Scenes from Burning Man 2012

An attendee of Burning Man 2012 biked past the shadow of “The Man,’’ the large effigy that is traditionally set aflame during the festivities. The unique cultural festival, in its 26th year, took place in Nevada’s Black Rock Desert from Aug. 27 to Sept. 3. Participants gathered in the remote desert to build a temporary community full of art, music, and more. The 2012 theme was “Fertility 2.0.’’ It’s a bit difficult to define Burning Man, but for more information, check the Burning Man website’s explanation of the event.

An aerial view of the festival, which saw more than 60,000 attendees.

Performance artist Jovis walked around the festival’s Center Camp.

The festival gets its name from the burning of “The Man,’’ seen here at sunrise on Aug. 29.

Bingram Lai explored an art installation entitled “Zonotopia and the Two Trees.”

Festival attendee Ruth Kidd walked past the art piece entitled “Ego” before sunrise on Aug. 29.

Participants ride an art car, a sort of mobile art piece found at the festival, on Aug. 29.

Mark Gower, dressed as a samurai, danced during sunrise on Aug. 31.

An art installation entitled “La Llorona’’ as seen on Aug. 31.

Each year at the festival, a temple is constructed and later burned as an unofficial close to the event. The Temple of Juno, the main temple for this year’s festival, is seen here on Aug. 29. In connection to the theme of the festival, the building was named after the Roman fertility goddess.

From left: Steven Babson and Lila Wright sat outside the Temple of Juno at sunrise on Aug. 29.

People rested and prayed in the Temple of Juno on Aug. 30.

The scene at the festival as the sun set on Aug. 29.

Attendee Libriel Padilla watched the sunrise on Aug. 29.

Participants watched the flames from a 26-foot flame-spewing octopus sculpture known as El Pulpo Mecanico on Aug. 29.<br><br>
Watch a video of the “Steampunk Octupus.’’

From left: Attendees Sophie Keel and Emilyne Love danced around the burned remains of an art installation on Aug. 31.

Members of Pyroklectic, a fire performance troupe, put on a show on Sept. 1.

Following festival tradition, “The Man’’ was burned on Sept. 1.

A multi-building art installation titled “Burn Wall Street” was displayed at the festival on Sept. 2.

“The Man,’’ engulfed in flames, on Sept. 1.

Attendees explored an art installation entitled “The Universe Revolves Around You” on Sept. 2.

Two attendees left Burning Man on Sept. 2.