I lost all my photos, while repairing the Iphoto library lost most photos.. help!!!

Hi all!
It seemed I made several stupid choices while I was trying to repair iphoto.
1. Importing photos
When I was importing photos, Iphoto said there's not enough space in my startup disk. And it showed me some choices, and I don't exactly remember what I chose(was really tired after work)/ I think I did something and relaunch or something. And I think I forced quit when it seemed like not responding.
2. All photos were gone
When I reopened Iphoto, all photos were gone(it seemed like.)
3. The photos were there
So I googled like a maniac, found apple discussion. Checked iphoto library, and package contents. The photos were still in Old masters folder. The library was nearly 354gb or something.
4. Backing up
So I found a way, "repairing database". I tried follow people's suggestion, back up before you repair. So I was trying to back up with my timemachine, but again it was saying it's backing up for 459 something GB, and I didn't have enough space in my hard drive, so I didn't back up.(stupid choice).
At this stage, the photos were still there.
5. Repair database
Then I was trying to repair or rebuild database, and......when it was loading my enormous amount of photos 130,000photos, it was saying there might not be enough space in my startup disk, DO YOU WANT TO CONTINUE? and I said....yes.
6. Importing photos
So when it was doing its job, importing from the library, several hours passed. Then it said there's not enough space, and it stopped.
7. Iphoto library,,,,,,nothing there.
So now,,, the iphoto library is 1.47gb.....instead of 375 something gb.
It seems the all photos are gone.
8. the luck is.
I backed up on 28th, January. And photos from 30th, January are still in my SD card. So if I go back to 28th of January, I will only loose one day of photos.
But I don't want to loose them. I came to Kenya to build a children's library transforming an old bus, and the lost photos are when we are painting outside of the bus. The most fun part.
9. HELP
So please help!!!! I want to do all I can do to bring those photos back.
10. additional information
I deleted many files to have some space. When I check about this Mac, the storage shows back ups are 400 something GB.. why???
Thank you so much! Asante sana in advance.
Bobae.

The fact that the original files are in the "Old Masters" folder is an indication that you got bit by a bug in iPhoto that occurs when an import is interrupted.
I recommended a possible fix to another user but haven't heard back from them as to whether or not it worked. It consisted of:
1 - move the "masters" folder to the Desktop.
2 - rename "Old Masters" to "Masters"
3 - rebuild the library with iPLM with the option to scavenge any orphaned photos.
It is a long shot but worth a try.
If that doesn't work you'll need to start over with a new library and import the contents of the "Old Masters" folder, several sub folders at a time.

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