Michael Chandler Photography

Aquarium Redux

2010-10-22T12:00:00.000-07:00

Went back to the aquarium so Garrison could battle his trick again

This thing, again

Cale checked it out...

...while Brock got his drink on

Then a couple employees told us to read the aquarium approved graffiti and to get the hell out

Michael (photog) Jackson (skater)

2010-10-18T13:21:00.000-07:00

I met Jackson at Skateshop Day at Brick & Mortar. He's super motivated to go shot photos and get footage, so we went out the other day and got some photos.

UtahHondas.net May 2010 COTM

2010-06-22T11:05:00.000-07:00

Your winner is Billy's EG Si! Congrats to Billy, and now on to the story...

You're not gonna get much of one here. Sorry. See, Billy has agreed to be the first Honda featured in CAM Auto Magazine. So I'm sorry if you were excited to hear about all the work he's done to it since he bought it, or how he intentionally blew up the SOHC turbo motor that was in it, or about the body work he did, or the B20/VTEC that's in there now. I'm sorry you're not gonna read about the Diamond Black TE37's or the Omni Power coilovers. I'm sorry.

BUT you will get to read about it on 6/30. In the meantime, here's some photos to tide you over:

Rally Sport Swap meet extras

2010-05-18T12:32:00.001-07:00

Shot these at the RSD Swap meet A month-ish(?) ago, and edited them, but never did anything with them. So, here you go:

UtahHondas.net April 2010 COTM

2010-05-15T19:28:00.000-07:00

311hp's Turbo Acura Integra

"It's an out for me." -Jarett, the owner

We all have hobbies, I take the pictures you see on this blog and I write the words you read. Some people make music, some write, and some hunt. Jarett's hobby is building his Integra.

The car has traveled a long road to be the vehicle you see here. When Jarrett purchased the car is was running on a SOHC motor. Odd? Yes. Unheard of? Nope. With the help of his friends Cory, Bobbo, Micah, Jeremy and Tyler this amalgamated pile of Honda-ness became the functional and powerful example you see before you.

First thing to go was the single cam boat anchor. Replacing it is an LS/VTEC setup utilizing stock LS internals and being held together with ARP head bolts. Attached to the LS/V is an Edelbrock Victor X intake manifold, some MSD spark an Earl's oil drain plug wires, and a LovFab Tubular Bottom Mount turbo manifold. Hanging off the bottom mount is a Garrett GT3582R ball bearing turbocharger, which is capable of moving enough air to make 650hp. Jarrett is only looking to make 400hp with this set up. A Tial wastegate and TurboXS boost controller keep the boost in check and a Tial blow off valve relieves excess presure.

The air, after being sucked in and compressed by the turbo, is sent through a custom bent 2.5" charge pipe and into the Victor X. In the combustion chamber it meets fuel, which was squirted by 750cc injectors, and proceeds to go bang. The spent gasses exit the combustion chamber through to LovFab manifold, through the turbine and out the back of the car via an Espiler 3" exhaust.

Controlling the whole fiasco is a Neptune base map. Don't worry, he's getting it tuned in a couple of weeks by Cortney. All will be right in the Integra's world soon enough. Getting the power to the wheels is a GS-R transmission with an Exedy stage 3 clutch and 11lb flywheel.

Now that we've discussed the means by which this Integra makes power, let's talk about the means by which it conveys itself around corners. The car is lowered on a set of Omni Power coliovers. Included with the coilovers are a set of Nitrogen charged shocks. The ride is a little stiffer than you'd expect, but not intolerable. Blox LCA's help keep things aligned, and DC upper strut tower bars and Megan Racing lowers help keep everything from twisting about too much.

Completing the transfer of power from motor to asphalt is a set of Falken Azenis wrapped around a set of 15" hyper black Rota Circuit 8's. Sticky and stylish: two words you don't hear together too often (or at all), but the right words to describe the wheel and tire combo on this Milano Red Integra.

Inside the car is one Corbeau seat, large enough for a normal human being to sit in, and one GS-R leather passenger seat, sourced from Dave: master of the ghetto arts. The passenger can fiddle around with the Alpine deck while the driver keeps an eye on the engine's condition and boost pressure via Autometer gauges and the Air/Fuel ratio via an AEM Wideband. Gears are changed via a Civic Type-R topped with an Integra Type-R shift knob. Everyone gets to put their feet on genuine-ish ITR floor mats.

Outside this Integra sets itself apart by rocking the original Milano Red paint, a carbon fiber hood, and a black replica Type-R lip. Silverstar bulbs light up the road when the low beams are on, and yellow high beams provide...hell, do you need a reason for the yellow high beams? They look good. People will know you are turning when they see the amber turn signals blink.

Most of the parts were bought, but a few parts were made by the owner himself: the radiator support bears his initials, a bumper support might (I didn't look to see) and some "bumper spacers" definitely don't but he made them.

A lot of people have hobbies, but few get to display the fruits of their amateur labor. And fewer still have results this good.

May 7

2010-05-13T14:21:00.000-07:00

About a week a go I was coerced, err invited to tag along with my brother as he went around to local businesses to hang up posters for the University of Utah Jimmyball Basketball Camps. Here's what I was seeing...

First things first, local indigenous flora.

We hit paydirt at Whole Foods

Then the fire crew showed up, and parked rather conveniently.

If I shot this in July you'd damn well better believe there'd be fireworks and at least one Bald Eagle in the frame

Signage

Here's my brother singing in the car and doing some choreography. He does this all the time. Here he's singing something by Alabama and ridiculing me for not knowing who the hell they are.

Speeding home

When we got home Jason proceeded to sit down on the couch and fall asleep for a good 3 hours.

And with that, I'm done

I've been moving

2010-05-04T10:44:00.000-07:00

That's why no posts lately. That, and no opportunities to shoot. I'm supposedly shooting a turbo S2000 and a turbo Integra, but when I'm not sure.

Anywho, here's some super awesome cell phone pics I shot during the move!

old place

new place

I'll be shooting some better pics soon. Some Better Homes and Gardens type stuff.

Supremacy Racing 8th Anniversary

2010-04-25T19:52:00.000-07:00

On April 24th Utah Honda folk from Logan to Chester (i.e. the sticks) descended upon 1727 Main Street in Sunset to celebrate Supremacy Racing's 8 year Anniversary. Frank, Kel, Eric, Kam and a few others jumped through every hoop getting this thing organized. Eric came to C&C that morning to rally the troops and get everyone up there in time. I didn't join the caravan, electing to get lost looking for the Herriman skatepark (good news, I found it and it's awesome). After my adventure in the suburbs I made my way north.

Despite leaving late, AND from a point much farther south than I'd have liked to, I arrived early. I said my hello's, gave Micah and Chan DVD's with their COTM shoots on them, and then got to shooting. Here's what I saw:

Eric's K swapped coupe, aka the shit box haha

Next to Eric's coupe was Billy's immaculate hatch

A pair of NASA road racing vets graced the lot with their presence

Here's something I thought was just a story: Ryan's DC5. It chilled in the lot while he directed traffic into and out of the civilian parking lot

Oooo, shiny. The ITB's on Frank's all motor hatch.

Food tent. What you can't see are the coolers full of Starbucks. Yes, there was Starbucks. Yes, they sponsored the event.

No live band this year, but we did have a DJ

Pretty good turn out.

Thanks to Frank and Kel and everyone who helped organize this. Check out the Supremacy Racing 8th set on my flickr page, and check out Supremacy's blog for more pics and info on what's going on with them.

Sideways Hoonage

2010-04-22T18:54:00.000-07:00

Last Sunday there was a private-ish drift event/get together/ho down/whatever out at Miller and Dave (master of the Ghetto Arts and proud owner of a Starion) invited me to shoot some photos. I happily complied, so at the crack of mid morning I set out for Tooele via SR201.

After an hour, or something, I arrived at the gates... as did Dave in a truck. I got my wrist band, signed a waiver, pulled in and drove to the far side of the paddock and parked. They blocked off the area between the "Basic Research" grandstand and the garages for the event. Unfortunately the track officials wouldn't let the drivers get close to the concrete barriers they used for the sectioning off, but being the creative and resourceful people they are the drivers made a small wall of tires a good ten feet in front of the barriers.

It was a good time, thanks to Dave for inviting me out. And now, on to the pictures:

Ladies and gentlemen, here are your participants... Well, some of them anyway

Yeah, you're gonna need these

And one of these

Cause this is gonna happen to your tires if you're doin it right. I have never heard so many tires popping and hissing.

V8 + FC3S = Bad Assery

You kids and your propensity to throw up the horns...

Jordan showed up. Here he's having some alone time under his jacket.

Points car. I think it's gonna be at Willow Springs this weekend.

The closest thing to a tandem drift that went on

I may have gotten a little close...

The rest of the photos, along with future drift photos, are gonna be in The Drift Kids set on my flickr page.

Cars and Coffee

2010-04-19T07:22:00.000-07:00

Another Saturday morning, another day at Espress Yourself for Cars and Coffee

I finally see an R35 there!

Lotus? Caterham? Whatever it is, it's rockin an SR20DET

This is only used to document laps...only laps

Name the Subaru with a big front mount jammed in its gaping maw and win...nothing!

This kinda makes me want a new Impreza

Good Morning MR2

Is that a Z06?!?

DB2 GSR in all its tealy goodness

S2K, Mugen hard top, CCW's combine to make a fan favorite

Rally Sport Direct Swap Meet

2010-04-17T21:26:00.000-07:00

Today was the first Rally Sport Direct Swap Meet. It was an opportunity to meet new people, eat free pizza and swap or sell the pile of old parts you have lying around your garage/house. The day couldn't have been nicer, high in the mid seventies and sunny. Tons of people came out, both sides of the streets were lined with cars and the parking lots of the surrounding businesses were packed! Hopefully this won't be a one time only event, and judging by the response I doubt it will be a one time only thing.

Remember this GC coupe from the first WoW event? Well, this is on the middle of its front lip:

Fear teh bunny

Michael Pumpkyn Nielsen, maker of Flapatax mudflaps, showed up

So did Brody

Jerry, master of the UtahHondas.net grill

Baddest.Forrester.Ever.

The parking lot at RSD was a busy place

The adjoining parking lots were pretty busy too

Anyone else like this one as much as I do?

Pedo Bear makes an apperance

Indeed

The streets is hot right now!

Conveniently parked

Sean!

TOMMY!.. And lurker

I got a story about this car, but not now

Hella artsy

Contrasting Mazdas

Thanks to Kirill and everyone at Rally Sport and everyone who came out and everyone who helped out to make this thing possible.

First Wide Open Wednesday of 2010

2010-04-15T17:47:00.000-07:00

Yes, the time has come for Miller to open the east track to anyone with $25 and a car that isn't leaking fluids like crazy. It was the first Wide Open Wednesday of 2010 and there was a great turn out. UtahHondas.net had a big presence out there, hell, Hondas in general had a big presence: Civics galore, a CRX, a couple Integras, an S2000, a Prelude and an NSX, the holy grail of Hondas.

Usually there's a healthy amount of Subaru's, but this time there were only 4: a last generation Legacy GT wagon (none of the pics turned out too well unfortunately), Jordan's monster truck:

This wagon which, after a first lap hiccup, ran pretty well:

A GC coupe that appeared for only one lap then disappeared:

And the lone Evolution representative:

...I'm having a bit of a hard time coming up with the necessary transitions, so I'm just gonna post some more pictures.

haggard

thunder bunny?

wonder if this one's ever gonna make it out there

You might think it's slow, and you'd be right

If not for the NSX this would've been the mid engine car of the event.

In life there are winners and losers. This guy is not only a winner, but he might be the WoW shit box champion.

He never moved from this position except when a Mustang would come through and eat a cone.

Everyone knows it's Jeffrey!

LOOK! IT'S JACKIE CHAN!!!

You know those old guy muppets in the balcony who always talk shit? Yeah, these guys aren't like them.

Look at all of the shots I've taken at all the Wide Open Wednesdays events in this massive flickr set!

UtahHondas.net March 2010 COTM

2010-04-15T16:09:00.000-07:00

AE86Micah-Neo's K20Z1 swapped hatch.

Let me explain why this write up taken so long. You see, this thing is in its element on the track and both Micah and myself agreed that this write up would be done AFTER I got some shots of it on the track. Problem was the first track day wasn't until the 14th, a week and a half after he won. So we waited, and then the day finally came around for us to roll out to the track.

Before I tell you about the track day, let me tell you about the car.

Under the hood isn't the SOHC that Honda originally placed under the hood, there isn't a B-Series like so many other have shoe-horned in the engine compartment, no there is a K20Z1 AND the accompanying 6 speed manual transmission. Hell, it's still got the spark plug cover emblazoned with the Acura emblem. Holding the motor in place are Hasport mounts, which Micah had to fix because as he said "some weren't even bolted! They were held in place with hopes and dreams." Gotta love fixing somebody else's mistakes. Air enters the K20 via a custom intake, through a 70mm P2R throttle body, and eventually into the combustion chamber. There it meets the fuel, which made its way there from the tank through a Walbro 255lph fuel pump, BDL fuel pressure regulator and fuel rail. After squishing and banging the spent fumes are sent out of the head through a DC Sports header and out through a Kteller 3 inch exhaust with a Magnaflow muffler and resonator. Making sure all of this works right is a Hondata Kpro ECU, and it does that well.

The car sits on Skunk2 coilovers and Bilstein shocks, which replaced the blown ones that came with the car. Again, previous ownership fail. Blox rear lower control arms, along with Hard Race rear toe and camber kits keep the car from chewing up the Falken Azenis RT615 too quickly. Speaking of those Flaken's, they're lovingly wrapped around 15x8 Rota RB's.

Inside there isn't much. No carpet or sound deadening, but there is an AEM Wideband on the A pillar and something much cooler. In place of your average cluster is a cluster out of an S2000. It's awesome, it's very awesome.

The minimalist motif continues on the exterior with a CTR front lip, EK side skirts, OEM mudflaps, JDM headlights (with 8k HID's) and amber corners. The only real flashy bit is the carbon fiber duck bill spoiler.

Now on to the track experience. Micah has a set of Hoosier slicks he wanted to run, but he couldn't get those on in time. He wanted to put a rear sway bar on, and he was all set to do it but a problem arose. Remember that Magnaflow muffler? Yeah, it got in the way. He was faced with a choice: run without a sway bar and face the consequences or hack the muffler off with a hacksaw, put the sway bar on and ride in ricer mode. Knowing how loud the car is made the choice easy: no sway bar. He was fairly nervous about it, but those fears were quickly quashed. He described the car as "the most predictable car I've ever driven. If my 86 was like writing a doctoral thesis, this (the civic) is like a third grade essay on Charoltte's Web."

Ferrari Challenge

2010-04-12T12:20:00.001-07:00

I was supposed to go out to the Ferrari Challenge on Saturday, but nobody else was going that day so I decided to not drive my sleep deprived and alone self out to Tooele. I waited until Sunday to drive my sleep deprived and alone self out to the wind farm that was Miller. I knew Sean was gonna be out there, so I hunted him down after I hit on the girls in the ticket office (they smiled, but that's all they gave me). Found Sean, talked a bit then started shooting photos in the paddock.

Chatted some more, Sean left and the 599xx's and Fxx's started up and made their way down the pit. I was standing at the east end of the pits when the cars started up and rolled out of the garages.

After changing my pants and looking for a cigarette, I ran to the other end of the pits and set up at the exit of pit lane and watched them roll on to the track.

Check the safety car, a black California.

Then I ran around the track as the xx cars were lapping.

I wound up at the Clubhouse turn where I ran into Katie, the girl who bought my Pentax. She was out there breaking it in. It's in a good home. Anyway, the cars were coming into the turn pretty hot. How hot? Well, take a look

The xx's finished lapping and they started prepping the track for the 430 Challenge race, which got started a lot quicker than I expected. The 430's followed the safety car around on a parade lap, then got off to a rolling start for the 45 minute race.

Ryan was there, handing out claws to small children like this

The race ended and the brought out the cars for tech inspection, which was open to the public.

Some cars didn't fare so well in the race

Tech ended and I made my way to the parking lot, shooting photos on my way out

Later Miller. Thanks for hosting. I'll see you on Wednesday

Guth sesh

2010-04-11T08:17:00.000-07:00

Went to Guth yesterday.

Lil Jeff blasted over the point

And he was pretty hyped about it

Then we went outside to fly kites

It took Jovi a minute, but he finally got his kite up

And he was hyped

Chase hung out in Jovi's truck

G-baby broke out the camera

and was entrenched deep in thought

Matt showed off

Tucker smoked

So did Max

And so did Sean

Sean also found this boss ass friendship bracelet/key chain

Cars and Coffee

2010-04-10T13:40:00.000-07:00

The last few Saturdays I've been waking up early (8AM) and dragging my ghastly remains to Espress Yourself in South Jordan for Cars and Coffee. Basically it's a bunch of car guys hanging out, drinking coffee and talking about whatever. Good times.

Selling my Pentax

2010-04-08T17:17:00.000-07:00

And everything that goes with it.

The "everything" includes the 18-55mm kit lens with a Hoya 55mm UV filter

A Tamron 28-200mm lens with an aperture ring so you can change the aperture by hand on the lens instead of through the camera and a 72mm Quantaray UV filter

(By the way, the 28-200 on the Pentax got me into Honda Tuning. Shot this photo which was in the October 2007 issue)

The OG owner's manual

A wireless remote

A 512MB Sandisk Ultra II SD card

And the venerable Lowepro Nova 1 bag

All of this for the low low price of $250. I've got a set on flickr with more (and bigger) photos.

Beautiful Desolation

2010-04-04T12:45:00.000-07:00

I was driving home on the Legacy Parkway from Ogden today, and I looked out the passenger window and saw...

nothing.

It was a welcome change from the sprawling suburbs I normally see when I take I-15 home, and it got me thinking about how much I like road trips. Not for where I'm going*, but what I'll see along the way.

*I've only road tripped to 3 places. Southern California a few times, Vegas a ton, and one ill advised family road trip to Illinois. We did the last one when I was eight and my brother six. Illinois was fun, the drive to and from was horrible

Boredom

2010-03-31T10:57:00.000-07:00

It leads to stuff like this:

Lakai Carroll Select LTD's

2010-03-30T21:26:00.000-07:00

Finally edited the scans of my Carroll Select LTD's.

good one

less good one

UtahHondas.net Spring meet

2010-03-29T12:12:00.000-07:00

UtahHondas.net had their 4th annual spring meet on 3/28, and I was there. I wasn't too happy, but damnit I showed up! And early too.

Over 300 cars and 900 people showed up. Now, I could show you the cars I shot, but there weren't that many good cars and you've seen most of them. Instead I'm posting people and other random pictures. Hell, that the reason I go to these damn things: to talk to my friends.

Dave's Starion/Trans Am/944/Firebird/FC

Micah loves his EG

It's easy to see why he does

This pretty much sums up the meet

Jordan and...umm...yeah...

Kyle's getting that shit tattooed on him

He's got a fight in April. I think it's going to ruin his modeling career

THAT'S A FUCKING QUARTER!!!

I dunno why, but I really like this photo

Hi Tony!

Hi Tony and Chase!

Mike AKA Grizzly fucking Adams

Grizzly and some guy sitting on Jordan's car

The two dudes looking into the camera are Dave, master of the ghetto arts, and Jerry, the guy who did all of the cooking and most of the setup.

It was good times. If you wanna see the car pics click here.

Filmicly Film

2010-03-23T12:11:00.000-07:00

Went to Sam's yesterday and scanned some old film and slides. Each photo has a story behind it. Feel free to ask, but don't complain if it isn't the story you want.

I miss shooting film, I should do it more

UtahHondas.net December 2009 COTM

2010-03-22T10:47:00.001-07:00

BOOM3R's Del Sol VTEC

I approached him about doing the shoot as soon as he was announced the winner. He was down, but there was one problem: the car was in winter mode and wasn't coming out of it until...well, earlier this month. Thankfully winter ended, and we were able to shoot.

Underneath the hood is a JDM B16 SIR-II swap. The valve cover was black, but now it's gold thanks to UnknownCoatings.com. The intake is a Password:JDM Carbon Fiber chamber intake, aka the whale penis. Spent gasses are sent out via a Kidd Racing narrow header, through a custom 2.5 inch mandrel bent exhaust and finally out through an Apex'i World Sport 2 muffler. AEM light weight pulleys help the engine spin better, and a 255lph Walbro fuel pump in conjunction with an AEM fuel rail make sure the JDM mill doesn't get thirsty.

The outside of the car has been accented properly with carbon fiber. Lots of it. Not Science of Speed CF NSX amounts, but a good amount nonetheless. The carbon touches include: the Seibon wing, the hood, the door sills, sail garnish, and rear garnish. Tasteful, not over powering, clean.

The car rolls not on the stock wheels, not on actual TE37's, but knock off TE37's. Is this a problem for some? Yes, but those who see this as a problem AREN'T myself or Thayne, the owner of this Sol. His 15 inch faux TE's are shod in Yokohama S.drive's.

We've talked about everything else, now let's talk about something I thoroughly enjoy: suspension! The car is lowered on TEIN SS springs. A Beaks rear tie bar in conjunction with a 23mm sway bar out back and a VTEC upper strut tower bar in the front keeping the chassis from flexing too much. A Skunk2 camber kit prevents the Yokohama's from getting chewed up too much too soon.

The rest of the photos from the shoot can be seen here. And now, for your viewing pleasure, are some bonus shots:

Miller

2010-03-20T09:43:00.000-07:00

Miller Motorsports Park is one of my favorite places to shoot. It's a big road course with plenty of picture-esqe turns, and most of the time when I'm out there there's SOMETHING ELSE equally interesting to shoot. I went out there for a Wide Open Wednesday event and there were ALMS GT class cars in the paddock getting ready to turn practice laps. It's great. And I never go out there alone. I'm always with my friends. It's like an oasis out there: good friends, amazing cars, memorable times.

I'm going out there tomorrow to shoot photos of the drifter kids. Gonna be a good day

Herc goes to Starbucks

2010-03-19T14:04:00.000-07:00

This is a little video I made when I worked at Gracie's. I made it one night after I finished my shift. Jordan Porritt came down to help, and he brought some people with him.

The video stars Lil Herc, a small foam rubber guy I got at SEMA last year. I posted some twitter updates with him in them, so naturally I decided to see if he could make the transition to being a film star.

So here, for your viewing pleasure, is Herc's acting debut:

Herc Goes To Starbucks from Yom on Vimeo.

What have I been up to lately?

2010-03-16T21:21:00.000-07:00

This motherfuckers!

Guth2 Teaser #2 from Yom on Vimeo.

Neighborhood

2010-03-11T14:27:00.000-08:00

Some people say I don't get out enough. That's bullshit. If I don't get out of my house, then who's gonna get the mail?

Caption this

2010-03-08T19:21:00.000-08:00

Give me your best caption for this photo:

This isn't a contest cause I'm too poor for prizes. There are no winners, just people who recognize awesome and those who don't

Aquarium

2010-03-08T10:28:00.000-08:00

On Saturday Sam told me to come to Guth. As I was pulling in he told me it was closed (it wasn't) and that I should go to Sandy. So I did.

Got to Sandy, hung out with Sam and waited for Jovi, Glenn and Garrison to get there. When they got there they proceeded to warm up. When they got warmed up we talked about where to go street skating. We wound up going to the aquarium.

It was kinda rugged, so Glenn and Garrison did some prep work

Glenn got something

So did Jovi

Garrison didn't land anything...

...but he got something

I'm debating on whether or not to post the photo of what he got. I'm not gonna say what it was, but it involves Sam following through on something he said he'd do as we were leaving.

1st and J shots

2010-03-05T16:58:00.000-08:00

AKA The Long Awaited Leica Shots

Nick

Jared Smith

Matt

Dagan ripping

Jovi and Chris, checkin the prizes

Matt wallriding, Swainston shooting

Gonzo!

More here. Thank you Jovi and Matt for organizing this and Sam for letting me borrow your Leica

The Evo vs. STi poll results!

2010-03-01T13:21:00.000-08:00

The poll has closed, and the results are in. Before announcing the winner I'd like to thank the 9 people who voted. Without you it would have been nothing if not horribly biased. And now, to the results!

Coming in last place with ZERO votes is the 04-05 STi.

Better luck next time

In 4th place with ONE vote is the Evo VIII

Loved by many, voted for by almost none

3rd place goes to the Evo IX

Looks slightly better than the VIII to me, but just barely.

Coming in second is...

NOTHING!

Why?

CAUSE THERE IS A TIE FOR FIRST!

Garnering 33% of the vote each are the 06-07 STi AND the other option, which judging by the comments is the 08 STI!

What have we learned? Well, nothing to be honest. Only 9 people voted so we can't draw any real, hard, scientific conclusions.

Nothing scientific, but I can go ahead and declare that the 06+ STI's are the ultimate rally machines available in the US of A right now!

Evo vs. STi

2010-02-25T19:28:00.000-08:00

On Utah Hondas we're having a debate about which is better, the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution or the Subaru WRX STi. We're talking about the Evo VIII & IX and the 04-07 STi's, not the Evo X and STI hatchback. The ones that are reasonably priced, and more readily available.

I'm squarely in the STi camp. I think the 06-07 STi's look better than the Evo and they sound amazing. Others say I'm wrong and say the Evo IX is the more beautiful rally box and sounds better because it doesn't "sound like a blown up Honda".

I've had the pleasure of shooting and riding in both, so I'm going to post up my favorite shots of each and then let you pick your homologization special. Feel free to explain your choice as a comment. Let the battle continue!

STi:

Evo:

Fridge

2010-02-24T15:45:00.000-08:00

Last night I was getting something out of the fridge when I realized something. I realized my fridge is filthy and full of condiments. It's OK though, I've got milk and a ton of cereal so it's all good.

Driveway

2010-02-23T10:32:00.000-08:00

"You ever wonder why we park on a driveway, but drive on a parkway?" Some random guy asked me that yesterday. I told him it was a stupid question when I heard it when I was 17, and it hasn't gotten any better. Conversation over!

Shooting film

2010-02-20T23:06:00.000-08:00

Lately (the last two days) I've been shooting film, mostly with my little Olympus XA2. So far it's been great, except the half roll of Fuji Provia 100F I messed up. How the hell was I supposed to know it wasn't 400? All the other rolls I have are 400! Whatever, Sam said I should cross process it and that might save it, and since I defer to him for all things film related, I'm gonna do it. I'm dropping it, and the three other rolls I've shot off at the lab later this week. In the meantime, here's some old stuff I shot and scanned years ago!

first time I ever met Jovi

coolest S2000 ever

hella artsy

Winner Winner Chicken Dinner

2010-02-08T09:20:00.000-08:00

UtahHondas.net January Car of the Month

There's a lot to like about this Prelude. It's sitting proper on a set of JDM DC5 Integra Type-R wheels spaced out 15mm in the front and 20mm in the rear by a set of ICHIBA Version II spacers. A set of Work Tuner lug nuts keep everything attached to the hubs. Tein Super Street coilovers keep the BB6 low enough to look good, but high enough to not rip off the USDM Honda body kit when it goes over a speed bump.
Rounding out the exterior goodies are the Depo black housing headlights. Inside these headlights are AP1 S2000 retrofit HID projectors with E46 BMW 3 Series bezels. A set of Hawk Ceramic brake pads help reel the car in when it needs to stop.

Norman hasn't addressed the engine yet, but it's definitely in the cards. He has added some power adders in the form of a JDM Type-S Dynamic intake, a K&N drop in air filter, NGK spark plugs and wires, and a RS*R cat back exhaust.

His handle on UtahHondas.net is JDMBB6 for a reason: the car is packing a lot of JDM goodness. In addition to the JDM fog lights, ITR wheels, red EP3 and DC5 Honda badges (front and rear respectively), flush mount spoiler and S-Spec decal that you'll definitely see there's a JDM EK9 shift knob and shift boot that you probably won't see.

More photos from the shoot can be seen here.

Jordan's WRX Wagon

2010-01-31T12:50:00.000-08:00

Jordan Porritt, of JLP-Photo.com fame picked up this wagon last year. When he picked it up it was ridding high on wheels that been abused by many many curbs, but like every WRX it had the potential to be something great.

The car is now sitting low (really low) on 18x9.5 +38 Work Emotion CR Kai's shod with 225/40r18 Hankook Ice Bear snow tires (it is winter after all). Bringing the car closer to the pavement are a set of BC Racing Inverted Coilovers with 10K front and 8K rear springs. BC Racing camber plates keep everything lined up in the back.

The 2.5 liter flat four inhales through a COBB intake and exhales through a Perrin divorced downpipe and an A'PEXi N1 Exhaust. A COBB Accessport v2 has been brought in to add some more power and a COBB radiator shroud helps to keep things cool. A set of Kartboy shifter bushings keep shifts crisp wherever Jordan takes the wagon.

The only major exterior additions have been a V Limited replica lip and a set of Audi-esque LEDs in the headlights. The LEDs get plenty of attention, especially from the VW guys.

Is it the fastest WRX around? Nope. Is it one of the best looking? It's up there. There's something to be said about a slammed wagon on a set of Works that everyone can agree about

My 2 Camera Bags and Why I've got 2

2010-01-24T21:12:00.001-08:00

(AKA I'm too lazy to sell my old bag)

I have two camera bags. Both are backpacks. I bought one to replace the other. I had the fullest intention of selling the other, but I never got around to it. Why? I'm not sure (too lazy is the consensus), but it's come in handy.
The new bag was purchased because it was bigger and can hold all of my gear. It's got a rain cover and a dedicated MP3 player pocket. It's amazing and I got a killer deal on it. Right now my bag is currently packed full with everything I'd take to a location shoot: It has my camera body (the Digital Rebel with the 10D firmware hack), my 50mm f/1.8, the 18-55 f/3.5-5.6 kit lens and a 70-300mm f/4-5.6 I bought that came with a paper weight, my eBay wireless flash trigger kit (3 receivers and 1 transmitter), 2 hot shoe flashes, extra AA and AAA batteries, an extra battery for the camera, memory cards, neck strap, lens cloths, matches, gaff tape, a light meter I rarely use (unless I'm trying to impress someone) a notebook, some pens and both of my skate tools. It's jam packed full of everything I need when I'm out avoiding getting hit by someone's board or shooting someone's automotive pride and joy. Hell, if I wanted to I could attach two tripods and have both of my hands free to jam into my pockets. It's the greatest $70 (plus S&H) I have ever spent on a piece of luggage. But there's just one small problem with its vastness.
It's big. Not so big that I wouldn't carry it TO a spot, but it's too big to carry AROUND a spot. A spot like say, a race track or car meet. Despite however nice it is to have everything you could need in a bag it's completely useless if you only need a few of those things. “Mike,” you might be saying right now, “just take out the stuff you don't need and leave it at your house you jackass.” Well kind reader, have you ever had a big bag that's only partially full and packed in a particular way? No? It feels weird. Really weird. I don't like feeling weird, and I don't like feeling weird for hours on end which is the case for shooting track side or at a meet. So what's the solution?
Small bag. It's small, which cuts down on storage space and means I have to really think about what I'm gonna need. So far all my thinking has led me to one load out for the track and one for meets. The track pack includes the body, 75-300mm, 18-55mm, one flash, one wireless receiver, my only transmitter, extra batteries for the flash and receiver, extra camera battery, memory cards, pocket knife, notebook, pens and water/Gatorade/Powerade. It gets hot out in Tooele in the summer, and this guy needs to stay hydrated. It works perfectly, and I keep it mostly the same for meets. I only trade out the 75-300mm for my 50mm because sometimes I like running around with the 50 and trying to get artsy shots at meets. It's fun, and you get weird looks sometime.
So there you have it, my two bags and why I have them. Think of me like a family with two cars. I have the big, practical SUV to lug around the kids, lumber and whatever nonsense family men have to carry around, and then I have the little sports car: not practical but fun and will carry only what I need for a weekend jaunt.

Big bag shots:

Small bag shots:

camera phone fun time

2010-01-24T11:25:00.000-08:00

Lately I've been shooting photos with my CAMERA phone instead of my DSLR because I always have my phone on me and it's been too cold to go out (as in not in the studio) and try to shoot with someone.

The CAMERA phone isn't too bad: it's 5MP, iso sensitivity as low as 50 and as high as 800, 10 scene modes (which I've never used) AND it's own little photo editing program. It's pretty basic, but it let's me do what I need to do (rotate, brightness and contrast).

Here's what it's done:

So, I got bored today

2010-01-16T22:35:00.000-08:00

I got bored and decided to take some pictures of this shadow I saw last night.

A light in my parents room that, when it's on and the door is open, makes this weird shadow with the banister on the wall above the stairs... That sounds weird, just look at the pictures:

The Bad Meal

2010-01-09T20:32:00.000-08:00

My brother and I are on the same diet, and once a week my brother and I go completely off the plan (the diet says we can! it's in the book!) and eat like complete and utter shit. Today I documented this gluttonous event. Why? Cause my other shoot fell through and I wanted to shoot.

And because some people don't believe that this actually happens.

I met up with my brother and our friend Craig at the Huntsman. From there we went off to Crown Burger for the bad meal.

Now Craig had only heard about the bad meal, but he'd never heard any details of what actually goes on. He had no idea that the bad meal is going completely overboard and then some. He ordered a cheeseburger, medium fries and a medium Coke. He paid about $8:

I, like a jackass/genius, ordered a bacon cheeseburger, Crown burger (cheeseburger with Pastrami on top), a gyro an order of onion rings and a large Coke that was about the size of a bucket. I paid $20 for this feast:

Jason, being the king glut, ordered two (2) bacon cheeseburgers, a steak sandwich (medium), a chicken finger plate (with honey-mustard. He didn't know it came with fries), an order of fries and a "large" root beer. He dropped a whopping $30 on his monument to gluttony:

By the way, it took two trays to hold all his food.

For those keeping score: there are 3 bacon cheeseburgers, 3 orders of fries, 3 chicken fingers, 1 steak sandwich, 1 Crown burger, 1 gyro, 1 order of onion rings and enough soda to fill a bath tub. And fry sauce, lots and lots of fry sauce.

And so we ate, with Craig in awe of the amount of food Jason and I were going to eat. I say "going to" instead of "attempting to" because we always eat everything we get. Well, almost. We kill the main items first(burgers, pizza, whatever) and go after the side dishes (fries, bread sticks, etc.) 2nd. Suffice it to say that me and the boy do work:

Craig was impressed and/or disgusted

And Jason was embarrassed

And that was that. We took Craig back to his car, then Jason and I went home and plopped our fat asses on the couch to watch the Eagles lay an egg against Cowboys.

My New Year's Resolutions

2010-01-06T11:13:00.001-08:00

We're half way through the first full week of '10 (by the way, it's either twenty-ten or two-thousand ten. First person I hear call it ought ten is going to have their face pushed through the back of their skull) and I feel it necessary to explain my simplistic New Year's Resolutions. My resolutions being #1 Don't Suck and #2 Don't Die. Sounds straight forward enough, but when have I ever been one to make things easy for myself?

Let's go over the Don't Die part. Sounds simple enough, and it is: don't fucking die before the clock strikes midnight on January 1, 2011. But it's a bit more than that. If you know me then you know I call myself a fat ass quite a bit. True I've lost weight, but I'm still fat. I'm shooting for 180lbs. Why? Other than it's where I think I SHOULD be it's also where my brother is trying to get to and I'd take some pleasure in seeing him be the heavy one for once... Even if it is just 3 pounds.

Another part of Don't Die will require some doing financially or a few minor acts of insurance fraud. I haven't been to the dentist, orthodontist or doctor in a damn long time. I've got an extra molar/wisdom tooth somewhat coming in (it's stalled out half way), I'm missing two teeth (right up front) and my left knee has decided it doesn't like me most mornings. It's time for this guy to go in for his 15,000 mile check up.

That's it for Don't Die. Now it's time to explain Don't Suck.

Don't Suck really involves shooting more, snowboarding/skating more (and better) and this. Writing. And going back to school, but that'll come later.

Shooting more sounds simple: take more photos. And while it can be, I don't want it to be. I'm trying to get more model shoots and car shoots. It's a tremendious pain because #1 nobody knows who the hell I am and #2 I'm an insignificant fish in the big damned pond that is automotive photographers in Utah. It's a hell of a hill, but I'm ready to scale it. I've signed up for a ModelMayhem.com account and I've been propositioning every new member of UtahHondas.net with a clean car. And I'm going to be stalking around Miller again as soon as Wide Open Wednesdays gets going again.

Onto the next: snowboarding and skating more and better. I love both, but I feel more natural on a snowboard. I've gone 2 days this season and I had a shit ton of fun. I want to go more, but unfortunately my schedule isn't permitting me to do so. Hopefully my schedule will open up so I can get more quality time in and make some progress. Skating more will come as soon as it warms up. It'll be great.

Writing comes naturally. It helps to have something to write about (i.e. pictures), but I've soldiered on with nothing to write about before and I'll do it again. It's fun, I enjoy it and as I see it that's what I should be doing right now.

So there you have it, my resolutions of Don't Suck and Don't Die explained

Anatomy of...

2010-01-05T11:41:00.000-08:00

My sketchy home-brewed table top shooting setup:

photo has notes, click it to see them

The Best $100 I ever spent

2010-01-02T16:34:00.000-08:00

Yes the camera I've been using for so long, the thing that covered SEMA, shot beautiful women, brought you some ghetto trackside coverage was bought for $100. And it's quite the tale. Gather 'round children and let old Uncle Yom tell you how I got a hold of this piece of cutting edge techno wizadry*!

Almost three years ago my friend Trent (the Funnyname Media guy, you know the organized one) brought me an opportunity to take some photos of some classic American cars of one of his co-workers. I said I'd do it and so one morning we were in his truck on the way to Kamas to the guys house.

At the time I was rocking my Pentax *istDL, and I was in love with the thing. It was (and is) still a solid camera. Trent had a Canon Digital Rebel, and he enjoyed it.

After we finished shooting the guy invited us to look around his garage where we saw a '64 Impala SS and a 396ci motor on a stand. I had put my camera in the truck, but Trent had his Rebel so I grabbed it and started firing away. I enjoyed shooting with it and so, when I got home, I started looking into picking up a Canon.

A few months later Trent has upgraded to a more recent (read: better) Canon body and he offered me the Rebel, the 18-55mm kit lens and a battery for $100. I jump on it and give him all the cash I had. He gave me the camera and as soon as I had the rest of his money I took it to him. By June the Reb was officially mine, rocking a vertical grip and making me look more pro than I was.

And that's the best $100 I ever spent.

*At least I think it was $100. I'm almost positive it was because I remember telling everyone that the grip cost more than the camera, and I remember paying $135 for the grip on ebay.

Favorite photos from '09

2010-01-01T10:25:00.000-08:00

A shot quite a bit in 2009. Not nearly as much as I wanted to, but plenty nonetheless. So here are my favorite photos from last year. Feel free to tell me your favorites. By that I mean favorites of mine, of yours, of whoever's. What photos got you going last year?

This was one of the first times Kat and I hung out. She's awesome, I hope we can hang out and shoot more in 2010

I skate with lots of people, and I love em all but if I had to take 2 guys and get tricks it's gonna be Garrison and Jeff. They just go at anything! Jeff blew out his knee, but he'll be back by the summer. Garrison is Garrison, I know he's been angry but I really only remember him having a huge grin on his face.

Side note: Brock's video is done, and the homies (which I'm not apparently) have seen it. Jovi told me about it, he said it was really good. AND it's got some of the guys in it: Glenn, Jovi, Garrison, Jeff, Nick, Matt, Hads and some other favorites. When Brock has a proper premier, or I see it, I'll let you know about it. Anyway, back to the list.

Brody's race car. I love this fuckin photo

The Legacy Bridge at the University of Utah. Everyone likes the color photo, but I like the black and white one better.

So there you have it. My favorites from '09

stupid photo of ice

2009-12-11T11:54:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I spent a good hour and change shoveling my driveway and part of the sidewalk and moving all the snow into the backyard. Why? If/when it happens you'll know about it. Anyway, after dropping of a shovelful of snow in the back I started looking at my house. Notably the icicles on it. It looked pretty, in a high school photo class assignment way. Never-the-less I shot it...after I finished moving the cubic yard of snow.

Oh yeah, check the red signature. Awesome isn't it?

Daybreak

2009-12-07T00:05:00.000-08:00

So the other night I just drove around. I wasn't going anywhere specific, I was just going for the sake of going. I wound up in Herriman out by where Kennecott processes the heavier metals they unearth. To get to that lovely and scenic local I had to drive through Daybreak, a housing development that Kennecott started. It's a tremendous mess of one way streets and roundabouts, but it seems nice enough despite all that (and being miles away FROM ANYTHING GOOD). On my way back I noticed a collection of seemingly perfect ledges in a shopping area.

Before I get too far along, the whole place seems way too nice just to be a housing development. It's either A) a cult that's going to attempt to take over the valley or commit mass suicide or B) a huge cover up for what could only be a disaster of epic proportions that Kennecott somehow had a hand in. It's just weird out there. Anyway, back to the story...

I pull into a parking lot, hop out and begin to look around.

Side note: I feel that now is as good a time as any to let you know that I was wearing my gray hoodie, green beanie and black knit gloves. Sensible people would realize that I was just trying to keep from freezing to death. Idiots in an almost too perfect housing development/cult epicenter would think I came to rob people blind. Sorry.

All the ledges are the perfect height: just below knee high. And there are flat gaps galore! It's a hell of a spot. Or it would be if everything wasn't knobbed. (But hey! They have a fire pit that's going day and night!) I decided that it would be a better idea to go back in the daytime, so I left.

That was Wednesday. I come back Friday to be greeted with 36 degrees for a high, a fierce, bone chilling wind (Remember the fire pit?), and a family who was having their family portraits taken.

I came for the ledges, but I stuck around for the giant metal guy leaning into the wind. How I missed him I'm not sure, but there he was.

Daybreak may be full of cultist freaks who have been mutated by whatever is buried under their houses, but they do make a guy feel welcome buy having a fire going.

My Biggest Miss... photographically

2009-12-06T12:09:00.000-08:00

So these photos have been sitting around for a year now, and nobody has really seen them which is really disappointing to me and the guy who owns the car. The car is a turbocharged Integra Type R, and this is a busted feature:

How I'd make "The Next Iron Chef" cooler

2009-11-25T20:41:00.000-08:00

"The Next Iron Chef" is a show on the Food Network that is searching for the ubiquitous 43rd American Iron Chef. If you remember them seminal Japanese version then you'll remember they only had 4, but the Iron Chef Italian never won and wasn't included with the rest. Why America needs so many, I'll never know, BUT I do know how to make the search show infinitely better.

Rivals my ass!

First allow me to introduce you to the suck-fest that is the current format: Iron Chef hopefuls are presented with a challenge, they attempt challenge, whoever wins said challenge gets some perk for the elimination challenge, they compete in elimination challenge, present food to the judges, judges judge then kick one chef back into obscurity. This works well and makes me want to gouge my eyes out.

What could make it better? Direct competition! Skip that first, useless challenge and let the judges at them. Then the judges pick the two worst and they face off in Kitchen Stadium.

Liking it so far? If so, good! If not, bail now cause I doubt anything I have to say from here on out will bring you back.

Here's the kicker: In the judges challenge in the current format they occasionally have to work with weird ingredients (like the OG JDM series did ALL THE TIME!). What I'm proposing is they work with weird (and/or alive cause nothing is better than watching nervous folk have to kill a fish flopping around a cutting board)ingredients in the elimination challenge! Used to cooking with chicken, fish, pork and beef? Well get used to working with insanely rare and impossibly expensive sea urchin! Winner gets immunity from the next week's elimination challenge until there are too few contestants for immunity to work out.

Genius, I know and thank you for recognizing my brilliance.

Verizon Android phones

2009-11-24T16:20:00.001-08:00

I went to Verizon today to get something fixed on my bill ($45 for unlimited email and web? I THINK NOT YOU CORPORATE ASSHOLES!) and, while waiting, I took it upon myself to play with the Motorola Droid phone.

It was alright, but I didn't like it. Here's why: It's too clunky. It's small yes, but it doesn't feel like a new phone (specifically one that's competing with the iPhone) should. Having an actual keyboard is cool, but at the same time I'm used to typing on a touch screen that's a lot smaller than that one. Also having to go into landscape mode to view teh interwebz annoys me to no end. I only look at UtahHondas.net in landscape mode, everything else is viewed in portrait mode in my world. I really dig the Android OS, it kicks the shit out of Windows Mobile.

Side note, ever have something on your phone just suddenly stop working? Happens to me about once a week. The Windows start thing just disappears, along with everything along the top of my screen (battery meter, service indicators, volume). It's so much fun having to turn my phone off then back on just to be able to fire off a text.

Android feels more fluid,and easier to use. Windows Mobile makes me feel like either a dunce when something goes wrong, or like I want to throw the phone into traffic

So basically I'm not getting a Droid because I don't like it. I'm also not getting one because it'd run me $200 and I'm not dropping that kind of cash on a phone...on a phone that isn't an iPhone. But there another phone!

It's the HTC Droid Eris. I know it's only running Android 1.5 and it's basically a rebadged Hero, but it felt better. It felt better in my hands, playing around on it felt smoother, and it looked better.

Cnet.com gave both phones 4 out of 5, but I give the edge to the HTC phone. Now all I have to do is count down the days until I'm eligible for an upgrade and save my pennies

Yeah, about what I said last time...

2009-11-23T00:35:00.000-08:00

So on the Ruins last week Brad got completely shit faced hammered and picked a fight with Darrell. If you recall last week's (or whenever the hell I posted it) post I said Darrell is a solid fantasy pick cause he flies below the radar and doesn't start shit. In light of everything that transpired I still stand by my statement (cause I refuse to be wrong on this!).

The upside of the beating, and subsequent dual booting, is that they're still on good terms AND Darrell beat his prediction of "dropping you in 3" by annihilating Brad's face in 1 fell swoop. I mean Jesus Christ, look at his face!

The biggest lesson we can take away from this is DON'T PICK A FIGHT WITH A GUY WHO KNOWS HOW TO BOX. Unless you KNOW you can fight better than him, then don't fight him. But this all goes out the window when you've downed a bottle or two of wine.

Unfortunately this week's episode comes when my brother (and wingman for all things TV related) is gonna be out of town. Our University of Utah Runnin' Utes are gonna be in Vegas for the Las Vegas Invitational... Whatever the hell that is. All I know is that he's in Vegas, I'm here alone and Thanksgiving is being pushed back to Sunday the 29th in the Chandler house. My loss is your gain. I'll end up watching it on Wednesday, and I'll probably throw something up soon there after. Probably with a lot more profanity too

TV

2009-11-15T12:25:00.000-08:00

Last night my brother and I caught up on our shows. Our shows are Criminal Minds, Tosh.0, and Real World Road Rules Challenge: The Ruins. The first two don't drum up much interesting conversation, but The Ruins (and The Real World) are over analyzed and picked apart by us like we're two coaches breaking down film. Here's what our breakdown produced:

#1 Derrick and Darrell should be your some of your first fantasy picks*.

(Yes, I said fantasy picks. There has to be a reality TV fantasy league somewhere. Hell, Simmons has probably got one going, lord knows he talks about it enough on his podcast.)

(Side note, buy his book. It's 700 pages long, and I only made it through 14 pages before it got ripped away from me but I laughed a lot in those 14 pages. Plus it can stop a bullet. Back to the issue at hand...)

(*This all depends on the scoring system. If it's based on performance in the challenges, then pick these guys. If it's about fighting, getting wasted, flashing and sleeping around then pick up Tonya. She's money in all of those categories, but for the purposes of this blog it'll be about performance in the challenges)

Derrick and Darrell should be your top, if not, #1 picks. They don't cause any drama, they dominate in the challenges and they don't lose the elimination challenges. Most of the time you see them in the background or in the odd interview but they're never getting trashed and kicking someone's face in. They almost always make it to the final challenge and they usually win the final challenge.

#2. Cohutta is a fucking gangster

Why? #1 He was nailing Kelly Ann on his season of The Real World and almost knocked her up. Man's game

#2 He killed a bear! That's where he got the bear claw he wears around his neck. I like to think he killed it either with a bowie knife or his bare hands.

#3 His last name. It's Grindstaff. How fucking gnarly is that? Fucking gnarly, that's how gnarly it is. It sounds like he should be killing hoards of trolls or something while riding a a horse through a lightning storm.

#3. The game is like the mafia

You meet the leaders one one one away from everybody else, you've gotta promise them something and if you don't they throw you to the lions. If anyone is the don it's gotta be Evan (who coincidentally is a great fantasy pick. He wins all the time, he starts a lot of stuff AND he gets around... At least this year he did, but he loses points for plowing Veronica *shudder*)

Those are just some of the observations we've made. All that said, I'd be on that show in a heart beat. Unfortunately I'm not "controversial" (read: not an alcoholic or man-whore) enough, and neither is my brother.

And I'm not athletic enough. I'd drag whichever team I'd be on down. I'd be like Eric, except probably not as funny oand definitely not as fat.

I'll be back next week with a breakdown of episode 8, which looks to make my first point completely useless

the little things

2009-11-13T15:27:00.000-08:00

I'm gonna go ahead and say that you bought the shoes you're wearing (if you're wearing a pair, if not go put some on or at least put a pair next to your computer) because they look good and/or they're comfy. I bought all of mine because of those reasons. Except the internet thing. This guy doesn't buy his shoes off the internet cause most of my shoes aren't the same size, but they fit exactly the same.

I digress

I grabbed my Herman 2's, Hsu's and Koston 1's because they looked good, they were comfortable and...

Because the insoles looked awesome.

Seriously. You may think I'm an idiot, but that was the tipping point. And here are the insoles so you can see the awesomeness:

Herman 2's

Hsu's

AL50's

Koston's

More from the trip

2009-10-21T13:07:00.000-07:00

While Garrison was getting his 5050 Nick was skating in the street. After Garrison got his everyone joined Nick.

Security cares... Not really

Mach Ten 360 flip

Jovi doing his best switch 180, me doing my best attempt to rip off a Ray Barbee add

"Wake up Jeff, put your shoes on, we're at Grandma's house"

Guth Family trip

2009-10-20T12:01:00.000-07:00

A couple days ago I hit up Guth for a pre-work sesh. The usual heads were there: Garrison, Jovi, Nick, Mikey, Cale, and some others who aren't really relevant to this story. And Jeff was there. It was the first time I'd seen him since he blew out his knee (speaking of his blown out knee, he went in for surgery this morning to get it taken care of. Get well homie!) and he was mobbin around on his cruiser.

Eventually the talk of going skating came up, and some of Garrison's spots came up. There was a bump to bar and this thing called the Swamp Rail. Eventually (45 minutes, pretty quick for Guth truth be told) we piled into the cars and went to the rail. Here's what we got:

Glenn got out of picking up a family member so he could come and try front boards. Try being the operative word

Glenn's board shot into the swamp after a bail...

...And everyone came to survey the incident. Jovi saved the day with a giant ass hangar

Next board up for a trip into the swamp was Garrison's

Perched like a bird

Cale said it best: George of the jungle

Lesson Learnin Time

2009-10-10T00:55:00.000-07:00

So this week I've had 2 shoots in which I've learned some very important lessons. Let's start with the first shoot and what I got out of that:

Lesson 1: Fresh Batteries every time, all the time.

If you poke through the massive 4 picture set on flickr you'll notice that there's a lot of flat light going on. Why is that? Well it's because my transmitter/receiver set was low on batteries, specifically on the receiver side. That meant I had to be hella close to the receiver in order for it to fire. By hella close I mean 18 inches, therefore the flat light.

Lesson 2: Do not piss off the locals, cause they were there first. I managed to piss off the neighbors when I took this shot:

From what I was told (I was being yelled at in Spanish, so the owner of the car had to translate) my flashes were lighting up their house about 125 yards away. I didn't understand much, but when I heard "policia" and "aqui" I decided to change my set up.

Lesson 3: Photoshop when you need to.

Look at the CRX. Look closely at it. Look around the passenger side headlight. Notice something? It's the flash I used to light up the Civic. I was going to take care of that, but I got lazy. And now it haunts me, like the beating of a hideous heart!

That was Wednesday, now on to Thursday's shoot:

Lesson 4: Chicks > Cars

Don't get me wrong. When I saw it coming down my street I thought it was an R35. It's a gorgeous car, no arguing about that. And the owner's girlfriend (my friend Kathleen) is equally gorgeous. This brings me to my question: Which photo is more popular?:

a:

b:

If you guessed A then you're wrong. B currently has 24 views while A has 16. This trend is true of every photo on my flickr page where there's a girl and a car. The girl picture always has more, no matter what. Hot girl pwns record holding Supra, 9 second Civic hatchback, drift car. There is one odd trend, but that's another topic for another day.

Lesson 5: Look before you leap.

I'm catching a lot of flack for these two shots in particular. Why? The glare from the over head lights and my reflection in the front bumper. Did I notice the glare? From the moment the owner parked the car, but I didn't care. It looked cool and and brought out some of the more subtle lines in the car. My reflection, on the other hand, I noticed when I was in Photoshop cleaning up the front bumper. I would have nixed it, but the owner and his girlfriend don't seem to mind (or if they do they aren't telling me) so I'm in one of their pictures.

Learn from my failings and you will succeed! Well, maybe not succeed but you'll do better.

AND I made a literary reference somewhere in this post. First person to correctly identify the reference (title and author of oiginal work, and quote the reference back to me) gets a free reasonably priced lunch on me!

My Aunts' trip to The U

2009-10-01T14:19:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago my mom had surgery and her sister's flew out to Utah to help my brother, father and I take care of her and hold down the house. My mom bounced back pretty quick so My brother and I took them up to the U for a tour. Here is what transpired on our adventure:

First stop was The Huntsman Center, where Jason (my brother) spends 40-ish hours a week. He also works at Starbucks and is a full time student.

Jason gave us a little tour of the basketball office. Inside there were the MWC Regular Season Champion and Conference Tournament Trophies. We share the Regular Season Champion title with The Team Down South and New Mexico, but the Conference Tournament title is all ours

The Huntsman and it's newly refinished floor. My Aunts were nervous when we all walked in and it was dark. They were scared when Jason wandered off to turn on the lights, and they were in awe when the lights came on.

Here's some detail of the floor. MWC logo in the keys, UTAH on the baselines.

There are my Aunts!

There's Jason, running the clock so my Aunts can see the scoreboards lit up and shot clock light behind the backboards light up.

This guy is the reason Coach Boylen is our coach. He found this a week before he interviewed for the Utah job and saw it as a sign. I think it was a good sign, Coach B is the fuckin man

Jason had to go turn off the lights after he showed us the locker room. This is the view looking out of the home team tunnel. It's intense, especially if you can imagine the stands full of screaming fans.

Here's some of the better drawings on the temporary wall in the Starbucks in the University Hospital. Chris, a nurse, started it by drawing every employee at Starbucks on the wall one night. Soon everyone with a Sharpie took it upon themselves to add it the drawing. Most of it sucks

Hype List 2

2009-09-29T22:46:00.000-07:00

Album: The Blueprint 3, Jay-Z

Song: Photograph by Def Leppard

Random cooking utensil seen on TV: Perfect Brownie Pan. It's the greatest thing I've seen in a while

Activity: Spot Hunting. Driving around, ducking down alleyways, jamming out to the radio. Good times

TV: Sons of Anarchy

I'll have some new photos this week and a story about the U

Some photos and stories from Go Skateboarding Day

2009-09-26T02:42:00.000-07:00

I'm only 3 months late, get off me. They're still good, and semi-relevant cause one of the guys made a move to a different team!

So first thing, I had to take Alex Carolino and Marquise Henry to Fairmont. They were following a couple of guys who didn't know how to get to the park from Blindside. How you get lost on a 3 block trip is beyond me, but never the less they managed to lead an up and coming dude and a Brazilian pro away from the park. I found them, led them over and had a nice little chat with them both. Then we got to the park, and they got to business.

Alex, backside nosegrind

Alex, kickflip over the rail

Marquise, switch frontside nosegrind

The handrail wasn't the only thing that was skated, but it was the only thing I had good angles on. The euro gap got a beating, but the lack of a proper wide angle prevented any good shots and the picnic table thing got a work out too, but I couldn't get a good angle for fear of being killed by either a) everyone skating around it or b) the official DC filmer who didn't seem like the kind of guy who wouldn't have appreciated me shooting next to him. Anyway, let's talk about Tommy.

Tommy Finn, front smith

Tommy was a nice guy. He's on DC flow and Santa Cruz flow, and he was the only one willing to talk to me during both the signing and the session. He's a nice kid and he rips. He hit everything, from the euro gap to the handrail even the bowl saw some action. I really hope he gets big time, cause he deserves it.

In addition to the DC guys there were some locals out there. Nobody I really knew, but locals nonetheless. One of them was this kid Brody. He was a one man wrecking crew on the handrail: back smith, front smith, kickflip back smith, kickflip front board. The kid killed it.

He also won himself some scratch in the best trick contest, including taking $50 off of Marquise by doing a nollie heel crooks on the the ledge in the middle of the park. Now while Brody was taking out the ledges one by one, there was a guy doing something in a different vein: He was frontside flipping from bank to bank. He didn't get it during the contest, but he did get it that day.

The best trick contest, and the obligatory product toss, rounded out the day. It was a hell of a day

Hype list #1

2009-09-23T00:36:00.000-07:00

Shit that's been getting me hyped/inspired lately.

Album: Weezer, The Blue Album

Single: New Perspective, Panic! At The Disco

TV: Criminal Minds

Movie: don't watch movies fool

Skater: Justin Brock

I've got 5 prints for sale

2009-09-17T00:40:00.000-07:00

If you came to the Supremacy Racing Anniversary meet back in April then you've seen all of these. What you didn't see was any indication that the photos were for sale. That one was on me. But now you've got a chance to own one of 5 limited edition ass prints that were actually hanging at that meet! Here's what I've got:

Sign Silhouette

16x20, $40

Truck

16x24, $45

Drifter

16x20, $40

Draper Fire

16x24, $45

Valve Cover

16x20, $40

There they are. You know you want one. Let me know which one and we'll make a deal.

I need to visit these things

2009-09-15T02:54:00.000-07:00

I watch a lot of TV and spend way too much time on the internet and thumb through more than my fair share of magazines, and in all of these media I see things (conventions, festivals, large gatherings, what have you) that I desperately want to go to. So in an obvious hint dropping gesture, here are the things I want to go to:

#1 Comic Con

Why do I want to go? Well first and foremost I'm a nerd. I love all the things exhibited there: new comic books, upcoming films, panels of writers, creators and stars of tv shows and movies. Oh, and scantily clad women!

And where else can I find all of these things except at Comic Con? Plus it's held at the San Diego Convention Center. Let's review: Geek heaven, scantily clad women, sunny San Diego. Sounds like a hell of a way to spend 4 days of my summer.

#2 Taste of Chicago

How have I not been to this? It starts the Friday before the 4th of July, runs for ten days, some of the best restaurants come out to set up booths and offer food for a hell of a lot cheaper than what you'd pay in the restaurant, and there's music. Oh, and it's free to enter. Damnit I need to go!

#3 SEMA

I've gone twice before and it's been awesome. First time I met some of the coolest people I've ever met, and the second time I got paid to wander around and take pictures. It fills the Las Vegas Convention Center with cars, trucks, more free product than any one man has any right to get and plenty of models. It's got something for everybody, and hell if you take your girlfriend down who doesn't like cars then she can run around Vegas and shop, eat, or spend hours in a spa.

#4 the Sundance Film Festival

*no logo*

It's in my backyard, but I've never gone. I just want to try to get some free stuff, hit on some Hollywood starlet, and maybe fight some pompous film producer. That's it, nothing more.

That's it. There are other things I want to go to (Eibach meet, Waterfest, many many auto shows across the world) but these are my top 4 that I've been dying to go to for years

The last Wide Open Wednesday of the year!...maybe

2009-09-10T17:14:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was the last Wide Open Wednesdays of the year out at Miller Motorsports Park in lovely and scenic Erda, Utah; in addition to being the last day there will be a single day month and year until January 1 2101, the release of Beatles Rock Band and a remastered Beatles collection.

And, as with everything good that is coming to a close, the hordes came out en mass just to say they got in on it. It was a blessing in that this event was insanely popular so it'll most likely continue next summer; however, it was a curse because there was a shit ton of people and a good amount of people with cars that shouldn't be on the road (let alone a track) and/or couldn't drive worth a damn! Brody ran down a Shelby Mustang, and what looked like a bone stock DC5 ran down a '76 Corvette Stingray. There was a rusted out pile of an original Mustang and some guy in a Ford Ranchero. Cool yes, track worthy? Hell no.

But with the bad and incompetent there was plenty of awesome. A pair of E92 M3 sedans, Brody and his STI, Lance and his dumped as shit bug eye, some guy in a Corolla XRS, and the first Evo X I've seen out there (along with some others) brought the awesome. Anyway, here's some shots of the madness for you to enjoy:

I got there early and got to watch a little bit of the Grand Am cars practicing, it was pretty cool

Scratch that, it was fucking awesome! When are you gonna see race prepped Vipers, Corvettes and RX-8's going door to door for free?

Driver's meeting

This is Phil's Forester, the car that gives hope to my monster truckin shit box.

Speaking of monster trucks, Jordan brought out his WRX Wagon.

Bobbo brought out his truck, which was so very awesome on many levels

One of the levels was him taking me out on the parade lap in the truck. I have now been on the track in an Integra Type-R and an S-10 eXtreme

Keep it pimpin' pimpin'

This car get's me excited...sexually

All the awesome from the day can't be contained in this blog, so head to the flickr page and check out the other forty-nine photos.

Build a bunker cause the end is nigh!

2009-09-08T19:01:00.000-07:00

We're facing a horde of socialist/communist/zimbalist/fascist Children of the Corn thanks to President Obama's indoctrination speech today. This was an unprecedented act horror! If you love America you'd be wise to shoot the next 5 pre-kindergarten to 6th grade kids you see who were brain washed this morning.

You'd also be wise to take the following steps in preserving our republic/democracy/beacon of capitalism:

1. Build and stock a shelter so you can ride out the up coming apocalypse. It's a coming, believe you me!

2. Force out people in your neighborhood who drive Hybrids. Don't try to save them, they're too far gone down the evil road of Liberalism

3. While you're at it, force out the uninsured. Their lack of responsibility in obtaining health insurance is a beacon for the 4 Horsemen and you don't need that on top of the waves of brainwashed kids trying to kill you and your old people. Plus the free market wants them dead and nobody, but nobody, fucks with what the free market wants

4. Don't "hope" things will get better, and don't try to "change" things either. Hope and change got us into this mess, and they damn sure won't get us out!

Follow these steps and you will truly become a patriot because you will have defended this great nation of ours!

more fun at Guthrie

2009-09-02T21:52:00.000-07:00

Went to Guthrie and I actually managed to get the camera out!

Clint Godfrey, backside 180 over the barrel. Every time he skates this damn thing he always lands whatever trick he's trying and leaves before I can get my camera out.

Your favorite snowboarder and mine, Cale Zima

This kid kept getting in my way while I was going for a different angle of Clint skating over the barrel. He's cool though

Nick Sueoka, a flat ledge and a back tail. If I could shoot sequences you could see him doing shit out of his back tails. But I can't, so you don't.

Supremacy Racing X FICE meet

2009-08-31T23:43:00.000-07:00

On September 30 some bad ass cars and some dumb ass people came to downtown Salt Lake for The Finale, the last meet of the summer. As I pulled in front of FICE I saw a mess of cars backed up trying to get into the alley/parking lot behind the store. Knowing that my shit box wasn't worthy of being parked with the hotness I parked around the corner and walked on in. Here's what I saw through out the 6 and a half hours I was there:

Frank was tearing around on the phone trying to get people to the meet...I think

Gramps brought out his clean CRX, then admired the green gorilla on the wall behind the dumpster most of the night.

Frank's prime parking spot.

half of the parking situation behind the store

The RHD cars made the trek up from Provo

This is Jordan. He drew the lucky/unlucky straw and had to cover the meet for Tunerzine.com. This was his first time doing something like this, so naturally I bugged the living hell out of him. I got video of that, but it's not edited yet. Me torturing him will be up tomorrow.

This is the lucky part of event coverage: telling hot chicks to pose next to a car. I couldn't get them to do any posing cause I just had my point and shoot... Hoes

The unlucky part: Tony getting his "sexy" on

Now the rest of my pics (which can be seen here) are your standard meet picture fare. But me and Jordan did some serious collaborating and shot some bad ass pics after the meet. When those pics see the light of day I'll let you know, but in the meantime enjoy mine.

Last Installment of the Interesting Project

2009-08-26T22:40:00.000-07:00

I'm shutting it down. It was a bit too ambitious, plus school has started up and I have a job that pretty much eliminates weekends. So here, with a heavy heart and broken ego, is the final installment of the Interesting Project: Ian Ramsrud

I met Ian in an english class at Salt Lake Community College. Everyone in the class was pretty friendly, but if a group project came up I always wanted to be in Ian's group. He was, and still is, very well spoken and eloquent and insightful. But it wasn't until I added my friend Dave as a friend on Facebook that I learned that Ian is an outstanding photographer. Better than myself, but that's not saying much. But let's stop this before it goes down the "he's interesting because he's a great photographer" road. Let's talk about the notes he's posted on his Facebook page shall we?

Most of them are long, but they're worth reading. They're insightful. A couple of them have made me do things, like go through every picture on my flickr page to see what cliches of bad photographers I have perpetrated and made me realize that I gotta fake it til I make it.

He's a hell of a guy, and my poor writing is not doing him justice. Revel in his presence in the portraits! He was super comfortable in front of the camera, and it was a fun little photo session

Supremacy Racing's "Fast Frank" video

2009-08-24T22:56:00.000-07:00

Kel and Frank from Supremacy Racing and my boy Jordan Porritt busted their asses making this video. It's Jordan's first, and it's fucking unreal for a first go. Check it out and spread the love

supremacy racing presents "Fast Frank" from supremacy racing on Vimeo.

Supremacy Racing
Jordan Porritt Photography

Street skating

2009-08-23T14:36:00.000-07:00

I was incredibly annoyed at Guth the other day so I invited Max and Jaren to go street skating. Jaren wanted to skate stairs so I told them about a spot I used to skate back in the day. This is photographic documentation of what happened:

First order of business at a spot is to warm up. Jaren was warming up with kickflips, until this attempt. On this one he bailed and messed up his ankle.

This is Jaren after the bail. He sat around, played on Max's iPhone, gave Clint and Tyler directions to the spot and told Max that every try was the one.

Speaking of Max here he is landing a heelflip. He called it right before this try.

Here's Tyler. He ollied the stairs and 180'd them, but I didn't get a good photo of either one, so here he is not landing something.

The landing was pretty rough and chewed up Max's hands.

Now Max got 2 tricks: a heelflip and a 360 flip. The heelflip wasn't so bad, but the 3flip was a battle of epic proportions and at times it looked like it was going to defeat him

He eventually defeated the 360 flip, but broke his tail in the process. We (Jaren, Clint, Tyler and myself) said it counted cause he rolled away on the broken tail but Max wasn't having it. So he flipped his board around, tried one more time, bailed and ripped his thumb open.

Went to the skatepark today

2009-08-20T18:46:00.000-07:00

I didn't shoot anything, but I did time before last!:

Garriosn ollieing off the tear drop thing into the spine. I was cowering right where he was going to be riding away to. The things I do for a good photo

B angle of Garrison's ollie. Far safer, but not as cool.

Lil Jeff, day after his birthday. The kid gets buck, I wanna see him skate street or at least a park that isn't Guth.

That's all I got from Guth. I got some photos from a heated street mission I'll put up later. Believe you me, it was intense

Wide Open Wednesdays 8/12

2009-08-13T23:10:00.000-07:00

On Wednesday I did what I've been doing on the second Tuesday of every month: treking out to Erda and wandering around a racetrack taking pictures. On the second Wednesday of every month the kind folks at Miller Motorsports Park open up the East Course to anyone with a car and $20. They turn the East Course into a Gymkhanna course, and by that I mean they put cones at different points on the track. It's a good way to get some track time. Anyway, here are some of the photos I shot:

Part 1 of the Interesting Project

2009-08-07T00:49:00.000-07:00

Yes, finally the thing I've been talking about can be seen. I've only got this one and another one so I'm gonna hold on to the second until I shoot a third. Anyway, here it is. Part 1, my friend Jeffrey Eldridge:

Yes, that last one is of him in a Guy Fawkes mask. No, it's not a prop I have kicking around. He bought it at a Halloween store a few years after V for Vendetta came out. If he waited until they closed he could have hopped in the dumpster and grabbed one for free, but oh well. He also, occasionally, wears it on his drive home from work.

The first time I met Jeffrey was at a meet for a local car website. He was wearing black shoes, black pants, a black shirt and a black trench coat. In summer. It was interesting to say the least. That day was also the first time he drank a Mountain Dew.

Other interesting facts and/or out and out lies about Mr. Eldridge:

His PC, which he built himself, can run Crysis on full settings. Quite the impressive feat.
Has owned a 4th generation Honda Prelude, which he loved, until he wrecked it. T'was a sad day for all.
Also has had a hand in swapping a 302 ci Ford V8 into a 3rd generation Toyota Supra. Again, impressive feat.
He is Neo. He flies and everything, it's awesome
He's related to Justin Eldredge, professional skateboarder.

That's all I've got for now. There will be another, and hopefully another, and another, and another, and another, and another, and another, and another...

A scheduled shoot actually happened!

2009-08-03T21:10:00.000-07:00

I can't believe it either. I get one more and this little project might see the light of day! Let's go over the list of people who bailed, and why they probably can't make a rescheduled shoot:

Dave Brewer- Blew up his car on the way over, and is now in Mexico working on his documentary project. Don't know when he's coming back, and one of his facebook statuses made it sound like he was probably gonna die down there.

Bobbo- Working. Damnit.

Yeah, that's about the list. There's one chick I want to ask cause she looks like a dumb blonde, but she has amazing taste in music but I don't know her too well so I'm kinda passing on that one for the moment.

So know that you know what's been going on, here's a pic of my Subaru! I'm going to shoot more pics of it this week, only because nobody seems to want a shoot.

So another shoot got canned

2009-07-30T00:05:00.001-07:00

I was going to shoot this guy Bobbo. Nice guy, good photographer, but he got a job and had to cancel. So again I was left with far too much time on my hands. But instead of shooting more coins (I found more) I went out skateboarding and, while out, I was struck a with an inspiration. Here's what I got:

Everybody thinks that my Supremacy Racing sticker is a Supreme sticker. It isn't. Supreme isn't rocking a horse for a logo, they don't build fast Hondas, and I have really no connection to Supreme. Supremacy, on the other hand, hosted my first art show and I know Frank and Kel, the guys who run it.

It's not much of an update, but it's either that or coins. And my God I hate those coins.

Canceled shoot

2009-07-28T00:47:00.000-07:00

My friend Dave Brewer was on his way over to help me out with a project, but unfortunately his car blew up on the way over so I had nothing but time on my hands. What am I to do? Well, I could do this:

"This" is photographing a coin collection I inherited. I've only had the collection in my house for a few years now, and I've been saying I'm going to photograph every coin (and piece of paper money, there's a bunch of that) since it arrived at my house.

Anyway, what you're seeing is a black sheet for a full sized mattress stapled to the wall (of a house I'm renting, genius I know!) with a little table underneath it and a small felt lined box on top of the table. I've got my camera, a Canon Digital Rebel (300D) with a Tamron AF70-300mm f/4-5.6 Di LD Macro lens, sitting just below and to the right of the shoot through umbrella I have on my Alien Bees B400 flash head. The flash is at 1/4 power, the camera is at 1/200 @ f/16 and 100 ISO. Here's one of the coins:

Obligatory Introductory post

2009-07-26T23:12:00.000-07:00

Yes, hello, welcome and all that. I'm Michael, I'm a photographer, and this is my blog. This is where I'll rant about shoots and projects I'm working on, have done or are really really wanting to do, post photos from said shoots/projects, and post up random things that inspire me, catch my eye, or otherwise grab and hold my interest. I'm unemployed right now, so believe you me there will be plenty of posts about nothing.

So back to the photographer thing. You may have actually seen my work. I covered SEMA 2008 for TunerZine.com and I had 3 photos in Honda Tuning in the "Oh Snaps!" section. These are said "Snaps":

and the third one isn't on my flickr page, but I'll put it up when I get home.

Yeah, right now I'm hanging out at the Starbucks in the University of Utah Hospital, stealing internet, coffee and pastries. It's a sweet gig. Anyway, that's all I got. I'm in the midst of a project right now, and as soon as I get it to the pre-determined point I pre-determined I'll post it here. But until then guess.