Attack At Dawn
A special program today at the Palm Springs Air Museum. You will be seeing the aircraft of Pearl Harbor flying overhead.
Starting with a presentation by the internationally recognized historian, researcher and author, Dr. Ed Gordon, “Japan Strikes At Dawn: Defeat at Pearl Harbor, the Philippines and Singapore.” at 1:00 PM.
Right now there are also other very special exhibits at the Museum, including artworks from World War II and the Holocaust; original and rarely seen restored prints of the original flights of the Wright Brothers.
If you have not done so, it is time to visit the living and flying history at the Palm Springs Air Museum. I will be there with my cameras for sure!
Beautiful Fit Action!
Stacey Naito one of the most extraordinary women I have ever had in front of my camera. She brought her authentic Japanese Katana to the photo shoot. The sharpness, quality, curved, powerful and distinctive beauty of the sword is readily matched by that of Stacey herself. Thank You to Blanche LeBeau for her art of makeup and hair styling.
Reminder
I am known for photographing some of the most incredibly magnificent women on the planet. Sasha Brown is in that category many times over!
Just In Case
In case you forgot, one of my specialties is photographing incredibly gorgeous fit women. Way at the top of the list is the incredibly gorgeous and fit Sherry Goggin.
Space Travel Not Required
Found a new photo shoot location on a recent photo excursion. And no space travel required. I can see you posing in front of that landscape now! The question is… Who is you? Send me an e-mail to Ian@SecondFocus.com. Thanks!
Oil Can!
I kept waiting for him to ask if I had an oil can. Didn’t, so I shot a photo and went to lunch.
Rock Star!
From my friend Brooks Wachtel…
I received an amazing holiday gift the day after Christmas thanks to Ian L. Sitren who arranged for me to meet Fred Bell, the director of the Palm Springs Air Museum. It’s not often a writer gets rock-star treatment, but that’s what the Museum staff – all fans of DogFights – gave me.
I found, to my delight, that the museum even run segments of the series on monitors in front of some of their display aircraft to illustrate the warbird’s stories.
One of the treats was seeing this Phantom, in Midway livery, that we depicted in “Mig Killers of the Midway” an episode I wrote with Cynthia Harrison-Wallach.
We interviewed most of the aviators whose names are emblazoned on the aircraft and brought their combat to life – they were responsible for both the first the very last MIG kill of the Vietnam War.
Here’s Fred Bell and I in front of the F-4 Phantom (thank you, Ian, for the photo). Fred and his staff do a fantastic job and I highly recommend the museum for any fan of history or aviation. They have an amazing collection and it keeps getting better.
For the curious, I’ve included the DogFights episode thanks to the inevitable youtube link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YfQVehFjvaI
Come Shoot With Me!
Already booking up for January! So who wants to come shoot with me? Your portfolio in the gym? That poolside sexy shoot for your book? Dramatic wardrobe changes in a sea of black background. Maybe some special location, windmills, desert, vintage aircraft? Also your head shots which will be really affordable! Unlikely I will wear the bowtie. But I do have much better camera and lighting equipment now! Only the best! Send me a note and Thanks! Ian@SecondFocus.com
The Human Story
I see medical transport helicopters overhead fairly often. Usually more conspicuously marked. This one belonging to TriState Careflight in Nevada. Always makes me wonder what the human story is behind a flight like this.
The View
The view across the tarmac at the Palm Springs Air Museum from Saturday. I always have a camera at hand when I am there. The jet on the left, an F-102 will be taking up residence in the new Museum hangar when it is completed in a few months.
Winter Light
The Winter skies over Palm Springs revealed wonderful contrasts of light yesterday. It was made for photography.
Air Museum Snow Christmas
It was one beautiful day yesterday to be at the Palm Springs Air Museum. Snow on the mountains too making for a great view outside the hangars. I will be back there again on Monday. Until then… Merry Christmas!
Christmas In Palm Springs
So you have those kids in town for Saturday, the day before Christmas. Those kids from about 3 years old to about 103 years old, like me! The weather is rain and wind, so where do you go for a great time indoors? The Palm Springs Air Museum! Two huge hangars filled with beautifully restored aircraft and surrounded by endless displays of memorabilia and history. Flight simulators and even tours inside a huge World War II B-17, four engine bomber. From 10:30 – 12:30 you can even find yourself sitting in the cockpit of an F7F Tigercat. Too much fun which is why I am always shooting photos there! Ho Ho Ho!
Stop Action Bodybuilding
Another multi-exposure stop action bodybuilding posing with the consummate professional of the world of bodybuilding and fitness, Doug Brignole.
Photo shoot notes… Hasselblad digital camera system and Broncolor lighting with their Para 133 reflector and Move 1200L pack. Only the best all he way around!
Contemplative
A bodybuilding pose begins between the ears. You can see it on his face. That is if you are going to do it right. Doug Brignole is one guy in bodybuilding and fitness who is widely known for doing it right. If there were a belt grade in bodybuilding as there is in martial arts, Doug would hold a black belt at the very highest level of the sport.
Photo shoot notes… Photographed with a Hasselblad digital camera system. Lighting with a Broncolor Para 133 reflector and a Broncolor Move 1200L pack for multiple exposures. Only the best!
An F-18 Visit
Not unusual to see military aircraft coming in to the airport here in Palm Springs. It is unusual for an F-18 Hornet to drive by my house right over my backyard pool. And nothing in my pool looks like a carrier. Very cool though!
A Big Day In Flight!
The place to be today for a number of reasons! The Palm Springs Air Museum! There will be a flight demonstration of this incredibly powerful T-28 which in some ways out performs the famous P-51 Mustang. It is a real WOW when if flies by low and fast and pulls way up! The flight demo follows a presentation on the very historic X-15 at 1:00 PM.
Then as reminded by my buddy Brian Ratliff, today is the anniversary of the first flight. Yes it was December 17, 1903 that the first successful airplane took to the air. Tell you a secret that will be unveiled next month. There is a gallery of very rare, almost unseen, photos of that first flight on display at the Museum now. A selection of prints that were created from fully restoring the images created from the original glass photographic plates. Seeing these photographs is an incredible opportunity!
And then also from Brian, today is the day that the first Douglas DC-3 rolled off the assembly line in 1935. The DC-3 was perhaps one of the most significant advances in aircraft for both the military and civilian aviation. The DC-3 in it’s military designation, the C-47 can also be seen at the Museum. Down for maintenance, it is right over in the restoration area. Big airplane, you won’t miss it! See you there today!
Up It Goes!
Yesterday was the Beam Raising & Signing at the Palm Springs Air Museum for the new Kenneth P. Miles Korea and Vietnam Hangar. It will celebrate the history, personal stories, artifacts and aircraft from those eras and times.
In attendance were many of the heroes of those years, including the Veterans who flew the aircraft you see at the Museum and destined to have a new home in that hangar. Signers of the beam being raised and put into position for the years and decades ahead. And I am so very excited and humbled to not only have been there but to have signed it as well. Wow! Thank You!
Gym Portrait
I think this is the one type of photograph I have shot more than any other. This “gym portrait” of my buddy Chris LaCascia was actually photographed for a multiple page brochure I was shooting for Bodybuilding.com. And it is one of my all time favorites. More gym portraits on my website at SecondFocus.com Thanks!
Engine Check
Engine check on “What’s Up Doc” at the Palm Springs Air Museum. A C-47B that was built in 1944. Currently painted to commemorate the D-Day Invasion, this aircraft served the US Army Air Force, the US Navy and the Royal Air Force during World War II. It went on to serve in the Belgian Air Force, the French Air Force and finally the Israeli Air Force. Aviation artist Stan Stokes painted the Bugs Bunny logo nose art at the Air Museum.
Currently “What’s Up Doc” flies regularly at the Palm Springs Air Museum carrying museum visitors, skydivers, and on a busy air show schedule. So after this maintenance you too can check out “What’s Up Doc”!
164
What do 164 magazine editors, art directors, public relations companies, sportswear companies, supplement companies, fitness websites and even CBS Television have in common? They are all signed up and have used my archive to search for photographs that fit their needs and usage.
Going into 2017 that archive will be greatly expanded with much more from edgy fashion to lifestyle to bodybuilding, fitness, yoga and Palm Springs scenes and more. Just this week I have been asked for photos ranging from a Presidential motorcade to a beautiful woman in a swimming pool. And yes I had what they wanted available! So if you are going to be looking for photographs for your needs, send me a note and you will have access too. Thank You! Send me an e-mail to Ian@SecondFocus.com
Flying Santa
Santa arrived at the Palm Springs Air Museum in true aviator style. He even arranged for snow for all the kids (and maybe some grownups too). He will be flying back in today, Sunday, at 11:00 AM sharp so get on out there. You can even sit on Santa’s lap and tell him what you want for Christmas. And no age restriction! Be there!
Wow! All That Behind A Business Card
My new business card. Interesting story behind both sides. The beautiful woman is my friend Gabriella Muttone. Not only a gorgeous and successful model but also an incredibly talented photographer herself. Take a look at her work on her website and you will see why I admire her so very much! At https://gabriella-muttone.squarespace.com
That little boy on the other side of the card is actually me. Yes my photography interests go way back and had some detours along the way. But here I am now. Although I guess I used to dress much better. By the way that photo of me was used recently by the largest association for professional photographers in the world as a magazine ad for their organization, Professional Photographers of America.
A big Thank You to my friend Dennis Johnson, who is very highly regarded professional graphic design artist, for taking the time to create my card.
And a big Thank You to Fred Bell at the Palm Springs Air Museum for letting Gabriella use his office to change wardrobe during our photo shoot.
Wow, all that behind a business card! Even more actually… Gabriella photographed with a Hasselblad digital camera and Broncolor lighting on a Matthews roller stand. And ever reliable assistance by Clyde Sawyer. Very expensive business card!
Winter Wonderland
“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.
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