Summer Games - Special Olympics of Southern California

Maria Shriver and Rafer Johnson greeted over 1500 athletes and 3000 volunteers at California State University in Long Beach for 3 days of festivities and competition in June. SecondFocus was there for the third year shooting VIP receptions, opening and closing ceremonies and all of the many sports from aquatics to track and field. There is no other sports event in the world that so truly recognizes sportsmanship and goodwill than the Games of Special Olympics.

Special Olympics is an international program of year-round sports training and athletic competition for more than one million children and adults with intellectual disabilities and closely associated developmental disabilities.

A Wedding Day

A wedding day and SecondFocus was the photographer. Donna and Carlos planned their wedding day around my only available weekend in June and it was a pleasure to be there. An overcast sky broke into a bright sunny day for their nuptials in Huntington Beach, California. Many wonderful moments were candidly captured including this intimate exchange in the back of the limousine on the way to the reception.

I believe that the most romantic of images are the ones that just happen and are not posed, nor are they in any special place. They are a feeling, an intimacy. They are the moments that when the couple sees them, they will remember them forever and they are the images that will make their moment unique. And they will be thankful forever for having the moments they could not see.

Howie Mandel at Muscle Beach

SecondFocus, the official photographer for Muscle Beach Venice, was on hand for the "Return to Muscle Beach" bodybuilding & figure demonstrations last Sunday. It is not surprising to find many famous faces at Venice Beach including Arnold riding his bicycle along the boardwalk. Here we found Howie Mandel joining us for the posing demonstrations going on at the "pit".

Lots To See At The Junior Cal

Sixty five of the best competitors ever and an auditorium filling crowd of almost 1000 came out for Lonnie Teper's 2006 NPC Junior California at Sexson Auditorium, Pasadena City College in California on a sunny Saturday.

Bigger than ever Gunter Schllerkamp, wowed the crowd with his posing and took it out into the auditorium, flexing not only his biceps but that big smile that everyone knows so well. At his bulked up 325 pounds on the way to the Olympia, Gunter dwarfed his pose down challenger, Derek Farnsworth. It seems like Derek is never off season and although giving up over 100 pounds to "GS" you could see why Derek is a pro. And together both of them were very impressive.

Not to be outdone in the guest posing was Cathy La Francois. Yes we all knew her as Cathy Priest but as La Franois she is the new and improved version.

SecondFocus photographs and writes for Bodybuilding.com, the largest resource in the world for bodybuilding and fitness information. In addition photographs by SecondFocus are seen in other major bodybuilding magazines and editorial resources.

SecondFocus At Muscle Beach

The official photographer for world famous "Muscle Beach" at Venice California, SecondFocus was on hand for the Memorial Day men's and women's figure and bodybuilding competitions. Festivities included an F-16 flyover, entertainment by the United States Air Force Band, an armed forces induction ceremony and the background of Venice Beach.

In addition "Muscle Beach" Hall of Fame Awards were given out including this one to Mickey Hargitay. Mickey came to the US from Budapest as a bodybuilder in the 1950's where he was discovered by silent film sexpot Mae West. He went on to meet another blonde bombshell, Jayne Mansfield, and they were soon married. Hargitay continued his acting career until his last appearance with his daughter, Mariska Hargitay, on her hit television series Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. Mariska shown here was also at "Muscle Beach" despite her being self described as 9 1/2 months pregnant.

SecondFocus At The IFBB Cal Pro Figure Competition

On May 26th & 27th the IFBB California State Pro Figure Competition was held in conjunction with the NPC California State Bodybuilding, Figure and Fitness Championship. The top professional figure competitors were there alongside competitions held for NPC amateur figure and men's bodybuilding. SecondFocus was again on assignment.