World Photography Day feels like the right moment to look back at the work that shaped my own vision behind the camera.
This photograph—Helmut Newton’s striking image of Brigitte Nielsen in Monte Carlo, 1987—has always stayed with me. Newton had a way of capturing strength, provocation, and glamour in one frame, creating images that were unapologetically bold. Brigitte Nielsen herself, towering and statuesque, seemed made for his lens—an icon of presence and attitude.
Newton’s work has been a lifelong influence on my photography. His fearless approach to composition, his embrace of power in femininity, and his willingness to confront the viewer continue to guide how I think about the subjects I photograph.
On this World Photography Day, rather than share my own work, I want to acknowledge the legacy of images like this one—reminders of how photography can challenge, provoke, and inspire.
To see more of my own work—from fast food photographed against black backgrounds, to bold nude portraits, aviation, bodybuilding, and scenes around Palm Springs—visit my website at SecondFocus.com.
Flying around the Salton Sea… One of eleven power stations of the Imperial Valley Geothermal Project. The area is the second largest Geothermal field in the United States. Lithium extraction and Geothermal power are expected to provide the financial resources to restore the Salton Sea and huge economic benefits to the region. 01-06-2024
Older generations of windmills which get replaced as larger more efficient units become available. I photographed this in February 2010. For my photographer friends… This was shot on Kodachrome. I waited a few months and sent my last 6 rolls to Dwayne’s Photo in the last week they were still accepting them. Dwayne’s was the last Kodachrome film processor in the world. Palm Springs California. From my archives.
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