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.
1st Place For Muscle Beach Fun!
At the Muscle Beach/Venice fitness and bodybuilding competition on July 4th, if there would have been an award for having the most fun and being the most fun to watch, it would have gone to Theresa Russell. The enthusiasm of this gorgeous 50 year old woman was totally exhilarating! I am so happy I had the chance to photograph her!
At the upcoming Muscle Beach competition on Labor Day I can photograph you too! You can have your photographs on stage and back stage in the world famous workout “Pit”. You can even have your own mini photo shoot the day before at the beach for yourself or as a couple. But you must sign up ahead of time and as soon as possible. So here is the link for more information and to sign up. Only a few weeks away so no time to wait and Thanks! https://squareup.com/market/secondfocus
Photo Shoots At The Iron Man Naturally Anaheim
Are you doing the Iron Man Naturally competition at the Anaheim FitExpo on August 22nd? I will be at the show and expo on Saturday, but on Sunday August 23rd, I will be doing a limited number of mini photo shoots at a nearby gym. So whether you are a bodybuilder, physique, bikini or figure competitor, or perhaps not even doing the show, this will be an opportunity to shoot with me at a greatly reduced cost. To chat about it, send me an e-mail to SecondFocus@mac.com. This will be very limited so best get to me as soon as possible. Thanks!
And yes I might make you work just as hard as Travis Ely did during his last show prep for our photo shoot. Shot on a Hasselblad camera. Only the best!
A Helping Hand
Photo shoots can be so busy that it is always good to have an extra hand. Especially when we could not let a totally gorgeous and very fit Katie Madden participate in getting us in trouble on Social Media. Makeup and Hair Styling by the Notorious Natalie Lyle. Photographed on a Hasselblad camera. Only the best!
Muscle Beach Only Weeks Away!
July 4th at Muscle Beach had a very beautiful Stephanie C. Ramirez standing on the stage that the entire world thinks of as the place “Where Muscles Were Born”. Yes Stephanie went home with a well deserved trophy. She truly looks gorgeous and photographing her with a Hasselblad camera makes for those perfect skin tones, the wonderful colors and a radiance that is so much what you expect to see in that Southern California beach sunshine. Only the best!
The last Muscle Beach show of this Summer is coming up on Labor Day only a few weeks away! The Muscle Beach Championship will find me photographing bodybuilding and fitness competitors on stage and backstage in the world famous workout “Pit”.
But if you want me to photograph you, you need to sign up ahead of time so I can make sure I get you in front of my camera. I have made it very inexpensive so I can shoot photographs of as many of you as possible. Truly my purpose is to get great photographs for you who have worked so hard to stand on that stage and have come to Muscle Beach. Many of you from around the world! I do share in your enthusiasm and excitement.
I am also offering mini photo shoots the day before the show on Sunday, September 6th right there at Venice Beach or nearby on a beach in Marina Del Rey. Available to individuals and couples, you do not even need to be a competitor at the show the next day. Again I have made this very inexpensive so as many of you as possible can get some great photographs.
So please sign up now or as soon as you possibly can. Here is the link for online sign up, prices and more information. And Thank You! See you there at the real Muscle Beach! https://squareup.com/market/secondfocus
Thank You Dennis!
“Special thanks to my good buddy and amazing photographer, Ian L. Sitren, for photographing my recent paintings. Incredible detail and accurate color taken with a Hasselblad H4D-40 camera. He’s a pro! Thank you Ian!” www.dennisjohnsondesign.com.
Only Made More Scenic
The scenic road along Mulholland Drive made much more scenic by Maria Bertrand. From our photo shoot. The dress, so very beautiful on Maria is Guess by Marciano. Photographed on Hasselblad.
Wanna Shoot With Me?
I bet you can guess that I shot this photograph of Chris Jantz over the July 4th weekend! It was the morning after Chris walked away with some great first place bodybuilding wins and trophies at Muscle Beach.
We are coming up on the last summer competition at the real Muscle Beach for this season on Labor Day. So if you are doing the show, it is time to sign up with me for photographing you on stage and even backstage in that world famous workout Pit.
Also on Sunday, the day before the show, you can shoot with me with your own mini photo shoot at locations at Venice Beach or Marina Del Rey. That is open to anyone even if you are not doing the show. You can even do a couples photo shoot.
Now is the time to make sure you get signed up to get your photographs if you are doing the show. And this will be the last time I will be doing mini photo shoots for this price this year. So click on the following link to get more information and to sign up. And if you have any questions, please send me an e-mail to SecondFocus@mac.com and Thank You! https://squareup.com/market/secondfocus
Photographed on Hasselblad. Only the best!
A Difference You Can See
A close up from the photograph in the corner of model Kristen Dugas. Photographed by me just recently with a Hasselblad H5D-50c camera and Broncolor lighting with the Broncolor Para 133 reflector. This was during the Hasselblad Bron ProSolutions Tour at Edge Studios in Los Angeles.
Now look at the details of her beautiful face. Look at the detail in just the pupil of her eye, the pure and perfect colors, the real life skin tone and hair color. Look at the color and detail of her lips. This is what a photograph looks like when it is shot right and especially with such amazing camera and lighting equipment.
So very many of you are showing photographs that are so terribly bad. I know you shot with a part time photographer who says he is a pro, but it is to your detriment. No matter how many “Likes” you might happen to get because the photographer had you bend over in some juvenile sexual imagination of a pose. It is just that nobody ever showed you what is good and what is not. It does not serve you well if you are a model or fitness model trying to build your career when you have these photographs with your completely flattened out skin that looks like plastic and more bright orange than anything else. It does not serve you well when the bikini you are wearing looks brown and your clothing sponsor sent you a green one. It does not serve you well when your white shirt looks like just a big bright white out area when here should be lace visible or fine fabric. It does not serve you well when you actually look at the photo and it is just plain out of focus! We see so much bad photography that it has become the normal.
I could go on and on but feel free to send me any questions or inquiries you might have to my e-mail at SecondFocus@mac.com. Whether you are a model or an advertiser or a magazine or otherwise depend on quality photography I just want to see you do better. And I can do that!
Photo On Business Card?
I am often asked by other photographers if they should put a photograph on their business card. Well if you shoot photographs like I do of gorgeous women with amazing physiques like Heidi Marissa Cannon… Yes! I sure did! Heidi is on her way in two weeks to Las Vegas at the Cosmopolitan Hotel to stand on stage at the WBFF World Beauty Fitness & Fashion Competition. Although I think she is not hitchhiking. Outstanding!
Wind and Hair And So Very Sexy
Sometimes the wind blows and hair gets messed up. I love those moments. Some are funny but some with the right look on the right model are so very sexy. And so this moment with Maria Bertrand. From our photo shoot the other day along Mulholland Drive in Los Angeles. Photographed on Hasselblad.
Sexiest Summer FitBodies
Katie Madden featured as a Sexiest Summer FitBody for 2015 in the latest issue of Planet Muscle Magazine. And Katie is 56 years old! Is she just not too amazing for words! Good thing I shot the photographs. Makeup and Hair Styling by the ever wonderful Natalie Lyle. And yet another magazine feature photographed with my Hasselblad camera. Thanks!
SecondFocus Blog 