From Boise To Miami

I just returned from Boise, Idaho meeting with my client BodyBuilding.com, the largest bodybuilding and fitness resource in the world. The purpose was to do planning for next year to provide them with new content, compeititon coverage, ad shooting and special features. In addition there will be new multimedia projects coming from SecondFocus. By the way, Boise is a really nice place. I am looking forward to my return trips.

Next I will be leaving on Thursday for Miami to cover the NPC National BodyBuilding & Fitness Championships. This is the last major bodybuilding competition of the year and there will be a lot of athletes. This is also a pro qualifier so the competition will be top level.

One of the top rated competitors will be heavyweight, Lionel Brown. Known as the L-Train, I just saw him a couple of weeks ago when he was the guest poser at the "Border States" competition in Anaheim, CA. I can tell you right now that the L-Train is going to draw a lot of attention when it rolls into Miami. See you in Miami!

Bodybuilders Get Married Too!

And on October 1st right after the biggest professional bodybuildng event of the year, the Olympia in Las Vegas, two seperate weddings took place and SecondFocus was the wedding photographer for both of them. Coinicidently both of them were scheduled to be at Caesar's Palace which seems very fitting being both an opulent and huge location while at the same time elegantly comfortable.




SecondFocus was already in Las Vegas for the Olympia and these two weddings were on day six of a what was a marathon of photography. But two weddings and receptions in one day would be too much for just one photographer so SecondFocus second shooter, Nancy Nimmons came in from Southern California to help out. And SecondFocus makeup artist and hairstylist, Matthew Emrick also came in to do makeup and hair for the women of the wedding parties and to provide that extra assistance.














The Caesar's Palace wedding planners were very accomodating and helpful in making sure that everything ran smoothly. And of course at Caesar's you can always plan on the extra guests to add the right touch of atmosphere.

















The first wedding was Bob & Tocha. Bob Cicherillo is one of the most famous personalities in professional bodybuilding. He is a very successful bodybuilder having just won the Masters World Championship and Bob is also one of the most famous voices in the business as the emcee of many competitions including the Olympia and the very successful Pro BodyBuilding Weekly Radio.















And then we had the marriage of Jessica Paxson and Peter Putnam. Peter is a rising star in bodybuilding making his way on the competiton schedules around the country and appearing in the major magazines. Jessica has already risen to the rank of professional in womens figure competition. And the night before appeared on the Olympia stage.

And what did everyone think of the wedding photography by SecondFocus? Well to quote Tocha; "You are the best Ian. Thank you so much. I can't tell you how much we appreciate you and your work." "You were so right about the way you two work together and create magic. I was so impressed by how you were able to capture such genuine looks and reactions from everyone. I am not a fan of "smiling" for the camera. I love your style of catching eyes and facial features that could NEVER be seen in a normal posed shot. Its true talent!" Thank You Tocha, this was a great way to finish up the Olympia weekend for everyone.

Business a little slow?

I have been getting a number of calls from companies that have decided that perhaps using some new, more interesting and unique photos might be a good idea. Running the same ads that you have been running and which look very much like all the other ads might not be the best idea. As a matter of fact, it might just be a little crazy and a waste of money. So give me a call or send me an e-mail and maybe we can come up with something better before you wonder what happened to all those customers. Photo by SecondFocus 2006, Salton Sea CA.

The Big O

As in the Olympia, one of the two biggest bodybuilding events in the world. SecondFocus was there on assignment and again my photos are the major coverage on Bodybuilding.com, the largest bodybuilding and fitness resource in the world. The big news at this Olympia was the upset of 8 time Mr. Olympia Ronnie Coleman by perpetual second place winner Jay Cutler. I can only describe the crowd reaction to the announcement of the new Mr. Olympia as thunderous.

My assignment was to cover all of the events of the Olympia from Thursday through Saturday night but also to upload them for almost instant coverage. I don't have the numbers at the moment but it is likely that my photos were viewed by almost a million people, millions of times through Monday.

Now it may come as a surprise but bodybuilders and figure competitors get married too. And I was selected as the wedding photographer for two of them. The star face and voice of bodybuilding, Bob Cicherillo tied the knot on Sunday at Caesar's Palace to be followed only a few hours later by one of professional figure competitor's rising stars and most beautiful, Jessica Paxson. I was assisted by my second wedding shooter, Nancy Nimmons, and my makeup artist, Matthew Emrick. Without them I don't know how I would have made it though both weddings and the receptions. But don't tell anyone but we had a lot of fun being a part of so much over those six days. Watch here for most posts from the Olympia and maybe a few photos from the weddings. Thanks!

The Olympia Is Only A Few Days Away

The biggest name in professional bodybuilding competitions is the Olympia in Las Vegas coming up on September 28 through October 1st. SecondFocus will be there on assignment. And to commerate the Olympia this year, Bodybuilding.com, the worlds largest bodybuilding and fitness resource, has designed free downloadable computer wallpaper using images from SecondFocus. You can download the series and there is more to come at Bodybuilding.com.

And also in Las Vegas, SecondFocus will be the photographer for two seperate weddings immediately following the Olympia. Bob Cicherillo, the face and voice of professional bodybuilding is getting married. And Jessica Paxson, one of the most beautiful and fastest rising stars in professional figure competition is getting married. This will be one big special Olympia event.

Arnold At Muscle Beach

When the population of the world thinks of bodybuilding they think of two things, Arnold and "Muscle Beach". Did you know that Arnold is perhaps the most recognizable public figure ever on the face of the earth only second to Mickey Mouse? And did you know that Venice Beach, home to "Muscle Beach", is one most popular tourist destinations in the world right up there with Las Vegas, Disneyland and the Vatican? Well put those together on the last holiday weekend of the summer and what do you get, thousands of people crowded in to see it all. And you get newspaper, television and radio coverage rivaling a presidential visit. And SecondFocus was there on assignment.

Lots of events took place on this Labor Day 2006 for the "Muscle Beach Championship" bodybuilding competition, but the big event was going to be Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger personally handing the Muscle Beach Lifetime Achievement Award to his old friend, the man who gave him his start, Joe Weider. I don't think we can spend a lot of time going over the biography of Joe Weider, but just to sum it up, Joe and his brother Ben are certainly the fathers of every part of the sport of bodybuilding.

Rocky Rocky Rocky!

No, not that Rocky... This is Rocky Randall and SecondFocus was lucky enough to focus a camera or two on Rocky for her recent feature in Desert Entertainer Magazine. Rocky may look familiar to you because millions and millions of people have seen her not that long ago on such famous television series such as "Cannon", "Simon and Simon", "The Incredible Hulk", "Magnum P.I.", "Remington Steele" and "Murphy's Law". And that is only a small part of Rocky's very impressive resume.

Anyway, Rocky is a knockout jazz and swing singer appearing in the desert resort areas of Palm Springs CA. And qualified she is with a great voice, personality and the experience that includes even recording and singing with Henry Mancini. Rocky Rocky Rocky!