Photography by Ian L. Sitren

Author Archive

So Much Fun With Gabriella

Sharing a laugh with an incredibly beautiful, gorgeous, talented and fun Gabriella Muttone. Behind the scenes in our photo shoot at the Palm Springs Air Museum. Made all the better with my Hasselblad camera and Broncolor lighting. Thank You Gabriella! You are wonderful!

Gabriella & Me


Hitchhiking to Muscle Beach

I imposed upon Maria Bertrand to demonstrate the proper form and universal sign for hitchhiking to Muscle Beach. We were on Mulholland Drive above Beverly Hills so the results  for cars that stopped included 17 Ferraris, 14 Lamborghinis, 6 Bentley Coupes, 11 various Rolls Royces, 4 Lincoln Town Cars and one black Loach helicopter with no markings that dropped out of the sky. However last I saw of Maria for the day was as she rode off on the back of a bright red Vespa with a really cute blonde wearing a matching helmet who had really long legs. I went back to the hotel with my Hasselblad camera and my memories of the day, in my photographs. Sigh…

Hitchhiking To Muscle Beach

 


Everybody Makes Friends On My Shoots

One of the very fun things that happens on my photo shoots is that everybody makes friends with everyone else. Bella found a perfect companion! Photographed with my Hasselblad digital camera and Broncolor lighting. I love this gear!

Bella And Friend


Alternate Energy Sources

I was going to use this post to tell you about the difference between Windmills and Wind Turbines. But never mind. Instead just a breathtaking moment with Heidi Cannon in front of my camera.

Bikini Fashion In The Desert


A Guess First

It was July last year when a so very gorgeous Maria Bertrand was photographed by me in this beautiful dress by Marciano by Guess. It looks like Guess decided that it was so beautiful on Maria that they had to put it on Gigi Hadid for their billboards and magazine ads.

Guess-Dress

Maria Bertrand Photographed along Mulholland Drive by me with my Hasselblad. Gigi Hadid for Guess.


His Last Movie

At PhotoCon LA yesterday I picked up this copy of American Cinematographer magazine. On the cover two greats of motion pictures including Vilmos Zsigmond.

I had the lifetime experience of having been the stills photographer on the last movie that Vilmos had done, “Six Dance Lessons In Six Weeks“. The man had brought us amazing works such as “Deer Hunter” “Close Encounters Of The Third Kind” “Deliverance” “McCabe & Mrs Miller” and so many more. Long recognized as one of the greatest cinematographers of all time.

Working on set with him, almost daily for seven weeks, he showed himself to be a master of his craft with an incredible ease. And Vilmos worked non-stop, starting the day well before anyone else and long after in the every night. Well into his 80’s he drove everyone much younger by many decades into doing better by just trying to keep up with him.

On the last day of our shooting in Budapest at the wrap party of the movie, Vilmos paid me what everyone tells me is the kindest comment ever. He said “You can work on my sets anytime, you never got in the way”. That still makes me laugh and smile.

AC-Vilmos-Cover


The Best Part Of Being A Photographer

The best part of being a photographer is getting to shoot photographs, especially with really great looking people. Like my good friend Daniel Hill here out in the desert right near Palm Springs. Thanks!

Daniel Hill


Bonnie Waiting

Bonnie waiting, but for who? Who is Bonnie? More of this story to come.

Emma Mesrobian is our Bonnie. Makeup and Hair Styling by Estee Lauder’s world traveling Blanche Le Beau. Broncolor lighting and Hasselblad digital cameras. At the Orange Empire Railway Museum. Thank You!

Emma Mesrobian Train Robber


Net Proceeds

I am guessing I got my accounting confused with my photo shoot plans. However Nova did happen to have the right wardrobe for net proceeds anyway. I am looking forward to doing net revenue next. Who wants to help me out? Thanks!

Net Proceeds

Nova photographed with Broncolor lighting and digital camera by Hasselblad.

 

 


Train Robbery In Progress

Yesterday behind the scenes with Emma Mesrobian. Too much fun and photos soon! Makeup and Hair Styling by Blanche LeBeau. At the Orange Empire Railway Museum. Broncolor lighting and Hasselblad digital camera for the actual photo shoot.

Some history for now… This is a Union Pacific Steam Engine built in 1921. It saw service in Idaho and Utah puling freight and passenger cars and retired in 1955. It weighs 300,000 pounds and the driving wheels are 63″ in diameter. It is a 2-8-2 “Mikado” type locomotive. 2 small pilot wheels, 8 large driving wheels and 2 small trailing wheels. And yes it is really big!

Bonnie No Clyde

 


Your Photo Shoot At Venice Beach

Your photo shoot with me Memorial Day weekend. I will be at Venice Beach for the huge show at Muscle Beach on Memorial Day. So on Saturday or Sunday, May 28 and 29, you can have your own mini photo shoot with me. You do not have to be doing the Muscle Beach show. Fashion model or bodybuilder, bikini model or physique competitor and couples, all are welcome. Just like my wonderful beautiful friend Maria Bertrand from our shoot on the sand at Venice Beach.

Spend about an hour with me at Venice Beach, The Venice Beach Boardwalk or a nearby beach in Marina Del Rey. Because I am photographing so many people that weekend and at the Muscle Beach show, I do these photo shoots at hugely reduced rates just to make it available to as many people as possible. But please sign up immediately so we can get you in. And if you are doing the show, sign up for your photographs with me, both on stage and backstage in the famous workout Pit. Thanks and here is the link for sign up… MuscleBeachPhoto.com.

Maria Bertrand at Venice Beach


Nova With Nova

When I was getting ready to do a photo shoot with Nova, I was excited to find that she had been featured in one of my favorite publications, “Victor” by Hasselblad. A beautiful publication that began as a very large format magazine and progressed to a book format. It is partially responsible for my having selected Hasselblad as my camera system.

So I was excited to have Nova sign her photograph in my copy of Hasselblad Victor Photography Book One during our photo shoot. And I am in great admiration of the original photograph and the series “Personal Visitation” by photographer Damon Loble. Applause!

This photograph with my Hasselblad digital camera and Broncolor lighting. Thanks!

Nova


And Then She Shows Up

I really have had the chance to photograph some of the most beautiful amazing women on the planet. Then Ashley Owens-Gulina showed up, oh my! It is said “a picture is worth a thousand words”. I have many pictures I have shot of Ashley and I remain without words. The wonderful Makeup and Hair Styling by Natalie Lyle. Another beautiful woman in my life. Thank You to both of you!

Ashley Owens Guilna

 


Fashion Styling

I often think I should use a fashion stylist on my photo shoots. But then again sometimes I get by. This is the “Papier Doux” look. Okay maybe not. What do you think?

Photo shoot with a Hasselblad digital camera and Broncolor lighting. Aristodeme, one of my very favorite models.

Aristodeme

 


Revisited – The Intense Environment Of Salton Sea

I attended a really fun event on Saturday night, “Open Desert – Music and Photographic Arts Showcase“. At the Annenberg Theater at the Palm Springs Art Museum, photographs from the nearby desert areas such as Joshua Tree and the Salton Sea displayed big screen behind the live music from “Tribesmen“, “Caxton“, “Mike Pygmie Ensemble” and “Drum Hall“. I was asked why I did not submit photographs for the show. Well for one thing, they were all turned black and white. I like black and white for some photographs but I think the colors and the light in the desert should be seen as you might imagine it. And another reason, well my photographs do not tend to be the usual landscape type photographs.

“The environment of Salton Sea can be very intense. Harsh Sunlight, desolate spaces, an eeriness to the Sea itself. In places a post apocalyptic look that would be movie perfect. But I find it uniquely compelling and beautiful. A favorite location for my photo shoots. Model Bailey Daniels.” – from one of my prior Blog Posts.

Intensity At Salton Sea

Intensity At Salton Sea

Intensity At Salton Sea

Intensity At Salton Sea

Intensity At Salton Sea


You Can’t Get Good Mexican Food In Outer Space

You can’t get good Mexican food in outer space. Domingo’s Mexican & Seafood Restuarant. Here at the location in Lancaster and another in Boron, both near Edwards Air Force Base. Domingo himself honorary Mayor of Boron and Edwards AFB. Julia Roberts dined here filming the movie Erin Brokovich. And both locations are favorites for Generals, Test Pilots, and Astronuats. A first stop for returning Space Shuttle crews. So a great place to eat after the tour at Edwards Air Force Base. And much fun meeting and talking with Domingo!

Domingo's Mexican & Seafood Restaurant


Reserved Parking At Edwards AFB

Reserved parking for McDonnell Douglas YC-15 Advanced Medium STOL Transports with Short Take Off and Landing ability only. All others please use the parking lot around back. At Edwards Air Force Base on Friday. A most amazing tour of an incredibly exciting and historical facility.

McDonnell Douglas YC-15


Vintage Swimsuit Posing At Muscle Beach

So excited to be the Muscle Beach photographer shooting the first new Vintage Swimsuit Competition. You can have your photographs on stage, backstage in the famous “Pit” or even your own photo shoot on Saturday or Sunday. But I can only photograph so many people so please sign up ASAP. Any questions just get back to me on Facebook Messenger. Thanks! For more details and sign up information go to MuscleBeachPhoto.com

Vintage_Swimsuit-Posing

Posing examples for the new Vintage Swimsuit Competition at Muscle Beach.

Vintage-Poster


Find Her Find Me

She is truly amazing in front of my cameras. As my often Makeup and Hair Stylist on my photo shoots she is incredibly talented. As my assistant at Muscle Beach, at 6 ft tall and gorgeous, she makes it really easy to find me. So when you look for me back stage in the workout “Pit” in the morning at check in, look for Natalie Lyle. I am the guy with the cameras next to her.

For the details and sign up for my photographing you at the huge Muscle Beach Show on Memorial Day weekend please click here. At the show or even if you are not doing the show for photo shoots that weekend, please take advantage of me. My photo shoot costs are usually at least ten times that what I charge for these Muscle Beach weekends. But you have to sign up ahead of time and ASAP before I book up. Thanks and click here… MuscleBeachPhoto.com

Natalie Lyle


So Very Sexy, Fit And A Chocolatier

You can have your chocolate and look great too! Katie Madden at 56 years old in my pool on front of my Hasselblad camera. She is a Fitness Professional, a Corrective Exercise Practitioner, and to top it off, a Chocolatier  specializing in artisan white chocolates.  She is just so incredible and oh so very sexy and gorgeous. I am sure happy I shot photographs because I really don’t know what more to say! The superb day of Makeup and Hair Styling by the equally superb Natalie Lyle. Thank You!

Katie Madden


Working Your Way To Muscle Beach

If you are going to work that hard and do the show at Muscle Beach on Memorial Day, you have to get in front of my cameras! Just ask Melissa Loya! Time to sign up, and for more details click here… https://squareup.com/store/secondfocus

You can have your photos on stage and backstage in the famous workout “pit”. You can also have your own mini photo shoot for yourself or a couple on the Saturday or Sunday of that weekend. That can be on the beach and around the world famous Venice Boardwalk. 

Not doing the show? You can still have your own mini photo shoot. Either way, take advantage of me! My shoot rates are often at least 10 times what I do for this show. I do these photo shoots like this only for Muscle Beach.

But you must sign up ASAP! I will not have time to photograph everyone as much as I really would like to. So get signed up and let’s get you some outstanding photographs! Click here… https://squareup.com/store/secondfocus

 

Muscle Beach Memorial Day 2015

Melissa Loya at The Muscle Beach International Classic Memorial Day 2015


Fine Art Nude?

A panel discussion at the Palm Springs Photo Festival last week raised the question of what is fine art photography. Personally I do not like definitions such as that. Is the difference between fine art and not fine art a really expensive frame perhaps. I guess this is my idea of a fine art nude. Aristodeme the model is nude and she is holding fine art. Photographed with a Hasselblad digital camera and Broncolor lighting. That equipment is fine art, and so is Aristodeme, of that I am sure!

Fine Art Nude


Your Photos At Muscle Beach!

Here we go! Muscle Beach only a few weeks away. Are you doing the show? I am available to photograph you but you have to sign up ahead of time. You can have your photographs on stage, backstage in the famous “Pit” or even your own personal, or as a couple, beach mini photo shoot. If you have wanted pro photos or have been wanting to shoot with me, time to sign up. I do not even remotely make the costs so very low except for Muscle Beach. And for the mini photo shoots, you do not have to be doing the show. Any questions, just send me a note and there is the link for more info and to sign up. Thanks! https://squareup.com/store/secondfocus

Muscle Beach Banner


Basic Safety Rule

A basic safety rule to be followed at all times. Avoid looking at photographs of Sherry Goggin for more than 30 seconds or you may lose the ability to focus and concentrate on anything else for as long as 24 – 72 hours. There is no known cure at this time nor expected to be in the near future. From our photo shoot near the windmill farms and the bikini from her own Fit Girl Wear designs.

Sherry Goggin In The Desert