Become The Heat
How to beat the heat during the Summer here in Palm Springs… Get in the pool and become the heat! Andrea Schulze in our photo shoot.
Makeup by the incredible Estee Lauder artist Blanche LeBeau. Hasselblad digital camera system and lighting by Broncolor. Only the best!
Two Is Double Great And More!
So happy they came color coded so I could tell them apart when I just wasn’t sure with a quick glance! Andrea and Kerstin Schulze, identical twins from the start and in many ways all through life. Both wonderful people with superb attitudes based on friendship, caring and love and a hugely positive outlook on life.
Both beautiful women 6 ft tall, who have built a life of fitness and competition. Different in that Kerstin has sought her career in fitness competition and acting, which has now seen her in many roles and big time real commercials. Andrea just now winning her first fitness competition, however the “go to person” if you need a multi million dollar data center built! So if you had any stereotypical ideas of gorgeous tall beautiful fitness women in your head… that ends here!
From our recent photo shoot in Palm Springs… The double duty Makeup and Hair styling by premier Estee Lauder artist Blanche LeBeau. My Hasselblad digital camera system and Broncolor lighting. Always the best! Thanks!
BTS Details
Getting lots of questions about my studio shoot last week with NYC fashion model Nora Zainglein. It was in a studio near downtown Los Angeles at the Brewery Arts District which is very cool I must say. Had not been there in many years.
Some of the really important details are the people I get to work with. Blanche LeBeau is a premier Makeup Artist and Hair Stylist working around the world with Estee Lauder. I cannot begin to tell you how lucky I am to have her enjoy shooting with me. This shoot was even more fun with her talent of body painting! Very Thankful for Blanche LeBeau!
Then there is my newer buddy Harmoni Everett. Wow is she a find! Harmoni is best friends with another best friend of mine, a most gorgeous professional model, actress and beautiful woman. Harmoni has been a professional model, a successful actress and has worked in producing photo shoots. And is a wonderful photographer herself. She not only worked with me on this photo shoot as my assistant carrying and moving heavy stuff, but also wardrobe ideas and shooting behind the scenes photos. On top of all that we photographed Harmoni too and those photos are astonishing! She is wonderfully creative! You will see those photos soon.
Then there is Nora and she is wonderful. Blanche introduced me to photos of Nora probably a year ago or more and I said then that I really was looking forward to photographing her. This is now our second photo shoot together and she is just perfection. Nora looks incredible in front of the camera, knows her stuff, easy and so very fun to work with. I adore this woman!
It is the people you work with who are so very very important! Now people always say it is the photographer and not the gear that makes great photographs. And that is certainly true. But for me I do not like to short change what I do or what I do for my clients. So I go with the best gear possible. It is just what I do.
My camera system for these types of shoots for me is Hasselblad. I have always admired Hasselblad cameras and the images they produce. And the history of Hasselblad creating the photographs, the most memorable in history including going into Outer Space and to the Moon. Only sorry I didn’t start with Hasselblad sooner in my shooting. Then there is my lighting gear, Broncolor. For any number of reasons moving up to Broncolor is like going from a great car to a Rolls Royce or Ferrari. There is just nothing else like it.
I will not say that I am a great photographer but I can say I give it all I have got all the way around. So my results are quality, consistency and sometimes really great photographs. And I always try to make sure that everyone has fun doing it! That is my behind the scenes details on this and many of my photo shoots. Thanks!
Splash House 2017 After Parties
One of the biggest Summer events right here in Palm Springs, Splash House! A rockin’ hard three days of pool parties at three great hotels and two after parties at the Palm Springs Air Museum. And who is the photographer for the Palm Springs Air Museum… ME! And who was at both Splash House After Parties this weekend with a few thousand good looking people having great fun… ME! Outstanding!
Body Paint BTS
Behind the scenes last week in Los Angeles, studio photo shoot with my buddy Nora Zainglein, fashion and lifestyle model from NYC. Just love this woman and she is gorgeous! Body paint, makeup and hair styling by the Estee Lauder premier artist Blanche LeBeau.
My assistant for the day, the ever surprising Harmoni Everett. She carried heavy stuff, took some turns in front of the camera and shot the behind the scene photos. Gonna see if she will wash the car next time too… ok maybe not.
Hmmm…
Harmoni Everett said “Ian Sitren didn’t know what he was getting into hiring me to assist him….”
Carries Heavy Stuff!
Behind the scenes studio shoot last week in Los Angeles. Harmoni Everett working as my assistant. She can carry really heavy stuff! And she has did a bunch of different wardrobe changes as a model that day too! Wow she is great. Our next model coming up shortly Dee Ross from NYC! A full day with super MUA Blanche LeBeau! So fun!
The Very First!
The very first of a new monthly feature in the “Palm Canyon Paradise” newspaper! Brought to you by the publisher of the long running “The Sun Runner” with a print edition circulation of over 50,000. The “Palm Canyon Paradise” will cover the Coachella Valley. The monthly feature written and photographed by me! Great Fun and Thanks!
Flight Ops
A very busy day at the Palm Springs Air Museum on Memorial Day 2017. Lots of historic aircraft for flight demonstrations and the very important “Flower Drop” to honor the true meaning of Memorial Day. How much fun did I have! It’s good to be the Air Museum photographer!
BTS Like No Other
Behind the scenes in my photo shoot with Kerstin Schulze and Andrea Schulze in Palm Springs. They both live a lifestyle of health and fitness. Kerstin a long time fitness competitor and Andrea just walking away with her first competition trophies. Both 6ft tall and identical twins. Both gorgeous, fun, outgoing and both women to respect and admire in how they carry themselves in life. For now I will not tell you who is who, just for fun, because they are so very identical. I want to keep you guessing and intrigued lol!
The actual photos here on my Blog soon. The wonderful double duty Makeup styling by premier, world traveling, Estee Lauder artist Blanche LeBeau. The camera system up for this task is Hasselblad and the lighting by Broncolor. Nothing but the best! Thanks!
On The Green…
Behind the scenes yesterday here in Palm Springs with two amazing and beautiful and wonderful women of fitness, Kerstin Schulze and Andrea Schulze! Double duty makeup styling by the premier Estee Lauder artist Blanche LeBeau! Photos soon!
Bunny!
Not a Hugh Hefner Bunny! Memorial Day weekend was spent by me as photographer for the Palm Springs Air Museum. What incredible fun it was watching these warbirds take to the air doing flight demonstrations. Even had a chance to fly myself as well!
As one aircraft after another flew by with a crowd of 3000 people at my back, everyone applauded. But the biggest applause by far was for “Bunny”! Without question, the biggest airplane fan favorite, the P-51 Mustang from World War II.
This P-51 dedicated to the famed Tuskegee Airmen “Red Tails” and specifically to Lt. Col. Bob Friend who flew over 140 combat missions in an identical Mustang.
So while a runway filled with Playboy Bunnies might be fun, they just can’t compare to this “Bunny”! Flown by the very exceptional Tom Nightingale who obviously did some of that really cool pilot stuff! Thanks!
I’m Flying!
Extra benefit of being the photographer for the Palm Springs Air Museum is flying! Yesterday in a World War II Mitchell B-25 bomber. The United States Marine Corps version PBJ, the only one still flying in the world. My duty station for the Memorial Day weekend, the Palm Springs Air Museum. Come on out!
Come In Mission Control
Getting ready to photograph my next mission for the Palm Springs Air Museum! All geared up and ready to go!
Sexy Back
Interesting how a photo by model Nora Zainglein of herself in a photo on the back of my camera could be so very sexy!
Makeup and Hair Styling by Blanche Lebeau. On a Hasselblad digital camera system. At Bombay Beach at the Salton Sea.
Twin Beech
Always something fun going on at the Palm Springs Air Museum. Yesterday the B-25 bomber crew arrived to fly their plane for the Doolittle Raid On Tokyo flight demonstration. And they arrived in style in this vintage 1952 “Twin Beech”.
This is that 1952 Beechcraft D18S “Twin Beech” starting up and departing. Continuously produced from 1937 to 1969 (over 32 years, a world record at the time), over 9,000 were produced, making it one of the world’s most widely used light aircraft. These aircraft saw military use as light transport, light bomber (for China), trainer (for bombing, navigation and gunnery), photo-reconnaisance, and “mother ship” for target drones. In World War II, over 90% of USAAF bombardiers and navigators trained in these aircraft.
75 Years Ago Tomorrow
It was 75 years ago on April 18, 1942 that sixteen B-25B Mitchell bombers did the impossible task of flying off the deck of the USS Hornet aircraft carrier en route to Tokyo. Without fighter escort, without fuel to guarantee a safe landing, the brave flight crews flew into uncertainly to deal the first major blow against Imperial Japan following the devastating attack on Pearl Harbor.
Tomorrow, Tuesday April 18th at the Palm Springs Air Museum at 11:00 AM, come hear the story of the “Doolittle Raid”, the “Raid On Tokyo”. And following at Noon watch the “Pacific Princess” B-25 start up right at the Museum and do a flight demonstration. Then imagine sixteen of these thundering aircraft taking off from the carrier deck right in front of you!
Your presenter will be Lt. Col. Blaine Mack, World War II P-38 pilot, later F-86 pilot and Strategic Air Command pilot flying B-47 and B-52 bombers. What an incredible opportunity at the Palm Springs Air Museum. Please come join me! Thank You!
It Flies!
From Saturday at the Palm Springs Air Museum. Watch this plane takeoff in barely the length of a couple of regular home driveways. Owner and builder Steven Lund doing a flight demonstration in his replica World War II Fieseler Fi 156 “Storch”.
Way Fun!
Great fun yesterday at the Palm Springs Air Museum photographing Steven Lund fly his replica Fieseler Fi 156 Storch World War II airplane! Will be posting some really cool video tomorrow.
The Storch Has Arrived
You must come see this airplane and watch it fly! At the Palm Springs Air Museum today, Saturday April 15th. It is really interesting in person! Owner and builder Steven Lund will talk about his replica Fieseler Fi 156 Storch World War II airplane at 1:00 PM and then do a flight demonstration after the program at about 2:00 PM. With a stall speed of only 21 mph and a little headwind he could be in the air for a long time! It looks like it would be like flying a greenhouse with a rear machine gun! And yes indeed, Steven Lund built it! Come see the Storch for sure!
Not The Usual
When we think of historic wartime aircraft we think of planes like the P-51 Mustang and the B-17 Flying Fortress. But there are so many other interesting and unusual aircraft that have flown in air combat services. And tomorrow Saturday, April 15, 2017 you can see two of them at the Palm Springs Air Museum.
The Grumman Tigercat F7F was the first twin engine fighter to be used by the United States Navy. It missed combat in World War II but flew in the Korean War as a night fighter and attack aircraft for the Navy and Marine Corps. Too big for smaller carrier service, it required the Midway class of aircraft carriers. Actually a very rare plane, there were only 354 of them built and now there are perhaps only 12 still around!
From 10:30 – 12:30 you can sit in the cockpit of this huge Tigercat that flew at 460 mph and up to 40,000 ft! Think about firing off it’s four 20mm cannons or it’s four .50 caliber Browning machine guns. Get your photo taken too!
Then at 1:00 PM a really unusual military airplane, the German Fieseler Fi 156 Storch. Owner and expert, Steven Lund will talk about how this airplane, first flown in 1936 became pivotal in wartime events. In 1943 a Storch was used to rescue deposed Italian dictator Benito Mussolini and it had a less than glorious role in the last dogfight on the Western Front. Very “prized”, one became the personal aircraft of British Field Marshal ‘Monty’ Montgomery.
Following the presentation at around 2:00 PM, Steven Lund will do a flight demonstration in his Storch replica! Come check it out! Tomorrow Saturday, April 15th at the Palm Springs Air Museum. Not the usual! See you there!
Coachella Rocks At The Air Museum!
In the Los Angeles Times, just yesterday. April 12 2017. Such a great place to visit and my personal and professional interest and photographic avocation. Some highlights from the story at “Coachella’s second hottest ticket? The Palm Springs Air Museum“…
“The Palm Springs Air Museum has emerged as the (second) hottest ticket in town during Coachella week, on the strength of two massive off-site, Goldenvoice-sanctioned concerts held amid the vintage aviation equipment and military artifacts.”
“This is going to expose the museum to a lot of folks who would probably seldom come in here,” said Fred Bell, the museum’s managing director. “It’s an industrial setting that lends itself to these kind of events, and if it gets some people interested in airplanes, it’s a win-win.”
“The museum, which opened in 1996, first dipped into the Coachella-crowd scene last year when it hosted an event for Splash House, a Goldenvoice-presented, EDM-focused multi-site festival that proved music fans do have an interest in Palm Springs attractions beyond the polo fields and the hotel pool. “That was super positive for us. We’re a museum of living history. We’re not out to just teach historical facts,” Bell said.”
“Fans who come back for some non-music programming on April 22 can even take a spin a Vietnam War-era attack helicopter (they can’t drop you off at the festival, alas, much as it would be nice to skip the Coachella lines in a Cobra AH-1F Bell).”
Makes it my kind of place for sure! Hope to see more of you there and please visit and like the Museum Facebook page for more of my photography and video clips! Thanks!
She Takes Off!
As a long time photographer in the bodybuilding and fitness business, the first thing I noticed is that she works out. The World War II Bomber “Pacific Princess” visiting at the Palm Springs Air Museum. You can watch her take off again on this April 18th to commemorate the day of the “Raid On Tokyo” on April 18, 1943.
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