Photographer Ronald N. Tan is a Chinese photographer born in Yangon, Myanmar (Burma), in 1981 and currently residing in both Sacramento and Los Angeles. A self-taught photographer, he challenged family traditions and expectations and started pursuing photography in 2006. And he has accomplished a lot in just two years. Not many photographers can claim they’ve shot as many covers as he has, with publications in Europe and Australia totaling 13 publications with 9 covers with multi-page editorials and a couple advertising clients. We wanted to know more about him and Adam Phebus, his latest model.
Where do you find your models?
Mens fashion agencies in both the Los Angeles and San Francisco markets, and also on ModelMayhem.com.
How do you decide on locations?
Depends on how I see the image. I am infatuated with the desert backdrop known as ‘El Mirage Dry Lake’ in Adelanto-Victorville, California.
Do you rely on lighting — natural or artificial — or do you rely on computer manipulation?
Natural and strobe. Once the RAW image I want to work with is satisfied, I fine tune and tone my photographs in Photoshop.
Where did you meet Adam Phebus?
When I needed a cover model for the December 2008 cover of Australian magazine DNA, I sent out an email to all of my agent contacts and the mens director at Vision Los Angeles sent a go-see to me and Adam Phebus was one of the male models.
What can you tell us about him?
Adam was a great model and we really connected during shooting for DNA because we left academia to chase after our dreams and goals — him being a model and I, a photographer. Adam was studying chemistry. I have a background in pre-pharmacy, with applied physics and microbiology.
Any anecdote about the shooting we’re showing today?
The test photographs were shot on October 10th. Originally, the 10th was the shooting date I had planned for the DNA shoot, but due to the latest information accessed on the wind conditions on the El Mirage lake bed, I postponed the shoot until the 15th.
Next week, we will tell you more about Ronald and his vision of photography. Stay tuned 
2 comments. Leave your comment.
ben
Terrific pix, fabulous photography………..thanks!
Oct 26th, 2008
Jacob Gorny
Dear Adam P.
My name is Jacob Gorny, and I wanted to personally send this message to you to let you know that you have the most beautiful soulful eyes I have ever seen on a man.!! & I must say this sincerely to you Adam,that you look after that muscular physique very well.
I was reading through your background by the photographer Ronald N.Tan,and he mentioned that were studying Chemistry,what area of Chemistry are interested in Adam.? I have always had a deep interest in Science related subjects such as Astronomy, Geology and Chemistry & Biology as well.
May I ask you how long have you been interested in Chemistry for Adam.?, and do you plan to continue down that career path and hopefully work as a Chemist.?
Anyway that is enough of the questions from me, I hope I have not embarassed you in anyway when I complimented you on your physique,because that was certainly not my intention, I live in Australia,and I am currently studying Tourism on a full-time basis.
You are more than welcome to e-mail me personally, I do realise that you are a very busy person,but I think it would be great if you and I could be penpals via the internet if that is okay with you, because we do not know each other, I was wondering if you and I could be friends.?
This is not a hoax or anything like that, I genuinely would like to be your friend Adam.
My e-mail address is jacobgorny(at)hotmail(dot)com; I look forward to hearing from you,when you are not busy.
Take Care of Yourself Adam.
Bye for now.
Regards
Jacob Gorny.
Oct 30th, 2008
Reply to Adam Phebus by Ronald N. Tan