photos from August 26 Central Park Photo Shoot
This are photos of our August 26 Photo Shoot in Central Park. Saturday morning was hot and steamy, and my thoughts ranged from "Maybe I won't wear the jacket" to "I'll look fine without the vest" to "F--k it, I'm wearing the lightest shirt that isn't a tee." The rain resulted in a flurry of phone calls, but finally I got the word out to nearly everyone that we were meeting at the Irish Victorian restaurant Lillie's. We got some great photos, mostly by people other than myself as my camera was all wonky. Sites visited include Lillie's, the Bethesda Terrace, Angel of Waters fountain, Bow Bridge, and stone arch in Central Park. There are so many more on our shared Flickr pool; I chose a few that best represent the sequence of the day, but to keep this page user friendly, I had to omit many great shots and most of the individual portraits. Note that when captioned "photo by so-and-so," it means the image is from their digital camera, but not necessarily that they took it. For example, triplelads' young son (one of the triplet lads) took many of the shots on his camera. So go check out the Flickr pool.
People who attended in no particular order: mlleviolet, liu_xing(plus friend), kittiethedragon, tripletlads(plus son), serindrana, Ay-Leen, pickledtink, JDGauthier. Beg pardon if I forgot anyone.
Having spent all morning with clothes strewn round my apartment, it was pleasant to meet at Lillies and enjoy a fabulous breakfast. The propeitor kindly allowed us to take photos. Service was great, the food fantastic, prices reasonable, and the decor could hardly be better. Here's a photo by triplelads showing most of the costumed group in front of Lillie's gorgeous crimson sofa. From left, tripletlads, liu_xing's friend (I don't want to post his name because he doesn't have an LJ), Ay-Leen (seated), mlleviolet, and liu_xing.
Ay-Leen the Peacemaker showing off her magnificent steampunk gun, with me on her left and Lillie's gorgeous bar in the background. Photo by tickledpink.
It's important to photograph the food. tripletlads' took this picture ofhis authentic Irish breakfast. It shows the kind of bountiful brunch available for around $10 a Lillie's - including a beer, mimosa, or bloody Mary. Can't be beat.
tripletlads and liu_xing's friend - two of the four gents who attended. Photo by tickledpink.
Ay-Leen's dress is actually the gown portion of her mother's Vietnamese ao dai. She has that 'come sit by me' pose but I'd watch my back around this beautiful but deadly assassin. Photo by Ay-Leen.
serindrana looking demure and regal on the crimson sofa at Lillies. She sewed that ruffly shirt herself. Photo by Ay-Leen.
A fine mustachio, sir! Note the similarity between man and painting in this photo of tripletlads by Ay-Leen.
Friends liu_xing and serindrana in front of the sofa. Their tiny corsets made these two petite steampunks look even tinier. liu_xing's overdress is from that Manhattan theatrical costume company that recently had a liquidation sale. Photo by mlleviolet.
Neat effect by tickledpink. serindrana, Ay-Leen (looking as if she's going to assassinate seriddrana), mlleviolet, and cherub.
tripletlads, whose costume was amazingly detailed and damn perfect, in a photo by Ay-Leen.
liu_xing looking coquettish, with a nifty old-timey effect by tripletlads.
The exterior of Lillie's is also beautiful. I captured liu_xing against the gilded doorway.
Ay-Leen looking sensitive and deceptively peaceful in the doorway at Lillie's. Photo by mlleviolet.
It stopped raining by the time we finished brunch, and our first stop was Bethesda Terrace in Central Park. We were crossing Central Park West when two teenagers asked us if we knew where the steampunk event was. They hadn't heard about the alternate rain plans, but it was fortuitous that we ran into them just as we were entering the park.
Nearly anywhere in Central Park is an excellent backdrop for steampunk photography, but Bethesda Terrace, with its rich ornamentation and Moorish underpass, is an excellent spot. This photo by tripletlads shows the group on the magnificent staircase with Ay-Leen standing guard.
Another group shot from my camera (by probably by tripletlads's son). I love the Byronic pose of the gent on the left.
kittiethedragon looking sardonic on the edge of the Angel of Waters fountain, with the Terrace behind him. Photo by Ay-Leen.
I loved shooting Ay-Leen. Her face is so expressive, she's like a silent actress of the golden age of cinema. I took this evocative photo of Ay-Leen at the foot of the Terrace staircase with the Moorish underpass visible in the background.
Steampunk teens on the landing of the staircase. The stone bird looks as if he'll fly away. Photo by C. Tala.
Me on the imposing and magnificent staircase. I look tiny in comparison. Please excuse the pile of crap in the corner.
There were swarms of tourists in the Moorish underpass. And it's a popular spot for weddings so you often see wedding parties there. These ushers were giddy with the good cheer that typically accompanies weddings. They swapped clothes with tripleflads and posed for this shot. The bride seemed less than happy with the diversion. A suprising number of tourists took photographs of us and wanted to pose with us. Native New Yorkers are too hip to acknowledge being surprised by anyone's appearance.
I love this shot by tripletlads of serindrana in the Moorish underpass. She looks perfectly at home there.
serindrana and liu_xing by tripletlads.
I took this unscripted shot - often more interesting than posed pictures. They look like scheming steampunk courtiers.
I asked them not to move and notice how the shot changed. They all turned towards me, breaking the 'third wall.' Not as natural, though they still look great.
tripletlads' takes a closer look at an ancient fresco in this photo by himself.
Steampunk teen. As I recall, she and her friend found out about it on an anime forum, and I think this was their first steampunk event Photo by Ay-Leen.
serindrana and liu_xing clasping hands, by Ay-Leen.
This is the only photo of myself from this session that I like, by Ay-Leen.
"Tiny Steampunk Ginger" liu_xing, by Ay-Leen.
Most of the group in front of the Angel of the Waters fountain, by tripletlads.
Scarlet Ladies serindrana, liu_xing, and Ay-Leen at the fountain, by tripletlads.
Most of the group on the Bow Bridge over the rowboat lake in Central Park. I like the contrast of skyline, Victorian ironwork bridge, and alt-Victorian steampunks. Photo by tripletlads.
triplelads' stately pose at the stone arch. He looks like something out of a Bierstadt painting. Photo by JDGauthier.
Ay-Leen and I at the stone arch, from my camera. I'd like to think I look almost as tough as she.
Ay-Leen looks as if she could push those stone walls apart in this photo by tickledpink.
Here's some detail about my costume. It was not the most successful of my various steampunk efforts. The hot weather was limiting. I don't know how the other ladies managed to suffer through in long sleeves. Anyway, the shirt was purchased for $13 at Conway. It is curiously unflattering. Hard to see the rivets that line the v-neck collar, but that's what attracted me to it. Belt was thrifted. The knickers I modded from a pair of velvet pants three sizes too big. They needed to have the proper bagginess of 19th century knickers. In some photos the bunched-up fabric of the waist sticks out lumpily. Yet I am pleased with the outcome of the pants-into-knickers tutorial and will probably have these taken in by a tailor. At the cuffs I attached my cursed silver military buttons. I adore them, but they refuse to stay on anything. I lost one of them that day. I am also wearing the leather collar and cuffs I made from an old handbag, a belt, and copper findings. Around my neck is a skeleton key from my childhood home. The hat is a plain bandito style that I embellished with vintage copper findings. Sunglasses from the thrift store, pumps and stockings unremarkable.
People who attended in no particular order: mlleviolet, liu_xing(plus friend), kittiethedragon, tripletlads(plus son), serindrana, Ay-Leen, pickledtink, JDGauthier. Beg pardon if I forgot anyone.
Having spent all morning with clothes strewn round my apartment, it was pleasant to meet at Lillies and enjoy a fabulous breakfast. The propeitor kindly allowed us to take photos. Service was great, the food fantastic, prices reasonable, and the decor could hardly be better. Here's a photo by triplelads showing most of the costumed group in front of Lillie's gorgeous crimson sofa. From left, tripletlads, liu_xing's friend (I don't want to post his name because he doesn't have an LJ), Ay-Leen (seated), mlleviolet, and liu_xing.
Ay-Leen the Peacemaker showing off her magnificent steampunk gun, with me on her left and Lillie's gorgeous bar in the background. Photo by tickledpink.
It's important to photograph the food. tripletlads' took this picture ofhis authentic Irish breakfast. It shows the kind of bountiful brunch available for around $10 a Lillie's - including a beer, mimosa, or bloody Mary. Can't be beat.
tripletlads and liu_xing's friend - two of the four gents who attended. Photo by tickledpink.
Ay-Leen's dress is actually the gown portion of her mother's Vietnamese ao dai. She has that 'come sit by me' pose but I'd watch my back around this beautiful but deadly assassin. Photo by Ay-Leen.
serindrana looking demure and regal on the crimson sofa at Lillies. She sewed that ruffly shirt herself. Photo by Ay-Leen.
A fine mustachio, sir! Note the similarity between man and painting in this photo of tripletlads by Ay-Leen.
Friends liu_xing and serindrana in front of the sofa. Their tiny corsets made these two petite steampunks look even tinier. liu_xing's overdress is from that Manhattan theatrical costume company that recently had a liquidation sale. Photo by mlleviolet.
Neat effect by tickledpink. serindrana, Ay-Leen (looking as if she's going to assassinate seriddrana), mlleviolet, and cherub.
tripletlads, whose costume was amazingly detailed and damn perfect, in a photo by Ay-Leen.
liu_xing looking coquettish, with a nifty old-timey effect by tripletlads.
The exterior of Lillie's is also beautiful. I captured liu_xing against the gilded doorway.
Ay-Leen looking sensitive and deceptively peaceful in the doorway at Lillie's. Photo by mlleviolet.
It stopped raining by the time we finished brunch, and our first stop was Bethesda Terrace in Central Park. We were crossing Central Park West when two teenagers asked us if we knew where the steampunk event was. They hadn't heard about the alternate rain plans, but it was fortuitous that we ran into them just as we were entering the park.
Nearly anywhere in Central Park is an excellent backdrop for steampunk photography, but Bethesda Terrace, with its rich ornamentation and Moorish underpass, is an excellent spot. This photo by tripletlads shows the group on the magnificent staircase with Ay-Leen standing guard.
Another group shot from my camera (by probably by tripletlads's son). I love the Byronic pose of the gent on the left.
kittiethedragon looking sardonic on the edge of the Angel of Waters fountain, with the Terrace behind him. Photo by Ay-Leen.
I loved shooting Ay-Leen. Her face is so expressive, she's like a silent actress of the golden age of cinema. I took this evocative photo of Ay-Leen at the foot of the Terrace staircase with the Moorish underpass visible in the background.
Steampunk teens on the landing of the staircase. The stone bird looks as if he'll fly away. Photo by C. Tala.
Me on the imposing and magnificent staircase. I look tiny in comparison. Please excuse the pile of crap in the corner.
There were swarms of tourists in the Moorish underpass. And it's a popular spot for weddings so you often see wedding parties there. These ushers were giddy with the good cheer that typically accompanies weddings. They swapped clothes with tripleflads and posed for this shot. The bride seemed less than happy with the diversion. A suprising number of tourists took photographs of us and wanted to pose with us. Native New Yorkers are too hip to acknowledge being surprised by anyone's appearance.
I love this shot by tripletlads of serindrana in the Moorish underpass. She looks perfectly at home there.
serindrana and liu_xing by tripletlads.
I took this unscripted shot - often more interesting than posed pictures. They look like scheming steampunk courtiers.
I asked them not to move and notice how the shot changed. They all turned towards me, breaking the 'third wall.' Not as natural, though they still look great.
tripletlads' takes a closer look at an ancient fresco in this photo by himself.
Steampunk teen. As I recall, she and her friend found out about it on an anime forum, and I think this was their first steampunk event Photo by Ay-Leen.
serindrana and liu_xing clasping hands, by Ay-Leen.
This is the only photo of myself from this session that I like, by Ay-Leen.
"Tiny Steampunk Ginger" liu_xing, by Ay-Leen.
Most of the group in front of the Angel of the Waters fountain, by tripletlads.
Scarlet Ladies serindrana, liu_xing, and Ay-Leen at the fountain, by tripletlads.
Most of the group on the Bow Bridge over the rowboat lake in Central Park. I like the contrast of skyline, Victorian ironwork bridge, and alt-Victorian steampunks. Photo by tripletlads.
triplelads' stately pose at the stone arch. He looks like something out of a Bierstadt painting. Photo by JDGauthier.
Ay-Leen and I at the stone arch, from my camera. I'd like to think I look almost as tough as she.
Ay-Leen looks as if she could push those stone walls apart in this photo by tickledpink.
Here's some detail about my costume. It was not the most successful of my various steampunk efforts. The hot weather was limiting. I don't know how the other ladies managed to suffer through in long sleeves. Anyway, the shirt was purchased for $13 at Conway. It is curiously unflattering. Hard to see the rivets that line the v-neck collar, but that's what attracted me to it. Belt was thrifted. The knickers I modded from a pair of velvet pants three sizes too big. They needed to have the proper bagginess of 19th century knickers. In some photos the bunched-up fabric of the waist sticks out lumpily. Yet I am pleased with the outcome of the pants-into-knickers tutorial and will probably have these taken in by a tailor. At the cuffs I attached my cursed silver military buttons. I adore them, but they refuse to stay on anything. I lost one of them that day. I am also wearing the leather collar and cuffs I made from an old handbag, a belt, and copper findings. Around my neck is a skeleton key from my childhood home. The hat is a plain bandito style that I embellished with vintage copper findings. Sunglasses from the thrift store, pumps and stockings unremarkable.