Vintage Muscle Beach!
Here it is! Only at the real Muscle Beach/Venice! Bringing back that wonderful look and feel of Vintage Swimsuit. I am planning to do some really cool photo shoots for this huge Memorial Day weekend happening. So if you are thinking of doing the show and are interested let me know ASAP. My e-mail is SecondFocus@mac.com.
Here are the competition details…
“VINTAGE SWIMSUIT”
Swimsuit: 1pc. only “Vintage” (circa 1940-1950’s)
One Class for all heights
Poses: Front relaxed “fun” pose & side “over the shoulder”.
Shoes will be pumps, open or closed toe.
Vintage jewelry/hair accessories allowed.
No crossovers allowed to other classes.
The Muscle Beach Int’l Classic, Memorial Day, Monday May 30, 2016. Any competition questions, reach out to Joe Wheatley at joesmusclebeach@yahoo.com.
By the way, this is the only show anywhere that opens with a flyover by the United States Air Force! Top That!
Starting The Look Back
Looking back is especially fun when you are watching Cara Basso look back. It is that time when I start looking back on the year and thinking about the upcoming year.
2016 will find me back at Muscle Beach and at the Palm Springs Air Museum. Photo shoots will find me on locations and in studios doing fitness, fashion, muscles, great faces and good looking bodies. I also expect to be going out on a motion picture or two somewhere around the country or abroad.
I do expect to explore some new shooting and concepts. So if you think you might like to chat about being in front of my camera, behind the scenes, or have me shoot your magazines features or advertising or some kind of project, please send me a note. My e-mail is SecondFocus@mac.com and it would be great to discuss your ideas and the New Year. Thank You!
Black Belt At Venice Beach
Alexandre Michel Franchini came all the way from Saint-Mihiel, France to stand on stage at Muscle Beach. Too much fun having him in front of my camera on the beach in the surf. Truly an amazing, talented and physically accomplished individual. And I must say, one nice guy with a superb sense of adventure. Photographed on only the best, Hasselblad.
Muscle Beach Thank You!
Thank You to everyone who shot with me over the Summer at Muscle Beach! I had so much fun with all of you and look forward to showing off more of your photos here on Facebook and on all of my social media. And a big congratulations to Sheena Epps and Toto Djong for your wins on stage and my photos of you making the 2016 Muscle Beach banners including the huge 7ft x 14ft banner that will be seen on the famous Venice Beach Boardwalk next Summer. Millions of people from around the world will be admiring your great physiques and dedication! Thank You All Again!
Sadly Sean Jones…
As we grow older we are visited by the sadness of the passing of those who have touched our lives. Yesterday many of us learned of the passing of Sean Jones. It was few years ago, Sean took the stage at Muscle Beach and it was obvious that for everyone else that it would be a fight for 2nd place. Actually Sean that day set a standard that would be hard to beat for a superb aesthetic bodybuilding physique for anyone to have matched. Sean went on to become a much sought after and respected body paint model around the world. He touched many many lives. But this photo I shot of Sean, the day after that Muscle Beach show, is one of my all time favorites and has been on my website ever since. And it will remain so. It makes me smile as he did whenever I heard from him and followed his journey. Much better seen full screen for this big guy on my website at http://bit.ly/1LgKKrt
A Hugely Deserved Win For Sheena Epps At Muscle Beach!
Sheena Epps, totally gorgeous with an amazing well proportioned worked out body, won overall figure at the Muscle Beach Championship this past Labor Day. What a great pleasure to see her on that stage in that bright Venice Beach sunlight! The photograph captured on my Hasselblad camera, only the best!
Ed Corney Inducted Into The Muscle Beach Hall of Fame
Legendary bodybuilder Ed Corney being inducted into the Muscle Beach Hall of Fame by bodybuilder Jerome Ferguson. Ed is considered one of the greatest bodybuilding posers of all time. He took many famous bodybuilding titles over the years including Mr. Universe in 1972 in competition held in Baghdad, Iraq.
Ed appeared in the movie and was on the poster for the movie “Pumping Iron” with Arnold and many well known bodybuilders. He was also featured on the cover of the book. To a person, everyone who has ever known Ed Corney speaks of him as one of the nicest guys you could ever meet. And that includes myself as well. Congratulations to Ed Corney! Well deserved!
At Muscle Beach Venice at the Muscle Beach Championship on Labor Day 2015. Photographed by me using only the best, Hasselblad cameras.
The Winner At The Muscle Beach Championship 2015!
Congratulations to Jose Velazquez for a well deserved overall bodybuilding win at The Muscle Beach Championship on Labor Day. He had fun and it showed along with a well worked out and prepped physique. Good going! Another day of photography for me at Muscle Beach on nothing but the best, Hasselblad cameras. Thanks!
Front And Center At Muscle Beach!
It is time and I am front and center! Proud To Support Muscle Beach, my banner hanging over that world famous place “Where Muscles Were Born”. I will be shooting the photographs at the big show on Monday Labor Day. If you want your photographs doing the show and back stage in the workout “Pit” you have to sign up. I also have one time slot left for your own personal mini photo shoot on Sunday for you or a couple. For more information and to sign up go to https://squareup.com/market/secondfocus and Thanks! See you there!
Your Muscle Beach Photos, Time To Sign Up!
We are coming up on Labor Day Muscle Beach, Monday September 7th, the last bodybuilding and fitness show of this Summer at the place “Where Muscles Were Born”! If you are doing the show it is now time to get signed up for me to shoot your photographs on the stage and back stage in that famous workout “Pit” along the Venice Boardwalk. I also have one more open spot for a mini photo shoot with you or a couple on the day before the show on Sunday September 6th. That will be right there at world famous Venice Beach. So no time to wait! Thanks and here is the link for more information and to sign up! https://squareup.com/market/secondfocus
Muscle Beach Is Just Like This!
Have you been to one of the Muscle Beach Bodybuilding & Fitness Shows over the Summer? It looks just like this! The greatest outdoor bodybuilding and fitness shows on the planet. The next is Labor Day, Monday September 7th! Be there!
And if you are doing the show you can have me photograph you on stage and backstage at this world famous location and in that world famous workout “Pit”. You can even have your own mini photo shoot for yourself or a couple the day before! But you have to sign up ahead of time and really soon! So here is the link for more information and to sign up. Don’t let it go by! And Thanks! https://squareup.com/market/secondfocus
1st Place For Muscle Beach Fun!
At the Muscle Beach/Venice fitness and bodybuilding competition on July 4th, if there would have been an award for having the most fun and being the most fun to watch, it would have gone to Theresa Russell. The enthusiasm of this gorgeous 50 year old woman was totally exhilarating! I am so happy I had the chance to photograph her!
At the upcoming Muscle Beach competition on Labor Day I can photograph you too! You can have your photographs on stage and back stage in the world famous workout “Pit”. You can even have your own mini photo shoot the day before at the beach for yourself or as a couple. But you must sign up ahead of time and as soon as possible. So here is the link for more information and to sign up. Only a few weeks away so no time to wait and Thanks! https://squareup.com/market/secondfocus
Wanna Shoot With Me?
I bet you can guess that I shot this photograph of Chris Jantz over the July 4th weekend! It was the morning after Chris walked away with some great first place bodybuilding wins and trophies at Muscle Beach.
We are coming up on the last summer competition at the real Muscle Beach for this season on Labor Day. So if you are doing the show, it is time to sign up with me for photographing you on stage and even backstage in that world famous workout Pit.
Also on Sunday, the day before the show, you can shoot with me with your own mini photo shoot at locations at Venice Beach or Marina Del Rey. That is open to anyone even if you are not doing the show. You can even do a couples photo shoot.
Now is the time to make sure you get signed up to get your photographs if you are doing the show. And this will be the last time I will be doing mini photo shoots for this price this year. So click on the following link to get more information and to sign up. And if you have any questions, please send me an e-mail to SecondFocus@mac.com and Thank You! https://squareup.com/market/secondfocus
Photographed on Hasselblad. Only the best!
My Ball Career Is Over
I don’t think I am going to be able to go back to my ball career. So I need you to sign up for me shooting your photographs on Labor Day weekend for the bodybuilding and fitness competition at Muscle Beach. If you are doing the show, you can have your photographs on stage and also backstage in the workout Pit. On the Sunday before the show you can have your own mini photo shoot at the beach whether you are doing the show or not. And you can even have a couples photo shoot. So please sign up as soon as you can so I can get everyone in. I have no idea where my mitt is anyway. Just click here and Thanks! https://squareup.com/market/secondfocus
Behind The Scenes For Sure
Amy Jantz, who is too cute for words and more than beautiful, just could not resist a combination of selfie and behind the scenes photo. Offering to carry my camera bag as her husband Chris Jantz and myself walked out to the rocks at Venice Beach for more of his photo shoot early Sunday morning after his competition at Muscle Beach on July 4th. I thought she was just walking along behind us. Little did I suspect her mischievousness! Just too fun! Thank You Amy! 
Catching Muscle Beach Fun With My Camera…
Chris Jantz looking serious as he pumps up in the workout Pit at Muscle Beach on July 4th. But now look past him to the right. I think she is enjoying her view of Chris from the other side. It has always been that way at Muscle Beach and along the Venice Beach Boardwalk. All part of the fun looking at the great bodies on men and women in the Southern California beach sun. I am just really happy that I caught some of that fun with my camera!
This Is Muscle Beach!
This one photograph I shot at the July 4th competition to me speaks volumes about what Muscle Beach is all about. United States Marine Corp Gunny Sergent Jaren Wright looking good and having fun on stage. Obviously he has worked hard building his physique and I am sure he will keep it going. And he certainly deserved the two trophies he took home. But even more, Jaren will always remember when he stood on stage at the real Muscle Beach at the only real Muscle Beach competitions!
And as a photographer, again I am so very impressed with shooting with a Hasselblad camera. Bodybuilding and fitness photography has it’s own very unique needs to get right when taking photographs. Definition, color rendition and skin tones are what separates really great bodybuilding photographs from all the others. Just look around at other bodybuilders photos you will see orange skin, blurry looks and unrealistic color. Stop and compare to what you see here. When you do that, you see the difference. As I say, Hasselblad does not just shoot photographs, it duplicates reality, and maybe makes it even better!
A Very Special “Muscle Beach Courage Award”!
The second photograph below is not some abstract work of art. It is the remains of the car driven by Bryan Ortiz. That is the “Before Photo” and also below here is the “After Photo” from Muscle Beach on July 4th. To quote from the presentation as Eryk Bui presented Bryan Ortiz with the Muscle Beach Courage Award…
“Four years ago on June 12, 2011, he was in a car accident, hit by a drunk driver, who was never caught. In the hospital for about a year and a half, the doctors found broken ribs, both lungs collapsed, internal bleeding, his heart moved to the middle of his chest, shattered legs and pelvis. There was the possibility that both legs would be amputated. In a coma for 3 months under respiratory support, he died 3 times. He had over 18 surgeries, 26 blood transfusions, skin graphs, ab muscles removed on his right side to restore his legs, and metal plates and rods from his waist down.”
“He competed on Memorial Day at the Muscle Beach International Classic and last Saturday at the Mr. & Ms. Muscle Beach. He plans to compete on Labor Day at the Muscle Beach Championship to complete the Summer trifecta. His story hopefully can inspire many who think that they can’t achieve the impossible. He’s living proof that anything IS possible. All it takes is hunger, drive, heart, dedication, discipline, and most important, FAITH. His message to everyone is NEVER GIVE UP!!!”
Here Comes The Judge
Moji Oluwa backstage in the workout Pit just prior to guest posing at Muscle Beach/Venice on July 4th. Moji has been a judge at Muscle Beach for a long time now and is always encouraging and helpful to everyone. A good guy and a superb bodybuilder! I am always happy to see Moji!
Maybe Near You?
Have you been wanting to do a photo shoot with me but getting away to Palm Springs is really difficult. I will start letting you know my likely availability in other locations. So here we go…
I will have availability Saturday July 18th and Sunday July 19th in Los Angeles in the Venice Beach area. And again on Wednesday July 22nd. Other locations nearby would be considered.
August 22nd I will be at the Anaheim FitExpo and Iron Man Naturally. I will have availability to shoot in Orange County on Sunday August 23rd at a likely gym location. Other locations could also be considered.
Labor Day September 7th will find me at the bodybuilding and fitness competition at Muscle Beach Venice. I will again be doing competitor photo shoots of you on stage and backstage if you are doing the show. I will also be doing special individual photo shoots with you, even if you are not a competitor, on Saturday September 5th and Sunday September 6th. These shoots will be at Venice Beach or a beach in nearby Marina Del Rey. I price these photo shoots very reasonably because I can get a number of you in during the day. So you really want to take advantage of this pricing because I really can’t do it otherwise, not even close!
Most of those photo shoots that I do out of town are based on being less complicated and less time than I would usually be doing. So again they are very reasonably priced as compared to my usual shoots. You will still however get the great photographs I am known for creating! I really enjoy shooting with as many of you as as I can, so please try to take advantage of what can be as much as only 25% or less of what i would have to charge otherwise.
For those of you who would like to see me in an area near you, let me know. If you have a few others who would like to be in front of my cameras, we can bring your individual costs way down and make it work for me coming to you.
Please send me an e-mail with any of your questions or for more information. I am at SecondFocus@mac.com and Thank You!
By the way this is from a photo shoot I did in Marina Del Rey a few years back with one of the most popular and respected women in all of our world of fitness, Ava Cowan.
The July 4th Muscle Beach 2015 Over 50 Bodybuilding Champion
Billy Robinson became the Muscle Beach 2015 Masters Men Over 50 Champion this past weekend. When I saw him in the morning I knew he would be taking home a big trophy. It does take years of hard work to build thick mature muscle like that. Great job Billy and well deserved!
I Am Not Surprised!
Theresa Russell told me “I had men following me around telling me I was stunning and tons of strangers wanting pics with me”. And I said “I am not surprised at all!”. She did go home with a well deserved trophy from Muscle Beach on Saturday. I didn’t do any pics with her, I know on which end of the camera where I do best!
Everyday!
Might be a message there! What do you you think? Chris Jantz pumping up backstage in the workout Pit on July 4th at the real Muscle Beach/Venice. The big Summer bodybuilding and fitness competition saw Chris take home two first place trophies, one second place trophy and a big win as Overall Champion Novice. Everyday!
Candy And Muscle Beach And Trophies!
United States Marine Corp Gunny Sergent Jaren Wright practicing advanced food science supplementation prior to getting on stage at Muscle Beach/Venice yesterday LOL. Don’t be fooled, he went home with two trophies!
SecondFocus Blog 