Muscle Beach Flyover
Only at the real Muscle Beach/Venice, the show opens with a United States Air Force flyover! Yes I will be there with my cameras. If you are going to want stage photographs of yourself, or maybe backstage photographs as well, please send me a note ASAP. Also if you are going to want magazine or feature coverage, please contact me immediately as well. E-mail to SecondFocus@mac.com Thanks!
Lauretta At Coda
Too fun and a big congratulations to a wonderful artist Lauretta Lowell. Her wonderful works will now be at the superb Coda Gallery, Palm Desert. We did photographs of Lauretta which you see here, which also appeared in a feature for the website of Palm Springs Life Magazine, Palm Springs California. The superb Makeup and Hair Styling was by Blanche LeBeau. Thanks!
Fireboat #2
More unexpected fun when Los Angeles Fire Department Fireboat #2 put on a show while we were on the deck of the USS Iowa in San Pedro yesterday. Fireboat #2 is one of the largest and most technologically advanced fireboats in the world.
Gun Crew Stroller Parking
The US Navy has certainly become more inclusive since WWII. Providing stroller parking for the 16 inch gun crews on board the USS Iowa Battleship. Yesterday at the Pacific Battleship Center – Battleship USS Iowa.
Secret Admirer
A fit and sexy Shawn Towne has a secret admirer. Not a surprise as this smoldering hot Mom showed us all that fitness is indeed the fountain of youth. Not only a Mom but also a busy model who has been seen on billboards around Las Vegas and fashion featured by haute couture designers. No wonder she easily caught the attention of Chaun Williams! You will be seeing more from this photo shoot!
From our photo shoot In Las Vegas at City Athletic Club and the Bellagio Las Vegas. With a wonderful day of Makeup and Hair Styling by Christine Copeland. Wardrobe styling assistance and posing coaching from my assistant for the day, Jennifer Chamberlin. Just a totally Wow photo shoot! Thanks!
A Little Inside News
For those of you shooting with me you can sometimes from now on expect this thing to be pointing at you.
Banner Banner At Muscle Beach!
You will be seeing my banners in the workout pit at world famous Muscle Beach/Venice for the big Memorial Day show. Everywhere around the globe people know “Muscle Beach” and I am proud to be a part of it! The beautiful woman in my photograph is Stephanie Lugo and you will see her photograph on the huge event banner as well. Thank You Joe Wheatley, the long time show producer and my good friend. And a very special Thank You to my good buddy Dennis Johnson who took the time from his real art work and graphic design work to create the design of this stunningly simple and beautiful banner. Perfect!
Muscle Beach banner designed by Dennis Johnson. Photograph of Stephanie Lugo.
No Tie Required
From now on all of my invitations are going to read “No Tie Required”! From my photo shoot with Randalene Sergent. The superb Makeup and Hair Styling by Natalie Lyle.
Six Dance Lessons For You!
Too Fun! I was the stills photographer on Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks – The Movie which has now also been released on iTunes and Amazon! And Cox is releasing it for May for an “Indie Month” feature as well as AT&T U-Verse for their May Mother’s Day celebrations! Such a wonderful movie with Gena Rowlands, Cheyenne Jackson, Rita Moreno, Jacki Weaver, Julian Sands, and a very captivating Kathleen Rose Perkins! So watch the credits and you will see my photographs running in the background and watch really close and you might see my name!
On iTunes at http://apple.co/1zKm2fA
Photo Shoots Muscle Beach Memorial Day Weekend
I will be at the big Muscle Beach/Venice International Classic on Memorial Day, May 25 this month. I already have a number of people who have asked me about shooting them on stage and at the show for that day. If you too would like that, please send me a note to make arrangements. Also I am considering coming up a day early and doing some short beach shoot sessions. So if that would be of interest, also please send me a note. If enough people are interested I can really make it affordable for everyone. By the way, Maria Bertrand can tell you that I can actually shoot pretty good photographs at the beach. Thank You! E-Mail to SecondFocus@mac.com
Palm Springs Photo Festival Wrap Up
Palm Springs Photo Festival wrap up of another year. I was there 10 years ago when the photo festival started. Actually I missed most of it because I had to fly out to shoot the Arnold Sports Festival in Columbus Ohio. Then 2013 found me in Budapest shooting on Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks – The Movie so I missed that year. But I have been there for all of the others. It is truly an incredible event that has become respected around the world. Having it in my own backyard is just too good for words. So a big Thank You to festival founder Jeff Dunas and all of the people who make this possible. Especially Dolores!
Now a bunch of big Thank You’s to people who not only make the festival work but who are my friends, new and old, and make my photography work too. They are, to just name a few… Amy Kawadler from Canon, Bob Wilde from Samy’s Camera, Matthew Frary from Hasselblad Bron, Marty Glickmanfrom MAC Group, Dan Cuny from Profoto USA, Barney Tong from FujiFilm, R Mac Holbert with Epson, Heidi Goverman from Workbook.
There are endless numbers of more people who I see every year as well, new and old friends who I must say great seeing you each time. And to those of you who I routinely forget your names, my sincerest apologies, nothing I mean to do, I try my best. I hope to see you next year too or sooner! Thank You!
In Focus With Epson
Epson says I am “in focus” so it must be true! Tweeted by Epson last night at the Palm Springs Photo Festival as I was interviewed about the latest Epson printer and the prints on display at the big event party. http://bit.ly/1FAh8Cl
Manzanar – Go See The Exhibit
Are you here for the Palm Springs Photo Festival? When you have extra time, go on over to the Palm Springs Air Museum to catch the last week of “Manzanar – The Wartime Photographs Of Ansel Adams”. It really is a wonderful exhibit and of course there is much at the Air Museum to entertain your camera!
Palm Springs Photo Festival This Week
Starting this afternoon you will find me for much of the week at the Palm Springs Photo Festival. I will still be filling day time hours with photo editing and my usual photography tasks. If you are going to be at the Photo Festival and want to say Hi, send me a text on my cell at 213-712-1929. Great Fun!
A Palm Springs Photo Festival To-Do
To all my photographer friends; are you coming out here for the Palm Springs Photo Festival starting Sunday? If you are and happen to be coming in on Saturday, here is a very fun photo op for you. The Palm Springs Air Museum will be doing a flight demonstration with their Navy T-28. This is a really astounding aircraft that actually will outperform many of the more famous fighters from World War II. You can expect it to be flying just after 2 PM but there is much more out at the Air Museum for you to keep your camera busy. If you are not coming in on Saturday, you have all week to check out a great collection of vintage aircraft and so much more to see. The Palm Springs Air Museum is very close by to all the Photo Festival venues. Here is one of my photographs of the T-28 and a short video. See you there!
Tilt Up Studio
I have been getting a lot of photogrpahers asking for a closer look at my tilt up studio background system. Actually I think they wanted a closer look at Randalene Sergent. Perfectly reasonable! To the left is Natalie Lyle who does so much of the superb makeup and hair styling you see on my photo shoots. Although I have huge space inside to do photo shoots, this system allows me to create all kinds of spaces, paint schemes and more designs. I can also shift to do doing scenes by the pool or tress without moving all of the lighting equipment or very much additional work. Thanks!
Earth Day
So I guess this is “Earth Day”. Thinking about what photographs I have shot speak to that, for some reason this one just jumped out at me. A tiny abandoned cabin left on federal land called Jackrabbit Homesteads in Wonder Valley California near Joshua Tree National Park. Maybe it is all the earth around the cabin or a post civilization remnant look, but perhaps it makes me think that this all what might be left if we don’t become better caretakers of the Earth.
Dark Corners In The Sunshine
Behind the scenes yesterday in my photo shoot with Randalene Sergent. I must tell you that Randalene is one of the most beautiful women I have ever photographed. Standing to the right is Natalie Lyle who did the most wonderful Makeup Styling on Randalene. It was perfect, exactly what I wanted and more! The heavy lifting and set up by my assistant Clyde Sawyer. From daylight poolside to dark corners we create it right here. Is that too fun!
Fill Her Up! The MiG That Is!
Why not use the self serve pump, save a few bucks. Although I don’t know that pilot Steve Hinton saved any fuel costs by filling up the MiG-15 himself. It was 100 gallons at $8 per gallon, an $800 fill up. Then again how many times will you see a Korean War Soviet MiG-15 flying? Here at the Palm Springs Air Museum for the dedication of a restored F-86 Sabre Jet. The two aircraft were dogfight adversaries during the Korean War. Be sure to scroll down and watch my video of this MiG starting up, Wow! Turn up your sound!
F-86 And MiG-15 Dogfight!
Last night at the Palm Springs Air Museum, the dedication and unveiling of the newly restored F-86 Sabre Jet by Museum Director Fred Bell. The F-86 was introduced during the Korean War and was met head on by the Soviet MiG-15. This MiG-15 will be flying today at the Air Museum following a one hour program at 1:00 PM. Be there! I will and with my camera!
The story of the battle between these two aircraft makes up the very first episode of the extraordinary historical series “Dogfights”. The series first aired on the History Channel and was co-created by my friend on Facebook and Emmy Winner Brooks Wachtel. Here is that episode “MiG Alley”…
I Am The Face!
Is this too fun! I am the featured face of the Professional Photographers of America. The world’s largest non-profit association for professional photographers, with more than 27,000 members.
Proper Lighting On A Bed
My photo shoot assistant for the day, Jennifer Chamberlin showing the proper use of the Sekonic light meter. It is not that easy to get the proper lighting on a bed at the Bellagio Las Vegas so Jennifer got right into the moment for me. Actually she was a superb assistant for a very long day, great posing coach and wardrobe stylist too! And if you don’t know, Jennifer has been featured as a model in many a fitness magazine and is a wonderful photographer herself.
Not About Me!
I know everyone is going to want to know where I buy my clothes and get my hair done. But this Behind The Scenes photo is not about me. Photographing a scene with the beautiful Shawn Towne and Chaun Williams as an extra. Although Shawn and my assistant Jennifer Chamberlin seemed to think he was a center of attention. Our Makeup and Hair Stylist Christine Copeland did keep a watchful and professional eye on Shawn but also seemed to catch an occasional cell phone pic of Chaun Williams as well. Well like I said, it is not about me.
On The Floor
What a wonderful and beautiful model! No not me! Shawn Towne behind the scenes in our photo shoot at the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas the other day. Thank You to my assistant for the day, a superb photographer herself, Jennifer Chamberlin.
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