The 2010 Mr. Olympia Photos From Judging!

Coming up tomorrow I will be bringing you the best Mr. Olympia photos you will see period! The judging took place on stage with a background that with proper exposure is just black. And then doing the photos themselves in black and white you will see the competitors close up with all  of the muscle and more that you would see if you were right there with me looking through my camera lens...

It does not get better than this so...

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Def Leppard Photograph!

I seldom post to my blog anything else but what I do... However! I am working on a new project, my second, with Phil Collen, the amazing lead guitarist and vocalist of Def Leppard! So, me being a photographer, get it! Here is Photograph by Def Leppard!



Phil Collen is an amazing Muay Thai Kickboxer, a weightlifter and a fantastic example of living a life of health and fitness. This photo is from a shoot we did for an upcoming issue of Iron Man Magazine. This is Phil and World Famous Muay Thai Kickboxing Trainer Jean Carrillo...

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Where Are The Women?

After posting my galleries of the finals for the 2010 Mr. Olympia, I have been getting asked... "Where are your photos of the women?" I promise I did take photographs of the women too. But you will have to wait while I get to them, I have other projects to finish first. But here is a sample just for proof. I hope you like it and will come back for more women!

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Mr. Olympia 2010 Finals - The Photos!

The 2010 Mr. Olympia Finals photographed on stage at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday night, September 25, 2010.

The Mr. Olympia is the most prestigious event and coveted title in professional bodybuilding.



Mr. Olympia 2010 Finals - Images by Ian Sitren

Many of you might ask "Why black and white?" when every other publication and online resource is showing photographs from the Olympia in color. To convey these photographs in black and white was my idea when I first saw the colors and distractions on the stage in comparison to the competitors. I immediately decided that the best depiction of these bodybuilders, their hard work, their muscles and cuts had much more impact when shown without the busyness of the backgrounds. I hope you enjoy them and you may click on the slideshow to go to the individual photographs themselves.

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I'm Back! From The 2010 Olympia In Las Vegas!

Yes I am back from photographing and having fun at the 2010 Olympia in Las Vegas. It was great seeing so many of you. I will be getting my photos ready for you to see and I think they will be the best Olympia photos that you will see anywhere! Here is a sample for right now of Phil Heath on stage at the finals...

One of the things I greatly enjoy doing is bringing you photos from events like the Olympia that are different  than what you see elsewhere and the absolute finest quality. I hope you will enjoy what I will have to show you!

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Mr. Olympia 2010 - Two Finalists and Friends!

Last night at the most exciting competition in the world of bodybuilding, the Mr. Olympia in Las Vegas, Jay Cutler retained his title as Mr. Olympia for 2010. In the last few moments before the announcement of the winner, Phil Heath and Jay shared the time on stage as most bodybuilders do, as friends. Phil Heath, the runner up this time, on the left and Jay Cutler on the right...

Look for my photos from the big Olympia weekend real soon!

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More From The Olympia In Las Vegas!

At the Olympia Expo in Las Vegas; on stage was the judging for the 202 pound class bodybuilders. The finals for these guys will be on the main stage tonight at the Orleans Arena...

Also tonight, all past winners of the Mr. Olympia will be on stage together and it is expected that Arnold will be there too. It is the 45th Olympia and honoring the man who started it all, Joe Weider who is turning 90!

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At The Olympia!

I am at the Mr. Olympia competitions and expo in Las Vegas this weekend. Lots of photos will be coming next week. But for right now here is one from last night from the Mr. Olympia judging. From left to right, Phil Heath, Branch Warren, Dexter Jackson and Jay Cutler. These 4 big guys are the likely candidates for the top spots in the finals tonight and one of them will be Mr. Olympia for 2010!

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Hints For Shooting You Own Great Photos At The Olympia!

Many of you have been asking how to take better for yourself at the Olympia and at other shows. Now you probably won;t be taking in all of the professional gear and long lenses I will that does not mean you can't take some fun photos!

First don’t think that you have to shoot a close up frame filling photo of the competitors. A lot of interesting photos are going to be wider views of the stage and even what is going on around you from the crowd to the arena. Also just the people going in and out, waiting out front, any number of things. It can be a lot of fun.


If you are shooting with just a small personal camera, turn off the flash if you are trying to shoot the stage. Flash only carries a few feet and with it on, your camera will expose accordingly and you will have good photos of the bald heads a few rows in front of you. Turn off the flash and use a higher “iso” for low light and hold your camera really still.


Shooting with a more advanced camera and a longer lens will give you more options. If you have the choice, shoot in “RAW” format. You will be able to make more adjustments afterward to get a better picture. You will want to adjust your white balance later to get your skin tones right and that will actually make it look like you have better focus too. Use a higher “iso” above 800 and the newer cameras are good up to 1600 and more. You will be able to use a higher shutter speed so less camera shake and a sharper photo. Try to get your shutter speed over a 250th. And no flash, you will be exposing for the stage lighting.


After you shoot some, get back to me and I will help you out with some post processing tips. But be creative, look around at what is there and take photos, you will be happy you did!


And here is a slideshow of my photos from the 2009 Mr. Olympia Finals...




Mr. Olympia 2009 Finals - Images by Ian Sitren

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Video From My Photo Shoot With Big Dan Hill!

During my photo shoot with Big Daniel Hill, he was having some video recorded to be included in his series covering his rise in the world of bodybuilding. This is really fun! Take a look!



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Better Gym Photos and More...

Over the years I have received plenty of e-mails from photographers asking for hints about how to shoot better photos in the gym. There are tons of photographers out there photographing bodybuilding and fitness people and to be truthful, I really do think much of it ranges from bad to abysmal. Sadly it is also the fault of the model and the audience because they really don't know what a good photo looks like. It has been a dumbing down. The magazines and websites very often accept it too, because it is cheap or free.

But to answer the questions I get about improving gym shooting and more, for starters here is a photo I shot that I consider right on. First you have to start out with the right person in the photograph and the right person here is my good friend and fitness fabulous Amy. You can't argue about Amy's devotion to fitness, she is a Mom of 6 and a Grandma!

First things first, you have to shoot a good photo to begin with then no overly heavy handed fakery in "photoshop". The fitness world, especially when it has come to women, has been following an over-processed "photoshop" look of heavily blurred and smoothed skin that is so obviously fake as to be the joke of photography. 

Some quick good practice steps...

1. Good makeup and hair, very few models can do this for photography, it is different than going out on a Saturday night. Find yourself a makeup artist and hairstylist and use him or her on every shoot with a woman.

2. No over done stupid glamour poses. I always call it the "back end in the air, elbows in the sand" look. Boring and amateur. Look at posing in magazines like Vogue, Vanity Fair, Flaunt and others, especially the European versions. You will see much more interesting and creative work.

3. Lighting, learn it. Yes you can shoot with just your flash on the camera, but to get that to look right is even more difficult than complex studio lighting. So learn and experiment.

4. Wardrobe... You might think a g-string in the gym with boots is cool but to make that look good is going to take some real posing techniques and some smart modeling beyond what most subjects can pull off. Go with good and a little sexy gym clothes on the girls and basics on guys. Work on shooting good photos first.

5. Tanning... Competition tanning looks too odd in the gym or anywhere off stage. A darker than normal tan is good. NO BABY OIL. An amateur mistake. Just a slight spray of water in the gym can get the job done. Glycerin and water is also a good choice. Your MUA can help you with that.

6. Slow down and focus! And get your "white balance" right. And then slow down and focus! Did I say slow down and focus?

That's all for now. Any questions, leave me a comment!

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Another of Pro Bodybuilder, Big Daniel Hill...

From my photo shoot yesterday with Professional Bodybuilder, Daniel Hill...

And this is a little of what it looks like behind the scenes, take a look at the man in the mirror...

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Pro Bodybuilder, Daniel Hill...!

Superb photo shoot today with IFBB Professional Bodybuilder Daniel Hill...

Daniel has built a superb physique and has a great sense for being in front of the camera. You will be seeing him in the magazines a lot for sure!

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The Girl Can Jump!

Laura Bailey known as "Jumper11" is a magazine feature this month in Iron Man Magazine from our photo shoot at world famous Muscle Beach in the "Pit"...

And along the ocean at Venice Beach California...

And her name fits, "Jumper11" can really jump and run and more. This track star was selected as the Iron Man Magazine BodySpace Physique of the Month. I have had the fun of photographing and writing that feature for almost 3 years. So go get a copy of Iron Man Magazine and take a look!

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Muscle Beach Championship on Labor Day 2010

The last competition of the Summer at world famous Muscle Beach on Labor Day was the Muscle Beach Championship. A bright sunny day at Venice Beach California started out with Arnold himself stopping by on his bike ride to look around and say Hi!

The day went on with lots of competitors working out in the "Pit" to get ready for the show, a lunch time hot dog eating contest, and of course, great bodies on stage for the bodybuilding, figure and bikini competitions. Take a look!


Muscle Beach Championship On Labor Day 2010 - Images by Ian Sitren

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Alicia Renee Harris... All Smiles And In Planet Muscle Magazine!

Alicia Renee Harris is an IFBB Professional Figure Competitor again on her way to the Olympia stage in Las Vegas this year. So it is fitting that she is also featured in the latest issue of Planet Muscle Magazine this month from our photo shoot.

But as anyone who knows Alicia will tell you, Alicia is also really well known for her radiant smile and outlook that fills a room and puts a smile on everyone's face. I know I can't help but smile when I look at her photos. Take a look!


Alicia Renee Harris - Images by Ian Sitren

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