One form of steampunk experience is for steamers to gather together in so called ‘Airships’. Basically, an airship is a group of steampunk friends.

DON'T scroll down, press next right under, or use the right arrow on your keyboard for the best viewing experience.

The Airship I followed is called The Aviator. Most members are from the northern and central parts of The Netherlands. For a little over a year I’ve followed The Aviator, on several Dutch fantasy festivals. This documentary is the result of it.

I refused to make a boring slide show. For the best viewing experience, use only the right arrow of your keyboard or swipe to the next image. When you have viewed the image or video presented, just press ‘next’.

Lets start with pitching up the encampement on one of the Dutch fantasy festivals, CastleFest

The Captain

Unload the junk.

Next is a YouTube film. Remember to press "Next" right under. It's a small break. The ladies practice poi, the art of circling objects on a rope.

Rainfall is predicted  on short notice, so it’s time to protect the old stuff with plastic sheeting. This leaves me with the opportunity to create an unsettling mood. I’m good at improvising in unpredictable moments!

Light drizzle is over…. Props unfolding

This is Dave and these are his self-made props.

Meanwhile, the steampunk kitchen and steampunk van on the right are in the final stages of completion.

Next day, getting ready

Peptalk before opening hours

Within the hour, the first group photo is made. This activity is central to what The Aviator Airship is although the group members do change all year round.

On group photos….

I don’t like them. There will always be one person who looks stupid, one person pulling funny face, one with their face to the sky, another sneezing and another with their eyes half closed…. Whatever! The bottom line is that steampunks are steampunks, not photo models. But the good thing is, group shots are great way to spot new steampunks for future photo shoots.

Back to the Aviator’s members. Here you’ll see how I take multiple shots before coming up with final image.

Evening falls. It was at times a rather hot day, like all the coming days were to be. 

The next day before opening hours, a band is doing their sound check. Everybody is cheerful, dancing, and a few have changed their outfits.

It’s a misconception that cogs and gears are part of the steam machine. There is much more! Look for yourself.

New upcoming talent and people who like to have their portrait photographed by me do appear every day. I’m happy and feel privileged to use the Aviator’s tents for backgound … this goes for every other Airship, by the way.

Later that day my friends of The Peregrine Airship arrive - bad ass as always with the eminent Cpt. Constance Bashford, a steampunk and dieselpunk icon.

But even steampunks have to eat. They are after all, human!

Another festival, another outfit… back to Dave at the Imaginarium festival.

Let's take a closer look at the builders and owners of the steampunk van and the van's steampunk interiour.

Everybody has it's own room at the Airship.

Closer

About the goggles.

Many wear them and only a few know for what reason. There are several reasons. It serves as protection when time travelling but it's also a handy tool against spitting cobras and they keep out the dirt when flying. Another reason is decoration.

What I haven’t mentioned so far, is that there is a doctor on board the Airship The Aviator. She’s the sister of the Captain. She cures most diseases with her klysma injector.

The Airship's navigator. 

Very soon after I took these two shots the airship recruted this gunner. 

This woman told me where the steam train was, somewhere in the middle of nowhere up in the very north of this tiny kingdom. 

This train

After a few well intended discussions, the Royal Steam Fleet became a reality. The Royal Steam Fleet is a pool of steampunks not particularly related to an Airship. It’s free for every steamer to join. When steamers are needed or outnumbered somewhere, this is the pool to go to. Here are some of it’s members.

So, what do steamers do in the evenings at the festivals?

Learning to cycle

Packing up and going home to the real world.

December comes. The "Square" of Enlightenment - a kind of Dickens style festival in a town called Steenwijk. There were not so many photos from this festival because it was cold and pouring with rain for much of the time.

That moment when you show the new dress you have made, and everyone admires you.

Guest appearances at the "Square" of Enlightenment

A new year comes. So does a new version of a cooking festival in the city of Gouda. The gunner has found his place at the airship and entertains people with card tricks. The others entertain children and pose for the camera'. Jonathan is teaching to count 1, 2, 3. Fantasy meets reality.

They insisted that I take their portrait – a new couple in love.

And a new edition of Castlefest begins...

The End