It was October 2002, and we were deep into a high-intensity location shoot in Glendale, California for Hewlett-Packard. At the time, HP’s latest computers were being used by DreamWorks for their cutting-edge animation work, and we were there to capture that story for B to B ads foe H.P. The schedule was packed. With a long list of shots and limited time, I was managing two full crews, constantly on the move—setting up lights, tearing down gear, racing against the […]

It was one of those surreal moments you only see in movies. “Mel Lindstrom” “Mel Lindstrom !” ” Is Mel Lindstrom here?” Friends of mine, who knew I was at the event, started shouting from across the room: “Mel’s here! Get him up to the podium!. The only problem? I wasn’t in the room—I couldn’t be. The ADDY Awards, sponsored by the American Advertising Federation, are a big deal in our industry. You start at the local level, where you […]

Why I Never Would Have Made It in the Corporate World Years ago, I was doing a location shoot for a big corporation called ROLM. We were set up in their offices in San Jose, using a massive conference room with one entire wall made of glass. That wall looked out onto a sea of cubicles—classic corporate territory. The main focus of the shoot was the people seated around the conference table, but I wanted to add a little life […]

Yes, it’s true! To demonstrate firsthand just how beautiful and professional iPhone photography can be, I’ll be exhibiting prints in local public venues. The latest show will be held at The Red Rock in Mountain View, featuring a collection titled “NaturePlants.” You can explore the series online at melphoto.com/portfolios/nature If you’re in the area—especially if you’re a skeptic—come see what kind of stunning images your iPhone is capable of capturing. Or better yet, sign up for a class and start creating […]

A make-up artist that I have worked with frequently over the years, Jan Lendhart, has been reading my posts. And she suggested this story that she recalled us working one.     A Tale of Tough Love on a Set   This was supposed to be fun little gig for a software security company.  Just a simple image of a fierce female cop, gun drawn, staring down a cyber criminal. I envisioned a moody, cinematic setup in the studio, shadows […]

Yesterday, (May 24, 2025), while on a day trip to Point Reyes. we met this old man sitting on a feed store porch. He was as grizzly as they come. But once we struck up a conversation, you couldn’t stop him from smiling and rambling on. I think he enjoyed being the old man that strangers would come up to and talk with in the small, roadside town. Yes, all shots with an iphone.

I am grateful to have photos selected by a well known panel of judges into the APA Something Personal Top 100 exhibition. As many of my friends and clients know, I have spent the majority of time over the last several years, taking care of my sons. As they have gotten older, I have slowly getting back to what I love doing the most, photography. Having two selections out of more the 1000 entrants is quite an honor. APA San […]

There exists a chasm in the compassion of human beings. A distance between the way we should treat others and the way most people actually do. Much like in autism, it’s a spectrum. But it’s always nice when you meet someone who understands the simplicity of a request to joy ride elevators. Most are curious. Some are annoyed. Others will just refuse to break protocol. Those are the personalities we meet most often. That’s why it is eternally nice to […]

In a continuing effort to demonstrate that the iPhone has a wonderful camera, I recently used it to create some very specialized portraits. These portraits were taken at the Native American Pow Wow in Marysville Ca. on Feb 17th. Yes, these were all shot on the iPhone. And yes they were edited later. Lighting was LED lights, powered by a battery pack. It’s a great experience to work with wonderful people who allow me to capture emotional images. Because for […]