Polaroid and Palm Springs
Something about the Palm Springs resort sunlight that makes instant photographs even better. Here with a vintage Polaroid SX-70 camera and Impossible Project film. Poolside in Palm Springs with Jamie.
The Tools Of My Work
I do get asked about my set ups for shooting, lighting and background and studio and such. Often it is somewhat simple. However I choose the tools for my work very carefully. Here you can see what has become my favorite lighting, the Broncolor Para 133. This photo shoot had it powered by a Broncolor Scoro E pack. The camera also my favorite, a Hasselblad digital. Yes my choice of gear is the very high end of equipment. But I think about the amazingly wonderful people who are in front of my cameras and in that lighting. Many prep for a very long time for these photo shoots and often it is their career. Thereby deserving of the best on my part. That is my commitment. If you have any questions or would be interested in shooting with me or have me photograph your advertising or features, please send me an e-mail to Ian@SecondFocus.com. I would be more than excited to chat with you. And Thanks!
Chain Link
It can be fun to go get around and photo shoot in places that you might not think would be great. But then it is. My model here the very beautiful Randalene Sergent.
Posing Your Face!
The incredibly beautiful Ava Cowan in one of our photo shoots. Posing is also facial expressions and engaging your audience. Ava gets a solid 10 for that one and more!
More Posing Fun…
Some more posing fun from my photo shoot the other day. Watch for my best assistant walking in on the left to make sure everything is going OK. The actual photo shoot on a Hasselblad digital camera. Lighting with a broncolor Para 133 reflector and a broncolor Scoro pack.
Mid Century Modern Pool Cleaning
My idea of Mid-Centruy Modern pool cleaning. Mid-Century Modern architecture and Modernism style is very popular here in Palm Springs. However it can get somewhat redundant and boring. I think it needs my own photographic interpretation. Made a little more Mid-Century by being photographed with a 1960’s Polaroid Land Camera.
The Fit Life Journey
More from our photo shoot with Chris Polityka. Photographs that show that you really can work out in the gym as part of your fitness journey and have fun through your whole life. I like this! Thanks to Power of Fitness gym in Palm Desert for sharing their great gym with us. Thanks to Hassleblad digital and broncolor lighting. Only the best!
Tuskegee Airmen Heroes Of WWII
Off in the distance you see them, a P-40 Warhawk and a P-51 Mustang closing fast. No, not an old photo I found, but this last Saturday in the sky at the Palm Springs Air Museum.
P-40 Warhawk and P-51 Mustang
A celebration of the Tuskegee Airmen of World War II and the 96th birthday of Lt. Col. Bob Friend, the oldest living Tuskegee pilot, having flown 140 combat missions over Europe. This is the Colonel sharing his times with some of the many visitors to the Air Museum. Tom Nightingale, the pilot flying the P-40 and often flying partner with the Colonel says that he remembers names and times and places of almost every photo that people can bring up to him. And that the Colonel can go hours on end, over and over talking to people, doing photographs and signing autographs.
Tuskegee Airman Lt. Col. Bob Friend on his 96th birthday
The P-51 here is an airplane that has been restored in commemoration to the Colonel’s P-51, nicknamed “Bunny”, that he flew over Europe during the war. But this Saturday “Bunny” had another very special guest, Tuskegee Airman Rusty Burns! At 90 years old I can personally say this man got in and out of that airplane like a 25 year old. Even after a number of high speed passes down the runway, he was all smiles as he left the airplane off the front of the wing, not the closer to the ground back of the wing. Just like he said he always did!
Tuskegee Airman Rusty Burns getting ready to fly in the P-51 “Bunny”
60’s Hot From Mad Men
In the 60’s I just do not remember any women I saw who would have worn this and looked great in it! This is pretty hot! At the Mad Men exhibit at CAMP at Modernism Week Palm Springs. This is all actual props and wardrobe from the series.
The Mad Men Exhibit at Palm Springs Modernism Week CAMP
Models In The Sun
I am always considerate with my models about being in the Sun. Especially here in Palm Springs. After all, it is a desert resort. Aristodeme photographed with a classic Polaroid Land Camera on Instant Film from FujiFilm.
Fine Art Samurai
Samurai sculpture by Marek Zyga at the Evan Lurie Gallery display. A powerful force at the Palm Springs Fine Art Fair yesterday. For Palm Springs Modernism Week.
Presidential Uber
President Obama in a motorcade of Chevrolet Suburbans about to drive past me in Palm Springs this morning. Funny thing is that here in Palm Springs the “Uber Black” choice of vehicles seems to be mostly the Chevrolet Suburban. Maybe he could have just gone Uber.
President Obama in a motorcade of Chevrolet Suburbans
Air Force One Is Here
President Obama arriving on board Air Force One this morning at 11:30 here in Palm Springs on a very warm, bright sunny, blue sky day! Very Fun!
President Obama arriving on board Air Force One in Palm Springs
Thunderbolt Tomorrow!
Check out this P-47 Thunderbolt flying tomorrow at the Palm Springs Air Museum! 2300HP, a top speed of 433mph and a service ceiling of 40,000 ft. You have to go see this airplane! Do you think the person in the back seat got photos as detailed as my photo of them taking photos?
P-47 Thunderbolt over the Palm Springs Air Museum
Another T-34 For Now
So much fun and so many great photos yesterday at the Palm Springs Air Museum watching the T-34’s fly! So here is one more for now!
Lots Of T-34’s
Beechcraft T-34 “Mentor” military training aircraft at the Palm Springs Air Museum.
T-34 formation flying over the Palm Springs Air Museum
Lots Of Flying
Plenty of excitement at the Palm Springs Air Museum on Saturday. A flight demonstration with the Museum’s 1944 World War II C-47 Skytrain cargo plane. Along with people doing Biplane rides in this U.S. Army Stearman. The C-47 did passes about as low as possible without having to lower the landing gear and driving down the runway. You could get a ride in the C-47 too! What great fun and a living history lesson everyday!
1944 United States Army Air Force C-47 Skytrain Cargo Aircraft
Takeoff in a U.S. Army Biplane out of the Palm Springs Air Museum
The C-47 “What’s Up Doc?” does a low flyby with a U.S. Army Stearman on the ground out of the Palm Springs Air Museum
Voyage To Vietnam
Imagine laying in your bunk, not much to do, mind wandering, thinking about what is ahead of you, the unknown and the fear. On board your troopship, you just draw on the bottom of the bunk just inches above you. “Marking Time: Voyage To Vietnam” an exhibit at the Palm Springs Air Museum. Just one of the reasons to get over there today. Including the exhibit “Salute To WWII Flying Tigers in China” and a presentation “France 1940: The Invasion That Shook The World” followed by a flight demonstration with the Museum’s C-47. Be there, I will!
Man ‘O’ War P-51 Mustang
Man ‘O’ War at the Palm Springs Air Museum. A P-51D Mustang WWII fighter plane. Courtesy of the Southern California Wing of the Commemorative Air Force. Truly amazing and exciting to see legendary airplanes like this flying close up.
An Office Day For Me
One of my typical days in the office. Here with bodybuilders Grant Pieterse, Jake Sawyer and Xavisus Gayden. I wonder how many times and for how long I made them hold that bicep curl.
Bodybuilders Grant Pieterse, Jake Sawyer and Xavisus Gayden at Power of Fitness.
Loading Unloading – An Environmental Tragedy
In the distance you see the Salton Sea from what is a boat launch ramp. Perhaps a 1/2mile away from where I am standing to shoot this photograph. The disappearing of the Salton Sea, if allowed to happen, could be one of the greatest environmental tragedies to take place in the United States. Water, air, food, commerce, economy, and health will be impacted like a tidal wave starting at it’s epicenter but unstoppable with it’s reach.
Interestingly enough, there is an identical tragedy that has occurred on the other side of globe, cause and effect almost identical. The crisis of the Aral Sea, called “One Of The Planet’s Worst Environmental Disasters“. There is now very little time left to Save the Salton Sea.
My Idea Of Festive
I was thinking the red tires are very Christmas looking. Maria Yvonne Bertrand is always very festive. And she is not guilty! Makeup and Hair Styling for our photo shoot by Santa’s first choice for helper, Natalie Lyle.
High Speed Bearcat
A Grumman F8F-2 Bearcat coming down the runway at the Palm Springs Air Museum at somewhere around 275-300 mph. The last Bearcat was delivered in 1949 and is a 2100hp 425 mph beast of an airplane. An interesting fact is the outer 3 ft of wing was designed to break off under high stress saving the aircraft from catastrophic failure. You have to go visit the Palm Springs Air Museum! So very interesting and so very fun!
Photographed with FujiFilm X-Series cameras and lenses.
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