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CreatorsMechanical KeyboardsAppleSingle Monitor

Tristan Green

Photographer and Creator

Houston, Texas Issue #546
A wood-slat home office with white bookshelf speakers either side of a monitor showing a teal gradient, and a black skull pennant on the wall.

An earlier version of his current setup... before the orange.

About

Tristan Green, better known online as Captain Sterling, is a photographer and content creator with a passion for tech, mechanical keyboards, desk setups, coffee, and productivity.

Through cinematic photography and videos, he explores the products and spaces that inspire creativity, sharing his work across YouTube, Instagram, and Twitch while encouraging others to build intentional workspaces they genuinely enjoy spending time in.

Photos

11 images
An angled view of the desk: a monitor showing an orange cyberpunk illustration, a Treecko figure on a Mac Mini, and an orange mechanical keyboard below.
Tristan's setup as it stands now.
The desk head-on, with the monitor centered above a Mac Mini, a glasses tray and a warm table lamp.
The Kuycon 32-inch monitor, which recently replaced his old monitor.
Looking along the desk at an orange mechanical keyboard on a gray-to-orange gradient deskpad.
GMK Orenji on the matching deskpad — both his own design.
Close-up of an orange keycap set on a beige mechanical keyboard.
*Chef's kiss*
A pale stone tray holding tortoiseshell glasses and a small earbuds case on a plywood shelf.
The OV_E tray, where the small things land.
A small orange Digimon figure on the shelf beside a glowing lamp.
Birdramon, one of the two figures he keeps around for the nostalgia.
A green Treecko figure sitting on top of a silver Mac Mini.
Treecko, on the M4 Pro that replaced the M1 Air.
The desk in an earlier arrangement, with a black keyboard, a compact camera and an orange deskpad.
A previous take on the same setup.
The desk with a red Porsche on the monitor, a dark red keyboard and a patterned red deskpad.
And another.
The desk with an illustration of a figure among green leaves on the monitor, and a white keyboard below.
And... another!

Gear

10 items
Monitor Kuycon G32P 6K 32" — An incredible upgrade from my old 1440p display. The 6K panel is super sharp and gives off a very Apple Studio Display vibe for a fraction of the price. Buy
Keyboard Gray Studio Infinite 70 — Phenomenal. I love the design, the sound, and the typing experience. It's one of those keyboards I keep finding myself reaching for. Buy
Keycaps GMK Orenji — Designed in collaboration with Omnitype and GMK. Seeing something you've spent years working on finally come to life never gets old. Buy
Deskpad GMK Orenji Gradient — The matching deskpad from the same collaboration. Buy
Computer Mac Mini M4 Pro — Probably the biggest upgrade in terms of productivity. I edited on an M1 MacBook Air for years and it started to become dreadful, but the M4 Pro tears through photo and video work without breaking a sweat. It also has such a tiny footprint that it frees up a lot of desk space. Buy
Wallpaper Void, by Giuse — Another pop of orange, which has definitely become a theme in my setup lately. Buy
Organizer Orbitkey Nest V2 — Keeps everything organized — keyboard tools, SSDs, cables, everyday carry items. They give everything a place instead of letting it pile up across the desk. Buy
Tray OV_E DWOS Tray 02 — Same job as the Nest — a place for the small things. Buy
Lamp Luna Lamp, by Saloon Designs — A permanent fixture on my desk. The warm, soft glow makes the whole space feel cozy and inviting, especially when I'm editing after hours. Buy
On the shelf Treecko and Birdramon figures, and a Pete’s Pirate Life flag — The figures give me that feeling of nostalgia and make the space feel a little more personal. The flag is a small tribute to Peter McKinnon, who played a big part in giving me the confidence to pursue content creation full time — and I have always loved the pirate theme.

Interview

8 questions

› You designed the GMK Orenji keycaps and the matching deskpad. Did the room follow the set?

Most of the keycap sets I’ve made have taken ages to actually exist, from the initial idea to final production. It feels amazing though — almost surreal. This thing you’ve only seen in 3D images for so long is finally in your hand. And the fact that it resonated with enough people to help make it makes me really happy. The room slowly followed the set. As it arrived I also added in the deskpad, then everything else was suddenly orange somehow.

› What's the most recent thing you've added to your workspace?

The most recent additions are my Treecko figure and the Infinite70 keyboard. The Treecko adds a bit of personality to the setup, while the Infinite70 has been incredibly impressive with its futuristic design. It’s one of those pieces that I keep reaching for.

› The Mac Mini replaced an M1 Air you said had become dreadful. What actually changed?

The Mac was definitely the biggest upgrade. The M4 Pro chip blazes through everything I throw at it. With the M1, photo and video editing started getting laggy, especially once I got the FX30 and the A7 IV — the files were larger and the M1 couldn’t keep up. The M4 Pro handles it with ease. The monitor was a big improvement too, at least for seeing the sharpness and texture in my images. Now I’m considering that Pro Display one day.

› You've just swapped the monitor, the machine and the keyboard. What's the oldest thing on the desk?

The oldest things on the desk are my hard drives and Orbitkey Nest. I use the Nest frequently to bring files to and from home when I need to edit weddings on the weekends. It keeps the hard drives protected when I’m putting them in my bag during the commute. So they’re quite vital to some of the work I do day to day.

› What does a typical day look like?

My mornings start with making a latte before getting my family ready for school and work. Once I head into my office, I boot up the system, review my to-do list, and map out the best way to tackle the day’s projects.

Most days are a mix of editing photos and videos, shooting new content, testing products, and planning future ideas. After wrapping up work, it’s time for dinner with the family, hanging out together, maybe playing a few games, and finishing the day with our bedtime routine.

› How do you spark creativity?

I start by writing down everything I need to accomplish, then challenge myself to approach each task differently than the last. If I’m reviewing a new keyboard, for example, I’ll ask myself how I can photograph or film it in a way that feels fresh compared to previous projects.

As I complete each task, I build momentum. That positive progress naturally pushes me into a flow state where ideas come more easily and creativity feels effortless.

› What do you enjoy most about working from home?

Having complete control over my creative space. I’ve designed my office to be a place that inspires me, so every time I walk in, it’s easy to focus and get into work mode.

When the day is over, I can step away and fully disconnect to spend time with my family. Not having a commute, being able to dress comfortably, and tailoring every detail of my workspace to maximize focus makes working from home an incredible experience.

› You rebuild this room constantly. So what’s the next change?

I’d love to add floating shelves integrated into the wood slat wall behind my desk. It would give me a place to display more decorative pieces, cameras, keyboards, and collectibles while adding another layer of depth and personality to the space.

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