Kosher Bakery Mural
What an amazingly interesting mural to have on the side outside wall of a Kosher Bakery! I photographed this yesterday on Fairfax Avenue in Los Angeles. Actually Los Angeles is becoming known as a city of murals. Very Fun!
Summer Fun At Muscle Beach
It is so much fun in the Summer hanging out at the place “Where Muscles Were Born“… Muscle Beach/Venice. Lisa Marino Sanders having a good time during her photo shoot looking as bright and beautiful as that Southern California beach sun! The Makeup and Hair Styling for the day by the outstanding Natalie Lyle. Thank You All!
The Famous “ACE” Sign…
The now famous sign at the Ace Hotel & Swim Club here in Palm Springs. I say famous because after it’s opening, you quickly saw the Ace and it”s pools and this sign in lifestyle and fashion magazines around the world. Magazines and fashion houses quickly embraced the quirkiness and very cool vibe of the place. I enjoy it myself a lot! Very fun!
“EVERYTHING WILL BE OK”
“EVERYTHING WILL BE OK” A very fun sign at the Ace Hotel in Palm Springs California. I just walked over from that direction but did not see anything special. I am going to go back and follow the sign. I will let you know how it works out!
Don’t Doubt It…
Don’t doubt for one second that even if you are a beautiful woman I won’t make you work it in the gym for our photo shoot! Tiffany Forni from our photo shoot for her feature as the Iron Man Magazine, Bodybuilding.com, BodySpace Physique of the Month. The great Makeup and Hair Styling byNatalie Lyle. Thanks!
The Photographer I Most Admire…
I am often asked which photographer I most admire as a photographer myself. The first person I always say is this man, Helmut Newton. His work ranged from erotic to kinky to fashion to scenes of life. Published in all of the finest magazines around the world as well as having photographed endless ad campaigns, he sought to photograph what he wanted to photograph and let the world accept what he did or not. He passed away in 2004 at the age of 83 but exhibits of his work are continuing to be shown in museums around the world. Google Helmut Newton when you have time and take a look. This is my photograph of a poster for an exhibit of his works last year at The Annenberg Space for Photography. Thanks!
Another Side Of Ashley…
I said I would show you another side of Ashley Owens Gulina from our photo shoot. I hope you like this side as much as everyone liked her other side yesterday. You can sure see the hard work she put in to get her on stage at the NPC USA Figure competition in Las Vegas last weekend. And I must give a big Thank You to Natalie Lyle for her superb Makeup and Hair Styling for the day.
My Date… Well My Photo Shoot Date…
When my date showed up yesterday I decided to not post on Facebook all day. Well she was actually my photo shoot date. Ashley Owens Gulina fresh from her weekend on the NPC Figure stage at the USA in Las Vegas. That working out stuff does a body good! And she is so beautiful. Over the top fantastic Makeup and Hair Styling all day by Natalie Lyle.
My Own Selfie
My own Selfie. Myself and the city of Budapest captured with the photograph displayed in the window of the X6 Photo Edition Gallery in Budapest.
Maybe I Should Be Wearing…
Maybe I should be wearing a tie and jacket when I do my photo shoots? A suit or tuxedo perhaps?
Classic Photography – Not Digital…
I am always amazed and gratified that my skills as a photographer can equal the great looking people I get to photograph. Jake Sawyer works very hard to sculpt his physique so even better that we get to shoot at fun locations in a classic photographic style. Most of you will have no idea what I am talking about when I say that this was shot on medium format film. A film that is actually of historical importance, Kodak Tri-X. Anyway, one of my favorite ever photo shoots! Thanks!
Who You Gonna Call? Me Of Course!
Who you gonna call? Me of course! When you want to shoot those gym photographs after you put in all that hard work. When you are doing your ads for the magazines or billboards or banners. When you are planning your magazine features. Or when you are looking for special photographs from my archive. I think Mark Ebinger in front of my camera was the right combination. He sure put in all that hard work! I can do it for you too. Thanks!
My Idea Of A Race Driving Uniform…
End of the race and Regina Piazza got there first! Any question that she knows how to dress for driving and winning! From our photo shoot with Makeup and Hair Styling by Natalie Lyle.
“When Selfies Won’t Do” And Your Photos Stink!
My beautiful friend Saye Yabandeh from our photo shoot some time back. Saye has become a very accomplished and award winning actress and producer and being very smart about her image along the way has served her well.
To those of you for whom your image is important and that is many of you, I keep noticing a continuing bad trend. You are using photographs of yourself that are just abysmal. I don’t care who shot them, your faces are over processed, the exposures are too bright or too dark, your skin color is orange, the composition stinks and the posing awkward at best. That does not mean I want you to come do your photo shoots with me. I just would like to see standards come up and not keep sinking so low. Many of you will say, well I don’t know what is good. Yes you do! Compare to the photos you see all day in good magazines like Vanity Fair or Vogue or in fashion or cosmetic ads. Any similarity… No.
Here is an interesting story I urge you to read from a recent issue of the Fashion & Style section of The New York Times… http://tinyurl.com/kmh6tzq
“When Selfies Won’t Do”
“Wearing black leather pants and a cape top, she reclined on a velvet armchair under the frescoed ceiling of a 19th-century Florentine villa, flanked by a hair and makeup artist, as a photographer clicked away.”
“People buy you, more so than your exact services or goods,” she said. “My business is truly and authentically me, so I wanted to make sure that this came out in my social media presence.”
“Indeed, an impact photo is more than just a vanity statement these days, since it’s hard to say where “personal” ends and “professional” begins on Facebook and Twitter…”
“Social media is a place where real business is actually happening…”
Again please read the story in The New York Times and if you have any questions, please feel free to send me a note. Thanks! http://tinyurl.com/kmh6tzq
Hair Up For Tuesday Morning!
Here is Tuesday morning! One of my favorite photographs from one of my all time favorite photo shoots. For publicity photos for their screenwriting work, the dynamic writing team of Meghan McCaig and Maria Bertrand. Love them!
A Win From Venice Beach To Pittsburgh!
A few weeks ago she stood in front of my cameras at Venice Beach. Then on this last Saturday she stood on the bodybuilding stage in Pittsburgh and walked away with her IFBB Professional Bodybuilder Card! Congratulations to an astounding Lisa Marino Sanders! Just wonderful!
Whoa!
The photo my assistant shot as he scrambled out of the way. As I stood up they were an arm’s length in front of me but Victoria Kirsanova had brought them to a stop. You can see the big smile on her face. What a fun photo shoot with an amazing and truly unique and very beautiful Victoria Kirsanova. A professional horse trainer and personal fitness trainer and top rated NPC Bikini Competitor. Just outstanding!
The Perfection Of The Lines Of Her Body
Look at the perfection of the lines of her body in that dress! Good thing I had a camera or I would have stared endlessly! Sasha Brown in our photo shoot at the Salton Sea.
Stacey Naito Always Leaves Me Speechless
Stacey Naito never fails to leave me speechless! From our photo shoot.Stacey is so amazing and beautiful in front of the camera! Makeup and Hair styling by Estee Lauder Makeup Artist extraordinaire Blanche LeBeau. Just Wow! Thank You to my good friend, and a great photographer as well, Jaime Klein who hosted us at his studio in Van Nuys CA. And Thank You to my assistant Clyde Sawyer for doing so very much!
How Do You Get Your F-16 Home After Your Photo Shoot?
It’s Good To Have A Pool!
One of the advantages I enjoy in having my own pool to use for my photo shoots, especially during the really hot weather here… I have no problem getting Randalene Sergent in it!
The outstanding Makeup and Hair Styling by Natalie Lyle.
My Monday Mind’s Meandering…
Wouldn’t this be very cool as a bus bench! Would you take the bus if Maria Bertrand were waiting for it with you? And wouldn’t it be more great if people dressed more fun like this all time! My mind’s meanderings as I think about the week. More Please!
You Can Get My Attention For Your Photo Shoot!
First person to bring me a battleship for a photo shoot has my full attention and resources!
I Love Selfies! Wow Natalie!
I Love Selfies! And I especially love this Selfie! This is Natalie Lyle, the Makeup and Hair Stylist on so many of my photo shoots for a long time. When Natalie started with me a few years ago right our of makeup school, she had never been exposed to the world of bodybuilding and fitness. Well with me, she sure has many times over and embraced it. Now look at her! Check out those arms and shoulders! Keep it going Natalie! Outstanding!
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. Anything a little too edgy will go on my Blog and I will censor it for Facebook. 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!
SecondFocus Blog 