A Favorite Cover
I have had my share of covers; but this one always remains one of my very favorites. Maybe because of the back story about how it landed the cover and a multi-page feature just before deadline. With my longtime friend, bodybuilder Robert Hatch.
Want to shoot with me or have a photo or ad assignment? Send me a note and Thanks! Ian@SecondFocus.com
Over 9,000
Thank You “Chatting With Sherri” on BlogTalkRadio. Just found out we had over 9,000 live listeners. I always knew my photos look best on radio! It will be fun to see how many replays there are over the next few weeks. Thanks! Here is the link if you want to check it out… http://tobtr.com/11455871
I Flew In The Cobra!
This was a first for me. At the “Wings Over Camarillo” airshow earlier this month I had the opportunity to fly in the front seat of this Vietnam War era Cobra Gunship. Wow I must say! Things that surprised me… much smoother than I expected, really comfortable seating with lots of room, and great air-conditioning! And yes I got some flying time too!
This was the Cobra as it landed at Camarillo after I arrived in the C-47 “What’s Up Doc?” from the Palm Springs Air Museum. Just grabbed my iPhone just in time.
You can also fly in the Cobra. It will be at the Palm Springs Air Museum on September 28th & 29th (2019). Check it out on the Air Museum Facebook Events page or call the Army Aviation Heritage Foundation directly for more information and to make a reservation. This will book up really fast for sure. So do it now! Have Fun! I will be there too. Thanks! Call 480-217-1635.
I Never Thought I Would
A feature I never thought I would use but now I have and I love it! Wirelessly transferring photos from my Fujifilm X-Series cameras to my iPhone or iPad.
At the “Wings Over Camarillo” airshow with the Palm Springs Air Museum. I am the Museum photographer and also Social Media Manager. Shooting the show opening USAF skydiving with my X-T3 and 100-400 lens, I knew I had beautiful shots but how to get one up on Social Media on the spot.
I had already paired my X-T3 with my iPhone using the Fujifilm Cam Remote app. I selected one of the photos and instantly transferred it to my phone. It was beautiful as shot. Within moments I had it on the Air Museum Instagram where it was an instant hit. Another Fujifilm X-Series feature that has made my life easier.
This is the exact photo, except I did add my logo in Photoshop for display here. However no other editing.
Lousy Marketing Start
I cannot imagine how someone spends the money to buy an operating business like this and then throws it all in dumper with worse than an amateur marketing start. The e-mail I received and my reply. Although I guess it worked; it says they were hoping to hear from me soon, and they did.
Instant Printer
Have you seen the Instax instant printer from Fujifilm? Very cool! Print directly from your phone or Fujifilm camera. Check it out here… https://instax.com/share/
I Am An Artist
I am an artist! Well I am in the latest issue of Art Patron magazine anyway. Along with my two buddies, Dennis Johnson and Hunter Johnson. (No they are not related)
A two page story with our photographs and art works from our photo excursions. Very Fun! The magazine is distributed in galleries and museums. Take a look at the full magazine here in the online edition… http://bit.ly/31xlUPs
Are You Serious?
Working for artists but stealing copyright works for their sales pitch.
I get all these promo e-mails from “Art Storefronts” about how they make artists zillions of dollars by using their web services.
So I clicked on one link to look into it and what do I find; they are using a clip from the movie “Wolf Of Wall Street” with Margot Robbie. I am sure Paramount Pictures did not license a clip from their huge movie so they could sell online artist stores. https://blog.artstorefronts.com/dont-need-an-art-marketing-consultant
Not good ArtStoreFronts.com Artists depend on their works not being stolen for someone else’s profit. So stealing for your own purpose and not understanding copyright is a big strike against you.
Bunny Looking Good
Shooting this morning for the Palm Springs Air Museum. A flight of ” Bunny” the P-51 Mustang dedicated to the “Red Tails” of the Tuskegee Airmen of World War II. The actual “Bunny” was flown by Lt. Col. Robert J “Bob” Friend (February 29, 1920 – June 21, 2019).
Photographed with my FujiFilm X-T3 and XF100-400 lens. Pilot Tom Nightingale.
GoPro Goes
GoPro goes when I can’t go. Two reasons for that here… the P-63 is a one seat airplane, and passengers are not allowed in the races.
This is a rare sight indeed! The Palm Springs Air Museum P-63 Kingcobra “Pretty Polly” flying the pylons at the Reno Air Races 2018. Turn on your sound! When our P-63 is in the air you can be sure it is likely the only P-63 in the air in the world.
My Watch Raced At Reno
Looking a little beat up now. But it has the distinction of flying the finals of the Reno Air Races 2017, Unlimited Class, in the Palm Springs Air Museum P-51 Mustang “Bunny”. Back on my wrist it has done a lot of flying ever since. But for that race it was on the wrist of pilot Tom Nightingale who borrowed it from me.
Auto Erotica Peep Show
A video montage that I created for a gallery show I did with the Michael Weems Collection Gallery creating a separate gallery called “Auto Erotica” in Palm Springs. The entire gallery was works of my photography and special auto body pieces by Michael Weems.
We even had built a seedy motel room in the gallery. Kind of road trip auto related Route 66 with erotic twists. Stacks of old televisions played another video montage of my creation. This video actually played through a peep hole in the blacked out front window of the gallery 24 hour per day 7 days per week. It was great fun!
T-33 Beauty In Flight
There is beauty in flight. The Palm Springs Air Museum Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star. A truly wonderful video production by ParkAir Vision. Pilot Michael Pfleger, myself in the backseat. July 4, 2019.
Honoring Tuskegee Airman Lt. Col. Bob Friend (February 29, 1920 – June 21, 2019), our T-33 will appear at the upcoming Reno Air Races. Please join with us in honoring the Colonel and there are some fun perks for helping us out. We do need you! Thanks and click here… https://igg.me/at/PSAMReno2019
Shooting from the backseat of the T-33. I was using my Fujifilm X-H1 and 50-140 lens. Mounted on the left and right canopy rail, I had a GoPro Hero6 Black.
That Is Me
That is me. I get to do some really cool stuff. Here with the Palm Springs Air Museum to take off for a multi-aircraft video and photo shoot. My cameras of choice here; Fujifilm X-T3 with a Fujifilm 50-140 2.8 lens. It is on the strongest camera strap made and made for aviation, from Vulture Equipment Works. And a GoPro mounted inside on the left and right canopy rail. (Thanks to fellow photographer Ian Glover for the photo).
The Salute
Honoring a great man, Tuskegee Airman Lt. Col. Robert “Bob” J. Friend. And I am very honored as well to have stood next to him when I shot this photograph of him saluting during the National Anthem at the Reno Air Races 2017.
This graphic was displayed on the 18x10ft high definition screen over the Memorial Services for the Colonel at the Palm Springs Air Museum. The beautiful painting of the Red Tail P-51 Mustang by aviation artist Stan Stokes.
Some behind the scenes info… I was going to be right next to the Colonel while he was introduced to the huge crowd in the grandstands at the beginning of the race finals. I wanted to be inconspicuous so I had put my Fujifilm X-T1 camera on my shoulder with the Fujifilm 16-55 f2.8 lens. It also made for a smaller and lighter package than the other cameras I had brought along for the races.
The National Anthem started playing and the Colonel raised his hand in salute. Only a couple of feet away from him, I brought the camera up, looked through the viewfinder and fired maybe two or three frames and brought the camera down. I saw the photo through the viewfinder and knew I had shot, for me anyway, a photo of a lifetime. For the Memorial Service, his daughter Karen specifically asked for that photo to be displayed. Afterwards she said “This is how I want to remember him”.
Always Exciting From The Cockpit
Always exciting from the cockpit! However no passengers going around the pylons at the Reno Air Races, so I have to do it with GoPro. This was a GoPro Hero6 Black. Here in the Palm Springs Air Museum P-51 Mustang “Bunny”.
As a favor to me, I am asking all of my friends to visit our crowdfunding page and help out. There are some fun perks and even some courtesy of Fujifilm. Thanks! https://igg.me/at/PSAMReno2019
My Buddy Randalene
I do not know how many times I photographed Randalene Sergent. I first photographed her for a feature in Iron Man Magazine for Bodybuilding.com. I remember being speechless, she was so breathtakingly beautiful as I looked through the camera. We became steadfast friends and I went on to photograph her for more magazine features, advertising, company promotions and fashion editorials. Makeup and hair styling in this photo shoot by another of my steadfast best buddies, Natalie Lyle.
I Am In It
Are you one of the ad agencies, editorial publications, design firms, and select companies around the US that received the 2019 APA Sourcebook? Yes I am in it. Thanks!
Objectifying Women
Occasionally I get accused of objectifying women in my photographs. Far from it, I am only guilty of showing these women as powerful in their beauty and sexuality; with or without clothes. To quote famed photographer Helmut Newton… “My women are always victorious.”
Model Kajira in our photo shoot. Powerful in her own way. Studio shoot in Palm Springs.
Tuskegee Airman Harry Stewart
Opportunities to be present with such great people are always not to be missed. At the Palm Springs Air Museum yesterday to photograph and video Tuskegee Airman Lt. Col. Harry Stewart. By the way, he is 95 years old. Here is a very fun minute…
How do you solve one of the unforeseen problems of enduring a 6 1/2 hour mission in a fighter aircraft? You might never have thought of this! Explained by Tuskegee Airman Lt. Col. Harry Stewart.
Yesterday at the Palm Springs Air Museum for the West Coast World premier of the Colonel’s book “Soaring to Glory: A Tuskegee Airman’s Firsthand Account of WWII”, along with author Philip Handleman.
The Colonel flew forty-three combat missions as a Tuskegee Airman in World War II. For his flying prowess with the famed 332nd Fighter Group, known as the Red Tails, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.
It was a standing room only event and his book was a sell out!
Flying For The 75th Anniversary Of D-Day
Flying for the 75th Anniversary of D-Day with the Palm Springs Air Museum on the C-47 “What’s Up Doc?”. With Marjorie Snell; her husband 101st Airborne Paratrooper Francis “Russell” Snell was there on D-Day at Normandy for the Allied Invasion of Europe, June 6, 1944.
The Lamborghini System Costs More
The camera system on the Lamborghini was much more expensive! At Cine Gear Expo on Friday at Paramount Studios Hollywood.
Memorial Day 2019
Just some of what I did (shoot some video) on Memorial Day at the Palm Springs Air Museum…
Aircraft start up for the flyover and flower drop, Memorial Day 2019 at the Palm Springs Air Museum. A World War II Mitchell B-25 bomber, F4U Corsair, P-63 Kingcobra “Pretty Polly”, Red Tail P-51 Mustang “Bunny”, PB4Y-2 Privateer and T-33 jet “Shooting Star”.
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