Laser Projected Mycelia by Daniel Popper / Photo by Eleanor Preger

Eleanor Preger’s Lens Magic:

Tomorrow Today at Burning Man

By Laura Henkel / Photography by Eleanor Preger

Each year, something extraordinary rises from the dust of the Black Rock Desert. Black Rock City becomes the third-largest city in Nevada for one month of the year, complete with its own FAA-approved airport. Urban planners, architects and civic leaders from across the globe travel here to study its temporary yet highly functional design. Produced by the Burning Man Project, the event is as much about community and experimentation as it is about art.

This year’s theme, “Tomorrow Today,” challenges participants to imagine futures while grounding themselves in the present. The opening days of the Burn were marked by severe weather conditions, as wind and dust storms tested the resilience of every participant. Rather than divide people, it brought them closer together. Amid it all, photographer Eleanor Preger was there, camera in hand, capturing not only the art and commemorations but also the spirit of unity that defines Burning Man.

A self-taught photographer based in Lake Tahoe and Sausalito, Preger has been part of the Burning Man Documentary Team since 2011. Her first trip to the Playa 15 years ago ignited a passion that became her life’s work. “I love to bring the beauty I see and the interesting experiences I run across to your eyes,” she says. “I want to tap into your emotions and make you say AHHH.”

For Preger, the Playa is more than a desert. It is a living canvas where light, people and monumental art converge. She rarely stages her shots, preferring to let moments unfold. Her lens lingers on stillness in motion — the dancer pausing at sunrise, the fire spinner catching breath, the quiet reflection at the Temple. Light is her favorite collaborator, and she chases its fleeting magic at dawn and dusk, when everything transforms. “There is something magical about witnessing people simply being themselves,” she reflects. “No judgment, just pure human expression.”

From attendees who bring their own creative energy to the mix, to special performances by international talent, as well as art designed to be experienced by both day and night, Preger’s photographs reveal the range and richness of Black Rock City. Her 2025 portfolio includes works like “Maciela” by Daniel Popper, a towering sculptural portrait that transforms under projection mapping from day into night, and the dreamlike performances of the Lucent Dossier Experience in “Myth of the Opera,” where aerialists, musicians and fire swirl together in a spellbinding spectacle. These moments embody the interplay of art, performance and community that make Burning Man unforgettable.

Her artistry has been recognized at the Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian Institution, at Sotheby’s, and in exhibitions at the Nevada Museum of Art, the Oakland Museum and the Sierra Arts Foundation, among others. Her photographs have been featured in hundreds of international publications, most notably to promote the landmark “No Spectators” exhibition.

And yet, despite the accolades, what Preger values most are the connections she makes. She often gifts her photographs to the people she meets, long after the dust has settled. “It is my way of saying thank you and honoring their spirit,” she shares. “It means a lot to us all.”

This year, her work captures the essence of “Tomorrow Today” — not only the monumental art and visionary mutant vehicles but also the resilience and intimacy that emerged from the storm. Through Preger’s lens, readers are invited to step into Burning Man’s fleeting city and experience its beauty, its challenges and its magic.

To see more of Eleanor’s photography from Burning Man 2025, visit eleanorpreger.com or follow @eleanorpreger on Instagram and Facebook.