International Firefighters’ Day
From a photo shoot I did for a magazine series about fitness in the military. At March Air Reserve Base. Photo shoot note… I shot this with a Phase One medium format camera system.
“International Firefighters’ Day is observed each year on 4th May. On this date you are invited to remember the past firefighters who have died while serving our community or dedicated their lives to protecting the safety of us all. At the same time, we can show our support and appreciation to the firefighters world wide who continue to protect us so well throughout the year.”
“The role of a firefighter in today’s society – be it urban, rural, natural environment, volunteer, career, industrial, defence force, aviation, motor sport, or other is one of dedication, commitment and sacrifice – no matter what country we reside and work in. In the fire service we fight together against one common enemy – fire – no matter what country we come from, what uniform we wear or what language we speak.”
– Lt JJ Edmondson, 1999
Firefighting And Fitness
From a magazine feature series I produced and photographed for Iron Man Magazine. It was about fitness in the military. This was a training day with the firefighters at March Air Reserve Base. That is their training aircraft fuselage burning with aviation fuel. Me right behind them shooting photographs.
She Was There…
I know she was there, I saw her and she saw me. It was very desolate but I am thinking she can take care of things. I came back later after dark, but she was gone. My imagination perhaps?
Photo shoot with Randalene Sergent
Thunderbolt Tomorrow!
Check out this P-47 Thunderbolt flying tomorrow at the Palm Springs Air Museum! 2300HP, a top speed of 433mph and a service ceiling of 40,000 ft. You have to go see this airplane! Do you think the person in the back seat got photos as detailed as my photo of them taking photos?
P-47 Thunderbolt over the Palm Springs Air Museum
9 Yoga Poses With Maria Bertrand
Very Fun! A great feature “Improve Your Confidence With These 9 Yoga Poses” written by Maria Bertrand, featuring Maria Bertrand and photographed by me! On Beachbody … Take a look! http://bit.ly/1Kace1l
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
Get To Your Photo Shoot
How do you get to your photo shoot? Sharon Lim prefers classic air travel. So if you fly in, I will pick you up at the airport or if you are really lucky, at the Palm Springs Air Museum!
Palm Springs Fine Art Fair
At the Palm Springs Fine Art Fair VIP opening on Thursday night. Scenes and art I found interesting and fun. I did mention to the woman in front of the art sign that I did not believe for one moment that she was a “bad texter”.
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A Uniform Look
Around the Los Angeles FitExpo, over 50,000 people saw many of my photographs around the 650 booths. And a recurring photo is this one of Sherry Goggin from our photo shoot. I guess we could say it is a very uniform look!
My Most Viewed Video…
My most viewed video ever was shot as part of the photo session and ad campaign I did for this magazine advertisement for Bodybuilding.com. The model is Maria Rogers who was nothing short of sensational. But you can see that in the photograph and video. 
Natalie Lyle By Natalie Lyle
Natalie Lyle has created herself in so many ways. She started with me when she graduated from makeup school with almost no experience. From then, right up to today, she has developed into one of the best makeup and hair stylists one could could ask for. As well as a styling and posing watchful eye. And as a consequence from watching me work with amateur inexperienced models or the most experienced professionals, she has become that posing competent model herself.
Natalie was new to the world of bodybuilding and fitness when she started with me as well. She had never seen the bodies like on the models I often photograph. So finally after spending so much time in this part of the fitness world she decided that a fit body and lifestyle was for her too. Now we have Natalie Lyle, the 6 foot tall gorgeous model with a fitness gym built body. Incredible in front of the camera as well as still behind the camera with me.
Stylin And Flyin
A look of style that makes you just want to see her as the pilot in that front seat on her way out to the runway and then push that plane into the air. Does that not sound so very cool! I can just see her! Sharon Lim with a 1946 Boeing PT-17 A75N1 Stearman. U.S. Navy 555 at the Palm Springs Air Museum. From our photo shoot with Makeup and Hair Styling by Natalie Lyle. 
T-28 On An SX-70
I had photographed this T-28 in my prior post on the ground a few weeks ago at the Palm Springs Air Museum. However I shot it with a Polaroid SX-70 camera with film from the Impossible Project. Something about this Polaroid print makes it one of my favorites.
My Favorite Body-Part Of A Woman…
You know how it is, I get asked if I am a “leg man” or whatever. Well, I am a face man. Emily Hayworth at the 2014 Palm Springs Photo Festival. Photographed by me using a Phase One IQ250 camera and Schneider LS 110mm f/2.8 lens. I added a little creativity for a more dramatic and dreamy look.
Behind The Scenes And On The Screen
Usually behind the work on my photo shoots as the makeup artist and hairstylist, Natalie Lyle is also pretty incredible in front of the camera. Sculpting all 6 ft tall of her into a fit body and watching me direct shoots has made her a model who surely commands a lot of attention. Here is a look of the behind the scenes from one of our photos shoots and an on screen look of a small part of what I see afterwards.
Not My Fault!
My friend Lydia Tack says I have a camera lens that automatically finds girls with long legs. Well this one is not my fault because Jennifer Henry brought them with her to our photo shoot. There was nothing I could do but take the photographs anyway. And if it is ok with you guys I will be showing more of them to you soon.
Dangerous In Winter
For those of you in the depths of Winter around the country or around the world. Do not invite Victoria Kirsanova for a visit. She will melt all the snow and ice and cause flooding. Much too hot! From our photo shoot with Makeup and Hair Styling by Natalie Lyle.
Censored
I just find it so odd that in the USA we find ourselves so censored as compared to much of the rest of the world when it comes to things considered sexual. At least that is my view when it comes to photographs and photography. Here is a page from Vogue Paris with model Emily DiDonato. And Vogue is what I would call a mainstream magazine. Below is how I have to post the same photo on Facebook. Can you imagine the same photograph made “safe” for “American” magazines. It is just not as interesting and beautiful. That is why the photograph was designed and photographed as it is in the first place.
Are You Ready?
Jake Sawyer in front of my camera. His job on this photo shoot was to show up in shape and looking good. He did that! My job was to turn the scenes I had in my mind into photographs. The tools for this job were very simple, a few rolls of film (yes film) and a camera. That worked! Are you ready to do your job in front of my camera? Send me an e-mail to SecondFocus@mac.com and we can chat about it. Thanks!
Photobomb Or Not?
Photobomb or not? Maybe she is just ignoring him. Above the bay in Marina Del Rey California for a photo shoot.
Let’s Play!
It’s 2015 so let’s have lots of fun and shoot lots of photographs! Cara Jo Basso playing in the wind high over Wilshire Blvd. in Los Angeles.
And The Clock Strikes New Year!
More of all of my photography for 2015 coming your way! More bodybuilding, more fitness, more lifestyle, more sports, more fashion, more with an edge, more editorial, more magazines, more advertising, more of everything. And more of you! Come be a part of it! Send me an e-mail to SecondFocus@mac.com and we can chat about it! Thanks!
Cortney And You…
Cortney CortCity Solomon was so fun in front of my camera! And like Cortney you can be in front of my cameras too, whether in the gym for bodybuilding and fitness or edgy fashion lifestyle or other sports or concepts. It could be for yourself, magazine editorials or advertisements for your products or services. Just send me an e-mail to SecondFocus@mac.com and and we can chat about it.
I want to say that I am very heartened by how many of you have contacted me over the last week about shooting. I have heard from people looking to build their own portfolios and promotion, companies looking to shoot their advertising and magazines looking for something different and unique. It shows that people are thinking ahead and optimistic about the New Year. Outstanding!
Behind The Scenes With You…
You could be looking at behind the scenes photographs of my photo shoot with you. These are from one of my shoots with the more than beautiful and wonderful Stacey Naito. This is the time that I am really giving a lot of thought to my planning for photo shoots for the coming year just around the corner. Of course I will continue to do my photography in bodybuilding and fitness whether in the gym, in the pool, or on location. I am also continuing to expand my shooting more directed to lifestyle features, edgy and nude fashion, editorial and advertising. And as I have always said, I reserve the right to photograph anything I find fun and interesting. So if you want to be a part of any of those concepts, genres and ideas or just want to get in on the fun and interesting, it is time to send me an e-mail to SecondFocus@mac.com with what you are thinking and let’s chat about it. Thanks! 
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