Guest Harold “Silverman” Baize with his Burning Man photos
Jay Kusnetz presents the WordPress Stereopix Plugin with a demo page on this site.
In the latest episode of NYSA Presents, seasoned stereographer Silverman (aka Harold Bay) returned to captivate the audience with a stunning slideshow of his 3D photographs from Burning Man 2024, highlighting the event’s whimsical art installations, mutant vehicles, and transformative nighttime scenes. Hosted with enthusiasm, the show blended vivid descriptions of playa masterpieces with behind-the-scenes anecdotes about photography challenges and the festival’s communal spirit. As always, the presentation wrapped with tips on embracing creativity and a nod to upcoming stereoscopic events.
The episode kicked off with host Bob warmly reintroducing Silverman, a Burning Man veteran since 1996 known for his expertise in stereoscopic imaging. Blushing under his signature silver paint—or perhaps “rusting,” as Bob quipped—Silverman dove into his collection of 3D slides, emphasizing how these photos not only capture the magic of the desert festival but also spare viewers the infamous playa dust. The slideshow began with the iconic Man structure, where Silverman critiqued the 2024 pavilion design for its awkward angles and pointless stairways that hindered close-up stereo shots, turning a potential hazard into a humorous talking point.
Silverman’s opening images focused on the Man at dusk and night, showcasing his technical prowess in blacking out support legs to avoid “window violations” in stereo viewing—a nod to the precision required in 3D photography. He shared a low-budget mutant vehicle called Smile High, crafted by artist Eric, praising its handmade charm and the immense volunteer effort behind even “crude” designs. Transitioning to whimsical sculptures, the slideshow spotlighted Jack Champion’s giant grasshopper “Good Fortune,” evoking 1950s sci-fi horrors, and the inflatable “#cocon” (baby unicorn), where playful collisions provided scale against a tiny human figure slamming into its side.
Diving deeper into the festival’s “Curiouser and Curiouser” Alice in Wonderland theme, Silverman presented “Inside Her” by New Jersey artists—a ethereal figure whose metal ribs mirrored the Man’s wooden chest in the background, cleverly framing the essence of Burning Man within. Shot with his Fuji W3 camera, this image played with the stereo window for dramatic depth. Other highlights included the Ukrainian resilience piece “I’m Fine,” forged from bullet-riddled street signs, and Michael Benesty’s towering 58-foot “Liberty” statue, critiqued for its thin profile and outsourced fabrication from China, though its recent installation in Aurora, Colorado, added a timely twist.
The discussion revved up with mutant vehicles, contrasting the humble Smile High against the opulent Glory Dragon by Sean Orlando, a steel behemoth on an airport tug with folding wings, animated LEDs, and flame effects that left Silverman in awe of its polish and cost. “Tall Tales,” a $500,000 metal jackalope by Clifton Leash, emerged as Silverman’s second-favorite piece, its leather saddle drawing crowds for rides amid intricate details dusted by post-burn storms. “Rushmore” by the Fergusons featured penny-covered animal busts in vibrant dyes, while “Dream Slide” by William Mento wowed as a stained glass unicorn slide, too tempting for Silverman to slide down himself amid his photo frenzy.
Night shots revealed the playa’s dual personality, with “Dream Slide” glowing differently under lights and “Release” by Dana Albany—a 33-foot metal butterfly swarm—shimmering from internal and external illuminations. Silverman explained the festival’s “dark wad” rule, where unlit participants risk collisions, turning safety into slang gold. Interactive gems like “Gaia Weeps” with its fiery globe video cube and “Tyifa” by Taylor Dean Harrison, whose LED-pierced tubes created unseen patterns, underscored how 3D elevates flat art, as seen in the shadow-play of an untitled Greek piece and the flying carpet “Sky Gazing” by Patrick Sharon.
Silverman’s narrative wove in candid challenges: a 12-hour dust storm post-temple burn coated his Prius (prompting a trade-in), and his bike theft—complete with lost driver’s license—tested radical self-reliance until it miraculously reappeared amid a pile of abandoned rides. Climbing the crow’s nest of his top pick, “Naga and the Captainess”—a sea serpent devouring a wooden ship—he braved heights naked and silver-painted, only for wind to blur shots, though treasure chests and bubble-blowing snouts added whimsy. A bonus: footage of the Black Rock Philharmonic’s flaming tuba performance at the installation, captured in VR 180 and shared on Deo VR.
On equipment, Silverman detailed his 2024 arsenal: twin Sony RX0 Mark IIs for adjustable interaxials (60-87mm), Samsung NX1100s for synced flash (despite night focus woes), Canon T5 DSLRs for the Man burn, plus Fuji W3, Qualcomm Ego, and CalF VR 180. For the hyper-stereo Man burn, he scaled an 8-foot ladder atop Rupert Hart’s Joyism mutant vehicle, nailing fireballs, rockets, and smoke volumes in sequence shots. Looking ahead, he plans Sony Alpha 5100 twins with primes, stressing multiple takes amid the festival’s 100+ unphotographed gems.
The slideshow closed on a high note with “Nebula Rider” shadows and a “Banana for Scale” meme twist featuring a censored Silverman beside a burn-bound traffic cone. Bob praised the images’ creativity, and Silverman urged sharing joy over perfection. The episode ended with plugs for the Minneapolis stereo convention (August 3-11), a caption poll, and shoutouts to crew like Stereodoro and Johnny Laser, whose music site got a playful endorsement. As Bob signed off, the mantra rang clear: “Don’t be stingy with your camera. Share your joy. Count your blessings.”
Fuji W3 Camera: A compact stereo camera used for select shots. Fujifilm Website
Sony RX0 Mark II Camera: Twin setup for adjustable interaxial photography. Sony Website
Samsung NX1100 Camera: Employed for night shots with synced flash. Samsung Website
Canon T5 DSLR: Paired for the Man burn hyper-stereo sequence. Canon Website
Qualcomm Ego Camera: Traditional stereo rig for various images. Qualcomm Website
CalF VR 180 Camera: Captured VR footage of performances. CalF Website (Note: Assumed based on context; verify for accuracy)
Sony Alpha 5100 Camera: Planned for future hyper-stereo work. Sony Website
Deo VR: Platform for sharing VR 180 videos. Deo VR Website
DownSub.com: Service for auto-generated subtitles in the transcript. DownSub Website
Johnny Laser Music: Featured artist’s site for tunes and visuals. Johnny Laser Website
