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.
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!
“Does This Plane Match My Outfit?”
Fashionably fit Sharon Lim deciding if the Boeing Navy Stearman matches her outfit or if she should keep shopping. Personally I think this is the one Sharon should take home with her. What do you think?
From our photo shoot at the Palm Springs Air Museum. Makeup and Hair Styling by Natalie Lyle. Thanks!
How Lucky!
How can I possibly explain how lucky I have been to have some of the most astounding and beautiful women in front of my cameras. Victoria Kirsanovaout in hot Sun in the hills above Agua Dulce. Personal trainer, professional horse trainer and an amazingly creative individual with a fascinating life from around the world. From our photo shot with Makeup and Hair Styling by Natalie Lyle. Thank You!
She Is Actually Real!
When Ashley Owens Gulina is in front of my cameras sometimes I just laugh because I can’t believe that someone so incredibly gorgeous actually exists in the real world. The Makeup and Hair Styling that makes it even better, by Natalie Lyle.
Totally My Hero!
Jennifer Henry is totally my hero! None so few have come up from so low in their life to overcome adversity. Now she stands gym built and healthy lifestyle strong to compete on the fitness and bodybuilding stages. Go check out her Facebook page and learn more about Jennifer. I promise you will be inspired and motivated! From our photo shoot.
She Lives A Life Of Fitness
She lives a life of fitness in so many ways. So Duyen Ariss in front of my camera after competing in the Las Vegas Classic just recently was the place to be! I have known her for some time now and she looks better than ever. Lifting iron and eating right does a body good and I must tell you that for Duyen, she looks 20 years younger than her actual age. She also has the biggest smile and a laugh that is there all the time. Ok I love her! But her husband Carlos Ariss knows it and he is a good guy too! Thanks!!
More For Veterans Day and Muscle Beach
We started Veterans Day with United States Marine Corp Veterans Stephanie Lugo and Travis Ely on the Muscle Beach/Venice Poster. And now on the Facebook banner for Muscle Beach. My photographs of course. Come be a part of Muscle Beach for 2015! This will also be a 7 ft high by 14 ft long banner displayed on the famous Venice Beach Boardwalk for the 2015 Competition Summer Shows. How cool is that!
Veterans Day and Muscle Beach
Not only am I very proud to have been the photographer of both of these photos but both Travis Ely and Stephanie Lugo are Veterans of the United States Marine Corps. Is that not perfect for Veteran’s Day today!
I am very happy to be a continuing supporter of Muscle Beach/Venice. Some years ago, I remember walking along that boardwalk at Venice Beach and seeing the huge guys working out in the “Pit” right there. Those were the guys of the Golden Age of Bodybuilding. How exciting to be living that history today! So come on out to Muscle Beach this coming Summer and you can be a part of it too!
Standing Among The Skyscrapers
Standing 6ft-5 in those boots and with that body she has built, the only place for Natalie Lyle to stand is among the skyscrapers! From our photo shoot.
Just You Wait!
A behind the scenes look from yesterday’s photo shoot with Natalie Lyle. But I am telling you now, you are not seeing what’s coming! Just you wait!
“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.
Photo Lesson With Jennifer Henry
Thank you for all the kind comments about my photographs with Jennifer Henry. I have been getting a lot of questions about how we did this shoot so I thought I would show you. It was actually very simple.
First starting with a gorgeous woman is a big step ahead! Thank You Jennifer! Originally my plan was to do this shoot on my outdoor studio set but the humidity was unusually high so it would have been really uncomfortable. So we set up inside, hey I have 8 tons of air conditioning so why not!
Lighting as you see, strobes by Profoto USA. I believe in high quality lighting systems putting out really great light. There are only a few brands of lighting equipment I would consider. The light coming in from the sliding glass doors on the right is irrelevant because it is over powered by the strobes. And then as you can see I have a lot of room and can even create much more inside if needed.
The details that make the photographs work are good exposure, sharp focus, good posing. A big point that people miss all the time is skin tone. Go through photographs from so many and you see skin that is orange in color. Yes sometime the tanning products does throw it off but it is really bad for the photographer to not adjusting the “white balance” in post processing to get real life skin tones. There are times when artistic expression might change that. But basically if you get orange skin you have photographs that are not acceptable. It is not real and contributes to a blurry look.
Another point to remember is that photographs are easy to make look good for Facebook or Instagram because they are so small. Take them up to full size and high resolution for something like a magazine and often times they fail. Blurry and no detail in fabrics, white or dark spaces that look like they were painted on also with no detail. Those are also not acceptable.
So there you have my photo lesson for the day. Just wanted to answer a few questions. And Thank You!
That Little Black Dress
A woman of very special accomplishment Jennifer Henry in our photo shoot. And this last Saturday on stage with the WBFF in Los Angeles and taking a third place on the road in her journey in fitness. That fitness stuff does a body good! Don’t you just love the way she fills out this little black dress! YES!
I Can Hear Her Saying…
I can hear her saying to me “Just sit right down here and we will have a little breakfast”. Yes that was it, I recall distinctly. From my photo shoot with one of the most beautiful women I have ever photographed Ashley Owens Gulina. Makeup and Hair styling by the ever incredible Natalie Lyle. 
I Have This Urge…
Why do I have this urge to go pump some iron at the workout pit at Muscle Beach/Venice? Because sometimes you get to see Lisa Marino Sandersworking out there too. Plenty of reason for me! A great day for a photo shoot with Makeup and Hair styling by Natalie Lyle! — with Lisa Marino Sanders.











































