Today is National Blue Jeans Day, a date built on more than a century of denim evolving from sturdy workwear to one of the most adaptable pieces in fashion. Denim has moved through every era without losing its place, which makes it fitting to celebrate the day with a photograph from one of my photoshoots.
Here the jeans do exactly what denim has always done, hold their ground. Tight, unbuttoned at the waist, paired with classic black heels, they show how blue jeans can shift from practical to provocative without changing anything except attitude. Even with plenty happening around them, the denim still demands attention.
So yes, try to stay focused. It is, after all, National Blue Jeans Day.
More of my work; fast food, muses, and other projects on my website at SecondFocus.com Thanks!
One of my all time favorite photoshoots. Kajira is what is described of the famous photographer Helmut Newton genre’ of “PornoChic”. I have devoted a gallery of 100 of her fashion Turban photographs on my website. And ten video clips behind the scenes. These are my early attempts at video, only 20 seconds each. I think they are great fun. At http://SecondFocus.com Thanks!
My very beautiful friend Dakota, the new gallery on my website Dakota in the pool floating in white sheer fabric. A series of 24 from the day of our photo shoot. Take a moment to look. I think you will remember you did. Thank You!
A red leather chaise lounge invites a break during the day. I selected 75 of one series from a day of shooting. I think the series is more intriguing than just one. On my website at https://www.secondfocus.com/index/G0000R1I.kt6G8J8
100 of Aristodeme And Her Shadow. A new gallery on my website. https://tinyurl.com/Aristodeme100 A day’s shooting of 564 photographs. There were a few themes created around a prop or wardrobe item. This is my selection of 100 of the 128 in this series. Here her shadow is a second model in the photographs and the movement and play is more than could be shown in just one. Please visit the gallery and let me know what you think. Of course on my website it is not censored Thank You! https://tinyurl.com/Aristodeme100
I love this photograph of Tiana. Although there are many superb photographs from our photoshoot. A full gallery of her will be here soon. One of the many shoots I did along the way. I am now making these photographs available as art prints. Send me a note at Ian@SecondFocus.com. More to be seen on my website at SecondFocus.com
1 of 100 of Amber. A new gallery on my website. https://www.secondfocus.com/index/G00001T6dGZnl5K4 A day’s shooting of 519 photographs. This is my selection of 100. Usually from a photoshoot we only select a few. Spend time with a lot of editing. But I find it sad not to show more from a shoot. The expressions, the movements, the beauty as I saw it and I photographed it. Please visit the gallery and let me know what you think. Thanks! https://www.secondfocus.com/index/G00001T6dGZnl5K4
So very many of my photoshoots that I have not shown yet. But I am working to do that now that I have more time. They will be on my website, galleries, books. For simplicity I am going alphabetically, at least for the moment. Much more of model Amber Flowers soon. My website at SecondFocus.com
I think my idea for advertising for lighting equipment is better than most. Here we have a Broncolor Para 133 reflector as the main lighting source. And then a much more creative use of a Broncolor softbox. During the photoshoot we also did eliminate the softbox. The Para was great by itself. Model Amber Flowers.
From our photoshoot. Fitness icon and twice Playboy Brazil centerfold, Larissa Reis. Makeup and hair stylist and all around shoot assistant Natalie Lyle. This was a fun shoot that was in a gym, poolside and more.
Some time back my large color checker went missing. Probably got left in a gym during a shoot. Now I can’t find my small version. I am sure it will turn up but probably will have to buy a new one until then. Makes me feel better about color matching under different lighting when it is color critical.
I was so very pleased to have found Nova. Totally random but for some reason I remembered her. I collect these Hasselblad books. Nova Published In Hasselblad Victor Photography Book One. Original photograph by Damon Loble. Nova was very excited to see this. She had never seen it before.
From time to time I have been asked to do lighting classes on photographing models and using lighting modifiers. I doubt if my ideas would get me any manufacturer backing. However some photographers might sign up. What do you think?
Behind the scenes with Amber Flowers wearing a Broncolor softbox. Hasselblad digital camera system.
Amber Flowers wearing a Broncolor softbox. Hasselblad digital camera system.
Amber Flowers working on the proper positioning of a Broncolor beauty dish. Hasselblad digital camera system.
Amber Flowers working on the proper positioning of a Broncolor beauty dish. Hasselblad digital camera system.
Amber Flowers in front of my camera, my lighting and in my pool in my backyard. The camera is Hasselblad digital, the lighting is Broncolor. Palm Springs California.
My best buddy always seems to have the perfect thing to say, or wear, at the best times. Maria Bertrand… model, actress and writer. From our “Red Tire” photo shoot with Makeup and Hair Styling by Natalie Lyle.
“Winter Wonderland” is the first thing that crosses my mind. Which is an example of why I do not typically title my photographs. However I can correctly title Maria Bertrand… Beautiful! From our photo shoot at Venice Beach.
‘We pay $75 per day for you to work in our booth at the Olympia.’ ‘We pay $20 per photograph that we use and we give you photo credit.’ ‘We don’t pay for articles but you will get a lot of exposure.’
How many of you have heard things like this from supplement companies and others? Now let me give you a real life example about how much money these companies are making when they tell you about their woeful budgets and hardship tales about paying you…
“During the period from October 2008 through October 2013, the conspirators collected at least $400,000,000 in revenue…”
“Transferred over $230,000,000… proceeds from USP Labs business account at Chase to the USP Charles Schwab accounts”
“… transferred over $154,000,000 to at least 21 other financial accounts maintained at Charles Schwab, Chase Bank, TD Ameritrade Bank, TD Bank, and Bank of America”
These are quotes directly from a Federal criminal indictment filed on November 4th against USP Labs and S.K. Labs and their principals. You saw their products at the shows and in all of the magazines like “Jack3d”and “OxyElite Pro”. The charges involve fake ingredients, frauds, deceptions etc. Importantly however, the indictment does give you an idea about how much money is involved with supplement companies and such.
Now I will say that there are good companies out there. Their products are good, real and they treat people well. But they are seemingly few and far between.
So remember that when you are standing mostly naked in a booth at the Olympia, feet hurting in those high heels that the money you should be making you have given to the owner of the company to go have dinner each night at some high end restaurant on the Las Vegas Strip.
Or when you spend thousands and thousands of dollars on your photo equipment, you are paying the interest on your credit cards so the money you should have been paid is being transferred, when the company owner drives over in his Mercedes SLS Coupe, to the bank to transfer a few million dollars to his other accounts.
Sometimes the wind blows and hair gets messed up. I love those moments. Some are funny but some with the right look on the right model are so very sexy. And so this moment with Maria Bertrand. From our photo shoot the other day along Mulholland Drive in Los Angeles. Photographed on Hasselblad.
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