Always Special!
I always try to make photo shoots something special. The locations here in Palm Springs sure help out. With Chris Polityka and my Hasselblad camera. Only the best! Thank You Chris, you looked outstanding!
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
Black Belt at Venice Beach
When Alex appeared on stage at Muscle Beach with his competition partner Maud, I had no idea what was next. But after the show for their photo shoot I found out how fun it was to be! Alexandre Michel Franchini exhibiting his black belt prowess all the way from Saint-Mihiel, France in front of my Hasselblad camera in the ocean waves at Venice Beach.
Sign up are now open for you in front of my camera at Muscle Beach and Venice Beach for the Memorial Day weekend. I will be shooting your photos if you are doing the show on stage and also backstage. You can also have your own mini photo shoot Saturday or Sunday before the show on Monday, Memorial Day. That is also for couples or even if you are not doing the show. It is only because I will be photographing a lot of people that weekend that I can make these prices so very low. But you must sign up ahead of time. I will not have the time to photograph everyone so please sign up as soon as possible. Here is the sign up page and Thanks… MuscleBeachPhoto.com
Flying In To Muscle Beach
Of course Lisa Marino Sanders would arrive in her United States Air Force F-16 for her photo shoot with me at Venice Beach.
The high flying Makeup and Hair Styling by Natalie Lyle. Flight wear styling by April Ann Styles. And the real F-16 courtesy of the United States Air Force. Only at the real Muscle Beach for the real Muscle Beach/Venice bodybuilding and fitness shows.
Posing Your Face!
The incredibly beautiful Ava Cowan in one of our photo shoots. Posing is also facial expressions and engaging your audience. Ava gets a solid 10 for that one and more!
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.
The Fit Life Journey
More from our photo shoot with Chris Polityka. Photographs that show that you really can work out in the gym as part of your fitness journey and have fun through your whole life. I like this! Thanks to Power of Fitness gym in Palm Desert for sharing their great gym with us. Thanks to Hassleblad digital and broncolor lighting. Only the best!
It Happens Above The Ears!
I really like this photograph of Chris Polityka we did at the Power Of Fitness gym the other day. It shows what I have been saying for years and what Chris promotes as well. If you want to be healthy, look good, be fit, it happens above your ears. Listen to these stupid talk show diets or go into the gym and just pretend that you know what you are doing and you will just stay fat and look the fool why you are at it. So seek out people like Chris who know what they are doing, go to a real gym and get some help like at Power of Fitness, and continue your journey above your ears. That is how you do it!
Chris Polityka at Power of Fitness gym. Photography by Ian L. Sitren. Photographed on Hasselblad. Lighting by broncolor. Only the best!
Photo Shoot Perfect
What a perfect photo shoot day! First off Chris Polityka. The guy looks outstanding! A worked out, all around healthy athlete kind of look. I had the guy hiking, running, jogging and later in the day pounding iron in the gym. And none of those pastel colored pretty weights either. He did it! And any guy who shoots with me will tell you that you don’t just get to stand around looking pretty on my photo shoots.
Then I must say we had one of those may perfect days we get in Palm Springs. Warm, beautiful skies, great scenery. Great sunlight too! Could not have been better.
I also have to say I love the camera I am shooting with here in this behind the scenes photo. Hasselblad digital, only the best!
Behind the scenes – photo shoot at desert windmill farms with Chris Polityka
Loving My New Biz Cards
I am really loving my new biz cards, big time! Any question about what I do lol? The camera is Hasselblad, only the best! The cards by Moo.com, triple thick with a red seam center around the edges. Designed entirely by my good buddy Dennis Johnson. I am going to say the best biz card I have ever had in my many years! If you want me to send you a couple, just send me a note with your address to SecondFocus@mac.com. They are really cool!
Mr. Natural Olympia And The Iron Guru
From our photo shoot, my friend John Hansen featured in the book “Vince’s Secret Locker” by Karl Coyne. The story of the “Iron Guru” from the Golden Age of Bodybuilding, Vince Gironda. Vince’s Gym was central to the world of bodybuilding and among the people you could find in that gym in North Hollywood were Cher, Denzel Washington, Clint Eastwood, and James Garner. Vince Gironda will be posthumously inducted into the real Muscle Beach Hall Of Fame on Labor Day this year on September 5th.
John Hansen himself a legend in the world of bodybuilding, the very first Mr. Natural Olympia. Recognized as an eminent bodybuilder and historian of the world of bodybuilder.
Phil Collen, Def Leppard And Me!
One of the coolest things I have done as a bodybuilding and fitness photographer. Photographing Phil Collen, of the legendary rock group Def Leppard. And yes I wrote the story too!
Making The Pit Look So Good!
Just perfect! My best buddy Maria Bertrand making the “Pit” at Muscle Beach look so good!
Maria Bertrand In The Pit At Muscle Beach
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
What We Do
What do professional photographers do when we are not shooting photographs? Well we do things like walk around the prestigious Photo LA looking at and admiring the work of other photographers. This past Sunday I did that with my good friend Bill Dobbins, one of the most famed photographers in the bodybuilding and fitness business. Even more fun was to photograph him with one of his works featured for the APA, American Photographic Artists. Very Fun Indeed!
Bill Dobbins with his work on display at Photo LA 2016
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.
Winner!
My buddy Evina Del Pizzo Luna winning the Overall Bikini Championship at the Iron Man Naturally 2016 on Saturday. One of the top featured events at the Los Angeles FitExpo. I was there with 60,000 of my best friends. Were you there too?
I Needed A Big Chair
The big chair in the parking lot of the LA Mart in downtown Los Angeles. The Reef was the location for Photo LA. What a superb show! Between that and the FitExpo this weekend I needed a big chair when I got home last night. More photos from the weekend to follow. Thanks to everyone I had the chance to meet! Thank You!
The big chair in the parking lot of the LA Mart.
Sci Fi Girl
I really like this girl! I am thinking photo shoot! Yesterday downtown Los Angeles near the L.A. Mart for Photo LA. Today you will find me at the FitExpo at the Los Angeles Convention Center.
Photos Like This
Bodybuilder Dan Hill in front of my camera. I will be in Los Angeles this weekend, Friday through Sunday, for the FitExpo and Photo LA. Let’s meet and chat photography for your ads, magazines, features, portfolios, promotions. More to see on my website at SecondFocus.com. Send me an e-mail to SecondFocus@mac.com or text to 213-712-1929. Thanks!
FitExpo and Photo L.A.
Tomorrow, Friday through Sunday, find me in Los Angeles for Photo LA and the FitExpo Los Angeles. Time to just meet and/or talk about photography and my work in shooting magazine features, advertising, your portfolio and more. It would be great to meet you! Just send me an e-mail to SecondFocus@mac.com or text to my cellphone at 213-712-1929. And Thanks!
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