Flight In Palm Springs
The skies alive with flight. The 18th Anniversary of the Palm Springs Air Museum.
Geometrically and Architecturally Perfect
Geometrically and architecturally perfect. Maria Bertrand perfectly fashioned as any surroundings anywhere. From our photo shoot.
“Featured Artist” Rancho Mirage Art Affaire
Recently I had the great experience of photographing Lauretta Lowell. Lauretta is an incredibly talented artist who will be the “Featured Artist” at the 14th annual Rancho Mirage Art Affaire this weekend. Her art is in mixed media assemblages but she is equally talented in painting and other art genres. But even more, she is an incredible personality who has overcome great tragedy. Read about Lauretta and also see more of the photographs in a feature for Palm Springs Life Magazine, Palm Springs California. Here is the link to that story.. http://tinyurl.com/m9hc5oy Thanks!
A big Thank You to Blanche LeBeau who did a wonderful job of Makeup and Hair Styling. And along with her assistant Emma Mesrobian did so much to help organize the scenes and wardrobe and made it all great fun. Thank You!
Standing Among The Skyscrapers
Standing 6ft-5 in those boots and with that body she has built, the only place for Natalie Lyle to stand is among the skyscrapers! From our photo shoot.
“Six Dance Lessons In Six Weeks”
Still photography on a motion picture? Yes that is what I did in Budapest for seven weeks last year on the production of “Six Dance Lessons For Six Weeks”. Many of you may have seen this full page in your Sunday newspapers yesterday. The still photography is used for movie posters, advertising, public relations and so much more. Great Fun! So go see the movie when it is released in December! And no you won’t see me in it. It was my job to stay out of the way. Harder than you might think for sure!
Parade of Planes
Never fails, you are just driving down the street and some slow poke gets in front of you and holds everybody up. A Parade of Planes driving down the streets back to the airport from the Palm Springs Convention Center. Part of the Flying Aviation Expo that was here for the last three days with 10,000 people.
“Advanced Style”
Saw the documentary “Advanced Style” today. What a great and creative movie about life and getting a little older and having fun. Catch it in the theaters. You will be happy you did!
Any Volunteers?
What great ideas for photo shoots! Any volunteers? A commercial for Peroni at the beginning of a motion picture in the theaters. Just Wow!
<p><a href=”http://vimeo.com/51410265″>Peroni Spring / Summer Campaign</a> from <a href=”http://vimeo.com/user14084366″>Peroni Nastro Azzurro</a> on <a href=”https://vimeo.com”>Vimeo</a>.</p>Phil Collen Center Stage with Def Leppard
Last night… Def Leppard with Phil Collen center stage. What a powerful rocking performance! A sold out crowd on their feet the entire time. These guys are just incredible! And Phil Collen is still the ripped physique from when I photographed him for a feature and cover for IRON MAN MAGAZINE a few years ago. Outstanding! By the way I was not a photographer there for this show, so just an iPhone photo this time.
The Seduction of Día de Muertos
I think there is a certain seduction to what we call Día de Muertos, Day Of The Dead, All Hallow’s Eve, Halloween. The seduction here created by Natalie Lyle. And the Makeup and Hair Styling of the seduction also created by Natalie. From our photo shoot.
Can She Do That Or What!
Natalie Lyle is thinking about whether or not there will be enough days of Día de Muertos, Day Of The Dead, All Hallow’s Eve, Halloween to show you the photographs from our photo shoot. Can Natalie do a Dia de Muertos Makeup or what!
For The First Day Of Día de Muertos
For the first day of Día de Muertos, Day Of The Dead, All Hallow’s Eve, Halloween with Natalie Lyle. An all new meaning to “Trick Or Treat” I would say! The Makeup and Hair Styling by Natalie herself as well as building that body. From our photo shoot, Just WOW!
Venice Beach Fashion Then And Now
Could you not just see this magnificent beautiful woman on the Venice Beach boardwalk back in 1968 and then again now. The very fashionable Maria Bertrand.
Just You Wait!
A behind the scenes look from yesterday’s photo shoot with Natalie Lyle. But I am telling you now, you are not seeing what’s coming! Just you wait!
Divine Congratulations!
A huge Congratulations to my best buddy Ava Cowan being named Vice President of Business Relations for Divine Nutrition Products! One of the best known and most respected people in our sport of bodybuilding and fitness, Ava Cowan is a great example of determination and persistence in continuing to advance her career and better the entire industry. Divine has the highest quality protein powders you will find including one that is absent of artificial ingredients and Gluten free. That is special! And before too long, you will see a Fat Burner under Ava’s name that you can bet will be absolutely the best ever. Very Cool!
A Hacienda Welcome
One of the astounding wall murals inside the Hacienda Cantina & Beach Club. And this is not just for Halloween. Was there today and the food was outstanding. By the way it is a “Beach Club” because it actually has a pool and a pool bar and cabanas. I think I see a party in the future!
Tequila Decisions
Tequila decisions are not easy! The other night at El Jefe at The Saguaro Palm Springs Hotel. They have really great food!
A Rolls In The Grass
They never let me park on the grass. A really beautiful vintage Rolls Royce at the Palm Springs Air Museum for the Classic Car Show and Chili Cook Off yesterday.
1956 Chevy Convertible
Is this just too great! A 1956 Chevy Convertible parked out front at the Palm Springs Air Museum for the Classic Car Show and Chili Cook Off yesterday.
Seaside
Isn’t it just magic when you photograph a beautiful woman seaside. Maria Bertrand at Venice Beach.
“TBT” Shooting Film
“TBT” “Throw Back Thursday”. For a photographer that means when we were photographing everything on film. Like this bodybuilding show photograph I shot in a medium format Mamiya camera on Kodak Professional film. The film was processed and scanned at The Icon Los Angeles. The thing I really like about film like in this photograph is the completely realistic skin tones. Also the shadows and highlights filled with detail. I still like shooting film.
Photo Lesson With Jennifer Henry
Thank you for all the kind comments about my photographs with Jennifer Henry. I have been getting a lot of questions about how we did this shoot so I thought I would show you. It was actually very simple.
First starting with a gorgeous woman is a big step ahead! Thank You Jennifer! Originally my plan was to do this shoot on my outdoor studio set but the humidity was unusually high so it would have been really uncomfortable. So we set up inside, hey I have 8 tons of air conditioning so why not!
Lighting as you see, strobes by Profoto USA. I believe in high quality lighting systems putting out really great light. There are only a few brands of lighting equipment I would consider. The light coming in from the sliding glass doors on the right is irrelevant because it is over powered by the strobes. And then as you can see I have a lot of room and can even create much more inside if needed.
The details that make the photographs work are good exposure, sharp focus, good posing. A big point that people miss all the time is skin tone. Go through photographs from so many and you see skin that is orange in color. Yes sometime the tanning products does throw it off but it is really bad for the photographer to not adjusting the “white balance” in post processing to get real life skin tones. There are times when artistic expression might change that. But basically if you get orange skin you have photographs that are not acceptable. It is not real and contributes to a blurry look.
Another point to remember is that photographs are easy to make look good for Facebook or Instagram because they are so small. Take them up to full size and high resolution for something like a magazine and often times they fail. Blurry and no detail in fabrics, white or dark spaces that look like they were painted on also with no detail. Those are also not acceptable.
So there you have my photo lesson for the day. Just wanted to answer a few questions. And Thank You!
I Love Selfies! Jumping Off The Roof Like Superman…
I Love Selfies! And Eddie Medeiros did one that I think came out really cool. Working out, he set up his cellphone on timer and it is really fun! Eddie took to muscle building like many of us kids, regardless of what age or decade. Just like me many years before, he watched Superman and then tied a towel around his neck and jumped off things. I used to jump off the roof of our house! Then at 13 Eddie picked up weights and it has become his passion and his life. Reading and watching everything he could find. Coupled with his interest in art, Eddie has a different look on bodybuilding and it’s esthetics. But to best quote Eddie today, “Each Person is Different but we all have our Special Gifts and Talents to offer to help others to be what we are Meant to be in this Life!”. Be sure to visit Eddie on his Facebook page and see where he is going next!
I invite you to send me your selfies and I will show you off on my Blog and all of my Social Media as well as my Facebook pages. You will be seen by so very many! Girls and guys, whatever you want to send. In the gym, showing off the hard work you have put in, at the pool, or just having fun. You don’t have to have ever done a photo shoot with me or even met me in person. It will also be a great way for me to see you and talk about photo shoots. Let’s do this, it’s all fun!
You must send me the selfie to my e-mail at SecondFocus@mac.com or as a message on Facebook. I will say that I might have to pick and choose to make it manageable and hold some or change when I decide to post them for one reason or another. Thanks!





















