In The Gym With Randalene
Looking forward to going back to doing photo shoots in the gym. Randalene Sergent in a photo shoot we did for Bodybuilding.com and Iron Man Magazine.
Amazing Transformation
From my photoshoot with my friend Jessica Holohan. I hardly recognized her, she built an incredible body. Perhaps one of the astounding transformations I have seen in my years as a bodybuilding and fitness photographer. Good job!
Would Have Been Playing Video Games
Squats & Social Media
From my photo shoot with Mark Ebinger and a Social Media post from it…
Lifting weights, a little or a lot, it all makes you stronger, no matter how old you are. For your body and your mind, working out has always been shown to be one of the best things you can do for yourself ever!
Come on in and give it a try at Palm Springs Fitness Center! For A Free 7-Day Pass, text PSFC to 95577. All in air-conditioned comfort and fun! And any questions, just check in with one of our trainers to get you going on your fitness journey. Thanks!
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!
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.
DOMINATE MACHINE
DOMINATE MACHINE… Got that right! What’s on your t-shirt? Show it off and get it done. Ashley Owens-Gulina has been doing that! From our photo shoot.
At my favorite gym, Palm Springs Fitness Center. Get a Free 7-Day Pass by texting PSFC to 95577. Come on in and let me see your really cool t-shirt! We can take a photo and feature you!
Accomplishment
Accomplishment! And it really shows in many ways! Gym photo shoot with Jessica Holohan.
Tagged By Jamie
Just happened to see this, although I am tagged. Two days of shooting with the then Jamie Eason for Bodybuilding.com. Jamie went on to be one of the most successful fitness models and fitness spokespersons of all time.
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!
Fitness Journey
A thought from IFBB Professional figure competitor and fitness icon Ava Cowan from her magazine photo shoot at Palm Springs Fitness Center…
– The feeling of contentment to me is one of the most satisfying feelings in life. I can usually feel this to be present when I have arrived at and have become a higher version of myself, within my life’s journey, and fitness is a part of that journey.
– I thought to look up the definition. And after combing through several variations of the definition, this is a portion of one that resonated with me the most.
“Contentment is a mental or emotional state of satisfaction maybe drawn from being at ease in one’s situation, body and mind. Colloquially speaking, contentment could be a state of having accepted one’s situation and is a milder and more tentative form of happiness.”
– When I looked at this photograph last night, that is the exact emotion I see emitting through my eyes. I absolutely looked past the weight training aspect of the image. A moment in time and there I was… content.
– Contentment on my fitness journey in life captured in the moment.
Bicep Curls With Ava Cowan
From a really great fitness magazine photo shoot series I shot with IFBB Figure Pro Ava Cowan at Palm Springs Fitness Center.
From IFBB Figure Pro Ava Cowan from her magazine workout series photo shoot…
Single Arm Biceps Curls.
Warm Up: Using a lighter weight start with 2 sets of 12-15 reps before moving into a heavier weight.
Set Up: Adjust seat so that the padding is comfortably and completely under armpit. Using a dumbbell as opposed to a machine requires that all stabilizing muscles are warmed up as well.
Working Set: 2-3 sets of 6-12 reps on each arm. Start with the weaker of the two arms. Sets and reps are dependant on lifter’s goals and experience.
Action: Benefit of this angle is you can isolate and squeeze at the top of the movement. On the way down make sure not to lock out elbow, keeping tension on the biceps. Repeat.
Advanced Variation:
Looking for a slight variation and a more advanced exercise?
Try 1 Arm Machine Curls.
Warm Up: Warm up with the 2 sets of 12-15 reps for each arm using a normal amount of weight. You can start with two arms and then move into a single arm warm up.
Working Set: Adjust weight to more than you can lift for one rep. Using the free arm non working arm to help with the positive portion of the lift and then resist the negative only with the single working arm.
1 set of 3-5 reps of negatives.
Don’t Eat The Weights
A fun photo shoot with my buddy Rob Carbo this was! It was for Bodybuilding.com published in Iron Man Magazine. A feature I sourced, wrote and photographed monthly for three years. At Palm Springs Fitness Center.
Bicep Curls Done Right
From one of my photo shoots with IFBB Pro Bodybuilder Dan Decker. Dan has always been one of the most consistent and admired bodybuilders around and been published in more magazines than I am sure he can even tell you. At Palm Springs Fitness Center.
Palm Springs Fitness Center
You will now being seeing my photography on the Facebook page for the Palm Springs Fitness Center! And I will be managing their Social Media! It has been my gym of choice since they opened in 2006!
I have also done many many photo shoots along the way in that gym. And I will get to tell you many of the wonderful stories behind them. So go on over and read the first and ‘Like” the page for the Palm Springs Fitness Center! See you there and Thanks!
Her name is Amy but she has a special title too… Grandma! And a Mom of six!
Amy had been right here at Palm Springs Fitness Center to do a photo shoot for Iron Man magazine and Bodybuilding.com to celebrate her fitness journey. Amy got her start in fitness to keep up with her kids and to conquer her fight with alcohol.
“Part of my recovery plan as an alcoholic is based tremendously on avoiding depression. My love of fitness and thirst for knowledge has kept it at bay…”
Maybe not everybody will look like Amy but we can all be a better version of ourselves. So come on in and workout! If you are not sure how to go about it or feel like you are stuck, chat with one of our trainers. Fitness is a journey and we love having you taking that journey with us! Thanks!
Favorite Favorite!
One of my most favorite gym fitness photographs of one of my most favorite incredibly beautiful models, Randalene Sergent. Makeup and hair styling by yet another favorite Natalie Lyle.
Come Shoot With Me!
Already booking up for January! So who wants to come shoot with me? Your portfolio in the gym? That poolside sexy shoot for your book? Dramatic wardrobe changes in a sea of black background. Maybe some special location, windmills, desert, vintage aircraft? Also your head shots which will be really affordable! Unlikely I will wear the bowtie. But I do have much better camera and lighting equipment now! Only the best! Send me a note and Thanks! Ian@SecondFocus.com
Not Necessarily!
Not necessarily! Check out the bicep and shoulder in the mirror on Joanna Johnson. Now check out the weights she is using. You do not need to always use huge heavy weights to build an incredible physique. It is all about doing it right! Everyone is different. From our photo shoot, Thanks!
Photo shoot notes… Makeup and Hair Styling by Natalie Lyle. Hasselblad digital camera system. Broncolor lighting. Only the best!
Gym Motivator!
That is what you call Joanna Johnson, a Gym Motivator! And not just my words, others around World Gym in Palm Desert yesterday, men and women, walked up and congratulated her on the way she has worked so hard to build her body. Joanna drives the goals and admiration of others to be a better self. Go visit her, Joanna is a trainer there and she can be your Gym Motivator too!
This photograph was just a quick example I picked out from our photo shoot because it is so fun. Joanna’s first professional photo shoot, she warmed up and gave me some of her own posing. Good job!
Photo shoot notes… Makeup and Hair Styling by another gym motivator herself, Natalie Lyle. Hasselblad digital camera system. Lighting by Broncolor with the Broncolor Para 133 reflector and Move 1200L pack. Only the best!
That Is What I Do!
You workout hard and watch your eating habits consistently. You look great because it is your lifestyle and maybe your business and livelihood. I take that just as seriously as you do. So when you come to me to stand in front of my cameras, you will get my best. And that will be way past the best from so very many.
To chat about photo shoots for yourself or your advertising or your magazines, send me an e-mail to Ian@SecondFocus.com. I truly look forward to chatting with you with whatever your needs or just want to do. Thanks!
Mark Ebinger photographed by Ian L. Sitren at Power Of Fitness Gym in Palm Desert California.
An Office Day For Me
One of my typical days in the office. Here with bodybuilders Grant Pieterse, Jake Sawyer and Xavisus Gayden. I wonder how many times and for how long I made them hold that bicep curl.
Bodybuilders Grant Pieterse, Jake Sawyer and Xavisus Gayden at Power of Fitness.
Two Guys And The Ferrigno
These two guys have been hitting the gym at Palm Springs Fitness and getting ready. Travis Ely has walked away with a few bodybuilding trophies now and on his way in his best shape ever. Aaron Cruz is doing his very first show in Physique and has come a real long way down almost sixty pounds and cut up! The Lou Ferrigno Legacy Competition this weekend in Palm Springs California.
SecondFocus Blog 