise:  13 custom books & portfolios of 10 prints

Background information:

2007 was my first burn, the year after my wife died from ALS.  I had no expectations other than a week of adventure.  Then I discovered the Temple of Forgiveness.  

The image I made of it burning—as a Temple Guardian raised his arms in a triumphant release of energy—stimulated me to figure out a way to contribute to the costs of construction of this important ritual at Burning Man.  This book project is the result of that desire, and of those whom I photographed for the project since 2008.

Some of you Burners may have seen or been in my studio at Center Camp:

If you haven't been in the studio, this minute long clip followed by a couple of resulting portraits will give you an idea as to how I co-create the images with participants.

This campaign is designed to raise funds for the creation, printing and distribution of a book of portraits of Burners all made at Center Camp.  

The book is dedicated to my late wife and all who come to Burning Man for whatever reason—many of which the book will reveal visually and in words.  I am planning for seven divisions of photographs:  Adventure, Creativity, Community, Discovery, Play, Sensuality & Sexuality, and Spirituality with essays and comments from Burners appropriate to each section.

How the portraits are made

When I am co-creating a portrait with a participant I try to establish a bubble of security and acceptance in which the person feels safe enough to reveal something of their character, and possibly their soul, to me, the camera, and by extension, a viewer.  I am totally absorbed in the relationship we are creating.  Most of the images in the book are the result of this fluid dance in which we move together and apart to tease out something from within the person that may reveal an aspect of their soul.  

All of the portraits will be printed as "Chocolate" images.  I have created a filter that emulates the Polaroid "cross process" which results in a rich shades of dark chocolate tones to subtle pinkish highlights.

Thanks for reading and helping the project.