it's not easy livin' the life…

My two best friends, no matter what difference they have, they still work in harmony.  Analog+Digital.

This is a mere preview of our booth… More will come =) … probably not but here’s to hoping!

categories: Art and Photography, The Life
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Shot this last summer in front of the Pacific Ocean.  Wallpaper status.

categories: Art and Photography, The Life
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Been working with Tanabe+SSR+More Japan lately with everything and with that being said, here’s a neat product I did with them.  It’s the SSR 40 Year anniversary Zippo.  There will only be 40 of them produced and one of them is on my desk.  Dopeness indeed.

Not quite JDM but I’ll take it =)

categories: Art and Photography, Automotive Art
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December is here and a mere few weeks before we start a new year.  From Thanksgiving till today, a lot has been going on and it’s been quite a busy.  Last weekend for example was the return of HIN.  How was it? … Should I say not bad for their first show back?  Ok i’ll be nice and stick to those words.  But really, that’s not saying much.

Anyhoooo, while my crew was setting up our booth that we put together a few hours before HIN started, I was rolling around LA Live parking lot taking photos for an ad campaign for SSR Wheels and their new MS3 model.  Wish I can show the shots but apparently I can’t till January.  Shots are already in Japan and it’s gonna be on their catalogs and ads and what not.  Should be dope.

Well, at least I think I can show this.  The wheels aren’t showing =)

Happy Thanksgiving to all and since it’s the season for giving, here’s a wallpaper for all you of you.  Have an awesome time everyone!

Just click and save as.  Enjoy!

category: Art and Photography
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Please remember which one is the real deal, and which ones are Thermoses. It would be an extremely costly mistake pouring coffee on a extremely expensive Lens.

Some neat ass cars…

I really do love this car.  Even though it’s a Scion.  Although, Subaru did release the BRZ but it’s still unclear if Subaru is releasing that car stateside or not.  Either way, both cars are pretty much the same just different exterior.  They’re like identical twins.

This was on a previous post but as a shot from my iPhone.  By far, this has got to be one of the most impressive engine bays I have ever seen.  Incredible detail and amount of money in a small 4×4 space.  Hats off to who ever put this together.  Plus it’s shiny.  I like shiny.

The Hoonigan RWB Porsche.  Not as flashy but equally impressive with I’d say, better wheel setup.  Love it.

By far the most popular car in the import industry even though it’s a Porsche… Everyone get on board the RWB train.

The dream car that I would definitely save up money for.  Save up for about 354 years and by then have money to pay for a month’s payment.  Love this color too.  Flat white with gold pearl.  AAAAAAMAZINGGGGGG.

I still have lots of love for hotroding and all it’s weirdness.  I really want to build a rat rod and ride it low and slow.  This is one prime example of the uniqueness and class of the culture.

And another.  Love this.

Ok whatever, I hate the setup but I still love the car.  Can’t go wrong with an R8.  Well, maybe this time you can.  Still love the platform though.

Chrome paint is the next flat black.  I just love the display.  Show’s lot of nostalgia.  We should probably do one like these in a show.  Might be kind of cool.

Ah Yes the mighty GTR… more on this later, the build, the concept, and what’ll happen in the near future.

More to come but more in my point of view.  I’ll take you to a ride like no other.

category: Hottie of the day
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.. forgot to post this… This is Lisa.

category: The Life
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Of course I didn’t see everyone and you can bet your ass that even though I had my camera at all times, I’m not gonna take a picture of every single person I know.  Unless they’re a hot girl or something but then that’s a totally different story. Sadly enough, I have tons of friends that I only have the privilege to hang out with during car events and functions.

Well, this is what I captured.  Peeps I know and hang out with and some other random girls.  *Be Warned* it’s a  “HOLY SHIT THAT’S A SHIT LOAD OF PICTURES” kind of post.

P.S. *EDIT* (not really)

If you’re wondering why the photos look kind of crappy, I just realized that I saved the photos as Adobe RGB hence the faded look of the photos.  Supposed to be at sRGB so it’ll be better for the web but I’m not about to redo everything.  Excuse my FAILness.  If you know what I’m talking about then good for you, if not, then just shrug it off… Carry on…

FamBam Nicole… Stay black sista’

OS Giken Model … ummm … I forgot her name.  She was cool and cute.

This girl is actually really cute but by the end of the week, she seems like she hates everyone and everything in the world.

She has spider legs for eyelashes … eeeeeewwwwww …

She kind of freaks me out.  Kids say no to botox.

She has nice … umm … eyes.

Ashley has always been super cute to me.  She’s really cool peeps.  She’s working the Scion booth this time around guarding the IQ and the FRS with incredible precision and attentiveness.  Well, either that or she’s modeling for them.

Super duper cute and I totally forgot her name… ummm yeah… super duper cute.

Immortalized in the inhale and hold your breath position.  Kinda making me do the same.  Can’t.. hold it.. any.. more…

Ms Burciaga and the douche handing her a business card.

Another one of Jessica.

My buddy Jen.  She’s a nerd and she’s super awesome.

This girl was so much cuter in person.  She’s originally from Vegas but migrated to LA.  How do I know this?  Conversations my friends… conversations… remembering names, optional.

Venezualan chicks from the Pirelli booth seems to be laughing with me… or at me.  DOH!

By far the weirdest and most random thing I’ve seen in SEMA all this years.  Seriously.  But then I thought it was really cool.  Sat there for a bit and listened to her.

Intense Lollipop action within my crew.

Mr. Tim from Eneos.  Super awesome dude.

Mr Shawn of Seibon Carbon

A very very intense altercation is happening.  I wonder what it is.  Probably who can burp louder.  These two just roll like that.

And that’s about it for now.  Kinda got tired of posting so i’ll continue tomorrow.  Maybe.

Wallpaper status…

… or so they claim to be.  I kind of believe it.  The right ingredients are there.  1200hp, weights much lighter than the Veyron, and cost more than a million bucks.  The only thing missing is if the aerodynamics can handle that much wind resistance.  This is 1 of the 4 Hennessey Venom GTs here in the US and this is Chassis #4.  Kinda cool actually.  Don’t know if they have to paint it bright ass yellow tho.  Other than that, this car is bat shit crazy and hyper fast.

Eat your heart out environmentalist.  Strap this on your hybrids.

SEMA was about .. umm .. a month ago and probably all motorheads has probably seen all the of it from online blogs, magazines, and features.  This really isn’t a SEMA coverage since all of the people know that reads my junk, all 5 of you, all I post are random crap from things that I do.  It’s been quite a while since I actually posted an actual full show coverage but who the hell cares.  This is just a quick look of what I did and what I shot using a 8-15 f4L fisheye.  Most won’t make sense since it’s stupid walking around with this lens but c’mon, shit looks better with a fisheye… for the most part.

OS Giken Booth with Mark-San leading the way… to disaster…

Evasive’s Build of the Scion IQ with custom Voltex Aero.  Shit is crazy!!

And the Scion Challenge winner, Mr Sibal’s IQ build.  Clean build.  Nothing less is expected when Sibal is behind  the build.

Scion’s coup de grace the FR-S concept.

It’s looking at chu…

The most hyped up car in the import industry right now, RWB built and owned by Mark Arcenal from Fatlace, Illest fame.  Dubbed Pandora One, this car is worth all the hype.  See it run on track events this coming season.  It is a beaute.  Very rock and roll especially the Illest studded front lip.  Nice touch.  I can forgo with the wheels tho and change it with the RWB SSRs.

Talk about something that’s overly done.  I can live with the chrome paint.  I think it’s a nice touch actually… but everything else is just not my cup-o-tea.  Well, I get it.  It’s a build by West Coast Customs and it’s the Tron car.  LEDs on the wheel and on the seats, well, pretty much all over the car.  I can think of a few other ways to make this look better and make it more Tron-ish.  To each it’s own I guess.  Still, it’s an R8 so hooozaaaah!

Probably one of the most beautiful car in the show floor.  A Foose Auto built Mercedes 300SL Gullwing.  Such a beautiful car.  Flawless in every way.

The Pike’s Peak Hill Climb record breaker, Monster Sport’s Suzuki SX4 driven by Monster Tajima.  If you’re wondering why it’s called Tajima San is called Monster, you should see what he looks like.

And now a visit to the Hankook booth with Lisa and Nicole.  Here’s Lisa and right under this is Nicole Reckers.

Weird angle? yep.. mind you the camera is approximately a foot from her face,  I think I was doing about 10mm on this shot hence the spherical look of the shot.  Full Frame + Fisheye is not really the best thing, but it makes for an interesting shot.  Yep those are my legs lol.  The Wrecker Nicole Reckers… She’s family.  Stay Black Sista’

I was just standing a mere 10 feet from the Hankook booth but I can get everything due to the fisheye awesomeness.. if you look closely Lisa is still looking  thinking that I was shooting her but in reality, umm, I was, there’s nothing else interesting enough to shoot in this area.

On to the Eneos booth with Ms Cara Skye (More on her later).  She an “A” in my book for being Aighttttt.  Hehe she’s awesome sauce and she is one half of the girls representing the Eneos booth.  And yes that’s our GTR in the background and Tim sweet talking that gentleman to buy more oil.

Another of Cara goofing off like we always do.  Good thing the peeps in Eneos are very chill.  Love them as a sponsor, love them as homies!

I believe this was towards the end of the SEMA week.  Jen and Cara just chillin’ at the booth.  Everyone is exhausted, everyone wants to get some sleep.  I for one has about 5 hours of sleep in that week.  Cara and I go to SEMA at 8:30-5 then drive back to the hotel that takes about an hour for 1 mile of driving, rest and get ready for an hour or two, the go out till 4 – 5 in the morning sleep for a bit and wake up at 7am.  At least I do.  Sleep was an option during SEMA week and an option I rarely took.

From East to West, High End Reppin it to the fullest.

Sexy sardines plowing in a tundra.  There’s 7 of us in this truck heading to china town to get some dim sum.  Best dim sum in Vegas I would say.  Golden Palace is the shit.

I have a few more shots that I need to post but I’m working on it little by little.  These are the ones that stood out or that caught my eye quick enough before my attention went somewhere else.

SEMA was a lot of fun.  From driving there with my Evo by myself, to partying till the sun comes up on the daily, no matter how exhausting it was and the lack of rest I got from doing and going absolutely everywhere it was still worth it.  Seeing old friends and meeting new ones are always the best highlights of the trip.  New cars, new products, and new projects comes as a mere second.  Will I do it again next year?  Hmm good question.  I’ve been doing this trip for about 6-7 years now and this year might be the last time that I go all week.  Maybe pop in and out for a few days next year and not do the whole week like the previous years.  Depends on how busy I’ll be I suppose.  But still, it’s a year away.  I don’t plan that far ahead of time.  We’ll see how it goes because by the next year, projects will be coming in and new cars and parts will need a new home and a booth for SEMA 2012.  And who am I to refuse them of that privilege. FishEye OUT!

category: Art and Photography
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Here’s our main feature car last SEMA.  Our High End Performance GTR driving back from Vegas to Cali.

category: Art and Photography
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While walking around the sema grounds, I stumbled this ol’ gem. I was actually kind of stoked when I found this and figured wow! This company is doing really good! Low and behold upon closer inspection, it wasn’t what I thought it was. What a crock of shiet!


That is seriously nuts and I had to share it with my peeps. It was hilarious and super sad at the same time. In my head it reminds me of that Conan O’Brien “Name that Tune” bit where you guess what song the bad was playing but when you thought you had it right, it’s an entirely different song but same likeness. Crazy.