Photography by Ian L. Sitren

Posts tagged “bodybuilding photographer

Get Out Your Best Sox!

Get out your best sox! Maria Bertrand sure did! I will be photographing you backstage in the workout “”Pit” and on stage at the big July 4th fitness and bodybuilding show at Muscle Beach/Venice! You can even have your own mini-shoot the day before or the day after. But you have to sign up first. For more information and the online sign up form click here and Thanks… https://squareup.com/market/secondfocus


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!


Hasselblad Reality

When I announced that I had added a Hasselblad digital medium format camera system to my equipment, it generated a lot of interest. I received lots of messages and have been asked about it personally from photographers, models and people generally.

My decision to go Hasselblad, after trying out pretty much every high end camera system, came back to this one photo I shot of bodybuilder Travis Elywhen I first tried it out on a real photo shoot. Click on it to really get a look. The completely real colors, skin tone and definition were exactly what I wanted. It is more than a photograph, seemingly a duplicate of reality.

There are other reasons I chose Hasselblad. It is a legendary manufacturer of cameras made famous when chosen by NASA in 1962 to be the cameras to go into outer space. And of course used by so many famous photographers in the past and today. So who is next in front of my Hasselblad?


Location, Location, Location!

One of my favorite locations I will be using for photo shoots for July 4th weekend. Here with an incredibly perfect for the scene, Jake Sawyer. You can shoot with me on July 3rd or July 5th, the day before or after the big show at Muscle Beach/Venice. You do not have to be doing the show to take advantage of these photo shoots. I will be doing the show photography on stage and backstage if you are doing the show on July 4th. As many of you know I never make these offers of less costly mini-shoots like this but I really want to do it so I can shoot with more you. So please sign up ASAP and let’s make it happen. Click here for more info and to sign up online and Thanks… https://squareup.com/market/secondfocus


“Buying Size 10 Made Me Want To Cry”

Nicole Zimmer Toepper said that despite exercising and eating right that she was resigned to thinking that was just the way it was going to be after turning 40. One year ago she couldn’t button her size 8 pants and the thought of buying size 10 made her just want to cry. And then another incredible transformation with the help of Train Insane Gym. Nicole went from a very unhappy size 8/10 to standing on stage at Muscle Beach on this past Memorial Day only about a few weeks ago. That wiped away the tears!

Muscle Beach on July 4th I will be doing the photography on stage and backstage if you are doing the show. And even your own photo shoot the day after the show or the day before. But you must please sign up as soon as possible. For more information and to sign up just click here and Thanks… https://squareup.com/market/secondfocus


She Did It In Eight Months!

She did it in less than a year! Catie Fernandez Magdaleno said she always “hated her body”. She was a runner doing 8 -10 miles per day! Figured she could eat whatever she wanted because all that running took care of it. Did not work. So 9 months after having a baby, when this before photo was taken, she joined Train Insane Gym, stopped running and went on their program of food and lifting. The results speak for themselves. This gorgeous woman went from September 2014 to standing on stage at Muscle Beach/Venice on this past Memorial Day! Just WOW!

Are you going to be on stage at Muscle Beach on July 4th? I will be doing photographs but only if you sign up ahead of time. On stage, backstage or even your own photo shoot the day before or after. It is only a couple of weeks away so please sign up ASAP. There is a limit to how many people I can do. Here is the online sign up with more info and Thanks! https://squareup.com/market/secondfocus


OK Smile!

Actually a small part of a building size mural in old downtown Indio California. Went on an excursion yesterday to photograph around old downtown Indio and Coachella and anything interesting along the way. There were many a great mural of incredible art. This one was especially extraordinary. I photographed with my Hasselblad medium format digital camera. The results are more astounding that I had imagined. The realism, color accuracy and sharpness create more of a duplicate of reality than just a photograph. Another photographer asked me if I had the clients who warranted such an expensive camera system. I said yes… Me! I expect the best photography I can do from me!


Her First!

You have seen her makeup and hair styling work in my photographs in magazines and online for some time now. Now you get to see Natalie Lyle herself in a magazine from one of our photo shoots. The latest edition of Planet Muscle Magazine. Yes this is the same Natalie who was helping me on my photo shoots all day at Muscle Beach on Memorial Day during the show. You will see her again with me on July 4th at Muscle Beach. So bring a copy with you and take a selfie with Natalie and the magazine and have her sign it. How Fun! And if you want to sign up for photo shoots at the show or that weekend, here is the link… https://squareup.com/market/secondfocus Thanks!


I Don’t Have Enough Words!

It is a good thing I shoot photographs because I would not have enough words here. The incredibly beautiful, stunning, gorgeous, sensational fitness icon and my long time friend Ava Cowan. From a photo shoot we did in Marina Del Rey.

This is one of the locations I will be using the day before and after the July 4th Muscle Beach show. If you want to do your own photo shoot with me as well as have me photograph you on stage and backstage at the show, you need to get signed up. Here is the link to the online form and more info. I would love to photograph all of you but there will be only so many I can do. So please sign up as soon as you can, and Thank You! https://squareup.com/market/secondfocus


I Knew He Looked Great!

I was very happy that Phil Barrios had signed up for me to shoot his photos at Muscle Beach on Memorial Day. He looked great and I was right, he took home a First Place Trophy!

It is time to be signing up for me to shoot your photographs at Muscle Beach for the July 4th show. On stage, backstage or even your own photo shoot the day before or after the show. There is even an option for a couples photo shoot should you want to include that someone else. But please do it now, I can only book so many people. Here is the Sign Up online with more details…. https://squareup.com/market/secondfocus Thanks!


From “Just Sick Of Being Fat” To Muscle Beach

Yet another beautiful woman to stand on stage at Muscle Beach on Memorial Day and in front of my camera with a special reason for that huge smile. A transformation again out of Train Insane Gym in Anaheim California. The first “before” photo below is Traci Jaye Hernandez in 2011 when, as she told me, “I was basically just sick of being fat and I wanted more energy to keep up with my two girls!”. “I changed my eating habits and got to a healthy weight.” She maintained herself by running and going to a gym.

That took Traci to April 2014 and the other slimmer “before” photo when she says she found Train Insane Gym which as she says “THAT was what enabled me to change my life!!!”.  Well I think Traci changed her life, and Train Insane Gym does seem to have it going on! Makes that smile on Traci’s face very addicting!

Are you doing the July 4th show at Muscle Beach? If you want me to photograph you too, it is time to sign up. You have the options of stage photos, backstage photos and even your own photo shoot the day before or after. But please sign up ASAP, I can only do so many. More details and Sign Up here… https://squareup.com/market/secondfocus


After, Before, Amazing!

I photographed some fabulous bodies at Muscle Beach on Memorial Day. Only days later did I start learning just how fabulous. Melissa Loya as she stood in front of my camera backstage in the workout pit. What a beautiful woman with a rocking body! And then Melissa Loya only eighteen months before at 200 pounds when she said to herself “No More!”.

Melissa and other amazing transformations seem to have in common Train Insane Gym in Anaheim California. From what I am seeing, this gym appears to be the secret weapon for turning Befores into Afters!

Muscle Beach July 4th is coming up. If you would like me to photograph your afters, on stage, backstage or your own photo shoot the day before or after the show, please click here to sign up. And please do it soon, your after is waiting! Click here… Muscle Beach Photography Sign Up


It’s My Job!

By the end of the day she walked away on stage with a First Place Trophy at Muscle Beach/Venice on Memorial Day. One of the amazing, wonderful, outstanding people I had the opportunity to photograph that day. And I say this every time, Hannah Gordon Etherson is one of the most beautiful women I have ever known!

But back to business! Time to sign up for me shooting your photographs at the July 4th show at Muscle Beach. On stage, backstage, and even your own personal photo shoot the day before or the day after. I can only photograph so many people so please sign up now and let’s do it! Thanks! Sign Up Here… https://squareup.com/market/secondfocus


Admiring The Other Side

It looks like Bailey Quist had an admirer of her other side while I was shooting her photographs at Muscle Beach on Memorial Day. Can’t say that I blame the little guy, I was thinking Bailey looked pretty outstanding all the way around myself!

Sign ups are now available online for the Muscle Beach July 4th weekend show. You can have your photographs on the stage, on the stage and backstage in the workout pit, and even your own photo shoot session the day before or after. You can even have your own couples photo shoot. Please do not delay, there will be a limit on the number of people I can accommodate. So click here… https://squareup.com/market/secondfocus Thanks!


Photos and Friends and Muscle Beach

Shooting photographs and making friends at Muscle Beach. And what great looking friends I get to photograph, old friends and new friends like Julie Morton. She was having fun which is all about Muscle Beach.

Many of you are asking about me photographing you at the next Muscle Beach Show on July 4th. I will have a sign up sheet online this week. You will have the option of stage photographs and an add-on for photographs backstage in the workout pit. There will also be available your own personal shoot on the beach Sunday, July 5th and possibly also Friday July 3rd. If you would like to know more please send me an e-mail to SecondFocus@mac.com. Thanks!


July 4th Muscle Beach Photo Shoots

So Much Fun photographing so many of you at Muscle Beach on Memorial Day weekend! I will again be at the Muscle Beach July 4th show to photograph you on stage and backstage in the workout pit. I am also considering doing individual, perhaps one hour photo shoots, on the beach both before and after the show on Friday July 3rd and Sunday July 5th. A sign up form will be available next week but for now, if you are interested in knowing more, please send me an e-mail to SecondFocus@mac.com. Thanks!


Winner At Muscle Beach And Much More!

Elizabeth Gonzalez looking totally gorgeous and fit backstage at Muscle Beach. A First Place Class winner at the Memorial Day International Classic 2015! But it is what I have learned about her since I met her at the show that knocks me out. Only 19 months ago Elizabeth was an out of shape and might I say chubby 168 pounder who had never done anything athletic. A pretty girl however, describing herself as a “nerdy” “bookworm” “social type”.

It looks like she turned a big corner when she found the Train Insane Gym in Anaheim California. Elizabeth began her journey of health eating and working out. And dedication! Just look what happened!

Now also to my surprise is that among the many women who came out to compete at Muscle Beach from the Train Insane Gym this Memorial Day is that a number of them made tremendous transformations like Elizabeth. I had the opportunity to photograph many and I hope to be showing you them here on my Blog. That must be some gym with a bunch of great people!


A Lightweight And A Winner!

A huge congratulations to Toto Djong for winning the overall bodybuilding title at the Muscle Beach International Classic on Memorial Day. A symmetrical, proportioned muscle physique won him the day. Good job!


I Knew She Would!

I knew she would! In the middle of that line up, taking home a First Place trophy at Muscle Beach/Venice on Monday. Hannah Gordon Etherson who I have always said is one of the most beautiful women I have known. She is even a Mom now too! More photos to come soon!


Your Muscle Beach Photos – Time To Sign up!

Time to Sign Up! Are you doing the big show at Muscle Beach/Venicetomorrow? You can have your photographs shot on stage and backstage done by me! But you must sign up because I just will not have the time unless you do! So get it done and commemorate standing on that stage and being at that historic place. Sign Up Here and Thanks… https://squareup.com/market/secondfocus


You At Muscle Beach!

You worked really hard to get this far! So when you are standing on stage at Muscle Beach/Venice on Monday who is taking your photographs. And backstage too! Well it can be me if you sign up right away! Sign Up Here… https://squareup.com/market/secondfocus


Muscle Beach Photos Sign Up

This is it! Please do not wait! I am doing photographs at Muscle Beach/Venice at the show on Monday, both your on stage photos and backstage. I already have a lot of people signed up but would be happy to get more of you in. So if you are doing the show, click here and let’s get you in too! Thanks! https://squareup.com/market/secondfocus


Muscle Beach Getting Ready

Only a few days away. Are you getting ready for being on that stage at Muscle Beach/Venice on Memorial Day? I am still taking sign ups for photographing you on stage and back stage too. But please sign up asap so I can get you in. Here is the direct link to sign up and Thanks! https://squareup.com/market/secondfocus


Muscle Beach Photo Sign Ups

Muscle Beach/Venice, photographs and YOU! This Memorial Day weekend show, if you would like me to photograph you on stage and back stage, I am taking sign ups now. Please do not wait! Thank You and sign up here at this link… https://squareup.com/market/secondfocus