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”!
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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.
Could He Have Imagined?
Sunday morning December 7, 1941 on an aircraft carrier in the Pacific Ocean. A Japanese pilot starts the engine of his VAL Dive Bomber. The destination is Pearl Harbor. The mission is to destroy the United States Naval Pacific Fleet at anchor. He hears and feels the drumming of that aircraft engine. Could he have possibly imagined the everlasting world changing events that he would release as he began his takeoff?
The Face Of The Attack
Sunday morning at 7:48 AM December 7, 1941 you look up, and so close, see the face of a pilot of a Japanese VAL Dive Bomber unleashing the attack on Pearl Harbor. Commemoration of that day at the Palm Springs Air Museum just yesterday.
Shoot Down At Pearl Harbor
The attack on Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941 was done by two waves of aircraft. Two-thirds of the Japanese aircraft lost were during the second attack. American defenses would have been much more deadly during a third attack. This potential loss of more aircraft was one of the reasons Admiral Nagumo withdrew.
Clear Skies Pearl Harbor
In the clear skies over Palm Springs. Perhaps not unlike the view of the Japanese VAL Dive Bombers in the clear skies over Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941. Yesterday at the Palm Springs Air Museum. More photos and video to come today and the next few days. Thanks!
No Matter How Old You Are!
Always so very fun no matter how old you are! The sound and the power of this vintage aircraft taking flight. Just this past Saturday at the Palm Springs Air Museum. A World War II Navy fighter, the Bearcat F8F-2, here flown by pilot Steve Barber.
Bearcat
A Grumman F8F-2 Bearcat Navy fighter plane on it’s way out for a flight demonstration at the Palm Springs Air Museum. Flown by Pilot Steve Barber. The Bearcat was a carrier based aircraft. It later still out performed many of the early jet fighter aircraft. Popular in air racing, they can exceed 500 mph and have held many world records.
Pretty Polly
Among my very favorite “Nose Art” at the Palm Springs Air Museum… “Pretty Polly”. This P-63 King Cobra from World War II is now a very rare aircraft and this one even more so because it is still flying.
I have been posting a lot of my aircraft photography over the last week and I have been asked by people when I was going to be posting more of my photography of beautiful women. “Pretty Polly” is my transition going into next week when I will show you more of those gorgeous women, and some guys too! So keep coming back! Thanks!
Canadian Invasion
It is actually very common to see military aircraft flying in and out of the Palm Springs Airport. So when everybody at the Palm Springs Air Museum saw a military cargo plane take off last Saturday, it was business as usual. I shot some photos and did not think about it again until now when I was going through all of them. And there it is, a Canadian Forces CC-130J Super Hercules transport. Well it is actually the “Palm Springs International Airport“.
Busy Day Flying
Last Saturday at the Palm Springs Air Museum. One of the Museum’s premier aircraft, piloted by the equally premier Tom Nightingale, headed out for takeoff. Waiting while the Stearman biplane comes back in to pick up another happy passenger.
“Bunny” is a P-51 Mustang restored and dedicated to the famed Tuskegee Airmen of World War II. And specifically to Lt. Col. Bob Friend. To this day you can find the Colonel often at the Air Museum and many times in the back seat of this very special aircraft.
First Class Seating
On this flight all seating is first class. And the passenger rides in front. You can too! How Fun! At the Palm Springs Air Museum just this past Saturday.
The Outside Elevator
There is an elevator inside the building at the Palm Springs Air Museum and then there are elevators outside the building. This is one of the outside elevators. I actually do not think she was waving to me when I shot this photo Saturday, but you can ride the elevator too. Check it out on the Museum website at http://palmspringsairmuseum.org
Flabob Express
Another view of the “Flabob Express” DC-3 that was flying over Palm Springs yesterday. Part of the “Props & Hops” craft beer festival at the Palm Springs Air Museum. And yes there was beer tasting going on while it was overhead. Not the pilots, I know for sure, I was on board for one of the flights.
Flying Craft Beer Tasting
The DC-3 “Flabob Express” rolling out to the runway from the Palm Springs Air Museum. You could have been onboard Saturday tasting craft beers during your flight around Palm Springs. How fun is that!
DC-3 Backseat Driver
Doing some backseat driving in a DC-3. The “Flabob Express” yesterday flying out of the Palm Springs Air Museum. Can you believe there was craft beer tasting going on behind me! Too fun!
B-25 Mitchell Bomber
The B-25 “Mitchell” was the bomber flown off the aircraft carrier USS Hornet on April 18, 1942 for a bombing mission over Tokyo. It was intended to show that the USA could project power across the oceans and that Japan was vulnerable to an air attack. The mission was also retaliation for the December 7, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor.
This is a B-25J version which entered service in early 1945. It was used as a crew trainer and transport. Interestingly it appears in the 1970 movie “Catch 22” as “Vestal Virgin”. Now here flying out of the Palm Springs Air Museum on it’s tour schedule. The sound of those engines starting up is worth the visit all by itself!
Bunny P-51
The World War II P-51 Mustang “Bunny” at the Palm Springs Air Museum. Restored to the configuration of the famed Tuskegee Airmen and dedicated to Lt. Col. Bob Friend. Piloted by Tom Nightingale.
Yes We’re Open
If I had a storefront business, in the morning I would come to work and put my roll down open sign in the front window. I think it would really be a big improvement in most downtown business areas.
One of my absolute favorite models, Aristodeme. Hasselblad digital camera system and Broncolor lighting. Good stuff!
BTS
BTS, that means Behind The Scenes. I thought you might want to see what goes on in a few snapshot photos. The photo shoot with a worked out and wonderful personal trainer, Joanna Johnson. The location is World Gym in Palm Desert California. The tall blonde, also very worked out, is my long time Makeup and Hair Stylist Natalie Lyle. She is as well, a marvel with posing and wardrobe.
The camera is Hasselblad digital. My lighting is Broncolor with the Para 133 reflector with the Move 1200L pack. Even the light stand is important, it is a Matthews roller stand. Can’t have things breaking and falling over, despite carrying a multi-million dollar insurance policy. I make it an important point to use only the best gear. I want everything to work right and the best every time. Thanks!
By the way, these photos were shot by my very able assistant Clyde Sawyer. The guy who make sure that it all goes right from loading the car to setting it up to taking it down. Gets it all done!
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