Along The Way
You have been seeing a lot of my aviation photography mixed in with my bodybuilding and fitness, as well as my edgy lifestyle photo shoots and photo excursions. It goes back to when I was 9 years old and taking pictures of my model trains. At 12 I was shooting through my telescopes at the skies. My bodybuilding and weight lifting started at age 12 too. Building model airplanes as a kid and then getting in the airplanes. My interests along the way have always been accompanied by my photography or driven by it. Anyway some were asking, so I thought I might say something here about it all. Thanks!
Bombay Beach Sunset
Sunset last night at Bombay Beach over the Salton Sea. The little tiny black speck over the water, lower left of center is actually a kite being flown by the two people below it. Check out the really tight crop below the photograph. With my Hasselblad digital camera.
An Admiralty Courier Is Murdered!
URGENT NEWS!!! “An Admiralty courier is murdered and plans for the Dreadnought – a new battleship that will upset the world-wide balance of naval power – are stolen.”
Learn first hand of the secrets to this intrigue tonight at Book Soup on Sunset Blvd. Only known by my friend, author and Emmy Award winner Brooks Wachtel. Tonight! You must go and please report your findings ASAP.
Visit Lady Sherlock at http://ladysherlocknovel.blogspot.com
“Mr. Wachtel has shared his love of bygone days with viewers of The History Channel, co-creating the hit series “DogFights.” He has also written more than 100 televised episodes of dramatic fiction, including Fox’s live-action “Young Hercules” and animated hits like “Spider-Man” and “X-Men.”
Combining these two loves anew, along with his penchant for creating smart, strong and sexy heroines, has led to his premier novel… “Lady Sherlock: The Circle of the Smiling Dead.”
B-25 Sunday Morning
The World War II B-25 bomber “Pacific Princess” doing flight demonstrations at the Palm Springs Air Museum today.
Come on out to the Air Museum tomorrow morning, Sunday, opening extra early at 8:00 AM. The “Pacific Princess” will again take to the air at 8:48 to coincide when the carrier USS Hornet departed San Francisco carrying the B-25 aircraft that would make the raid on Tokyo on April 18, 1942. Called the “Doolittle Raid”, it was the turning point in the War with Japan and also in the history of air power. Not to be missed! See you there! AND… Admission is free for this starting at 8:00AM until flight time!
B-25 Over Palm Springs
The World War II B-25 bomber, Pacific Princess arriving and flying over Palm Springs for the Palm Springs Air Museum. In commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the famed Doolittle Raid on Tokyo, the Pacific Princess will fly again today Saturday April 1st and also on Sunday April 2 at 8:48 AM to mark the time that the B-25 bombers onboard the carrier USS Hornet left San Francisco on their mission in 1942. My pleasure here to photograph and fly yesterday on another historic aircraft.
Also at the Palm Springs Air Museum on Saturday at 1:00 PM, “Hell’s Angels: True Story of the 303rd Bomb Group during World War II”. Pacific Princess will fly following the program.
“At the outbreak of World War Two, the United States was in no way prepared to wage war. Although the US declared war against Germany in December of 1941, the country lacked the manpower, the equipment, and the experience it needed to fight. Even had an invasion force been ready, a successful assault on Nazi-occupied Europe could not happen until Germany’s industrial and military might were crippled. Because no invasion could happen without air superiority, the first target was the Luftwaffe – the most powerful and battle-hardened air force in the world. To this end, the United States Army Air Forces joined with Great Britain’s already-engaged Royal Air Force to launch a strategic air campaign that ultimately brought the Luftwaffe to its knees. One of the standout units of this campaign was the legendary 303rd Bomb Group – “Hell’s Angels”. Presented by Jay Stout”
Last but not least, on Saturday morning between 10:30 – 12:30 you can take the seat in the cockpit of an AT-6 Texan, single-engined advanced trainer aircraft used to train pilots of the United States Army Air Force. You can have your photo taken too! All fun!
The Pacific Princess has an interesting motion picture career history. She was used in the classic film “Catch 22” and also “1941”. For the movie “Pearl Harbor” she took off from the deck of both the USS Lexington and the USS Constellation. To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the end of World War II she was flown off the carrier USS Carl Vinson.
Adult Superstore
On photo excursions we keep an eye out for old abandoned signs, unusual times gone past buildings and other oddities of Americana. Heading towards Tucson, the sun setting, we pulled off the freeway in the middle of nowhere to photograph an old restaurant sign and such. Darkness and an unmarked rough road and what is there on the way… The “Lion’s Den Adult Superstore for women, men and couples!”. On the edge of the Picacho Peak State Park with a Civil War battlefield. I guess unique to Arizona perhaps? Note the Saguaro Cactus all over the hillside.
The Bandit Queen
The “Bandit Queen” Pearl Hart… “Used her feminine wiles with both prisoners and guards alike, pardoned after 3 years.” My kind of woman! Poster at the Yuma Territorial Prison on a photo excursion.
“Of All The Gin Joints…”
“Of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world, she walks into mine.” Sadly only a photo on the wall and not actually at the counter. On a photo excursion and stopping for food at Lutes Casino in Yuma Arizona.
No Olive Garden
My kind of stop for food on a road trip! This ain’t no Olive Garden LOL! Lutes Casino in Yuma Arizona.
Sand Dunes Mirage
Out on a photo excursion last few days. No I did not bring them with me. They are just a sand dunes mirage.
Fit Fashion
Of course I can do that fit fashion photo shoot for you. And fit fashion can work all the time especially if you are the gorgeous Randalene Sergent. Fitness wear by Bodybuilding.com. Makeup and Hair Styling by Natalie Lyle. Thanks!
A Real Honey!
Went looking to make some new friends with my Hasselblad camera this afternoon. Met this cool guy with quite the buzz on. A real honey!
Mr. Sulu WARP SPEED!
Fred Bell, director of the Palm Springs Air Museum, taking command of the 1928 Ford Tri-Motor. At start up, over the comm, he can be heard saying “Scotty give me everything you got! Mr. Sulu WARP SPEED!”. I know for sure, I heard it myself 🙂
And Then…
Spokesperson and fitness model for Bodybuilding.com made her one of the most famous and respected and admired women in fitness, Jamie Eason. Her first photo shoot for Bodybuilding.com for their advertising, online and magazine features and so much more that followed… photographed by me.
The Right Words
My best buddy always seems to have the perfect thing to say, or wear, at the best times. Maria Bertrand… model, actress and writer. From our “Red Tire” photo shoot with Makeup and Hair Styling by Natalie Lyle.
Yak Attack!
Actually a Soviet Yak-3 fighter from WWII. Doing flight demonstrations at the Palm Springs Air Museum yesterday. Not something you see everyday! From Wikipedia…
“The Yakovlev Yak-3 (Russian: Я́ковлев Як-3) was a World War II Soviet fighter aircraft. Robust and easy to maintain, it was very much liked by pilots and ground crew alike.It was one of the smallest and lightest major combat fighters fielded by any combatant during the war. Its high power-to-weight ratio gave it excellent performance. It proved a formidable dogfighter. Marcel Albert, World War II French ace, who flew the Yak in USSR with the Normandie-Niémen Group, considered it a superior aircraft when compared to the P-51D Mustang and the Supermarine Spitfire.”
From The Co-Pilot Seat
The takeoff in a 1928 Ford Tri-Motor passenger airplane. Yesterday leaving the Palm Springs Air Museum. This is one of the very first passenger aircraft. Three engines and ten passengers. Cruising speed of 107mph and a range of 570 miles. A must see, it will be available at the Air Museum through this Sunday (March 19th) and available for rides all day each day.
They’re Flying!
Lots of flying today for lots of people at the Palm Springs Air Museum. And not just any flying! In a 1928 Ford Tri-Motor, one of the very first ever passenger airplanes. You can fly too, through Sunday! I will be!
Favorite Favorite!
One of my most favorite gym fitness photographs of one of my most favorite incredibly beautiful models, Randalene Sergent. Makeup and hair styling by yet another favorite Natalie Lyle.
You Know This Guy
Six times Mr. Olympia, Phil Heath. This photograph from his very first pro bodybuilding show win, the 2006 IFBB Colorado Pro. The photographer, me on assignment for Bodybuilding.com. If you have ever read a bodybuilding and fitness magazine, visited Bodybuilding.com, you have seen my photographs from shows, magazine features and advertising more than you would ever know. All around the world. Ready for me to shoot for you… send me a note to Ian@SecondFocus.com. Thanks!
Gym Shoot!
Been waiting to do your gym photo shoot with me? Time to get it going! To this day I am still one of the best known and most published bodybuilding and fitness photographers on the planet. Let’s do it! Send me an e-mail to Ian@SecondFocus.com. Thanks!
Robert Hatch during a photo shoot which became the cover photo and multi page feature in Planet Muscle Magazine.
Hawker Sea Fury
The Hawker Sea Fury heading out at the Palm Springs Air Museum yesterday to do a flight demonstration. This plane is fast and powerful! Top speed is 460mph and has a range of 700 miles. It was armed with 20mm cannons and could carry bombs or rockets. The pilot told me yesterday that he flew in at approximately 15,000 feet and a speed of 295 knots (340mph) for pretty much his entire flight from Ione California.
Fastest Ever!
“One of the fastest production single piston-engined aircraft ever built.” – Wikipedia
The Hawker Sea Fury doing a fly by for flight demonstrations at the Palm Springs Air Museum yesterday. I do get a comparative idea of how fast an airplane is going when I am tracking it with my camera. This was going REALLY FAST!
These planes entered service in 1947 and flew in the Korean War and the Bay Of Pigs Invasion of Cuba in 1961. There were only 864 built. Top speed is 460mph and has a range of 700 miles. It was armed with 20mm cannons and could carry bombs or rockets. The pilot told me yesterday that he flew in at approximately 15,000 feet and a speed of 295 knots (340mph) for pretty much his entire flight from Ione California.
Arriving 1928 Ford Tri-Motor
Built in 1928 this Ford Tri-Motor passenger plane arriving at the Palm Springs Air Museum. A very rare sight to see flying today! And you can take a ride! Check the Museum website at PalmSpringsAirMuseum.org
First sold to Transcontinental Air Transport (TAT, the logo that graces the aircraft’s fuselage today) in January 1929 and was named City of Wichita. It inaugurated westbound transcontinental commercial air service on July 7, 1929. In April 1931, ownership of the aircraft was transferred to Transcontinental and Western Air (TWA). Here the aircraft helped in the development of TWA’s route system.
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