SecondFocus Blog

Photography at bodybuilding competitions is what most people think of when they ask about what I shoot most of the time. And actually that is not the case.

I spend most of my time in the gym, photographing my subjects working out. My preference is real life gyms and real workouts as opposed to studio gyms and fake weights. Yes there really are fake weights.

Having spent many years myself lifting weights, studying the subject and working with others has given me the advantage of knowing how to really put people through a workout that is technically correct and photo friendly.

This is a series of photographs shot for one of the bodybuilding magazines with my friend Robert Hatch, a long time bodybuilder and just plain impressive human being at 6 ft tall and 258 pounds.

205 pound curls is not something I would have most people do in a photo shoot. But Robert Hatch is big enough to make it look good.

Robert Hatch doing dumbbell curls with 50’s is heavier than I would do with most people. But Hatch is a big guy.

Regardless of how much weight you are lifting, a hard contraction at the top of the movement puts a real strain on the muscle. Rob really hits it with his arms.

I prefer incline dumbbell bench press. It is less dangerous with heavy weights, you can turn them out and have them not fall on you. Here Rob is putting up a pair of hundreds.

Shoulder shrugs build the traps. Rob grabbed a pair of 150’s, big weight for a big guy.

Taking a stop between exercises I shoot a few posed photographs. It also gives Rob a rest.

Taking a break from lifting for a moment, I shoot these posed shots around the equipment nearby.

Working through the photo shoot workout can be a lot of effort. With Rob I am shooting him with heavier weights to have it match his 6 ft 258 pound body. Here you can see he is wearing down a little while we do seated back rows.

We do get in a change of clothes, maybe a few times. And that requires going back and doing some more work. Rob did a few preacher bench curls and it looked good. But he was working hard.

A few body poses to show off the hard work Robert Hatch has done over the years.

I hope you find this view of a photo shoot a little more interesting. If you have any questions, please let me know!

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It was over a year ago that XNick EdgeX, one of our most popular BodySpace members was selected to be an Iron Man Magazine BodySpace Physique of the Month.

When Nick came out to do his photo shoot and interview with me, I remember asking him about his fitness goals.

Nick said that he wanted to gain some weight and some size. Well a year later I can tell you that Nick sure has done that. Go on over to his BodySpace and take a look!

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He earned it, our BodySpace Physique of the Month in Iron Man Magazine, SuperMaine…

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Well the April issue of Iron Man Magazine will be hitting the shelves about now, March 1st, so here he is, the BodySpace Physique of the Month…. SUPERMAINE!

Elijah certainly set the record for furthest distance ever to come see me for his photo shoot, he flew from Sicily to Palm Springs California. And he was on time too! I also recall he was hungry and downed a good size steak when we went out for dinner.

These are not the photos you will find in the magazine, these are some other fun ones I shot of him. And there is more to the story, I actually made him workout and taught him a thing or two myself! So go get yourself a copy of Iron Man in the next few days. And visit SuperMaine on his BodySpace and tell him congratulations!

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I have had people fly in to do photo shoots with me before so it was only fitting that our own BodySpace member OldSuperman fly in too for his photo shoot as the BodySpace Physique of the Month in Iron Man Magazine…!

On the stands now, Ed is in the January 2009 issue of Iron Man Magazine.

Watch out for it and go on over to OldSuperman’s BodySpace and tell him you saw him, and now you know OldSuperman can fly, and probably leap a tall building or two is a single bound! Not sure about the speeding bullet thing, you’ll have to ask him…

By the way, he actually had a little help in the flying department.

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From a recent photo shoot…

Amateur bodybuilder, Anu McKnight.

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So the question is… why I am I out taking photographs of a fire crew getting ready to board an Air Force cargo plane?

And why am I out taking photos of a training aircraft being set on fire with jet fuel?

And what does it have to do with what I do, which is photograph a lot of stories and people about fitness and bodybuilding?

Well, I can’t tell you right now! But let me know what you think, and you will find out soon!

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"STF" is a brand new magazine on the stands from the publisher of "Planet Muscle". "The Woman You Want To Be" it says on the cover with Jessica Paxson who is a woman you could want to be. And she is great, I know, I photographed her wedding to Peter Putnam just a couple of years ago.

But it is one big feature inside the magazine I think is very cool. It is seven full pages of training with the 2008 Ms Figure America and my good buddy, Ava Cowan. And even better it is filled with photographs shot by me with Ava right out here by my home in Palm Springs, California at the Power of Fitness gym.

So you will be seeing Ava’s feature along with my photos in "STF" all next year so keep a watch out for it. And the current issue is on the newsstands but I think it is almost close to being sold out. But look for it and let me know what you think!

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I happened to stop in at the 2008 IPF Masters World Powerlifting Championships over the last week. A competition that brought in 273 competitors from 32 countries around the world, all over 40 years old. It is a lot different from bodybuilding for sure. Like here we have Samuel Archibong from Nigeria who I guess just decided to do a little work out while he was waiting around…

This is backstage and he just did a few reps steadily working his way up to this lift at 675 lbs. And he had no trouble going on up with it and racking the bar himself. I left shortly thereafter; he stayed behind maybe doing something more challenging.

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Ok this month it is our guy John Perry featured as our BodySpace Physique of the Month in Iron Man Magazine! I just got my copy today, it is the September 2008 issue and it shoud be on the stands this week too.

John came out to Palm Springs where we did his photo shoot at the Power of Fitness Gym.

I think John had a lot of fun but he did find out something about shooting with me that he wasn’t expecting.

When you do a photo shoot with me in a gym you don’t get to just stand around and look pretty. You really work out!

I had a lot of fun with John, he is a great guy! Be sure to go over to his BodySpace and say Hi! And get his issue of Iron Man Magazine! Maybe he will autograph it for you!

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