Friday, May 30, 2008

Muscle Beach on Memorial Day Weekend...

It was great fun as always!


This is Jake Sawyer who was doing his very first bodybuilding competition. Anyway I have been really busy but wanted to get a new blog post in. But more soon! Thanks and keep coming back if you "Wanna See More...?"

Monday, May 12, 2008

A Car For The New Economy...

Here it is, the Isetta!


With a gas tank that holds 3.5 gallons it was way ahead of it's time, built in the 1950's.


Photographed at the Desert Classic Concours d'Elegance 2008 in Palm Springs California. The camera was the medium format, Mamiya 645AFDII with the Mamiya 45mm f/2.8 lens. The film was Kodak Porta 160vc.

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

Thursday, May 8, 2008

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.

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

Wednesday, May 7, 2008

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.

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

Tuesday, April 29, 2008

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...?"

Thursday, April 17, 2008

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.

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

Tuesday, March 18, 2008

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...?"