Women’s Shoes As Art
Since my photo shoot for ShoeEnvy I have been more conscious of shoes as stand alone art. Women’s shoes for me have been that to complement the beautiful women I photograph. Taken by themselves however, women’s shoes especially, exhibit tremendous creativity. These shoes on display at the Musée du costume et du textile du Québec. the Museum of Costume and Textile of Quebec in Montreal. Next I will have to get over to the Palm Springs Art Museum to see their new exhibit “Killer Heels: The Art of the High-Heeled Shoe“.
Money Saving Workout Wear For Women
This is a great idea! Why spend all that money on hot clingy workout wear to exercise in the park? This would be much more practical for women. At the Botanical Gardens in Montreal Canada.
Better Than Uber!
I have decided that this is my preferred way of getting around here in Montreal Canada.
Getting Good Parking In Montreal…
Even up here in Montreal Canada, if you have a really cool car they valet park your car right at the entrance.
Not From IKEA
I am thinking than none of this came from IKEA. The Notre-Dame Basilica in Montreal Canada. Walking in was indeed an “Oh Wow” moment. Dedicated in 1829.
Cadillac On Your Feet
Continuing photographing shoes but this time just a storefront window in Montreal Canada. I am thinking this is an old Cadillac rear fin motif and color. Pretty cool!
Women Love Shoes!
Women love shoes and women love Shoeenvy! I do too now! One photograph from our shoe fashion photo shoot on Monday. Already used in multiple places on the company websites. I think we could say this is kind of fun, kind of sexy. Oh Yes! Go check out Shoeenvy!
Photographed with only the best equipment, Hasselblad camera and lenses and Broncolor lighting. Thanks!
I Am Down With Shoeenvy!
Getting down at shoe level for a shoe fashion photo shoot for Shoeenvy. I love the Shoeenvy statement on their Instagram page, “Because finding the right pair of shoes should be easier than finding the right guy.” Too fun! You have to check them out and download their App. You will be seeing some sexy and fun shoe fashion with some sexy legs in those shoes.
Yes this is me crawling around on the floor of an artist’s studio in Los Angeles, for the last of three parts of our photo shoot. The first of the day was around a pool in a garden setting. The second was in an upstairs crowded fun art deco looking apartment in the Melrose area.
Shooting Hasselblad and Broncolor was a huge advantage for a number of reasons. I was using the Broncolor Move 1200L lighting system which gave me a lot of portable power that could be moved around and the strobe actually being held by one person easily because it is so small and light. In the garden and by the pool it made it easy to move around quickly without being encumbered by power cables. In the other settings just one light stand made it simple and convenient.
The Hasselblad medium format digital camera was ideal for this shoot because I wanted to see the detail in the shoes. You see a lot of photos out there that are supposed to be fashion, but when you really look, you do not see any of the fabrics, stitching and so much that goes into it’s creation. Hasselblad and Hasselblad lenses gives you that detail. Adding in the color accuracy, real life skin tones, and exposure latitude combined with the very consistent Broncolor lighting and you have the right tools for a no compromise photo shoot. And I always want to give my clients and models and everyone involved a no compromise photo shoot on my part, no matter anything else.
So Thank You to everyone involved on this photo shoot! It was a lot of fun and the results are superb. And now go check out Shoeenvy and download their App. This is going to be the fun way you buy shoes! And there will be more real soon! But probably not a convenient way to get the right guy. Thanks!
Sadly Sean Jones…
As we grow older we are visited by the sadness of the passing of those who have touched our lives. Yesterday many of us learned of the passing of Sean Jones. It was few years ago, Sean took the stage at Muscle Beach and it was obvious that for everyone else that it would be a fight for 2nd place. Actually Sean that day set a standard that would be hard to beat for a superb aesthetic bodybuilding physique for anyone to have matched. Sean went on to become a much sought after and respected body paint model around the world. He touched many many lives. But this photo I shot of Sean, the day after that Muscle Beach show, is one of my all time favorites and has been on my website ever since. And it will remain so. It makes me smile as he did whenever I heard from him and followed his journey. Much better seen full screen for this big guy on my website at http://bit.ly/1LgKKrt
Get Paid! Rant Ahead, Read At Your Own Risk!
GET PAID! Please! Rant ahead, read at your own risk…
As we are coming up on the Olympia weekend in Las Vegas, the most prestigious of all bodybuilding and fitness extravaganzas, I am again getting calls and messages from so many about this dilemma about getting paid. Basically it goes like this… “They want me to work their booth and want to pay me next to nothing. And last year they had $40 million dollars in sales.”
The next to nothing in this case is $100 per day. Others are not even getting that much or nothing. Stand around all day in almost no clothes and high heels for almost no money or none at all. No breaks, barely get to the bathroom. Why? Because starting back in about 2008 nobody was saying NO when the offers got less and less. Now you are all paying the price.
Remember when you are nursing your sore feet, blisters and headache, the president or owner of that company will be at the best restaurant in town sucking down the best call Vodka, double, at $40 a glass. And then having that $88 steak.
I am going to tell you right now, don’t do it! I know you want to get ahead in the fit biz but no one is going to “discover” you while you are standing in that booth handing out little packets of fat burners. So just say NO and this is what you can do…
Buy yourself an Expo ticket and walk around and meet people and also enjoy the Expo you never get to see because you are stuck in that booth! Hand out your business card, talk to people. Just remember to get their cards too so you can follow up. Every one is distracted and busy at the Olympia Expo, be brief and to the point and make an impression.
By the way, many of you “photographers” are just as guilty. You worked for cheap or free and made it worse for everyone. Now you can’t buy lunch! I told you!
Get back to me with any questions and check out this short video from famed author and writer Harlan Ellison. It is to the point!
Go Hasselblad
To all my photographer buddies. I know many of you have asked me about my decision to go with Hasselblad as my camera of choice. Here is an opportunity for you to get into Hasselblad yourself at a huge savings. Hasselblad has certified pre-owned cameras with a warranty at an additional 20% discount right now. Take a look, it is really a move up! Here is the link to what is available, take a look! http://www.hasselbladbron.com/cpo.pdf
I also just found out that if you go through my very good friend Bob Wilde from Samy’s Camera there is no CA Sales Tax through next week. Bob is the Pro rep from Samy’s Camera. You can reach him at bwilde@samys.com.
A Hugely Deserved Win For Sheena Epps At Muscle Beach!
Sheena Epps, totally gorgeous with an amazing well proportioned worked out body, won overall figure at the Muscle Beach Championship this past Labor Day. What a great pleasure to see her on that stage in that bright Venice Beach sunlight! The photograph captured on my Hasselblad camera, only the best!
Ed Corney Inducted Into The Muscle Beach Hall of Fame
Legendary bodybuilder Ed Corney being inducted into the Muscle Beach Hall of Fame by bodybuilder Jerome Ferguson. Ed is considered one of the greatest bodybuilding posers of all time. He took many famous bodybuilding titles over the years including Mr. Universe in 1972 in competition held in Baghdad, Iraq.
Ed appeared in the movie and was on the poster for the movie “Pumping Iron” with Arnold and many well known bodybuilders. He was also featured on the cover of the book. To a person, everyone who has ever known Ed Corney speaks of him as one of the nicest guys you could ever meet. And that includes myself as well. Congratulations to Ed Corney! Well deserved!
At Muscle Beach Venice at the Muscle Beach Championship on Labor Day 2015. Photographed by me using only the best, Hasselblad cameras.
The Winner At The Muscle Beach Championship 2015!
Congratulations to Jose Velazquez for a well deserved overall bodybuilding win at The Muscle Beach Championship on Labor Day. He had fun and it showed along with a well worked out and prepped physique. Good going! Another day of photography for me at Muscle Beach on nothing but the best, Hasselblad cameras. Thanks!
Front And Center At Muscle Beach!
It is time and I am front and center! Proud To Support Muscle Beach, my banner hanging over that world famous place “Where Muscles Were Born”. I will be shooting the photographs at the big show on Monday Labor Day. If you want your photographs doing the show and back stage in the workout “Pit” you have to sign up. I also have one time slot left for your own personal mini photo shoot on Sunday for you or a couple. For more information and to sign up go to https://squareup.com/market/secondfocus and Thanks! See you there!
Maybe You Can Afford To Work For Nothing
“Maybe You Can Afford To Work For Nothing” Funny how that resonates today! This is from a movie depicting the Old West, “The Fargo Kid’ from 1940. So many of you are going to identify with this: photographers, writers, models working booths at trade shows, being photographed and working with companies making multi multi million dollar sales figures and giving you little or nothing. Those of you who have worked with me can stand by the fact that I have continually pushed for more for you from companies big and small. I have personally declined paying projects for me as the photographer when the models were not being paid. Often I am paid as the photographer by models as well, however it is only when I am giving you personally that which is of value to you for whatever reason. I will continue to make sure that for any photography I do, it is equitable whenever I possibly can. Watch the very short clip below, it is very well said and Thank You!
My Choice Is Hasselblad… In Space
The history of Hasselblad cameras and the space program actually played a significant part of why I have made Hasselblad my own cameras of choice. I remember as a young student in school being so very fascinated with the beginnings of the first Mercury capsule with Alan Shephard and then John Glenn orbiting the Earth. Even from those years so long ago the name “Hasselblad” was imprinted in my mind. Here is one photo from a series on “Gear Patrol” “Hasselblad’s History In Space“. June, 1965: Ed White taking the first US spacewalk on Gemini 4…
Your Muscle Beach Photos, Time To Sign Up!
We are coming up on Labor Day Muscle Beach, Monday September 7th, the last bodybuilding and fitness show of this Summer at the place “Where Muscles Were Born”! If you are doing the show it is now time to get signed up for me to shoot your photographs on the stage and back stage in that famous workout “Pit” along the Venice Boardwalk. I also have one more open spot for a mini photo shoot with you or a couple on the day before the show on Sunday September 6th. That will be right there at world famous Venice Beach. So no time to wait! Thanks and here is the link for more information and to sign up! https://squareup.com/market/secondfocus
“Free-Form 50’s Coffee Shop Architecture”
How many of you can reach back in your memory and see yourself sitting in a Bob’s Big Boy? I sure can. Such a memorable part of that 1950’s and 1960’s car culture so identified with Southern California. This Big Boy is in a storefront in the little community of Julian, California. One of many stops on a recent photo excursion. Photographed with my Hasselblad. Love that camera!
“Customers couldn’t get enough of Bob’s new creation. One fan in particular was a chubby six year old boy in droopy overalls. He would often help Bob sweep up in exchange for a free burger. In honor of his young friend, Wian decided to name the better burger the Big Boy. Another regular customer, a movie animator, sketched the now famous character on a napkin.” – http://www.bigboy.com/careers/story/
Muscle Beach Is Just Like This!
Have you been to one of the Muscle Beach Bodybuilding & Fitness Shows over the Summer? It looks just like this! The greatest outdoor bodybuilding and fitness shows on the planet. The next is Labor Day, Monday September 7th! Be there!
And if you are doing the show you can have me photograph you on stage and backstage at this world famous location and in that world famous workout “Pit”. You can even have your own mini photo shoot for yourself or a couple the day before! But you have to sign up ahead of time and really soon! So here is the link for more information and to sign up. Don’t let it go by! And Thanks! https://squareup.com/market/secondfocus
9 Yoga Poses With Maria Bertrand
Very Fun! A great feature “Improve Your Confidence With These 9 Yoga Poses” written by Maria Bertrand, featuring Maria Bertrand and photographed by me! On Beachbody … Take a look! http://bit.ly/1Kace1l
Foxtrot!
“Low Tech But Lethal” the 300 foot long B-39 Foxtrot submarine of the Soviet Navy. Diesel electric powered these are the submarines that tracked US and NATO ships from the Cold War and during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Weighing 2000 tons with a crew of 78, this sub carried 24 torpedoes and could deliver nuclear warheads. Now at the Maritime Museum of San Diego.
That round passage is how you move between compartments. Just big enough to get through, there are four of the along the length of the interior. They can be closed and sealed to make a flooded area watertight. And no I did not load or fire any torpedoes.
Dive Deeper!
If I missed getting back to you on Monday, my apologies, I was manning the periscope on the USS Dolphin. Monday August 17th was the 47th Anniversary of the commissioning of the Dolphin in 1968 and by coincidence there I was. A new experimental submarine that the Navy said could reach new depths, deeper than any other. Half the size of any other submarine, it is 152 feet long and only had a crew of 27. Moving through this submarine makes you realize that it was designed with the crew being the last thought, with sleeping spaces crammed in wherever an extra few feet of space existed. No luxury cruising on this ship! Currently at the Maritime Museum of San Diego.
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