From Spain to Muscle Beach...

Fitness model Sergi Constance from Spain came by to visit Muscle Beach on July 4th and to check out the show and happenings. Sergi is getting to be very popular in Spain and also starting to appear in television shows. You can also expect to be seeing him in the magazines right here too.

From around all corners of the globe, everyone knows and loves and comes to Muscle Beach! The place "Where Muscles Were Born"!

She Had No Idea!

Allison Taylor pumping up first thing in the morning before pre-judging. As she is getting ready moving some weight in the pit, gazing off, do you think she has any idea what the afternoon will bring?

Because by the end of the day, her first figure competition will bring her the Championship win for Overall Figure as well as two armloads of other trophies. A very special day for a very beautiful Allison Taylor at Muscle Beach on July 4th 2012. Great fun at the place "Where Muscles Were Born"!

Al Pacino At Muscle Beach...!

AL PACINO AT MUSCLE BEACH...! That's right! Al Pacino was at Muscle Beach yesterday on July 4th. The man who has been called the greatest film actor of all time came to see his long time friend and trainer, legendary bodybuilder Eddie Giuliani be inducted into the Muscle Beach Hall of Fame.

Eddie was there too along with his photograph and family to receive the honor bestowed by the equally respected publisher of Iron Man Magazine, John Balik.

In my post here on Tuesday I said "You never know who you might see at Muscle Beach!". Well it was Al Pacino on July 4th. The next show at Muscle Beach is Labor Day, September 3rd. So, if you have been thinking of doing a show and standing on stage at the place "Where Muscles Were Born" or just want to come on out there, be at Muscle Beach on Labor Day! Because I can tell you again right now... You never know who you might see at Muscle Beach!

Muscle Beach... Be There!

Terrance Harris, overall Bodybuilder winner, on stage at Muscle Beach at Venice Beach on Memorial Day 2012.

Terrance stood where the entire world envisions as the place "Where Muscles Were Born". People in all corners of the globe know Muscle Beach and Venice Beach. It embodies that look that became iconic as the beautiful bodies on the sand on the beaches of Southern California.

Tomorrow July 4th will be the next Muscle Beach show. It is fun, it is free to watch, and you have the entire boardwalk and beaches of Venice to keep you entertained. And remember what I am telling you right now... You never know who you might see at Muscle Beach!

I will be there, see you tomorrow!

Star Athlete Randalene Sergent!

Congratulations to Randalene Sergent on her full page feature by Lone Star Distribution in the brand new issue of Natural Muscle Magazine for July 2012!

From our photo shoot, I think it well deserved for one of the most beautiful and enthusiastic women I have ever had in front of my cameras! Randalene Sergent!

Piercing Eyes & Powerful Lines!

It is almost impossible to focus on those piercing eyes when you are drawn to that muscled shoulder giving way to the powerful lines of her arm mapped by those veins pulsating like high power electrical cables.

Incredibly beautiful and incredibly fit, Sasha Brown evokes a confidence that embodies everything that she is. One of my favorite people in front of my cameras. You can see why!

An Over 50 Shining Light!

In the middle of the crisis of increasing obesity we find the shining light that is Doug Brignole. Especially a shining light if you are a guy over 50!

Lifelong bodybuilder, weight lifter, student of exercise and nutrition and widely acknowledged expert in all of it, Doug is an inspiration wherever he goes. And go he does!

This is Doug Brignole in our photo shoot the day before he got on a plane to Dublin to compete at the NABBA World Championships just a week ago. NABBA is the first and the original competitve bodybuilding association. Formed in 1950, NABBA's first Mr Universe contest was won by Steve Reeves. Top bodybuilders who won the Mr Universe title include Reg Park, Bill Pearl and Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Keep it going Doug!

"Forever Marilyn"

You know what I like about "Forever Marilyn"? It just seems happy and fun. Look at her face, makes me smile.

The temporary installation of "Forever Marilyn" is here in Palm Springs. It is a 26 ft tall sculpture of Marilyn Monroe created by Seward Johnson. I think most everyone in the world has seen the photographs that were the inspiration for this artwork. It was a scene from 1955 movie "The Seven Year Itch".

Actually there was controversy about bringing it here to Palm Springs. Despite the costs being absorbed by private donations, there was a lot of old grumpiness about it. There was even a bunch of false modesty concerns about being able to look up her dress. I have my doubts that there is anything lewd in being able to look up at painted aluminum and stainless steel white panties.

As you might imagine "Forever Marilyn" is a huge (in more than one way) tourist attraction. People are around it all the time and they are all smiling too. Everyone taking pictures so I decided I needed to take a photograph too. I think she is fun!

I just remembered that my friend Nicole Hansen was Marilyn Monroe in the Billy Idol music video "L.A. Woman". Nicole I have an idea LOL!

Billy Idol - L.A. Woman by BillyIdol-Official

Salute!

It was just a few weeks ago! A truly special event with the Tuskegee Airmen honored on Memorial Day 2012 at the huge Muscle Beach show. From left to right, Tuskegee Airmen... Levi Thornhill, Buford Johnson, Edward Tillman, and Ted Lumplin.

Brig. Gen. Roger W. Teague, Vice Commander, Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles Air Force Base came to Muscle Beach to also be a part of this extraordinary day.

And giving everyone a reason to smile, Heather Clay, the overall Bikini Competition winner. She also gets my vote for absolute best salute of the day... or year for that matter!

Another Thank You to my good friend from Fujifilm, Larry Battistello Jr for use of the new advanced X-Pro1 camera for the day. I like it!

The Most Important Part of a Photograph!

The least important part of photography is the camera! What or who is in front of your camera is the important part. One of the most fun times I have had was when I first introduced Jamie Eason for Bodybuilding-com back in 2007.

Early that year Jamie and I shot for two days in Pasadena California in a studio and at Gold's Gym. Those photographs became the epicenter of Jamie becoming the face of Bodybuilding-com in features, magazines, advertising, news papers and so much more. Well deserved for Jamie Eason, who is truly exceptional! Thanks!

"Live Forever"

What is the magic of photography to you? Can you imagine what it was first like in the year 1826 when the first photograph appeared on a polished metal plate? How that has changed the world!

The company called Kodak changed the world of photography too. Many of you have no idea just how much. But for those of us who to this day are so very captivated by the photograph, this commercial produced a few years ago really shows just how much and why.

It is a little long for the internet audience, over 6 minutes. But it is 6 minutes that can change you and change how you look at a photograph, any photograph. So whether you take photographs for your own fun or you aspire to be a professional or shoot professionally like myself; Watch this "Live Forever"...

Please a moment to visit my new Facebook page. I can't take any more friends on my first page, it is full past the 5000 friends limit. "Like" my new page at http://www.facebook.com/SecondFocus. Thanks!

Launched!

LAUNCHED! SecondFocus Photography by Ian L. Sitren, my new Facebook Fan Page. You just have to Like "SecondFocus". http://www.facebook.com/SecondFocus

So PLEASE everyone, Like my Fan page even if you are on Facebook as my Friend. I am going to work extra hard to keep the content up on both pages and each different to some extent. My photography actually covers more than just bodybuilding and fitness so I am going to have some different content added to the SecondFocus page as well.

So again... PLEASE Like me athttp://www.facebook.com/SecondFocus

Thank You! Thank You! Thank You!

You Got To Have Friends!

You got to have friends! But somehow overnight, my Facebook friends count went from 4,825 to 5,536 putting me over the 5000 friends limit on this page. I am going to get my photography page going, possibly by this afternoon.

So if you were trying to add me as a friend on Facebook today, my apologies and please send me a note. I will message you when the next page is ready. I really do so greatly appreciate all of you who have honored me with making me your friend and I sure don't want to miss out on many many more!

My photograph here is from the 2010 Olympia. Phil Heath and Jay Cutler on stage at the finals just before the winner was announced. These photos were much of the Olympia coverage in Planet Muscle Magazine that year and the cover. Thanks!

The Miracle That Is Maria! No Not That One!

The miracle that is Maria Yvonne Bertrand! Why a miracle you ask? Well, put this woman in front of a camera and everything transforms. Her, you, the scene, what you envisioned. I love her in front of my cameras!

Maria is a professional model and actress. You could be seeing her in television commercials for major companies, movies opposite many a famous actor, or from fashion magazines in photo shoots around the world in exotic locations.

And even more lately you see Maria as a fitness consultant and a team member of Green Galaxy Enterprises for Renewable Energy Consulting, Business Development, Humanitarian Aid Coordination, Green Media/Event Production, TV/Film Product Placement, PR/Marketing.

That is Maria Yvonne Bertrand!

A Palm Springs Photo Festival Symposium Discussing Me!

SYMPOSIUM: Entrepreneurial Photographers & Monetizing the Internet... A program from the presitigous Palm Springs Photo Festival this past April 2012. This Symposium started out after 8 minutes of introductions and such with Allen Murabayashi, CEO and Co-Founder of PhotoShelter opening the program with a discussion about me.

An Olympics First!

Siona Fatima Fernandes will be one of the first women boxers at the upcoming London Olympics! For the first time in the 116 year history of boxing at the Olympics Games, women will compete in the sport. Siona will be one of only two boxers from New Zealand and both of them women. How exciting is that! From my photo shoot with Siona... Congratulations!!! WOW!!!

This was one of my first tryouts with the Fujifilm GF670 Camera. Film processed and drum scanned at the Icon in Los Angeles.

En Route To The Championships in Dublin!

Bodybuilder and exercise fitness expert Doug Brignole in our photo shoot the day before he gets on a plane to Dublin to compete at the NABBA World Championships on June 16th. 

NABBA is the first and the original competitve bodybuilding association. Formed in 1950, NABBA's first Mr Universe contest was won by Steve Reeves. Top legendary bodybuilders who have won the Mr Universe title include Reg Park, Bill Pearl and Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Randalene, Lone Star and the Olympia!

A big shout out to Randalene Sergent for now being on the athlete team with Lone Star Distribution and featured with one of our photographs from our shoot! You will meet Randalene at the Lone Star booth at the Olympia this year making the rest of the Olympia just an add on for something else to do! Very Cool!

Working Out And Looking Good!

Interesting thing about working out and eating right... It can make you look good in clothes too!

Seriously, this is my good friend Xavisus Gayden. Staff Sgt. in the United States Marine Corp. Bodybuilder and Physique Competitor. And a great single Dad to two little girls. From one of our photo shoots when he became an Iron Man Magazine BodySpace Physique of the Month for Bodybuilidng.com. He is one good guy!

Even Fresher!

Even fresher than the produce at the Farmer's Market is right off the vine. Especially here at the Twentynine Palms Inn. 

They have wonderful gardens growing much of their own produce for their kitchen serving wonderful food in the restaurant. It makes you really think that eating better and fresher is much healthier.

Food... What Do You Think?

Can't help but find produce so much more inviting when displayed like this at the original Farmer's Market in Los Angeles. It almost makes you feel healthier just looking at it, and happier too! Do you think that this just might be the way we should be eating all the time? What do you think?

Stand Out!

The Gap Store at the Grove in Los Angeles. Really stands out doesn't it!

I am asked all the time by businesses, manufacturers, magazines of all kinds as well as trainers and athletes to come up with ideas for photographs to build their business and careers. Sadly most fall back to the worn out same old formulas, nothing fun, punctuated with poor quality.

If you want to stand out, you have to be different from the crowd. The Gap Store in this photo did just that. Entirely different from any other store at the Grove it demands attention, makes you smile and even shows off the merchandise. A lot better than just another shirt on a mannequin!

Setting The Standard!

Setting the standard for all others to follow. Elijah Ariss shows up on set ready for his photo shoot. A turn of his head, a slight look askance and click goes the camera and it is a success! Too fun!

Action!

It has been a while since I photographed Tiffany Forni as an Iron Man Magazine BodySpace Physique of the Month for Bodybuilding.com. Since then she has become an action star and now is on her way to doing another movie in Norway. I guess I originally photographed her in the right theme! Is that just Way Cool!!

Old Time Fill Up

Wouldn't it be just more fun to fill up at a gas station like this! Can you imagine a big corner with pumps like this, a nice store inside with a lunch counter. There is one kind of like that in Amboy California. Do you know of others?

This is the old Gilmore gas station at Farmer's Market in Los Angeles. It reminds me that amidst all the traffic and congestion, Los Angeles can be a very interesting place.

"Rock Of Ages" and Def Leppard's Phil Collen!

"Rock Of Ages" and rock hard abs! Phil Collen heads up the best physical conditioning ever of Def Leppard at the House of Blues in L.A. yesterday. Rocking the house big time for a special "YouTube Presents" Phil is tighter and bigger than when I photographed him about 2 years ago for a feature story in Iron Man Magazine.

Def Leppard is starting their new 2012 world tour and Phil is again leading the way in the Def Leppard regimen of working out and eating good. The guy keeping them at it, at home and on the road, World Champion Physical Trainer and Muy Thai Kickboxer, Jean Carrillo. I heard people in the audience say "I got to find Phil's trainer!". Jean Carrillo is that guy!

Look for the tremendous Def Leppard concert from yesterday on YouTube today at Noon Pacific Time. It really does rock and Phil Collen continues to look amazing!

UPDATE: Def Leppard Live at the House Of Blues just yesterday! "YouTube Presents" and here it is! http://www.youtube.com/user/YouTubePresents

A Smoke Filled Rescue!

Smoke filled, can't see and possible fire and searching to rescue crewmen. That was this training exercise on board a United States Air Force C-17 cargo aircraft. 

I was in there too shooting photographs in the direction of sounds. In actuality I could not see almost anything past my hand, visibility from my direction was only from my camera flash and only captured by the camera.

So when we talk about fitness, remember these rescue and firefighter personnel. Making their way around in all that gear, can't see, heart pounding and keeping their mission in mind at all times. That is fitness plus! At March Air Reserve Base.

On His Way To Dublin For World Championships!

Doug Brignole and his amazing biceps in the "Pit" at Muscle Beach. It has always been the same at world famous Muscle Beach on the boardwalk in Venice. Tourists from all over the world snapping photos of guys with muscles. Too fun!

Doug is now off to do the NABBA World Championships in Dublin on June 16th. NABBA is the first and the original competitve bodybuilding association. Formed in 1950, NABBA's first Mr Universe contest was won by Steve Reeves. Top bodybuilders who won the Mr Universe title include Reg Park, Bill Pearl and Arnold Schwarzenegger. Good company!

And Thank You again to Fujifilm rep Larry Battistello Jr for the loan of the new FUJIFILM X-Pro1 camera. It made shooting photographs at Muscle Beach perfect!

Posedown!

This is the way it looks! Bodybuilders having fun and competing against each other during posedown at world famous Muscle Beach at Venice Beach on Memorial Day 2012. From left to right... Jason Barrios, Jason Loewy, Bishoy Hanna, Terrance Harris.

Another Thank You to Fujifilm rep Larry Battistello Jr for the loan of the new FUJIFILM X-Pro1 camera for the day to shoot some great photographs at this great event!

Outstanding Skye!

Skye Edwards was having fun too at Muscle Beach! Masters Bikini over 35 was a tough class but she walked away with a third place trophy. Doing Good and Looking Good on Memorial Day 2012 at Muscle Beach. Outstanding Skye!

Do You Think He Had Any Idea...?

Do you think Jason Loewy had any idea that before the afternoon ended, he was going to be the Novice Bodybuilding Champion for the Muscle Beach International Classic & Armed Forces Championship 2012!

Maybe he was confident, maybe not, but you can sure see how much fun he was having as he is looking out at the crowd and knowing he was standing on stage at Muscle Beach! "The Place Where Muscles Were Born"!

Bam!

Bam "BamBody" Bridges is making quite a name for herself! On her way to being a household word, the "BamBody" walked away with the Masters Bikini Win at Muscle Beach on Memorial Day, just the other day. So that means she is over 35 years old! And she has kids too. Looking good! Keep it going... Bam!

Physique... First Time!

Paul Ishel and Nestor Sanchez on stage on Memorial Day 2012 for the first ever Muscle Beach Physique category competition. Paul (on the left) took the overall win from Nestor in a very close compeition between these two training partners all the way from Detroit. Good Job Guys!

The Back Of A Winner!

The back of a winner on stage at Muscle Beach! Terrance Harris, the overall bodybuilding winner at the Muscle Beach International Classic & Armed Forces Championship on Memorial Day. Good Going!

Live From Muscle Beach!

James Newman was a news coverage favorite early morning at Muscle Beach on Monday for the huge Memorial Day show. Live television was only part of the media on hand. Of course it would be that way... Muscle Beach is the place "Where Muscles Were Born"!

Thank You to FujiFilm for the opportunity to shoot with the X-Pro1 Camera!

From Detroit To Muscle Beach!

What do you do when you are waiting to go back on stage? Well if you are Nestor Sanchez doing his very first show, and at Muscle Beach and in the "Pit"... you work out some!

And it all paid off for Nestor. All the way from Detroit and doing his very first show, he took First Place in his class in Physique. Very Cool!

By the way for you photographers out there. I photographed this with the new FujiFilm X-Pro1 camera.

New Friend!

It is great making new friends at the Muscle Beach shows too! Being there just makes it fun all the way around. I met Bonnie McGinn and took a couple of photographs of her, she looked great. So great that she took home a First Place in her Figure class. Good going Bonnie!

Why Would 138 Come From Everywhere To Muscle Beach?

138 Competitors made their way on stage at Muscle Beach on Monday, Memorial Day. From all over the world, from all walks of life... men and women starting to get in shape or at the peak of their conditioning. All there for a great day where the only real competition is to be your best and everyone else is just like you and your friend.

Someone asked me "Why do all these people want to do this at Muscle Beach?". The short answer is.... It Is Fun! You are right at the workout "Pit" on the Venice Boardwalk, one of the most famous tourist attractions in the world. In between you can wander the boardwalk, walk out to the sand and ocean, lounge in the Southern California sun.

And you are at the place "Where Muscles Were Born"! How much better does it get!

Goal!

Talk about reaching her goal! Maria Bertrand asked me a few months back about her planning to enter the Memorial Day show at Muscle Beach as the end goal of her own "90 Day Challenge". Well it worked! She went from hot to hotter! WOW Maria... Knock out body! Good Work!

First Show And She Took Home A Trophy!

First show and she took home a trophy! You have seen me post some photographs of her, but you know her mostly as the Makeup and Hair Stylist on my photo shoots... Natalie Lyle!

After four years of working with so many women competing on stage, Natalie was ready to give it her best. She worked hard in the gym, she did the right diet and Natalie became a bikini competitor. First show at Muscle Beach makes it so much more fun and exciting! Congratulations Natalie! Very Cool!

True Heroes! Tuskegee Airmen Honored At Muscle Beach!

True heroes in so many ways... Tuskegee Airmen honored on Memorial Day 2012 at Muscle Beach. From left to right... Ted Lumpkin, Levi Thornhill, Buford Johnson, Edward Tillman.

The Tuskegee Airmen were the first African-American military aviators in the United States armed forces. They are credited with the following accomplishments among so very many:

15,533 combat sorties
112 German aircraft destroyed in the air, another 150 on the ground
950 railcars, trucks and other motor vehicles destroyed
One destroyer put out of action
Awards and decorations awarded for valor and performance included:
Three Distinguished Unit Citations
At least one Silver Star
An estimated one hundred and fifty Distinguished Flying Crosses
14 Bronze Stars
744 Air Medals
Eight Purple Hearts

And their heroic actions include this major step forward in the History of Civil Rights!

What an honor to have these four members of the Tuskegee Airmen at Muscle Beach and to have the opportunity to take their photograph!

Need a C-17? Call This Guy...

The man who gets that giant United States Air Force C-17 exactly over Muscle Beach at 1:00 PM sharp!. Col. Ken Goode takes charge of that! Not just a ground jockey, he just the day before got home from two months of duty flying out of Germany bringing wounded out of Afghanistan. 

Not a bodybuilder but Ken carries a lot of weight in life and I know that Muscle Beach is proud to have him as part of the Muscle Beach family!

How Cool Is That!

That is some kind of excitement! A United States Air Force C-17 rumbles in low over Venice Beach right over the "Pit" for the opening of the show at world famous Muscle Beach! HOW COOL IS THAT!

I have to Thank Fujifilm rep Larry Battistello Jr for the loan of the new FUJIFILM X-Pro1 camera for the day to shoot some great photographs at this great event!

Squat Photography!

Mark Ebinger doing squats during our photo shoot at the Power of Fitness Gym in Palm Desert California.

Photographing Beautiful Girls In Exotic Locations For Over 50 Years!

Photographing beautiful girls in exotic locations for over 50 years!

A Few Million People...

Will you be standing on stage at Muscle Beach tomorrow, Memorial Day? If you are, don't be nervous, only a few million people will see you!

In all probability there is more mainstream news media and coverage from around the world at Muscle Beach than any other bodybuilding event except maybe the Olympia and Arnold!

Why you ask? Well the show opens with a United States Air Force flyover... try that in an auditorium! There will be a few hundred thousand people down at Venice Beach for the weekend of sun and sand. It is more fun than you can imagine. And it is the place "Where Muscles Were Born"!

Accomplishment!

Accomplishment! Being proud of doing something special for yourself. That is what can make for a million dollar smile! And Duyen Ariss has that smile. Being in the best condition of her life after working out and staying on the diet track brought home the trophy in her very first show at the NPC Los Angeles Grand Prix. So Very Fun!

And isn't that what we all want in some way or another! To accomplish something and be proud of what we have done... and receive some recognition for it. Yes it is nice, no matter what it is. And for Duyen she can now add being an inspiration to others who see what she did! Being an inspiration to someone, your kids, your family, your friends is something we all search for too. What do you think?

From our photo shoot...

First Date?

First date? Maybe not, maybe together 60 years? Comfortable enough to sit in a McDonald's and just have coffee. Road trip? Out of town? A regular stop? What do you think? What do you see in this photograph I shot?

Black & White.... ?

Just when I start thinking I want to shoot more black and white photographs, I end up finding great color photographs from my shoots like this one of Jake Sawyer. Jake has been in front of my cameras many times for many different projects. Obviously you can see why!

Going To Muscle Beach!

The greatest outdoor bodybuilding show in the world! Only at world famous Muscle Beach where the show opens with a United States Air Force flyover!

Tomorrow on Monday, Memorial Day at Venice Beach, the "Muscle Beach International Classic and Armed Forces Championship". Fantastic men and women bringing their worked out bodies to the stage from all walks of life from all over the world!

And as a very special event, the heroic World War II Tuskegee Airmen will be present and honored for this Memorial Day!

I will be there, you be there too! Muscle Beach at Venice Beach! The place where muscles were born!

McDonald's?

So what is it that you see or think of when you look at my photograph of this McDonald's?

Second question, is there something about the photograph itself you find interesting, like or dislike?

Firefighter Fitness!

From a series I photographed about fitness in the military. Firefighters at March Air Reserve Base during a training exercise extinguishing a mock up aircraft skeleton on fire and flooded with jet fuel.

How hot was it and how close did I get? Well I stopped moving in when I felt the hair on my arms start to singe. Photographed with a Phase One P30+ digital back on a Mamiya 645AFDII camera body.