Striving Toward Mediocrity
I used to photograph and write for Iron Man Magazine before it was sold a few years ago. I hope the photography in the magazine has fared better than the writing.
T-Shirts T-Shirts T-Shirts
A Favorite Cover
I have had my share of covers; but this one always remains one of my very favorites. Maybe because of the back story about how it landed the cover and a multi-page feature just before deadline. With my longtime friend, bodybuilder Robert Hatch.
Want to shoot with me or have a photo or ad assignment? Send me a note and Thanks! Ian@SecondFocus.com
Over 11,000
We had over 11,000 live listeners on my most recent appearance on Blog Talk Radio with “Chatting With Sherri“. Actually that is my third time on Blog Talk Radio with Sherri.
“7th anniversary of award winning author’s Sherri Rabinowitz’s show Chatting With Sherri! Join Sherri as she chats with writers, actors and other artists about their work. A fun relaxing chat with all kinds of amazing exciting creative people. We also have a series shows under the umbrella of Sherri’s Playhouse; where playwrights and actors get a chance to strut their stuff! The home of The Chatty Award for most live listens and downloads!”
I hope I said something fun! “Chatting With Sherri”
Fit At The Windfarm
One of my favorite photographs that I have ever shot. IFBB professional bodybuilder Tina Chandler after her appearance on stage at the prestigious Olympia in Las Vegas. Here in Palm Springs.
Shoot With Me
Most of you know me from my extensively published work in Bodybuilding and Fitness. I have photographed and done video with some of the most famous as well the up and comers. To say the least my favorites include the incredible Ava Cowan; featured in magazines, ads and on stage at the Olympia and Arnold.
I would love to work with more of you, it is always great fun too. So whether it is for your own portfolio, your fitness career, your company ads, or magazine features; send me a note here or an e-mail to Ian@SecondFocus.com. And Thanks!
Warrior Woman!
One of the most incredible women I know, Kerstin Schulze. Accomplished fitness star and trainer, actress seen in many features and commercials. A role model for those who are bullied, feel different or left out. We will be seeing much more of Kerstin and her message of being a better you.
From our photo and video shoot just a few days ago. Make up by the Estee Lauder featured artist, Blanche LeBeau. Hair by @phatarachavis. My assistant for the day, the many talented Shauna Toerner.
Shoot notes… Hasselblad digital camera system for photographs. Video shot on Fujifilm X-Series Cameras. Lighting by Broncolor. FD Photo Studio in downtown Los Angeles. Thank You!
Over 17,000 And 21,000 So Far
Love Training Delts With Ava
Training tip from IFBB Pro Figure Champion Ava Cowan…
Delts- The love of training them, and that I certainly do!
I prefer to explore all angles, hand positions and planes of motion. My goal is to target every single fiber, front to back equally, creating beautifully developed symmetrical shoulders.
In this exercise, the dumbbell front raise on incline bench, targets the anterior delts.
Incline front raises, using a pronated hand position (palms facing the floor) may be alternated with a semi-supinated (palms facing each other) grip.
-Start this exercise by lying supine on an incline bench set to 45 degrees.Â
-With the elbows slightly bent, raise the dumbbells using your shoulders until your arms are parallel to the floor or slightly higher.Â
-Keep a slight bend in the elbow and raise the weight.Â
-Stay in control of the exercise with a tempo of a count of two up and four on the way down. -Lower the weight under control to a dead stop before repeating.
Sets: 2-4
Reps: 6-10
Rest: 90 seconds
Iron – The Best Supplement
My favorite supplement has always been Iron! Lifted, pushed, pulled, and curled. Typically in as much weight as I could handle. One of the reasons I have always liked Palm Springs Fitness Center as my gym… 150lb dumbbells. Always needed them for one arm back rows.
Pro Bodybuilder and United States Marine Xavisus Gayden from one of our photo shoots. Thanks!
Chatting With Sherri welcomes back photographer Ian L Sitren! 06/05
Chatting With Sherri welcomes back photographer; Ian L Sitren!
For many years you have seen my photography featured in much of the fitness industry from magazines to online resources. My photography features, competition coverage and advertising have been a mainstay in such well known places as Iron Man Magazine, Planet Muscle Magazine and Bodybuilding.com.
My advertising work has been seen everywhere from the magazines to major newspapers, wrapping city buses and billboards. All around the world in many languages. Creative paths and opportunities have also sent me in many directions including motion picture still photography. That afforded me one of the highlights of my life, working with Hollywood luminaries Gena Rowlands and Rita Moreno on the motion picture ?Six Dance Lessons In Six Weeks?. The Director of Photography was the very respected and esteemed Vilmos Zsigmond, said to be the greatest Cinematographer who has ever lived. Not yet done with directions…
I am the photographer for the Palm Springs Air Museum. CNN lists it as one of the best Air Museums in the world. It is also a rarity because it is a flying museum. As a little boy I used to build military aircraft models and hang them from the ceiling in my room. Now my photography hast taken me full circle again. I also manage the Air Museum social media so I have great latitude in creating content, photos and video.
Even more diverse is my work in fashion and lifestyle photography. Published from Rome to Los Angeles. Thanks!
Doing It Right
From one of my photo shoots with the incredible Doug Brignole. This guy really knows what he is doing! One of the foremost experts on weight training and exercise on the planet. At Palm Springs Fitness Center.
Dedication!
It is not easy to get my attention in the world of bodybuilding and fitness. I have seen so very many. But Jessica Holohan sure did because I knew right away she had put in a lot of hard work and dedication! I had not seen her in a long time so when she showed up for her photo shoot I was totally blown away! Fresh off an NPC Bikini Competition I hardly recognized her. Wow! Outstanding!
Photo Shoot notes… Hasselblad digital camera system and Broncolor lighting. Only the best!
I’m Not There But I Am
The Arnold Sports Festival 2018 in Columbus OH is underway and the huge Expo is about to open tomorrow Friday. Hundreds of thousands of people will fill the convention center among 1000 booths from fitness related companies. Although I am not there, my photographs fill some of those booths and displays.
My all time favorite and longest running… Renee kissing the egg for Egg Whites International. They just set up their booth and if they had tried to shoot a photograph of it tomorrow you never would have seen because of all of the people around it. If you just count all of the people who have seen this display at Arnold Sports Festivals in Columbus Ohio, it would be millions.
The Arnold Sports Festival, most known for it roots as a premier bodybuilding competition is actually 20,000 athletes participating in 75 sports and events from 80 nations around the world. “We are very proud to provide the opportunity for athletes, a majority of them youth, to compete at the largest multi-sport festival in the world.”
Gallery Show To Be Seen?
Kind of funny that people expect that because I typically am not interested in doing gallery shows that my work is not seen. More people have seen my photography in a month than most will be seen in their entire lifetime.
From bodybuilding and fitness to fashion and now aviation, my photographs have been in ads and magazine features, major newspapers, motion pictures, news broadcasts, brochures and billboards around the world.
This one is among my latest, a full wall size backlit display for the Palm Springs Air Museum at the Palm Springs International Airport. A few million people in a year will see this one. Thanks!
Mr. Olympia Dog Training
Talking with Charles Glass last Sunday at the FitExpo about our ad shoot for Bodybuilding.com. A huge favorite for both of us that was in magazines and online for a couple of years.
Charles Glass, the most famous bodybuilding trainer in the world, alone in a gym training a dog. So much fun!
Open For Business 2018
OK! I am officially open for business again for 2018! Long time professional photographer in magazine and advertising extensively published around the world.
One of the most viewed and best known bodybuilding and fitness photographers. Fashion work from shoes to edgy nude, from designer to private commission. Also working extensively in aviation. Social Media manager for building and maintaining your business presence small and large.
Have something in mind for this new year? Send me a note, I would love to chat with you! Thanks! Ian@SecondFocus.com
On To The Olympia And Arnold
He has gone on to stand on the stage of the prestigious Olympia and the Arnold Classic. Xavisus Gayden actually was first seen in bodybuilding magazines from a photo shoot he had with me at Palm Springs Fitness Center a few years back. Now a star in Men’s Physique, he is also to be saluted for being a United States Marine. Outstanding!
Four Days In The Gym With Ava
One of my favorite photo shoots ever. Spending four days in a gym and evenings poolside photographing Ava Cowan. The best!
There is an actual purpose for all of those mirrors in the gym. Just like IFBB Figure Pro Ava is doing here. Watch your form, the movement of the muscles as you do your lifts. It will get you in touch with actually what is happening and also keep you doing things right.
Ava was here at Palm Springs Fitness Center week doing a photo shoot for a workout magazine series. One of the most respected and admired women in the fitness business. Thanks Ava Cowan!
Fitness Journey Transformation
I photographed and wrote a monthly feature for Bobdyuilding.com in Iron Man Magazine about some wonderful people on their fitness journey. It went on for three years and this story with Juliet Banks was the last. But way up there as one of the most wonderful! Photographed at my favorite gym, Palm Springs Fitness Center. Thanks!
Juliet Banks spent her time devoted to helping others with very special needs. And indeed her own family had very special needs as well. It took a toll on her own health and well being. But there came a time when she realized that she would not be able to help anyone if she didn’t do something about helping herself.
Juliet never wanted to share her story, too ashamed about where she had been. But her involvement in the fitness world brought her to being selected for a feature as the BodySpace Physique Of The Month.
EAT LIFT SLEEP REPEAT
“EAT LIFT SLEEP REPEAT” – Sometimes the fitness women I photograph wear very little clothes or none at all for our photo shoots. Sometimes, like Courtney Solomon did, they wear something that has some really good fitness advice on it!
One of the many photo shoots I have done at Palm Springs Fitness Center. That is where I work out and where I am also now their Social Media Manager. You will be seeing more of my photography and video on their Facebook page, so please check it out and “Like” it, just for me! Thanks! Right here at Palm Springs Fitness Center.
I Love This Book Cover!
Yes I shot it and it is exactly what I had imagined. It was with Doug Brignole for his very successful book “Million Dollar Mu$cle – A Historical and Sociological Perspective of the Fitness Industry”.
In the fitness and bodybuilding world for over forty years, Doug has competed in bodybuilding all around the world since the age of 14! He is a very respected author, speaker, trainer and historian of the world of bodybuilding.
Photographed at Palm Springs Fitness Center where not only have I worked out for eleven years but where I have done many of my photo shoots. Also now the Social Media Manager there, you will be seeing much of my photography on their Facebook page. Please check it out and “Like” it! Thanks! Right here at Palm Springs Fitness Center.
SecondFocus Blog 