First, thank you for what you do. The world needs magic. Without it, we forget why we're alive. Fire performing is one of the most magical things we humans can give.

I'm working on a book project. All the photographs for it are taken at Burning Man. Most of the book is currently white background studio photos. This year I want to take many night/fire photographs.
Here are a few night pictures I've taken from past years:
www.juliancash.com/view/fire_..._index.html

Traditional fire spinning photos can be beautiful. Nonetheless, I'm looking for something different. I want fire shoots that are planned to be political, conceptual, or spiritual.

- Writing spiritual symbols (like the anarchy sign or ying/yang) with fire using long exposure. Or an american flag drawn in the air with fire fingers.
- A person offering flame as a gift to another.
- One person at peace in the center of shot with flame in their hands. Around them are "monsters" and spinning fire.
- A person seeming to hold a giant ball of flame in their hands.
- The central figure is spiritual.
Another performer uses fire to "paint their aura".
- A person with flame for a head/face.
- Can we make an image that reminds us of 911, Hiroshima, or the Big Bang? Of birth or rebirth/phoenix. How would you represent a "fire god"? What offering would your fire god receive?
- Can we mix performance art and with fire arts in a "still" image?
- What's spiritual and magic about fire for you? Can you think of new ways to show that in an image? Can you use fire in an image to express an emotion?

Are there things that may not be astonishing in a normal performance, but with a long exposure photograph will be? Can you form a perfect spiral of fire in the air by winding up the rope that holds the flaming ball?

I still feel like I'm limiting myself by not going far enough from the images we're all used to. I'm hungry for any thoughts or ideas you're willing to share. Even vague unformed ideas can grow. What kind of fire images would you like to see?

If you're going to burning man and like the idea of collaborating, poke me a note (or remember me when a "julian" with a camera introduces himself to you one playa night).

More on the "concept/political" part of the book project:
www.supersnail.com/concept

Peace, joy, and safety to you,
-julian

P.S.
Old "Painting with light" photos of mine:
supersnail.com/firefly/old2/2index.html