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!
That Little Black Dress
A woman of very special accomplishment Jennifer Henry in our photo shoot. And this last Saturday on stage with the WBFF in Los Angeles and taking a third place on the road in her journey in fitness. That fitness stuff does a body good! Don’t you just love the way she fills out this little black dress! YES!
This Is A Big Car!
Here is a car you won’t usually see going though the drive thru for a burger. A Hudson Super 6. I am guessing that it is from the early 1950’s. This is a big car!
I Can Hear Her Saying…
I can hear her saying to me “Just sit right down here and we will have a little breakfast”. Yes that was it, I recall distinctly. From my photo shoot with one of the most beautiful women I have ever photographed Ashley Owens Gulina. Makeup and Hair styling by the ever incredible Natalie Lyle. 
I Have This Urge…
Why do I have this urge to go pump some iron at the workout pit at Muscle Beach/Venice? Because sometimes you get to see Lisa Marino Sandersworking out there too. Plenty of reason for me! A great day for a photo shoot with Makeup and Hair styling by Natalie Lyle! — with Lisa Marino Sanders.
Yes I Do…
Yes I do get to photograph some of the most beautiful women on the planet. Sasha Brown in front of my camera at Bombay Beach at the Salton Sea. Sasha is next off to Rome to do fitness workshops. How great is that!
Sneak Peek…
Want a sneak peek at the photograph I will be posting here and on all of my Social Media in the morning? The photograph is one of my favorite models and yes she is just gorgeous! Click on the link to my website where photographs are as big as your screen and much better quality. http://tinyurl.com/onh2pkb
AND CONTACT!
“GAS ON, SWITCH OFF, THROTTLE CLOSED, BRAKES SET AND CONTACT!” Get ready you are flying with Sharon Lim out of the Palm Springs Air Museum. Buckle up, she is taking all the turns and looking good! From our photo shoot with Makeup and Hair Styling by Natalie Lyle.
Someone For Everyone…
Who said blind dates are a bad idea? My Sunday night out on the town. Visiting Uptown Palm Springs at Grace Home Furnishings.
Take Your Abs With You!
Doubtfully the same weather in the UK for Tina Sansom that she had here in Palm Springs just a few weeks ago. However likely her abs are just as good. So the lesson is, take your abs wherever you go and you will always be hot! From our photo shoot, with Makeup and Hair Styling by Natalie Lyle!
I Found Gold At Venice Beach!
I found Gold at Venice Beach! Maria Bertrand had the best idea of how to start out Fall this year. And in front of my camera makes it even better. Any wonder why this woman has been in front of cameras around the world for the finest fashion houses and the most well known fashion magazines. How lucky am I! Thank You Maria!!
You Can Be A Star Where You Are!
I met Jennifer Henry when she did one of the shows at Muscle Beach/Venice, and over the months following, learned more about her. The more I learned the more impressed. You never know the path one follows. But I do know that we all can be inspired by those near us. And being inspired by Jennifer Henry is in that category. But for now I will say, look her up on her Facebook page and I am sure she will be telling her story to many more.
Jennifer is doing exactly what I tell and have told to many of you who want to be stars in our world of bodybuilding and fitness. Everyone wants to be on the cover of the magazines and have a big time contract. It can happen but it just does not happen for everyone. Luck, time. place, whatever. But you can be a star where you are right now! That will take you a very long way. And Jennifer is doing exactly that. And that is the right path to those next big opportunities and dreams! Good job Jennifer!
Something Different For Me
Something different in front of my camera today. At the Olive and Wine Festival at Highland Springs Resort.
Incognito At Venice Beach
Incognito at Venice Beach. I think Maria Bertrand wears a suit much better than I do. And no tie required. On the Venice Beach boardwalk it is not easy to look unique, but I think we did that! I saw no other tall beautiful models wearing a suit and Fedora out there. None!
She Found The Gym!
I just love my best buddy Natalie Lyle. Some years ago, she started out as my Makeup Artist on my photo shoots and has been steadily with me ever since. The entire world of bodybuilding and fitness was new to her back then. Not the case any more! She lives and has fun with it and is doing more and more everyday. Over the last four months she has gone from beautiful with a rocking body and amazingly long legs to putting on some muscle to start sculpting down to her same self but solid with definition and the lines of an athlete. What an amazing women, you have to picture that she is 6 ft tall in her bare feet and just stunning. Loving her journey and looking forward to seeing more of the journey of Natalie Lyle!
You Were Thinking…
The incredible arms of the incredible Doug Brignole. I know, you were thinking I only photograph women.





















