Airship The Aviator
A Steampunk documentary
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.
Lets start with pitching up the encampement on one of the Dutch fantasy festivals, CastleFest
The Captain
Unload the junk.
Middle left
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.
Next day, getting ready
Captain NortonWright
Dr. P.A.N.Watson-Wright
Abigail
Left: Gabriella Morningstar
Right: Ms Evelyn Colourbrush
Jonathan Smith
Ella Smith-Cascone
Abigail
Peptalk before opening hours
Back to the Aviator’s members. Here you’ll see how I take multiple shots before coming up with final image.
Dave
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.
Sometimes I miss the right time...
Catherine Moon, my muse
Airship The Peregrine
Airship The Peregrine
Airship The Peregrine
Airship The Peregrine
But even steampunks have to eat. They are after all, human!
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.
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.
Fraulein W. Castle
This train
Airship The Aviator
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