lexmachine

Hey guys! I just wanted to let you know that I have a steampunk photobook/photobooth project up on Kickstarter. I have until April 5th to reach my funding goal, and I definitely need your help if I'm going to make it. I'd really appreciate it if you took a second to pledge something [lots of low pledge level prizes!] if I've ever taken your picture and you liked it, or you'd ever like me to, and support what I do. I know many of you are financially strapped, we all are, but even $1 helps me get there. Thanks!! Check out Graphoscope Oh, and there's a pretty ridiculous video there of me asking for help a la silent film.

You're so adorable, we don't care what you wear, lol. I'm sure you'll look fantastic. Be sure to find me or Emmy and get your photo taken so we can prove it! Yay! Again, the weather will probably have everyone plenty "steamy" anyway. This is coming up fast! Who else is going to come hang with us on Saturday?

"Why Banning Miller, what a vision you are in that fine dress. Must have taken a dozen slaves a dozen days just to get you into that get-up. 'Course your daddy tells me it takes the space of a schoolboy's wink to get you out of it again." Anyone that has seen Firefly, will forgive my rudeness. For anyone that has not [in a nutshell]: Anyone that says you're doing it wrong, is doing it wrong. Oh! And if anyone wants help or advice, just ask. It's really a pretty simple look to pull off, and most of you probably have plenty in your closet already that will "work". In the end, we don't care what you wear, as long as you have fun. It's probably going to be too freaking hot to get crazy costumed up anyway!

Very short notice, but the Collective is graciously throwing something of a bon voyage party for Emmy and I as we'll be leaving the Detroit area shortly in the RV and won't be back until early 2011. We'd love to see as many of you as possible before we take off. It will also be something of a "steampunk primer" and the first steampunk event at the Leland [though hopefully not the last!] Whether you've never heard of it or you're already swapping half your black and silver for brown and brass, we promise you won't be sorry you came out. We're throwing this thing, but we're really counting on all of you regulars to welcome the CC virgins and show this crowd a good time, okay? ---------------------------- The Collective presents THE BOILERPLATE GALA: A Steampunk Social An evening of simple pleasures, divine company, raucous entertainment, & resplendence in the historic Grand Ballroom of the Leland Hotel. FRAUDEVILLE presented by JackKnife Productions Kapitan R. O. von Grelle of the Imperial Anti-Piracy Squadron hosts Dr. Disko Dust spins melodies from futures past Sat 7/17 The Collective http://www.collectiveforum.com/ Flyer design: Lex Machina http://www.lexmachinaphoto.com/

You guys all played like genuine rock stars. Seriously I was really impressed with all 3 performances. You don't have an obese neck! Seriously, dude, playing those drums, you're all kinds of hot. No Joke. And the triangle solo was almost the best part! I was aghast. I thought to myself "Who the fuck makes goth industrial with a fucking triangle?! Mean Salley does, bitches, Mean Salley does."

Photos are finally up. Sorry it took so long this time guys, had some internet connectivity issues this week. And if your photo isn't in there I apologize, I was using a new lens and had a couple come out unexpectedly blurry. Just make sure I get 2 next time. http://www.lexmachinaphoto.com/gallery/v/events/masque-era-leland-ballroom/ Thanks again for coming out, it was awesome to see so many people in masks! You guys rock. And mad props again to everyone that helped put this night together.

As Kat mentioned Showtime Clothing has masks, as does any costume store. And if you really can't find/afford anything a cheapo $2 plastic/satin domino or mardi gras mask from a party city/party supply works just dandy. Or you could paint a mask on with make-up you already have! And really, don't fret if you have no mask, it's just more fun the more of us play along. I know I'll be wearing mine.

This is this Saturday! If you're coming out for the DGN night anyway, be sure to drop into the ballroom [just past the restrooms, normally off limits] and check out some awesome local industrial acts, out of state DJs, and of course get in front of my camera during the DJ sets so that you have something new to post in the pictures threads This event does NOT cost anything extra. If you're in the club you can come and go as you please at no additional charge, so come party with us. Masks of any sort and masquerade dress encouraged, but as always feel free to come as you are. We look forward to seeing you there!

It's meridiem, which is latin for "mid day". A meridian is a line of longitude.

The Collective and Leland City Club cordially invite you to attend MASQUE ERA April twenty-forth at ten o'clock post meridiem in the Leland Grand Ballroom PULSE STATE, SERVITOR SANCTUM 7, and FUNCTION 13 will play live. In between sets, all the way from Bowling Green, Ohio THE FREQUENCY MUTINEERS will spin some of the best industrial dance to keep you moving. With special guest Master of Ceremonies, WOLFMAN MAC of Chiller Drive-In. Ages eighteen and up $5 at the City Club door gains you access to this special event. Enter through the doorway just past the restrooms. Masquerade dress encouraged and masks of any sort strongly encouraged, but not required. Also, during the Frequency Mutineers sets, I'll be hanging out and snapping shots of patrons in their masks, masquerade costumes and club clothes. Looking forward to seeing everyone there!

Haha I thought the same thing. Whatever, I'll be there tonight, hopefully with a bunch of people in tow.

Pictures! In the gallery... Again, mad props to everyone that came out in zombie make-up or post-apocalyptic gear on Saturday. Appologies to anyone I didn't snag a shot of. I also had at least two shots not come out at all, so if you don't see yourself I do appologize, make sure you find me next month. As I said in the fave pic thread, if you make your way into the ballroom between the performances during a Collective event, and you see that big white box on top of my rig, feel free to pose for me. And get your monster masks and ball gowns ready for a masquerade ball 4/24!

You're welcome! Thanks for helping me get my flash set. And I wanted to drop into this thread really quickly and let everyone know, that if you see me in the Leland ballroom [i can't shoot inside the club] or at any other event with a big white box over my camera [it's a ridiculous rig, you really can't miss it] then feel free to ask me to snap your photo. If the box isn't up there, [usually during performances] I'm in band mode and not set up to take patron shots. I try to ask anyone that looks even a little approachable, but I'm still getting used to asking people [i'm more accustomed to working with models or clients that have hired me] and I'm not always wonderful at reading "kind of shy" vs "don't come near me with that fucking camera crazy goth paparazzi girl". If you're at an event [at CC or elsewhere] and you see me with that big stupid white box on top of the camera, I want to shoot your photo for the event gallery. I don't care who you are, what you're wearing, or if you think you look stupid in photos, please, I beg you, let me steal a little bit of your soul and blind you momentarily. Okay back to editing photos from Saturday's Collective event.

Yeah, they're in the middle of D:Konstruct's set since that's when that happened and I try to keep the stage sets together. Also, if you have secret knowledge of anything crazy like cakes smashing into faces or special like b-day announcements, etc that are going to happen at any point during an event that I'm at, tell my ass if you think of it. I won't ruin the surprise, but I will make sure I get good shots. I can think on my feet, but I'm still better off if I have advanced warning. Thanks again to everyone that came out and everyone that let me blind them with my flash o' doom.

Awesome show! And finally, photos have been posted. Feel free to right click, save as, and post em all over.

Also, pictures! I wasn't able to shoot inside the club proper that night, but I did manage to get some shots of the crowd/attendees in the ballroom. So if I asked to take your picture, have a peek in the gallery there and feel free to post your photos in your profiles. And if any of you happen to know who some of the other people in these photos are, be sure to let them know that they're up! I tried to hand out cards when I could, but spreading the word will be helpful. I had so much fun. I know there were tech issues, but I thought they were handled gracefully [also, it's the Leland it's not like we're not used to it] and everyone really put on a killer show. Props again to everyone involved.

Oh hai! Make sure you come say hi to me pretty lady. Can't miss me, I'll have my gear and if I have time to dump some color on my head, red/copper and teal/green hair but if not, I'll probably just have my dreads on.

Awesome. Make sure you jump in front of my camera at least once. Oh, good to know! The flyer didn't make it clear that the whole event including the DJs and whatnot was separate from the normal CC area. Very, very cool. Makes sense now that you say it though. Very excited!

First: Will you be in attendance? [which is the topic currently under discussion in this thread] Because the CC DJs only take requests from patrons. Second: The band took it's name [in 84] from the original shitty horror movie [in 81]. ^__^ Hopefully we'll see you there!

I would just like to commend whomever designed this flyer, I love this design. It looks awesome in print as well. Is there a facebook/myspace event page or similar informational page that I can link to when posting this? I've been looking for something simple and comprehensive with all this info in text plus links to all the bands, djs, etc all in one place, and haven't been able to find anything.

I may be there either NY day or the 2nd, haven't decided yet. I have two loosely alice themed photos in the art show.

Haha, the problem with any of the Gawker media sites (io9, fleshbot, jalopnik) is that very nearly everyone with a comment account there is a douchebag. Sort of the way the only people who ever say anything in response to news stories on major news sites are complete idiots. So I didn't take any of it personally. The thing with big boobs in overbust corsets is that they ALWAYS look gravity defying when seated (and sometimes while standing), that's just what the garment does, but people unfamiliar with them tend to just go "woah, gravity defying boobs". She's also tilted toward the camera which amplifies the effect. I personally, think she has a fantastic rack and was thrilled to be shooting it. And Rob is not by any means a good friend, but he's not such a bad guy. *shrugs* People are people, haters are haters, whatever, they're not invited to my party.

Thank you guys! @beau Thanks! I actually have a few in a completely monotone, high-contrast turn of the century style sepia yet to post, and they're really fun. I actually tried a LOT of different pp styles on these. They are slightly desaturated, but I found that if I desaturated them too, too much, all the detail in the costuming was lost amongst the busy backgrounds and the costumes were largely what this set was about. I could definitely have spent a bit more time on them though, and the boldness of the color in the setting/background in the last one (plus about a million other things coughlikehowpinkandwashedouthisskiniscough) really bugs me. @spammer yes I saw the io9 piece, but I had not seen that thread! I'll have to hop over there. Everyone else, thanks for the <3

Hi everyone! Quick recap for those that don't know me because I'm horrible at keeping up with the forum: I'm Lexie, I live in an RV with Emmymau. I am a photographer and go by the nom de...lens? "Lex Machina" And I've been a regular CC and scene patron since 2001. These are from a recent shoot with an amazing troupe of steampunk costumers and performers in LA: And here's an older shot from one from one of my favorite sets for Atelier Choklit, a beaded-fabric jewelry designer: And one of my personal faves (i may have posted this one somewhere before) of "the other Lex" or Allie who was a CC regular some years back and has since moved to Texas (like I did, lol): Loads more in my flickr stream and more to come. If you like, I'll try to make more of an effort to post new stuff over here more often. Thanks for looking, and as always, for the support.