This is from a photo shoot on Saturday of my dear friend who goes by the name Mystikvelvet when she's performing burlesque. We shot at the incredible Hotel Rouge in Washington, DC. This is also the first shoot with my new 'big girl' camera - an Olympus Evolt E-500. The picture quality was better than I expected but I still have a LOT to learn about my new baby. The shoot itself was retro-themed. Obviously it was not 'authentic' and I used no special lighting or any particular lighting techniques. I used the room lighting and my flash for this image was at 3/4 and not pointing directly at her. The lovely red backdrop is the headboard on the bed in the hotel room.