Low-Key Side Profile, originally uploaded by Melvin Tan.

My first ever side profile lit with a flashlight app from the iPad. I really wanted to achieve a very thin, rim light but using a soft light such as the iPad doesn’t give you a very strong outline.

Undertaker, originally uploaded by Melvin Tan.

Trying something a little different today with a low-key self-portraiture, trying to recapture some of the mood of the Undertaker character from the old World Wrestling Federation (WWF).

This was really easy to capture because I setup the tripod on the bathroom counter and shot at myself. I could easily look at myself at the mirror and setup the look and lighting that I wanted. Once the photo was captured, I could see the results from the LCD reflected on the mirror.

Non-Strobist Info:
50mm 1.8D on Nikon D90.
Flashlight App on iPad on my chest pointing upwards.

Self-Portrait, originally uploaded by Melvin Tan.

This turned out to be the best out of several shots, though it is slightly darker than what I was hoping to achieve. I was trying to achieve a more high-key photo, but because there is no ambient or background light, I tried low-key instead. Unfortunately, there is not enough space in my office to truly separate the subject from the background to achieve that effect.

However, this made an awesome profile photo for my LinkedIn profile which was in dire need of a corporate head shot photo.

Strobist Info:
50mm 1.8D on Nikon D90.
SB-600 shot through 30" brolly at 1/4 power from camera right at 45 degrees.
Cactus V4.

BW Self-Portrait, originally uploaded by Melvin Tan.

For the first time in three years since owning my wireless flash triggers, I decided to try some Strobist work within the confines of my tiny office. Distance between subject and camera was 4-feet. Going to try this again in the basement with pink insulation next to see if it looks any different.

Strobist Info:
SB-600 triggered by Cactus V4 and shot through 30" umbrella on camera left at 1/8 power. Nikon D90.

Amanda, originally uploaded by Melvin Tan.

We are in the process of building a new house so we stopped by for a visit to check on the progress. Basement was complete and the first floor as you can see in the background.

Mojito B&W, originally uploaded by Melvin Tan.

Our chihuahua doing is ritual sideways head tilt whenever we try talking to him.

Mojito Shake, originally uploaded by Melvin Tan.

Look at his tongue flapping in the wind as he tries to shake off the water that mommy dumped all over him to cool him down from a long walk.