Taran's Photo Album

Fringe, 2009, Saskatoon

Taran — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 00:08:06 GMT

Happily I got to dance with my ladies of Mayurichaal again at the Fringe this year; less happily, I'm not really keen on how the new headband wound up looking. It kept slipping down over my eyes and I think with the blonde braids it was too much white at the top of the costume (even though I had cream pantaloons and a cream hip-scarf to match). Would've looked better with some blue, or maybe just without the blonde braids (but it looked kinda unfinished without them... needs more decoration...). Anyway, it was a load of fun, as usual, and I am so grateful to be able to come back and duck in like that. :)

Bedouin Dance Company Student Show

Taran — Tue, 19 May 2009 05:14:40 GMT

Feb 2009

Bedouin Dance Company Student Show

Taran — Tue, 19 May 2009 05:14:01 GMT

Feb 2009

Bedouin Dance Company Student Show

Taran — Tue, 19 May 2009 05:13:08 GMT

Feb 2009

Gotta love those long exposures

Taran — Tue, 19 May 2009 05:12:13 GMT

Student Show, Feb. 2009

Dancing with Mayurichaal at Fringe, 2008

Taran — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 03:03:36 GMT

Did I mention I love ATS? Photo by Wayne Shiels

Satin costume---bottom front

Taran — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 17:07:58 GMT

and another pic of the satin

Taran — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 17:04:30 GMT

because it's MY photo album! :P The arm-band is just tied on with yarn; it needs a ribbon like the kind that are doing the other laces in the costume. Oh, and can anyone tell my how I end up with red-eye when I WASN'T USING THE FLASH?

Satin costume

Taran — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 17:02:47 GMT

black background... not the best way to photograph a black costume. Anyway, I'm liking the bottom and the vest. somewhere around there's a little ruffly neck-piece i made; not sure if it's too much, though. I think the armlet (there's actually two, but I only put one on) needs something more, either ruffle or drape (maybe removable since I think i'd like to be able to pare this costume down if desired; it started out very sleek but the ruffles have been creeping in). I'm not sure if I'd actually wear it over the Icarus melos or not; are they too busy? I'm thinking some kind of nice, maybe sheer/netting panel skirt over whatever I do go for for the legs... if I find a nice fabric I could use that for a drape from the arm-bands, too...

ruffly butt

Taran — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 16:56:44 GMT

I still feel like the belt (the black gathered part at the top) is kinda plain, the texture too even over the whole thing... not quite sure what to do to spice it up. I'm pretty happy with how the little overskirt is working, though.

back of blue and cream belt

Taran — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 16:55:28 GMT

also needs something more.

front of blue and cream belt

Taran — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 16:54:01 GMT

needs more decoration.

Blue and Cream costume

Taran — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 16:23:13 GMT

a work in progress.. the belt needs more decoration (and I didn't get a shot of the back, which looks cool alone but kinda funny on me). The bra still needs straps; it's held up right now by its own power (which is considerable) and the vest, which works surprisingly well but I'm no sure I'd want to perform in it that way. The colour's not particularly true... the pants are a rather brown cream, while the belt and trim are a more yellow or ivory colour. There's a better pic of the front panel here: http://people.tribe.net/taran/photos/53323e27-16a1-432d-85f6-c2de86f63dc8 The back panel is the same but without the decoration and jingles. I'd like to add jingles to the vest, maybe on a strip that buttons on the inside or something. still debating what to do for arm thingies, and maybe a hat.

top half of the evolving "blue and cream" costume

Taran — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 16:21:14 GMT

Cream pantaloons---fancy ankle.

Taran — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 03:22:18 GMT

Closeup of the ankle of the cream pantaloons, showing the circle I gathered the pant-leg on to so there wouldn't be all that width right at the ankle. I'm quite happy with how that worked out, actually. :)

Cream pantaloons

Taran — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 03:16:57 GMT

Found $7/metre fabric at walmart that just happened to be over 2m wide, so I jumped on it. The cream's not exactly right to match my blue/cream costume (the other creams are more yellow/gold, less brown) but we'll see. These are easily the most complicated pantaloons I've ever made; they have a yoke, pleats (wide and flat on the front, narrower and deeper around the sides and back) and circles at the bottom of the leg to make the gathering easier. I even did French seams! Each pant leg is the full width of the fabric, about 2.3 m. They probably could have been an inch or two longer without being too long; I wasn't sure how much longer to make them considering how heavy the fabric was, but I think they'll work.

The Blue Costume

Taran — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 16:22:43 GMT

Not a new pic, but a nice one (yes, I can't resist the ol' photoshop... it's a bad habit, I know)...

The real picture

Taran — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 03:53:46 GMT

Or closer, anyway... I had to tweak the brightness and contrast quite a bit (not quite enough light for shooting on black), and I always like to throw a soft glow on everything just for good measure ;)

Christmas kiss

Taran — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 03:49:41 GMT

This was the front-pic for our Christmas cards this year... I got some prefab cardstock from michael's and printed them all out. Much better than my usual dollar-store crappy ones, and an amount of work I could actually handle (I had some fantasies about doing something with lino-print... I like lino print... but that would not have been a good idea, especially in my white, white, white apartment.) Not to bad for taking pictures in my livingroom :)

Merry Christmas!

Taran — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 16:06:02 GMT

or [Insert Holiday of your choice]... my fave is actually Solstice, except that when I say that everyone thinks I must be pagan/wiccan. I just REALLY REALLY like that the days are going to be getting longer soon :)

Livingroom bellydance

Taran — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 22:36:49 GMT

Me and Anita grooving... also a nice shot of our classy new livingroom :)

My hunk

Taran — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 22:35:46 GMT

I mean boyfriend. Husband. Whatever. He doesn't let me take many pictures of him, but this one turned out nice :)

View from our balcony

Taran — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 22:34:40 GMT

This is how Calgary looks to us... can we say, "suburban"?

Ninja Girl

Taran — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 22:33:22 GMT

She does her own costumes and everything... (makeup too >_<)

The Ballerina Witch

Taran — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 22:31:42 GMT

I didn't get many good pictures of their hallowe'en costumes this year...but here's Ebs :)