Photos from the Picnic and Stroll on Governor's Island on September 26
We had a delightful Picnic and Stroll on Governor's Island last Saturday. Eleven people were in attendance, including the four kids, and seven of us were in costume. Apologies for the poor quality of some of these photos - my digital camera is a low-end device. For brevity's sake, non-costumed people are not pictured here, but you can see them in the Flickr pool that we'll eventually set up (and which I will pimp in a later post). Many thanks to all who attended and brought delicious food, and a thousand gratitudes to the non-costumed people who took most of these shots. As always, I was torn between posing for photos, and wanting to take the photos, and it's only because of the non-costumed people that I was able to do a bit of both. The Island is a lovely place for an afternoon of recreation. I would like to go back when I am dressed in clothing more suitable to romping around, but it will have to wait until next year, because Governor's Island will soon be closed for the season.
My favorite group shot, taken on the decrepit steps of a house where Reagan and Gorbachev once had an historic meeting.
After the ferry crossing, our first order of the day was picnicking. We had a lovely spread. Ginger (pictured) brought farm-fresh produce from her co-operative. My picnic basket was repurposed from its usual task of storing sewing patterns. In the background, kittiethedragonwith camera.
Ginger with the kids (two are hers) posing on tree stumps. Sheer coincidence that they were all dressed in pink, making them easy to spot as they frolicked around the Lawn.
Group shot (excluding two non-costumed gents) in front of the Commanding Officer's residence, the most magnificent of the historic homes on the island. Notice the costumes on the two middle kids, sewn by their mother Ginger. One of them had a gorgeous knitted dress-and-capelet combo, but she took it off when she started running around.
Me posing by one of the decommissioned cannons in front of the Commanding Officer's Residence. This was my best-ever steampunk costume, loosely based on a Victorian photo imagining what a 'lady policewoman's uniform' might look like, as well as viviendiere uniforms and the military-trimmed dresses of the 19th century. The skirt is the first steampunk costume element I sewed from scratch, and it came out better than I ever imagined it would.
It's very ego-centric of me, but I could not resist including this photo as well. This is the first shoot in which almost all the photos of me came out great! We had some talented photographers in attendance.
If only this wasn't all blurry, it'd be a great shot of Ay-Leen and Xenia. However I was dissappointed at the very modern photograph in the cheap frame over the fireplace. It would have been nice to see the Commanding Officer's Residence restored with 19th century furnishings. However NYC's answer to any unused public space is to put some art there, and that's what inside many of the historical homes on Governor's Island. I just don't think these uninspiring color photographs are worthy of the spotlight location in the Officer's Residence.
Another photo that would be great except the blurriness and modern photo in cheap frame!
Moody and evocative portrait by the window. I was imagining being a naval officer's wife, looking at to sea and hoping to see his ship bringing him home to me.
Ay-Leen, Ginger, and I beneath the chandelier. I won't say anything further about the photograph behind us!
Xenia in front of the fireplace, in what was once the officer's study.
Ay-Leen in the study.
Peering through a slim cannon, pretending it's a telescope. One of the kids took this excellent shot!
I always like to take an unscripted shot because I love the way steampunks look steampunk when they're not even trying. Notice Ay-Leen's perfect ladylike Victorian posture.
My favorite group shot, taken on the decrepit steps of a house where Reagan and Gorbachev once had an historic meeting.
Xenia the bold adventuress.
Kit clowning around with one of the kid's bonnets. Kit is very camera shy, that's why he's only in a few shots.
Ay-Leen on the steps of the porch.
I love the pillars in the background although my face looks slightly stupid.
Xenia leaning on a whitewashed pillar.
Ay-Leen showing off the voluminous skirt of her costume. She scored the dress in a thrift shop.
Ay-Leen and Xenia on the porch.
I love this photo I took of Ay-Leen at the battlement of Fort Jay
Elegant steampunk couple Kit and Xenia
Dexter took this great Wuthering Heights-style portrait of me, with Xenia in the background.
Another of Dexter's Wuthering Heights - I hope I don't come across as too pleased with my appearance, but it's really Dexter's photography that is the impressive thing here.
Dexter and Ay-Leen adjusting her.... device. She is not yet sure what it does - it's a work in progress. I wish I took a photo of her wearing it - it's on her back so you can't see it in most of my photos.
Ay-Leen with the iron dragon in the sculpture garden.
Sniffing a paper-mache rose in the sculpture garden.
Another shot of me and the rose, just because I love the way these came out. Although the ugly sculpture in the background doesn't do much for me.
Ay-Leen among the paper-mache roses.
Ay-Leen and her iron wasp friend.
Ay-Leen trapped in a weird sculpture, looking like something from a classic Star Trek episode.
Sitting on the lap of a sculpture called "The Agony of Man." Despite the agony, I'm getting quite cozy with this big fellow.
Ay-Leen looking a little more agonized with the iron sculpture.
Some details about my costume: The skirt is my own creation - my first steampunk costume element that I made from scratch (usually I mod existing garments). This is based on a Victorian photo of a fanciful imagining of how a 'lady police officer's uniform' might look:
It was a joke to the Victorians - little did they realize that female police officers would be part of the force one day! I was also inspired by the viviendiere uniforms and by the military trimmings used on 19th century dresses. I added a dash of 18th century masculine flair with the frilled shirt (from Conway) and the ostrich plumed hat (modded from two cheap hats). The velvet military jacket was a lucky find at Daffy's. Gloves, shoes, and belt from the thrift store. The silver lapel pins and brooch were my great-grandmother's. Altogether I was quite pleased with my military-inspired costume. I am sure I'll be wearing it at some other steampunk event!
My favorite group shot, taken on the decrepit steps of a house where Reagan and Gorbachev once had an historic meeting.
After the ferry crossing, our first order of the day was picnicking. We had a lovely spread. Ginger (pictured) brought farm-fresh produce from her co-operative. My picnic basket was repurposed from its usual task of storing sewing patterns. In the background, kittiethedragonwith camera.
Ginger with the kids (two are hers) posing on tree stumps. Sheer coincidence that they were all dressed in pink, making them easy to spot as they frolicked around the Lawn.
Group shot (excluding two non-costumed gents) in front of the Commanding Officer's residence, the most magnificent of the historic homes on the island. Notice the costumes on the two middle kids, sewn by their mother Ginger. One of them had a gorgeous knitted dress-and-capelet combo, but she took it off when she started running around.
Me posing by one of the decommissioned cannons in front of the Commanding Officer's Residence. This was my best-ever steampunk costume, loosely based on a Victorian photo imagining what a 'lady policewoman's uniform' might look like, as well as viviendiere uniforms and the military-trimmed dresses of the 19th century. The skirt is the first steampunk costume element I sewed from scratch, and it came out better than I ever imagined it would.
It's very ego-centric of me, but I could not resist including this photo as well. This is the first shoot in which almost all the photos of me came out great! We had some talented photographers in attendance.
If only this wasn't all blurry, it'd be a great shot of Ay-Leen and Xenia. However I was dissappointed at the very modern photograph in the cheap frame over the fireplace. It would have been nice to see the Commanding Officer's Residence restored with 19th century furnishings. However NYC's answer to any unused public space is to put some art there, and that's what inside many of the historical homes on Governor's Island. I just don't think these uninspiring color photographs are worthy of the spotlight location in the Officer's Residence.
Another photo that would be great except the blurriness and modern photo in cheap frame!
Moody and evocative portrait by the window. I was imagining being a naval officer's wife, looking at to sea and hoping to see his ship bringing him home to me.
Ay-Leen, Ginger, and I beneath the chandelier. I won't say anything further about the photograph behind us!
Xenia in front of the fireplace, in what was once the officer's study.
Ay-Leen in the study.
Peering through a slim cannon, pretending it's a telescope. One of the kids took this excellent shot!
I always like to take an unscripted shot because I love the way steampunks look steampunk when they're not even trying. Notice Ay-Leen's perfect ladylike Victorian posture.
My favorite group shot, taken on the decrepit steps of a house where Reagan and Gorbachev once had an historic meeting.
Xenia the bold adventuress.
Kit clowning around with one of the kid's bonnets. Kit is very camera shy, that's why he's only in a few shots.
Ay-Leen on the steps of the porch.
I love the pillars in the background although my face looks slightly stupid.
Xenia leaning on a whitewashed pillar.
Ay-Leen showing off the voluminous skirt of her costume. She scored the dress in a thrift shop.
Ay-Leen and Xenia on the porch.
I love this photo I took of Ay-Leen at the battlement of Fort Jay
Elegant steampunk couple Kit and Xenia
Dexter took this great Wuthering Heights-style portrait of me, with Xenia in the background.
Another of Dexter's Wuthering Heights - I hope I don't come across as too pleased with my appearance, but it's really Dexter's photography that is the impressive thing here.
Dexter and Ay-Leen adjusting her.... device. She is not yet sure what it does - it's a work in progress. I wish I took a photo of her wearing it - it's on her back so you can't see it in most of my photos.
Ay-Leen with the iron dragon in the sculpture garden.
Sniffing a paper-mache rose in the sculpture garden.
Another shot of me and the rose, just because I love the way these came out. Although the ugly sculpture in the background doesn't do much for me.
Ay-Leen among the paper-mache roses.
Ay-Leen and her iron wasp friend.
Ay-Leen trapped in a weird sculpture, looking like something from a classic Star Trek episode.
Sitting on the lap of a sculpture called "The Agony of Man." Despite the agony, I'm getting quite cozy with this big fellow.
Ay-Leen looking a little more agonized with the iron sculpture.
Some details about my costume: The skirt is my own creation - my first steampunk costume element that I made from scratch (usually I mod existing garments). This is based on a Victorian photo of a fanciful imagining of how a 'lady police officer's uniform' might look:
It was a joke to the Victorians - little did they realize that female police officers would be part of the force one day! I was also inspired by the viviendiere uniforms and by the military trimmings used on 19th century dresses. I added a dash of 18th century masculine flair with the frilled shirt (from Conway) and the ostrich plumed hat (modded from two cheap hats). The velvet military jacket was a lucky find at Daffy's. Gloves, shoes, and belt from the thrift store. The silver lapel pins and brooch were my great-grandmother's. Altogether I was quite pleased with my military-inspired costume. I am sure I'll be wearing it at some other steampunk event!