Driving Along...

Recently I was driving back from an assignment. A somewhat long drive, it took me through a few places I had not been before. Bright and sunny and not in any hurry, something caught my eye in the middle of the small town of San Jacinto, California. It was a tank...


In the midst of a beautiful green park surrounded by Roses in bloom and beautifully maintained is a United States Army tank. So I had to stop and take a look...


I had happened upon the San Jacinto Veterans Memorial at Druding Park. There are dedications to each war and all Veterans, a replica of the Fenwick Lighthouse in honor of the Coast Guard, an anchor from the USS Cleveland, and a propeller from the B-17 Flying Fortress...


There is also a plaque honoring one of San Jacinto's own fallen...


It is interesting what you can see when you slow down in the world.

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Buddha, Bullets and Cactus...

There are times when there are no words strung together that can adequately describe something. It is then that the camera is the ideal tool...


A scene in Pioneertown, California. It was just there.

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Film - Digital Workflow

I am asked all the time about what I use for scanning film and processing because I am using much more film lately and love the results. Certainly for many assignments, digital is the choice and small format or medium format digital is a main part of my work too. But let me explain what I do for film...


Film after shot is dropped off or sent via Fedex to "The Icon" photo lab in Los Angeles. Icon is a top pro lab serving a great deal of the ad and commercial business in L.A. and more. According to my instructions, Icon processes the film and then roll scans the entire rolls to the size I request. Typically I have been using 10 megs per image. By the way, I am mostly shooting medium format 645 and some 35mm. The scans are then uploaded to my Icon hosted light-box called an Icon Box. From there I can view and download, as well as organize, rank, make notes and order other services from those images. Client viewing can also be set up and retouch notes can go back and forth. It is a very versatile system.

At that point if I need any larger scans I will then order drum scans at typically 50 megs. That is a size that will cover every commercial request I get, easily, as well as very large prints. Most of my individual prints are done by myself on a Canon ipf5000 large format printer.

Now that is my workflow for commercial ad work and such. Other services I use, for example, are Buckeye Color Labs for larger quantity printing or orders of event type photos. And I use PhotoShelter for viewing and delivery of digital imaging.

If you have any questions, please fell free to send me a note to SecondFocus@mac.com. And keep coming back if "You Wanna See More...?"

Sasha and 360inPalmSprings

Sometimes it all just comes together just fine. The model is Sasha Anna Brown, a competitive figure newcomer and recent overall winner at the NPC Max Muscle Naturals in Anaheim California. The location is '360inPalmSPrings' a spot overlooking a canyon with a wonderful deck and a unique infinity pool.


Makeup and hair by Blythe Wargo of Palm Springs. And for your photography interests, the camera was the Mamiya 645AFDII shooting Kodak Tri-X film.


This photo was also shot with the Mamiya but on Fuji Acros 100 film.


Also the Mamiya camera but this time with Ilford Delta 3200 film.


And finally this is a digital photo. Shot on the Canon 5D with the Canon 24-70L lens.

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Feature In Iron Man Magazine

Bodybuilding, health and fitness comes in many sizes and shapes. I shoot and write a monthly feature for Iron Man Magazine that features different people from different walks of life but who all have made health and fitness their lifestyle. So here are some photos from some past issues and some that are upcoming...

Power lifter, Rob Carbo...


Super Fitness Model and Figure Competition Pro, Ava Cowan...


Fitness lifestyle enthusiast, Nick Paniagua...


Bodybuilding and fitness model, John LaBello...


Tall and stunning figure competitor, Maria Rogers...


And fit married couple, Chad and Lana Armstrong...



So check out upcoming issues of Iron Man Magazine to read their stories and see more photos from SecondFocus. Thanks and keep coming back if you "Wanna See More...?"

Flight Departure From WWII...

The occasion... The P-51 Fly in at the Palm Springs Air Museum and a day excursion for myself. From the Air Museum website:

"Among one of the most famous fighters of World War II, the P-51 Mustang has its roots in both Britain and the USA. Originally overlooked by the USAAF, the P-51 did not see action with American forces until March 1943. Once its full potential had been developed, the USA realized that this aircraft had been ignored for far too long a time. With the forging of the American airframe with the British Rolls-Royce Merlin engine, it would be unmatched by any other piston aircraft of World War II."

These photographs were taken with medium format film, Fuji Pro 160c, with a Mamiya 645 AFDII camera and a Mamiya 105-210 f/4.5 lens. In no special order, here they are. And remember, keep coming back if you "Wanna See More..."

The Inaugural Desert Classic Concours d'Elegance

The Inaugural Desert Classic Concours d'Elegance was held just two weeks ago on the grounds of the O’Donnell Golf Course in the desert resort of Palm Springs California. Some of the most amazing and exotic automobiles of all kinds came in for this very special event including this very rare and beautiful 1953 Ferrari 375MM...


And one that you don't see very often is the German made Amphicar, the only amphibious automobile ever mass-produced for sale to the public...


Another you won't see at the traffic light next to you is the 1953 Kurtis 500S Roadster...


And here are a couple more...




These photographs were shot with the Mamiya 645AFDII medium format camera with the Mamiya auto focus 45mm f/2.8 lens. The film used is both the newly formulated Fuji Pro 160c and Kodak Portra 160vc. The photos are not adjusted in any way for color or contrast but are as photographed and scanned. The scans are low resolution roll scans. They have been sized for online use and slight sharpening applied for that purpose.

Thanks and keep coming back if you "Wanna See More...?"