Photography by Ian L. Sitren

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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!

Posted by  |  July 16, 2015 | Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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!

Posted by  |  July 14, 2015 | Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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!!!”

Posted by  |  July 13, 2015 | Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: , , | 1 Comment

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!

Posted by  |  July 12, 2015 | Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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.

Posted by  |  July 11, 2015 | Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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!

Posted by  |  July 10, 2015 | Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: , , | Leave a comment

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.

Posted by  |  July 10, 2015 | Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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!

Posted by  |  July 9, 2015 | Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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!

Posted by  |  July 8, 2015 | Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , , | Leave a comment

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!

Posted by  |  July 7, 2015 | Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , , , , | 1 Comment