I photographed dancer Tom Biagini with makeup by Trefor Proud.

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We pushed the shots with Josh a bit farther with brilliant styling from makeup artist Trefor Proud and hair designer Noogie Thai.

I met Josh through my friend and known HuffPo contributor Michael Rowe. Michael was the author of the Advocate cover story about Ian Roberts that I shot the photos for. For some reason I never posted the cover, but you can see it at towleroad, alongside a bunch of fancy internet gossip about Ian.

So, Michael had been trying to get me (a) to meet and (b) to photograph Josh for a while.  Once my book came out last year, things got busy and it never seemed to happen.  But we found time to play with the camera and made these photos.  Decided to play with fluorescent light again, something I experimented with in college, and then again for Playgirl magazine.  But it had been a few years and seemed like the right concept.  I wanted something he could interact with.

Josh is actually a writer/director who had commercial success in the mystical lands of Canada.  You can see some of behind-the-camera work here.

Makeup by the always brilliant Trefor Proud.

Last year, German publisher Gmunder published a book of my flashier, more colorful and highly-produced photographs from the earlier days of my career.  A few years ago, however, a former editor of Interview and Details magazines gave me an opportunity — to capture some amazing artists — people who are perhaps less sexy than we’re used to seeing, but who have done amazing things that have changed the world.  This is how the “detail” series that I’ve been working on nonstop lately was born.

Joe Spano, Mickey, Chris Pine photographed by Eric Schwabel

The series continues to grow. Celebrity clients have become interested in the series (Chris Pine, top right played Captain Kirk in the latest Star Trek), and a collaboration with Oscar-winning makeup artist Trefor Proud has brought about more styled images (top Center with Evil Mickey). My favorite memories from this series so far are shooting Spartacus himself, Kirk Douglas, as well as one of my personal heroes, author Ray Bradbury.

Check out all of my work at schwabelstudio.com.  While the “detail” series of closeup faces is not for every client, my work engages in a good amount of diversity.  At the end of the day, I’m happiest with a camera in my hand.

We’re also on facebook at tinyurl.com/SchwabelFace.  Most of these blog posts get linked on there.

Best,
Eric Schwabel

Dennis Smeal photographed by Eric Schwabel

Dennis Smeal wrote the adaptation of “Stronger” that I have blogged about in the past.

Jon Beauregard was recently nominated for an Ovation award for “Land of Tigers”

Jon Beauregard photographed by Eric Schwabel

Actor Joe Spano photographed by Eric Schwabel

Actors Joe Spano and Sam Anderson recently sat for my “[ detail ]” series. TV enthusiasts will most recently recognize Mr. Spano from NCIS (which, as it turns out, I have a good number of friends working on) and Sam Anderson from “Lost.”

See the full series at http://schwabelstudio.com/

Writer Randy Rogel photographed by Eric Schwabel

Jennifer Paz photographed by Eric Schwabel

Actors Jennifer Paz and Robert J Townsend recently sat for my “[ detail ]” series.

Thanks to the Los Angeles Stage Alliance on these recent shoots.

Actor Robert J. Townsend photographed by Eric Schwabel

Deborah Behrens photographed by Eric Schwabel

Some new faces for today.  Deborah Behrens is an award-winning freelance writer.

Actor Barry Lynch has appeared in numerous movies and TV shows, as well as acclaimed stage performances.

Actor Barry Lynch photographed by Eric Schwabel

Brenda Smith photographed by Eric Schwabel

Brenda Smith photographed by Eric Schwabel

I’ve been photographing Bee since I moved in to my Venice Beach studio in 2005 — were right near Gold’s gym.

So this giant man showed up with Bee — that would be Brandon, who was my last blog post.  So I finally shot them together, and this was the result.

Enjoy, my friends!

More about Bee at QueenMuscleBee.com

Brenda Smith photographed by Eric Schwabel

Brenda Smith photographed by Eric Schwabel

Photograph by Eric Schwabel

I met Brandon through my friend and occasional model Bee (more on Bee coming up in the next day or two).  He wanted photos and I wanted to photograph him, so there you have it.  Last I heard Bee was waiting for a ring on her finger from this man…  Anyhow, Brandon is a bodybuilder and fighter with one of the most fantastic accents I’ve ever heard, though of course I can’t remember for the life of me where he’s from.

I thought I would have more to say about this…  But I often have to remind myself I’m a photographer, not a writer, and perhaps it’s more interesting for me to shut my mouth.

Did this without a crew here at the studio.

Photograph by Eric Schwabel

Photograph by Eric Schwabel