It is unusual for our society to have live models to photograph, but on October 16 we were treated to a visit by the island’s Burlesque and Steampunk group.

Steampunk is a fashion that combines historical elements with anachronistic technological features inspired by science fiction.

Burlesque is older and includes the revealing costumes from a bygone era of variety and cabaret. Both styles provided ample opportunity for exotic photographs. The colours and variety of the garments we saw were dazzling.

The Art Society’s meeting room was well prepared for the evening, with three mini photographic studios. Thanks to Barry Murphy, Jeremy Broome Smith and Chris Blyth for this.

Each area had provision for lighting the models by flash and the backdrops needed for serious photography were set up by the more experienced photographers in the IOMPS.

About 30 members attended the meeting, all with at least one camera.

Of course, the stars of the night were the Burlesque and Steampunk Group members, Steven, Hazel, Trees, Georgia and Gareth.

As expected the costumes were outrageous - they had to be! During the evening some of them changed costumes to provide even more variety.

At the start we were advised to ask the models to pose as we wanted and that is exactly what they did over one and a half hours, with only a short break for refreshments.

There is insufficient space here to describe all the clothes in detail. We saw Georgia in a gorgeous red dress, Trees with her fans, Steven in a long black coat with a sci-fi gun and Hazel wore a green corset. Just when we thought that the evening’s photography might be over, a late arrival by Gareth in his exotic red outfit and stunning headdress amazed us all.

At the end of the evening all the models posed together for a group shot. I realised I did not know the difference between Burlesque and Steampunk - but does that really matter? Everyone there had a wonderful experience.

lOur next meeting is on October 30, at the Arts Society Building (Thie Ellyn) in Withington Road, Douglas starting at 7.30pm. More details of the Society and its programme can be found on our website at www.iomps.com.

Written by Richard Shafto