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”
Also From A January 3rd
January 3, 2012… Starting out the New Year searching for words… “Magnificent Creature” crosses my mind! Ava Cowan from a photo shoot we did as she was first becoming known to everyone. Ava has gone on to be one of the most pre-eminent and respected women in the world of bodybuilding and fitness.
You see Ava in almost every magazine every month, she is hugely popular and deservedly so. Much more than just a great body built in the gym, she is a personality of tenaciousness that we can all admire. In only eight weeks from now you will next be seeing her on stage at the Arnold. Ava Cowan!
My Wall Friends Like Her Too!
Kind of sums it up! The person I photographed more than anyone else in 2015 is someone who never ceases to surprise me. How lucky am I to have as a buddy this amazing person Maria Yvonne Bertrand. And to get her in front of my cameras… WOW!
Let me tell you about her. Director of Content for the Fashion Platform Envy, she is also an accomplished writer for magazines and entertainment.
As a professional model, Maria has been seen for Guess, Versace, Gianfranco Ferre, La Vie en Rose, Dynamite, La Perla, Armani, Coca Cola, Le Grenier and more. She has been in and on covers for Vogue, W, Chatelaine, Elle, Sante, Living Fit, and Femme D’aujour’hui. Commercials for Audi, Miller, Bud Light, Baskin Robbins, Molson Dry, Coppertone, Pela Windows, Comcast, Michelob Ultra and Club Med. Then there are movies and television with some of the biggest names in the business.
There is much more, I am told her Mom keeps better track of all of it. But for now, me and my friends on the wall are just amazed that Maria puts up with me and my cameras! Looking to see what we do for 2016!
Photographed on Hasselblad. Only the best!
Flyover Muscle Beach
If you were on stage at Muscle Beach or just nearby on Memorial Day, this is one of the memories you are carrying in your mind from 2015. One you will not forget soon! The only bodybuilding and fitness show to open with the United States Air Force flying a C-17 overhead at roof top level. You saw it, you heard it and you could feel the excitement. Only at the real Muscle Beach shows! That is where you find me with my cameras for over a decade.
A Thousand Words
One of the reasons I love shooting photographs is because it is said “A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words”. For Kerstin Schulze in front of my cameras, just a thousand words would not be enough. The wonderful Makeup and Hair Styling by Natalie Lyle.
Loading Unloading – An Environmental Tragedy
In the distance you see the Salton Sea from what is a boat launch ramp. Perhaps a 1/2mile away from where I am standing to shoot this photograph. The disappearing of the Salton Sea, if allowed to happen, could be one of the greatest environmental tragedies to take place in the United States. Water, air, food, commerce, economy, and health will be impacted like a tidal wave starting at it’s epicenter but unstoppable with it’s reach.
Interestingly enough, there is an identical tragedy that has occurred on the other side of globe, cause and effect almost identical. The crisis of the Aral Sea, called “One Of The Planet’s Worst Environmental Disasters“. There is now very little time left to Save the Salton Sea.
My Idea Of Festive
I was thinking the red tires are very Christmas looking. Maria Yvonne Bertrand is always very festive. And she is not guilty! Makeup and Hair Styling for our photo shoot by Santa’s first choice for helper, Natalie Lyle.
Hiking With A Challenge
Without 4 wheel drive, getting to the site of the abandoned Naval Base on the shore of Salton Sea was a little over 2 miles each way in soft sand and high winds. Well worth the effort to see and photograph a part of history.
The Salton Sea was also the location of testing of dropping the first Atomic Bomb. Crews from the Crews from Wendover Air Base made hundreds of practice runs near and over Salton Sea dropping 10,000 pound dummy bombs from B-29 bombers at 30,000 feet.
The base was turned over to the Atomic Energy Commission in 1946 through 1961. Abandoned it was subsequently used off and on by the military for live munitions training and Gulf War training maneuvers.
Starting The Look Back
Looking back is especially fun when you are watching Cara Basso look back. It is that time when I start looking back on the year and thinking about the upcoming year.
2016 will find me back at Muscle Beach and at the Palm Springs Air Museum. Photo shoots will find me on locations and in studios doing fitness, fashion, muscles, great faces and good looking bodies. I also expect to be going out on a motion picture or two somewhere around the country or abroad.
I do expect to explore some new shooting and concepts. So if you think you might like to chat about being in front of my camera, behind the scenes, or have me shoot your magazines features or advertising or some kind of project, please send me a note. My e-mail is SecondFocus@mac.com and it would be great to discuss your ideas and the New Year. Thank You!
High Speed Bearcat
A Grumman F8F-2 Bearcat coming down the runway at the Palm Springs Air Museum at somewhere around 275-300 mph. The last Bearcat was delivered in 1949 and is a 2100hp 425 mph beast of an airplane. An interesting fact is the outer 3 ft of wing was designed to break off under high stress saving the aircraft from catastrophic failure. You have to go visit the Palm Springs Air Museum! So very interesting and so very fun!
Photographed with FujiFilm X-Series cameras and lenses.
No! Wrong!
You can’t just take a work that has copyright protection and make a Christmas greeting out of it for your business. When it is done by a business that is in a business that services and depends on copyright creators, it is really wrong.
I received this as a holiday e-mail greeting yesterday. It is from a photography rental studio, one that services professional photographers. Obviously they do not own the copyright and I suspect they did not license the copyright to this image for the use. I did send them an inquiry asking about that but they did not reply.
My guess is that they used it without so much as a passing thought. Often the case when you have newer people in your business who just think anything online is “fair game” for use. I use that term because it has been repeated to me. Usually my explanation to them about my copyrights and my defending my work in Federal Court ends that.
Anyway people who are in the business of copyright creation must lead by example. Do not use other peoples work, images, art, music or whatever just because it is online. It is not yours to do so.
By the way, my using this example in this post falls under a “Fair Use” exclusion in copyright law.
One more of my pet peeves is photography industry magazines that use really bad photographs in their magazines. Posts about that another time.
Strap In!
It’s going to be a bumpy ride. Your pilot Sharon Lim at the Palm Springs Air Museum. Your aircraft, a Boeing PT-17 A75N1 Stearman. U.S. Navy 555. Photo shoot with Makeup and Hair Styling by Natalie Lyle.
Santa… I Can Explain
Suddenly I am liking this time of year! Wish I were Santa so I could hear what Maria Bertrand has to tell him. From our Holiday photo shoot. And Makeup and Hair styling by my Elf, Natalie Lyle.
Operation Santa Claus
Yesterday Santa arrived at the Palm Springs Air Museum and even brought Mrs. Claus along to meet all the kids. Actually “Operation Santa Claus” started during the Berlin Airlift in 1948. The Soviet Union had blocked access to Western Sectors of Berlin cutting off food and supplies to the population. The Western Allies began an airlift of supplies with over 200,000 flights in just one year alone.
Then on December 20, 1948 “Operation Santa Claus” flew Christmas gifts to 10,000 Berlin children. The C-47 aircraft like this one was one of the primary aircraft used to bring supplies to the people of Berlin. The Palm Springs Air Museum is very proud to continue this tradition of bringing Santa Claus to the kids, traveling on an original C-47 aircraft.
Santa waving to the crowd arriving at the Palm Springs Air Museum
Santa arriving at the Palm Springs Air Museum
Santa and Mrs. Claus arriving at the Palm Springs Air Museum
That moment when you have to decide what Santa should bring you.
It really is snow at the Palm Springs Air Museum.
Santa In His C-47
Around here Santa really knows how to travel! On his way to the Palm Springs Air Museum. Santa is there today and tomorrow if you want to take your kids there as an excuse to check out the great planes. The kids get goody bags and can play in the snow! You can get a burger in the cafe too!
Looking Good Anywhere
When you work out you can look good anywhere. Like even when Jake Sawyer is just sitting on the hood of a junked car. That is why I don’t just do my bodybuilding and fitness photo shoots in the gym.
One A Day
I could post one great photograph of Sasha Brown everyday from this photo shoot with her and have enough photos for a year. Sasha looked just too incredible for words. And we had just the best time doing this photo shoot around the Salton Sea. Just too good!
No Special Reason Required
I have no special reason to post a photograph of Ashley Owens Gulina from one of our photo shoots other than she is one of the most stunningly beautiful women I have ever had in front of my cameras. The superb Makeup and Hair Styling by the wonderful Natalie Lyle.
Featured In Shutterbug Magazine
You will find me in the January 2016 issue of Shutterbug Magazine. The “Business Trends” story by Maria Piscopo “Online Marketing Tools to Boost Your Business”, “How To Promote Your Work Online And Through Social Media”. I am really pleased to be a part of helping others get ahead in the photography business. It is really great. Actually for a few years now I have been the subject of other articles about using Social Media, written studies, lectures and even in photo business lectures in college courses. So obviously I had to tell you about it here on Social Media. Anyway pick up a copy of the January Shutterbug Magazine. It has always been one of my favorite magazines. Thanks!
Pearl Harbor Commemorative Fly By
Attack on Pearl Harbor Commemorative Fly By of a Japanese Zero Fighter and VAL Dive Bomber at the Palm Springs Air Museum 2015. Zero Pilot Robert “Lips” Hertberg and VAL Pilot Tom Nightingale.
Video photographed on FujiFilm X-Series Cameras and Lenses
One of only three World War II Japanese Zero’s still flying in the entire world. This Zero, owned and operated by the Commemorative Air Force, was delivered to the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Group #3. It originally had an air cooled rotary engine producing 1,130 hp and a top speed of 388 mph at almost 20,000 feet. In the flight demonstration you could easily see it’s nimble and powerful maneuverability.
The Aichi D3A Dive Bomber, nicknamed “Val”, was the aircraft carrier borne airplane that flew in almost all actions, including Pearl Harbor to the end of World War II. It was responsible for sinking more Allied warships than any other aircraft. This replica flying out of the Palm Springs Air Museum was flown in both the movies “Tora! Tora! Tora!” and “Pearl Harbor”.
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