My Mulholland Drive Tour Guide
My Mulholland Drive tour guide for the day. Maria Bertrand told me she had some good photo shoot locations in mind and wow was she right. And wow is she gorgeous! We did a few different looks for a few different themes to go with magazine feature stories and more. Here she is in a Guess by Marciano dress that was just made for her. Or maybe she was made for that dress! Just perfect! All photographed on Hasselblad which is why you are seeing so much detail in the fabric of that dress, the perfect colors and skin tones and the looks like you are there feel to the photograph. Also just perfect!
Girl Just Gotta Have Fun!
Behind the scenes, as Maria Bertrand and I went off to do a photo shoot along Mulholland Drive in Los Angeles last week. Maria is just too much fun! I am so lucky to have this woman who has been in the pages of Vogue and more in front of my Hasselblad camera! Keep watching here for a few photographs from this shoot. We did back up traffic along the highway for sure!
Another From The ProSolutions Tour
Another photograph from the Hasselblad Bron ProSolutions Tour at Edge Studios in Los Angeles the other day. Model Kristen Dugas looks incredible in this shot I did with a Hasselblad H5D-50c camera with a Hasselblad HC 100mm lens. The lighting was a Broncolor pack and head with the Broncolor Para 133 reflector. Truly amazing lighting and the skin tones and colors are perfect. Then there is the sharpness of details and an almost three dimensional feel to the photograph. I am very happy I am shooting Hasselblad and very impressed with Broncolor! 
Beautiful Model; I Say Use The Best Cameras And Lighting
Wonderful fun the other day at Edge Studios in Los Angeles, trying out and courtesy of, Broncolor lighting equipment and Hasselblad Cameras. Here I photographed our model for the day, Kristen Dugas with a Hasselblad H5D-50c camera and a Hasselblad HC 100mm lens. The lighting was a Broncolor pack with their very unique Para 133 Reflector. The photograph gives you an idea as to why lighting from equipment like Broncolor and the Para Reflectors is called light shaping. The dimension, detail and overall quality are equally only best interpreted by Hasselblad cameras. I am so very truly impressed with Broncolor and Hasselblad. Ok I am pretty impressed with Kristen Dugas too! Thanks!
Katana!
Had my martial arts instructor looked like Stacey Naito when he wielded a Katana, I dare say I would still be training with him. This woman is so gorgeous! From our photo shoot. With Makeup and Hair styling by the wonderful and very fun Blanche LeBeau.
My Ball Career Is Over
I don’t think I am going to be able to go back to my ball career. So I need you to sign up for me shooting your photographs on Labor Day weekend for the bodybuilding and fitness competition at Muscle Beach. If you are doing the show, you can have your photographs on stage and also backstage in the workout Pit. On the Sunday before the show you can have your own mini photo shoot at the beach whether you are doing the show or not. And you can even have a couples photo shoot. So please sign up as soon as you can so I can get everyone in. I have no idea where my mitt is anyway. Just click here and Thanks! https://squareup.com/market/secondfocus
Behind The Scenes For Sure
Amy Jantz, who is too cute for words and more than beautiful, just could not resist a combination of selfie and behind the scenes photo. Offering to carry my camera bag as her husband Chris Jantz and myself walked out to the rocks at Venice Beach for more of his photo shoot early Sunday morning after his competition at Muscle Beach on July 4th. I thought she was just walking along behind us. Little did I suspect her mischievousness! Just too fun! Thank You Amy! 
Does A Body Good!
She is 56 years old! Born in 1959! Katie Madden is everything all about fitness and healthy living and the gym. This woman is what I call motivation!
Poolside in Palm Springs with wonderful Makeup and Hair Styling by Natalie Lyle. From our photo shoot with a Hasselblad medium format digital camera system. Lighting courtesy of 350 days of Sun here in Palm Springs. Body by Katie Madden!
Catching Muscle Beach Fun With My Camera…
Chris Jantz looking serious as he pumps up in the workout Pit at Muscle Beach on July 4th. But now look past him to the right. I think she is enjoying her view of Chris from the other side. It has always been that way at Muscle Beach and along the Venice Beach Boardwalk. All part of the fun looking at the great bodies on men and women in the Southern California beach sun. I am just really happy that I caught some of that fun with my camera!
I Want It!
I don’t care what it is, if Ava Cowan is promoting it, I want it! Cell phones, posing suits, swimwear, hair style, supplements, whatever! When you look this gorgeous I am all in and there! A selfie from just the other day from one of the most respected and admired women in fitness, Ava Cowan. Go visit her website to get more of a look… AvaCowan.com
By the way, I Do Love Selfies! If you want to send me your selfie and a paragraph about you to be published across my social media and be seen by a huge audience, please do. I will try to publish as many of you as I can, but I do get quite a few, so I may have to stretch them out and pick and choose. But please do! Send them to my email at SecondFocus@mac.com and Thanks!
This Is Muscle Beach!
This one photograph I shot at the July 4th competition to me speaks volumes about what Muscle Beach is all about. United States Marine Corp Gunny Sergent Jaren Wright looking good and having fun on stage. Obviously he has worked hard building his physique and I am sure he will keep it going. And he certainly deserved the two trophies he took home. But even more, Jaren will always remember when he stood on stage at the real Muscle Beach at the only real Muscle Beach competitions!
And as a photographer, again I am so very impressed with shooting with a Hasselblad camera. Bodybuilding and fitness photography has it’s own very unique needs to get right when taking photographs. Definition, color rendition and skin tones are what separates really great bodybuilding photographs from all the others. Just look around at other bodybuilders photos you will see orange skin, blurry looks and unrealistic color. Stop and compare to what you see here. When you do that, you see the difference. As I say, Hasselblad does not just shoot photographs, it duplicates reality, and maybe makes it even better!
A Very Special “Muscle Beach Courage Award”!
The second photograph below is not some abstract work of art. It is the remains of the car driven by Bryan Ortiz. That is the “Before Photo” and also below here is the “After Photo” from Muscle Beach on July 4th. To quote from the presentation as Eryk Bui presented Bryan Ortiz with the Muscle Beach Courage Award…
“Four years ago on June 12, 2011, he was in a car accident, hit by a drunk driver, who was never caught. In the hospital for about a year and a half, the doctors found broken ribs, both lungs collapsed, internal bleeding, his heart moved to the middle of his chest, shattered legs and pelvis. There was the possibility that both legs would be amputated. In a coma for 3 months under respiratory support, he died 3 times. He had over 18 surgeries, 26 blood transfusions, skin graphs, ab muscles removed on his right side to restore his legs, and metal plates and rods from his waist down.”
“He competed on Memorial Day at the Muscle Beach International Classic and last Saturday at the Mr. & Ms. Muscle Beach. He plans to compete on Labor Day at the Muscle Beach Championship to complete the Summer trifecta. His story hopefully can inspire many who think that they can’t achieve the impossible. He’s living proof that anything IS possible. All it takes is hunger, drive, heart, dedication, discipline, and most important, FAITH. His message to everyone is NEVER GIVE UP!!!”
First We Contact The Mars Rover…
First we contact the Mars Rover. Then we turn it around and light you up for my camera. And then I make you look so good! Try me! Send me an e-mail to SecondFocus@mac.com and Thank You!
My Secret To Working With Gorgeous Models
I am often asked by newer inexperienced photographers how to get the most out of models during photo shoots. It can also be especially intimidating for new photographers when working with tall, gorgeous professional models like Maria Bertrand. I will tell you my secret… Cookies and Milk. Yes that’s it! You can get the best photo shoots ever with a model if you give them Cookies and Milk.
Here Comes The Judge
Moji Oluwa backstage in the workout Pit just prior to guest posing at Muscle Beach/Venice on July 4th. Moji has been a judge at Muscle Beach for a long time now and is always encouraging and helpful to everyone. A good guy and a superb bodybuilder! I am always happy to see Moji!
Maybe Near You?
Have you been wanting to do a photo shoot with me but getting away to Palm Springs is really difficult. I will start letting you know my likely availability in other locations. So here we go…
I will have availability Saturday July 18th and Sunday July 19th in Los Angeles in the Venice Beach area. And again on Wednesday July 22nd. Other locations nearby would be considered.
August 22nd I will be at the Anaheim FitExpo and Iron Man Naturally. I will have availability to shoot in Orange County on Sunday August 23rd at a likely gym location. Other locations could also be considered.
Labor Day September 7th will find me at the bodybuilding and fitness competition at Muscle Beach Venice. I will again be doing competitor photo shoots of you on stage and backstage if you are doing the show. I will also be doing special individual photo shoots with you, even if you are not a competitor, on Saturday September 5th and Sunday September 6th. These shoots will be at Venice Beach or a beach in nearby Marina Del Rey. I price these photo shoots very reasonably because I can get a number of you in during the day. So you really want to take advantage of this pricing because I really can’t do it otherwise, not even close!
Most of those photo shoots that I do out of town are based on being less complicated and less time than I would usually be doing. So again they are very reasonably priced as compared to my usual shoots. You will still however get the great photographs I am known for creating! I really enjoy shooting with as many of you as as I can, so please try to take advantage of what can be as much as only 25% or less of what i would have to charge otherwise.
For those of you who would like to see me in an area near you, let me know. If you have a few others who would like to be in front of my cameras, we can bring your individual costs way down and make it work for me coming to you.
Please send me an e-mail with any of your questions or for more information. I am at SecondFocus@mac.com and Thank You!
By the way this is from a photo shoot I did in Marina Del Rey a few years back with one of the most popular and respected women in all of our world of fitness, Ava Cowan.
The July 4th Muscle Beach 2015 Over 50 Bodybuilding Champion
Billy Robinson became the Muscle Beach 2015 Masters Men Over 50 Champion this past weekend. When I saw him in the morning I knew he would be taking home a big trophy. It does take years of hard work to build thick mature muscle like that. Great job Billy and well deserved!
I Am Not Surprised!
Theresa Russell told me “I had men following me around telling me I was stunning and tons of strangers wanting pics with me”. And I said “I am not surprised at all!”. She did go home with a well deserved trophy from Muscle Beach on Saturday. I didn’t do any pics with her, I know on which end of the camera where I do best!
Not A Recent Photo
I did tell them that it was not a recent photo. If you are one of over 24,000 photographers who get Professional Photographer Magazine, there I am full page! For over 100 years with members in 54 countries, it is the official membership magazine of Professional Photographers of America. And no I am not still using that camera. Too Fun!
Everyday!
Might be a message there! What do you you think? Chris Jantz pumping up backstage in the workout Pit on July 4th at the real Muscle Beach/Venice. The big Summer bodybuilding and fitness competition saw Chris take home two first place trophies, one second place trophy and a big win as Overall Champion Novice. Everyday!
Candy And Muscle Beach And Trophies!
United States Marine Corp Gunny Sergent Jaren Wright practicing advanced food science supplementation prior to getting on stage at Muscle Beach/Venice yesterday LOL. Don’t be fooled, he went home with two trophies!
Works For July 4th Too!
Works for July 4th too! We have Red, White and Blue! As usual I am at Muscle Beach photographing the July 4th bodybuilding and fitness show. But this was a truly special event with the Tuskegee Airmen honored on Memorial Day 2012 at Muscle Beach. From left to right, Tuskegee Airmen… Levi Thornhill, Buford Johnson, Edward Tillman, and Ted Lumplin.
Brig. Gen. Roger W. Teague, Vice Commander, Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles Air Force Base came to Muscle Beach to also be a part of this extraordinary day.
And giving everyone a reason to smile, Heather Clay, the overall Bikini Competition winner that day. She also gets my vote for absolute best salute of the day!
Will Be Looking For You!
We will be looking for you tomorrow morning at the big Muscle Beach/Venice show. You can still sign up now for me to shoot your photographs at the show on stage, backstage in the workout pit, and even your own mini photo shoot on Sunday. And I know that many of you are traveling and it might be difficult to sign up online. So see me backstage in the workout pit after you check in. Just ask for me and I will be wearing a yellow Muscle Beach cap. You can also ask for my gorgeous 6 ft tall assistant for the day, Natalie Lyle. Here is the online link for sign up and more information and Thanks! https://squareup.com/market/secondfocus
Muscle Beach July 4th Is Here!
Muscle Beach/Venice July 4th bodybuilding and fitness competition is here! If you are doing the show and want photographs, time to sign up! You can have your photographs on stage, back stage in the workout Pit or even your own mini photo shoot on Sunday. I am driving to Venice Beach this morning for photo shoots but if you have any questions, send me an e-mail to SecondFocus@mac.com or a text to 213-712-1929. Thanks! https://squareup.com/market/secondfocus
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