GoShiggyGo Photography, Shiggy Ichinomiya. Los Angeles Based Photographer & Videographer. Celebrity Portraits. Fitness. Weddings. Commercial. Editorial. Fashion. Glamour. Private Parties & Events.
Published Author.Trilingual (English, German, Japanese) 2X Ironman Finisher (IMCDA & IMLT) Travelled 25 + Countries. Boston U. Alum. Also Fire Academy Grad. Doggie Lover!
神戸生まれ、アメリカとイギリス育ちの、一宮・成光（しげみつ）と申します。あだ名は“シギー”です。
(Photos BEST viewed on laptop or desktop)
Did you know that drowning surpasses all other causes of death among children ages 14 and under in California, while LA County has the highest rate of near-drowning of any county in the state? The Coast 2 Coast Swim Challenge was created to heighten awareness of these facts and combat this problem locally. (from the C2C Website)
(Below-photographs on the Coast to Coast Swim Challenge website by Shiggy Ichinomiya)
Photos above by Shiggy Ichinomiya are displayed on the Coast 2 Coast Swim Challenge Website (CLICK HERE) These kids are learning how to swim. Click here for more photographs.The money raised from the "Coast to Coast Swim Challenge" provides under-served youths with free swim lessons. Summer is fast approaching, it's getting warmer and the water is very tempting. Unfortunately, the number of drowning incidents increase with the rise in temperature. Prevention is key.
How can YOU help? Phew, I'm glad you asked.
On May 20th, 2012, YOU can be a part of the solution by helping raise money so that children can learn how to swim.
Swim One, Two or Three-30 minute Stages or be a Launcher or Closer- that is where you can really challenge yourself- See registration page for complete details. Click HERE for the Coast 2 Coast Website
How can YOU help? Volunteer.
How can YOU help? Do your long "Ironman" or "triathlon" training swim in this pool and raise money at the same time!!
How can YOU help? Donate directly.
In its inaugural year, the 2011 Coast 2 Coast Swim Challenge raised more than $21,000, with 100 percent of these funds going to scholarships that enabled 500 kids in Compton, South Los Angeles and Culver City to learn to swim.
I love it. I crave it. I'm enamored by it. What's the "it?" The "it" is----SPONTANEITY!!
A little back story behind the photo shoot.
A week ago, I was looking at my GoShiggyGo Photography page on Facebook and I noticed a person I've never met before "like" my page. Please click on HERE and then "LIKE" my Facebook Page. It was Karen Chapman from New Jersey.
On Facebook I have many fitness models, fitness competitors, body builders as friends. I admire the dedication and perseverance that goes into sculpting one's body, as well as resisting temptation, sacrifice, incredible focus and deep down drive that goes into making one's body the best it can be.
To make a long story short, Karen flew out on Friday from New Jersey to do a photo shoot on Sunday, April 15th. Karen won a competition and came out to Los Angeles to do the photo shoot. Woot woot!!
On Saturday, April 14th at around 5:30pm we started messaging each other on Facebook. We decided to do an impromptu, spur of the moment, you only live once, heck yeah, "why not," "sure let's do it," and TOTALLY SPONTANEOUS photo shoot. I was actually heading out to Downtown LA to do a cityscape night time photo shoot when the messaging began, and within less than an hour at 6:30pm, I was picking her up at the Hotel near LAX and off we went to my friend Sean's tattoo shop "House of Ink" Please click HERE for House of Ink's Facebook Page in Venice, California. 90291!!!
The photo shoot was very basic. No huge reflectors, no assistants, no massive strobes, technicians, make-up artists, stylists or kraft services. Just my Canon and an external off camera flash!!! Simple!!! Of course Sean from The House of Ink helped out too. Thank you Sean.
Karen was great. Why? She didn't have thousands of pieces of clothes in her suitcase. This was a totally unplanned shoot. Yet, she gathered some awesome articles of clothing, and just went for it. Venice, was windy and cold. The sand was blowing pretty hard, yet, Karen was a trooper!!! I loooooooove that kind of "spontaneous" attitude. Of course planning is important as well. Yet so many of us wait for "the perfect moment," or until "everything is just right," until we actually do something, that the "perfect moment" already passes you by. "Perfect is the enemy of the good," as the saying goes.
I totally believe that, and I totally believe that we have to just "ship." Go out. Get results. Don't wait. Don't hesitate. Do it. And what's the worst thing that's gonna happen? The photos will look awful!! Wow, big deal. Considering it usually takes a top model several hundred photos until the "one" is taken, what could be lost? Time. Being in a hotel room all by oneself vs leaving your comfort zone and enter "MAGIC zone."
Karen totally trusted me, a "perfect stranger." (There are lots of creeps out there so beware not to trust everyone.) Trust is huge to me, it's paramount and I thank you Karen for trusting me.
I've added some captions to the photos. Look at the ones with Karen standing with the big ominous black cloud and the sun that has already set. Orange, blue, black and Karen sandwiched in between.
I was thrilled and excited to be asked by Triathlon Lab to do an athlete portrait photo shoot of triathlon's greatest triathletes---Chris "Macca" McCormack. Macca was the 2007 and 2010 Kona Ironman World Champion and is one of triathlon's fiercest competitors. Hailing from Australia, he's also one of THE nicest athletes who loves chatting with the fans and signing books and cereal boxes. (Macca is the only non-US Citizen to ever grace the cover of Wheaties Cereal Box.)
Chris "Macca" McCormack sponsored by Triathlon Lab
Macca wearing Tri Lab's uniform.
Lovin' the socks!! Macca looks like a Super Hero. Super Hero Pose!!
Macca's trademark smile.
Macca looking at his Specialized brand, aero-helmet.
Go to Triathlon Lab in Redondo Beach or Santa Monica to purchase a Tri Lab T-shirt OR
(Monica Hirschberger getting Macca's book signed.)
(A big shout-out going out to Martin Gaiss who sat in as a body-double for Macca as I got the lights, strobes and backdrop ready. Thank you Martin.)
Below are some "behind the scenes" pictures of Macca's photo shoot. Thanks Jim Garfield and Triathlon Lab's CEO Lloyd Taylor for taking photos of me during the photo shoot!!!
(left) Triathlon Lab's CEO Lloyd Taylor, Macca, Shiggy (photographer)
(Above photo courtesy of Jim Garfield.)
(Photo credit: Triathlon Lab)
(Photo credit: Triathlon Lab)
(Photo credit: Triathlon Lab)
(Photo credit: Triathlon Lab)
(Video above of Macca saying some awesome words!!!)
(Video above I took of Macca in 2010. Here he gives advice (to Robert Pagan) on doing YOUR 1st Ironman. "Embrace the suck.")
(Video above of Macca describing the nail biting last 3 miles and very close finish of Kona Ironman 2010. Bob Babbitt (Competitor Magazine founder) and Simon Gowen (Simon Gowen Radio Show and Coach) are the moderators)
(Video above of one of THE closest Ironman finishes. Macca beating Andreas Raelert. Wow!)
I was so lucky and blessed to be asked to photograph an engagement session for Anneka and Jerry. The day was absolutely perfect. What an amazing couple!!!! A few days before the shoot, I suggested to Anneka and Jerry to check out some engagement photographs online and see what kind of photos are out there. It mentally prepares the person for what can be created and what possibilities exist.
(Yes!!!)
That is the beauty of doing some prep work and some research prior to a photo session. It allows the person to say "hmmm, I might try that look." Or "wow, if THAT guy/gal can do it, I too can shape my body by moving this way or that in order to make myself more flattering." Or "why not try that shirt on" or "why not wear these pants" to really make me and "us" shine.
I absolutely loved working with Anneka and Jerry and to tell the truth, it really wasn't much work. It was more like "play." As the sun was setting, it was getting colder and so was the water temperature. Despite this, Anneka and Jerry were absolute troopers and continued to go further and further into the water. First they got their feet wet, and by the end of the shoot they were both in, just above the knees.
The only coaching I gave was, "the more awkward and uncomfortable the pose, the better the photograph will look." I think it's an old adage said to professional models. Yet, it works!!! What a delight!! What joy!! What fun!!! What an amazing and exciting journey lies ahead!!!
