What We Do
What do professional photographers do when we are not shooting photographs? Well we do things like walk around the prestigious Photo LA looking at and admiring the work of other photographers. This past Sunday I did that with my good friend Bill Dobbins, one of the most famed photographers in the bodybuilding and fitness business. Even more fun was to photograph him with one of his works featured for the APA, American Photographic Artists. Very Fun Indeed!
Bill Dobbins with his work on display at Photo LA 2016
Bodybuilding Winner!
Bodybuilder Bada Lekan, originally from Nigeria, winning the 2016 Iron Man Naturally at the Los Angeles FitExpo this last weekend. A truly well deserved win!
Bodybuilder Bada Lekan Wins The Iron Man Naturally 2016
Mike And Jean
My friends Mike O’Hearn and Jean Carrillo Carrillo Muay Thai meeting on Saturday, after two decades, at the Los Angeles FitExpo. Jean had trained Mike in Muay Thai at Gold’s Gym Venice. Mike as an actor and fitness personality has been seen on the cover of hundreds of magazines and is a huge fan favorite. Jean is a world famous Muay Thai and self defense trainer, training people in his gym in Santa Ana as well as special police units in France and around the world. Great fun!
Jean Carrillo trained Mike O’Hearn in Muay Thai 21 years ago at Gold’s Gym Venice.
Mike O’Hearn and Jean Carrillo. Photo provided by Jean Carrillo.
Winner!
My buddy Evina Del Pizzo Luna winning the Overall Bikini Championship at the Iron Man Naturally 2016 on Saturday. One of the top featured events at the Los Angeles FitExpo. I was there with 60,000 of my best friends. Were you there too?
I Needed A Big Chair
The big chair in the parking lot of the LA Mart in downtown Los Angeles. The Reef was the location for Photo LA. What a superb show! Between that and the FitExpo this weekend I needed a big chair when I got home last night. More photos from the weekend to follow. Thanks to everyone I had the chance to meet! Thank You!
The big chair in the parking lot of the LA Mart.
Sci Fi Girl
I really like this girl! I am thinking photo shoot! Yesterday downtown Los Angeles near the L.A. Mart for Photo LA. Today you will find me at the FitExpo at the Los Angeles Convention Center.
Photos Like This
Bodybuilder Dan Hill in front of my camera. I will be in Los Angeles this weekend, Friday through Sunday, for the FitExpo and Photo LA. Let’s meet and chat photography for your ads, magazines, features, portfolios, promotions. More to see on my website at SecondFocus.com. Send me an e-mail to SecondFocus@mac.com or text to 213-712-1929. Thanks!
FitExpo and Photo L.A.
Tomorrow, Friday through Sunday, find me in Los Angeles for Photo LA and the FitExpo Los Angeles. Time to just meet and/or talk about photography and my work in shooting magazine features, advertising, your portfolio and more. It would be great to meet you! Just send me an e-mail to SecondFocus@mac.com or text to my cellphone at 213-712-1929. And Thanks!
No Humping!
On a road trip to the Orange Empire Railway Museum. I can state that I did no humping whatsoever!
On the side of a train car at the Orange Empire Railway Museum
Vintage Muscle Beach!
Here it is! Only at the real Muscle Beach/Venice! Bringing back that wonderful look and feel of Vintage Swimsuit. I am planning to do some really cool photo shoots for this huge Memorial Day weekend happening. So if you are thinking of doing the show and are interested let me know ASAP. My e-mail is SecondFocus@mac.com.
Here are the competition details…
“VINTAGE SWIMSUIT”
Swimsuit: 1pc. only “Vintage” (circa 1940-1950’s)
One Class for all heights
Poses: Front relaxed “fun” pose & side “over the shoulder”.
Shoes will be pumps, open or closed toe.
Vintage jewelry/hair accessories allowed.
No crossovers allowed to other classes.
The Muscle Beach Int’l Classic, Memorial Day, Monday May 30, 2016. Any competition questions, reach out to Joe Wheatley at joesmusclebeach@yahoo.com.
By the way, this is the only show anywhere that opens with a flyover by the United States Air Force! Top That!
A Good Way To Start Monday
A good way to start a Monday. With Ashley Owens Gulina and Makeup and Hair Styling by Natalie Lyle. I stayed out of the water, not good for the cameras!
Lots Of Flying
Plenty of excitement at the Palm Springs Air Museum on Saturday. A flight demonstration with the Museum’s 1944 World War II C-47 Skytrain cargo plane. Along with people doing Biplane rides in this U.S. Army Stearman. The C-47 did passes about as low as possible without having to lower the landing gear and driving down the runway. You could get a ride in the C-47 too! What great fun and a living history lesson everyday!
1944 United States Army Air Force C-47 Skytrain Cargo Aircraft
Takeoff in a U.S. Army Biplane out of the Palm Springs Air Museum
The C-47 “What’s Up Doc?” does a low flyby with a U.S. Army Stearman on the ground out of the Palm Springs Air Museum
Voyage To Vietnam
Imagine laying in your bunk, not much to do, mind wandering, thinking about what is ahead of you, the unknown and the fear. On board your troopship, you just draw on the bottom of the bunk just inches above you. “Marking Time: Voyage To Vietnam” an exhibit at the Palm Springs Air Museum. Just one of the reasons to get over there today. Including the exhibit “Salute To WWII Flying Tigers in China” and a presentation “France 1940: The Invasion That Shook The World” followed by a flight demonstration with the Museum’s C-47. Be there, I will!
Never Enough
I can never get enough of photographs with Maria Bertrand. So I thought I would try four of this one!
Model Maria Bertrand. Makeup and Hair Styling by Natalie Lyle. Photography by Ian L. Sitren.
She Sprinted To The Top!
I have to say Thank You and also post another photograph from one of my shoots with Randalene Sergent. Her photograph on my Blog here yesterday became the top viewed post upsetting another that has been the top viewed post for a year! And that other post is a series of nudes of someone else entirely. Super Duper!
Model Randalene Sergent. Makeup and Hair Styling by Natalie Lyle.
Not Much To Say
The photographs of Randalene Sergent from our photo shoots are just fine without saying much about them. What do you think?
Randalene Sergent with Makeup and Hair Styling by Natalie Lyle. Photography by Ian L. Sitren.
Photo Excursion Vehicle
People have been asking me about me getting a new vehicle for photo excursions. This looks like it can handle dirt roads and most weather conditions. The models might have to limit the amount of wardrobe they can bring along. I think that might work out.
Man ‘O’ War P-51 Mustang
Man ‘O’ War at the Palm Springs Air Museum. A P-51D Mustang WWII fighter plane. Courtesy of the Southern California Wing of the Commemorative Air Force. Truly amazing and exciting to see legendary airplanes like this flying close up.
Los Angeles Coming Up
The FitExpo is coming up in Los Angeles on the 23rd & 24th… I will be there and also at Photo L.A. that week. So if you would like to meet and discuss photo shoot for your magazine, advertising, or for yourself, please let me know ASAP. Send me an e-mail to SecondFocus@mac.com. Thanks!
This photo is from an event I was at some time back, “Shoot L.A” sponsored by Hasselblad and Bron Imaging Group at Smashbox Studios. It was very cool! Somewhat part of the reason I now shot with Hasselblad medium format digital and Bron lighting.
An Office Day For Me
One of my typical days in the office. Here with bodybuilders Grant Pieterse, Jake Sawyer and Xavisus Gayden. I wonder how many times and for how long I made them hold that bicep curl.
Bodybuilders Grant Pieterse, Jake Sawyer and Xavisus Gayden at Power of Fitness.
Forget The Rain!
Nothing better than Randalene Sergent in front of my cameras from one of our photo shoots to make me forget the rain from the last two days. You can be in front of my cameras too. I am also available for all types of photo shoots for magazines and advertising from fitness to fashion, bodybuilding to travel and more. By the way, I will be in Los Angeles for a few days this month for the FitExpo. Send me an e-mail to SecondFocus@mac.com and we can chat. Thanks!
Randalene Sergent in our photo shoot. Makeup and Hair Styling by Natalie Lyle.
Her Inner Warrior
Excitement, beauty and power. Description that fits my photo shoot with Stacey Naito. Always more on my Website at SecondFocus.com.
Stacey Naito featured on my website. Makeup and Hairstyling by Blanche LeBeau.
The Palm Springs Air Museum Gala
“The Palm Spings Air Museum Gala is coming. 2/12/16 we are honoring 8 Green Berets that held off a reinforced NVA regiment (2,000+ men) at the Battle of Ton Le Chong (8/67). Ken MIles revcieved his Silver Star for the action for airstrikes that saved the 8 Special Operations troops. We have reunited the “Mike A” team from all those years ago. I have attached the video promoting the event. Don’t miss this once in a lifetime opportunity to honor these troops.” – Fred Bell, Palm Springs Air Museum Managing Director
Join me for this once in a lifetime opportunity, I will be there. Thank You! More info and tickets at http://palmspringsairmuseum.org/gala/
Never Got In The Way
I was just watching “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” on Friday thinking how amazing it was that I was the still photographer on one of his movies not that long ago. His last movie as it turns out, “Six Dance Lessons In Six Weeks”. Then yesterday I read the news of the passing of Vilmos Zsigmond, one of the greatest cinematographers of all time.
Vilmos won an Oscar for Close Encounters and was nominated for “The Deer Hunter”, “The River” and “The Black Dahlia”. However you have seen his work in so much more such as “Deliverance”, “Blow Out”, “The Long Goodbye” and “McCabe and Mrs. Miller”.
During the seven weeks on set with Vilmos, I was astounded by his unending energy and drive. He was there before I showed up and was there after I left. And I was on set pretty much longer than anyone. Vilmos had an ease of professionalism and confidence that was so very apparent.
Throughout, more people asked for his autograph than anyone else. At our wrap party, after what was another long day ending at maybe midnight, Vilmos paid me what I was told was about the best compliment ever from him. He said “You can work on my sets anytime, you never got in the way”. Made me laugh then, makes me laugh now. Thanks Vilmos!
Camera in place for shooting in the ballroom on “Six Dance Lessons In Six Weeks”
SecondFocus Blog 