15 More!
That look you get when you tell them that you want 15 more reps at 405! Well not really but we had a photo shoot that was just superb. Chris Polityka could not have been better in front of the camera. He does make looking good in the gym work because he knows what he is doing. Check out his company MacrosEdge and you will understand why. https://macrosedge.com
Chris Polityka photographed in the gym with Broncolor lighting and a Hasselblad digital camera. Only the best! Photography by Ian L. Sitren
Take Advantage Of Me
This is where I try to get you to take advantage of me! On Memorial Day weekend I will be at Venice Beach for the huge bodybuilding and fitness competition at world famous Muscle Beach. Very simply, because I will be photographing so many people over that weekend and at the show, I go out of my way to make it as inexpensive as possible to shoot with me. You can have your own mini photo shoot at a cost I never can make possible otherwise. Check it out and please sign up as soon as possible so I can get you in. Any question please send me an e-mail to Ian@SecondFocus.com. And here is the link to SIGN UP! Thanks!
Jake Sawyer on the beach. Photography by Ian L. Sitren.
Iron Man Naturally Championships Competitors
Some great competitors who crossed my lens on stage at the Iron Man Naturally Championships 2016 at the FitExpo Los Angeles last weekend.
Jim Clifford at the 2016 Iron Man Naturally Championships
Lene Alexandre at the 2016 Iron Man Naturally Championships
Derrick Cole at the 2016 Iron Man Naturally Championships
Alexis Donahoe at the 2016 Iron Man Naturally Championships
Grace Marlin at the 2016 Iron Man Naturally Championships
Johanna De La Vega at the 2016 Iron Man Naturally Championships
Charlisa Nicole Villar at the 2016 Iron Man Naturally Championships
That Was Me
Thank You to so very many for your kind words in the last few days about my bodybuilding and fitness show photography. Not a new thing for me to shoot shows.
Actually I am the photographer who was very first credentialed for Bodybuilding.com to shoot their very first Olympia coverage about a dozen years ago. That’s right! Before me Bodybuilding.com never was allowed a photo press credential for the Olympia.
I went on to shoot over 20 shows per year for them all around the country including the Arnold, other pro shows and the bigger amateur shows. Remember when you would get up in the morning and see the show photos from the night before on the Bodybuilding.com website. That was me shooting the show, staying up all night along with one person back at Bodybuilding.com headquarters getting that all online. We pioneered that along with many other show reporting innovations. I could tell you some great and fun stories for sure about those times.
Of course you have seen my show photos in the magazines and on the magazines covers along the way too. But my favorites have always been the advertising, both online and print ads for Bodybuilding.com. Even Jamie Eason was first seen for Bodybuilding.com when I photographed her for them for the very first time.
This is a computer wallpaper that was done back then. There was one of those done weekly and for a few years almost all from my photos. It was all great fun and I still love doing it! Thanks Again!
Winners!
From just this last Saturday, the Winners of the 2016 Iron Man Naturally Championships at the Los Angeles FitExpo. From left to right… Takeshi Kanemoto, Corrina Bailey, Melyssa Wacker, Prince Bada Lekan, Evina Del Pizzo Luna, Anthony Kurup, Victoria Gusto! A big round of applause well deserved. These people look outstanding. There is a lot of hard work for you! Thanks!
The winners of the 2016 Iron Man Naturally Championships. From L-R… Takeshi Kanemoto, Corrina Bailey, Melyssa Wacker, Bada Lekan, Evina Luna, Anthony Kurup, Victoria Gusto
Bodybuilding Winner!
Bodybuilder Bada Lekan, originally from Nigeria, winning the 2016 Iron Man Naturally at the Los Angeles FitExpo this last weekend. A truly well deserved win!
Bodybuilder Bada Lekan Wins The Iron Man Naturally 2016
Mike And Jean
My friends Mike O’Hearn and Jean Carrillo Carrillo Muay Thai meeting on Saturday, after two decades, at the Los Angeles FitExpo. Jean had trained Mike in Muay Thai at Gold’s Gym Venice. Mike as an actor and fitness personality has been seen on the cover of hundreds of magazines and is a huge fan favorite. Jean is a world famous Muay Thai and self defense trainer, training people in his gym in Santa Ana as well as special police units in France and around the world. Great fun!
Jean Carrillo trained Mike O’Hearn in Muay Thai 21 years ago at Gold’s Gym Venice.
Mike O’Hearn and Jean Carrillo. Photo provided by Jean Carrillo.
Looking Good Anywhere
When you work out you can look good anywhere. Like even when Jake Sawyer is just sitting on the hood of a junked car. That is why I don’t just do my bodybuilding and fitness photo shoots in the gym.
Dedication
It is dedication in all walks of life that makes us not just look good but to also be a better self. And in turn makes those better around us as well. Greg Tully from our photo shoot.
Photographed on Hasselblad. Only the best.
Sadly Sean Jones…
As we grow older we are visited by the sadness of the passing of those who have touched our lives. Yesterday many of us learned of the passing of Sean Jones. It was few years ago, Sean took the stage at Muscle Beach and it was obvious that for everyone else that it would be a fight for 2nd place. Actually Sean that day set a standard that would be hard to beat for a superb aesthetic bodybuilding physique for anyone to have matched. Sean went on to become a much sought after and respected body paint model around the world. He touched many many lives. But this photo I shot of Sean, the day after that Muscle Beach show, is one of my all time favorites and has been on my website ever since. And it will remain so. It makes me smile as he did whenever I heard from him and followed his journey. Much better seen full screen for this big guy on my website at http://bit.ly/1LgKKrt
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.
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! 
Travis Ely On His Way!
Travis Ely working it in the gym on his way to the NPC Universe National Bodybuilding Championships next week in New Jersey. This is a pivotal show for a bodybuilder because it is what is called an IFBB Pro Qualifier. Top placing competitors will earn the title of “Professional Bodybuilder” in the IFBB, the most prestigious bodybuilding federation on the planet. Travis has done a great job with 20 weeks of prep, making great gains in muscle thickness, symmetry and detail. I do not say this often, almost never actually, but I expect him to do good!
By the way from a photographers perspective… Photographed with my Hasselblad camera producing incredibly accurate skin tones, colors, contrast and detail. So very impressed with Hasselblad!
And a big Thank You to Palm Springs Fitness for always being a great place to work out and being with friends and for supporting Travis Ely! Travis is a personal trainer at Palm Springs Fitness, go see him!
Known Around The Globe
The historic sidewalks of Venice Beach California, the place where you would expect to see the amazing built out body of bodybuilder Lisa Marino Sanders. Bodybuilding and fitness and muscles truly are words known around all corners of the globe as part of that history of Venice and Muscle Beach.
You, Me And My Camera….
Are you looking good? Are you looking this good? Maybe you need to be in front of my cameras. Jake Sawyer in just one of our photo shoots along the way, which has helped him find his way into many a magazine and more. Send me an e-mail to SecondFocus@mac.com and we can chat about it. Thanks!
It Says Champion Because…
It says Champion over his head because now he is one! Yesterday at the huge Los Angeles FitExpo, Travis Ely won the overall bodybuilding championship title! He worked hard, looked great, and did the homework! Good thing I brought a camera with me. Big shout out to Jake Sawyer who gave Ely that last week tune up! Outstanding!
Iron Man Magazine Naturally Determined
Travis Ely is determined coming into his second time at the NPC Iron Man Naturally bodybuilding competition this Saturday. In conjunction with the huge Los Angeles FitExpo this is great kickoff for his next year of competition and accomplishment. You can see Ely giving every inch of concentration as he listens to posing refinements from Jake Sawyer. Along with some last minute diet tweaks from Jake, between now and Saturday morning Ely will look ripped and refined when he steps on stage. So come on out and see the show, I will be there, camera in hand. And take in the FitExpo on Saturday and Sunday at the Los Angeles Convention Center. One of the biggest fitness events in the country!
“For The Ladies”
Someone asked the other day if I ever photograph guys in the gym “for the ladies”. Well not with that thought specifically in mind. I do photograph a lot of guys in the gym for magazines, online features, advertising etc. Actually I am one of the most widely known photographers in the bodybuilding and fitness business. However in answer to the idea of “for the ladies”, will this photograph of Jake Sawyer in the gym do the job? 
On His Way!
A huge congratulations to my good friend Xavisus Gayden. He has been invited to compete in at the very prestigious Arnold Sports Festival for 2015 in Columbus Ohio. The opportunity to show off that finely honed physique on that stage is truly special in the world of bodybuilding and fitness.
From his first magazine appearance, when I featured Xavisus in Iron Man Magazine as the BodySpace Physique of the Month for Bodybuilding.com, and along the way, he has been an exemplary individual and a credit to his continuing service as a United State Marine. Outstanding!
Who Is Getting Ready?
Who is going to be getting ready to be in front of my cameras starting in January? Jake Sawyer is one for sure!
Get Your Dents Worked Out…
Stopping by for some auto repair? Maybe things running rough? Looks like he is not too busy but maybe not impressed with the idea of getting under the hood of your car. Knows his way around the garage. I’m thinking he does mostly bodywork. Ask him about getting your dents worked out. A much better idea! Jake Sawyer from our photo shoot.
He Did Good…
Not often, but it can get cold and gloomy out here in the desert. What would you be thinking about if you were alone out there. Of course if you were Sergi Constance with my camera pointed at you, you would be thinking about squeezing your abs. He did good!
Much Attention
One of my photographs of Doug Brignole has been getting much attention today on Facebook. However of all my photographs I have shot of Doug, this one is always one of my favorites. Muscle Beach/Venice is world famous and tourists come from all over to check it out and maybe take some photos of some muscle guys and gorgeous women. Well I was having Doug do some posing in the workout “Pit” when this woman jumped in for her chance to get one of those sought after tourist photos for herself. She made it perfect for me. I could not have paid someone to do any better! Those things do happen at Muscle 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.
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