This onging project documents the AfrikaBurn festival held in the Tankwa Karoo, South Africa. Part observed images, part portraits the project has been two years in the making. As for the ‘Burn’; The festival is based on Burning Man in the United States and see thousands of people gathering annually in the desert to construct a temporary community. The event is part rave, part trance party, part Pagan gathering, part arts festival and part lunacy as thousands of participants camp in the middle of the desert to erect art pieces, share ideas, party and then burn the effigies on the final night. There must be no trace of humans after the event and a sharing community is formed as there is no money allowed as participants have to bring their own food, water and tents.

A man dressed as Greek god Issis, stands naked during the second AfrikaBurn festival in the the Karoo desert, Tweefontein, South Africa, 19 October 2008.

A participant has his portrait taken during the second AfrikaBurn festival in the the Karoo desert, Tweefontein, South Africa, 19 October 2008.

Hot participants cool off under a mobile water point build on the back of a pick-up as temperature reach 40C during the second AfrikaBurn festival in the the Karoo desert, Tweefontein, South Africa, 19 October 2008.

A participant has her portrait taken during the second AfrikaBurn festival in the the Karoo desert, Tweefontein, South Africa, 19 October 2008.

Two friends sleep outside in the open air as the sun rises in the desert during the second AfrikaBurn festival in the the Karoo desert, Tweefontein, South Africa, 19 October 2008.

Participants stand under a huge wood burner as the sun rises during the second AfrikaBurn festival in the the Karoo desert, Tweefontein, South Africa, 19 October 2008.

Participants have their portrait taken during the second AfrikaBurn festival in the the Karoo desert, Tweefontein, South Africa, 19 October 2008.

A man who wore no cloths at all for three days stands under a lighting stand during the second AfrikaBurn festival in the the Karoo desert, Tweefontein, South Africa, 19 October 2008.

Participants look at a art piece comprising flowers made from plastic bottles during the second AfrikaBurn festival in the the Karoo desert, Tweefontein, South Africa, 19 October 2008.

A participant has her portrait taken during the second AfrikaBurn festival in the the Karoo desert, Tweefontein, South Africa, 19 October 2008.

A stilt walker starts to walk across the open desert during the second AfrikaBurn festival in the the Karoo desert, Tweefontein, South Africa, 19 October 2008.

A family enter one of the theme camps during the second AfrikaBurn festival in the the Karoo desert, Tweefontein, South Africa, 19 October 2008.

A participant has his portrait taken during the second AfrikaBurn festival in the the Karoo desert, Tweefontein, South Africa, 19 October 2008.

A dancer wears a pair of goggles to stop the sand while he dances in the Desert Rose theme tent during the second AfrikaBurn festival in the the Karoo desert, Tweefontein, South Africa, 19 October 2008.

Participants have their portrait taken during the second AfrikaBurn festival in the the Karoo desert, Tweefontein, South Africa, 19 October 2008.

The sun sets behind participants during the second AfrikaBurn festival in the the Karoo desert, Tweefontein, South Africa, 19 October 2008.

A man dressed as a Greek God wearing wings as he sits naked on the desert floor surrounded by thousands of other participants as they watch the main effigy burn to the ground during the second AfrikaBurn festival in the the Karoo desert, Tweefontein, South Africa, 19 October 2008.