Super Street magazine featured the JP Edition Hyundai Veloster Turbo in their latest issue. This was the first time the magazine featured a Veloster and hopefully not the last. Super Street has been the leader for tuner magazines for over a decade and I’m very proud that they selected this project car to feature. Also featured on the cover is Karen’s amazing Mitsubishi EVO.

Motor Trend recently featured the Scosche x Alpinestars STI that I built for SEMA last year. The feature was showcased in their, “The Goods” section.

Here is a cool video that Scosche put together from behind the scenes at the shoot.

Continuing with the successful start of the tenth season of Formula DRIFT, National Public Radio (NPR) interviewed co-founders of the Series, Jim Liaw and Ryan Sage along with driver Fredric Aasbo. I am happy I was able to schedule these interviews during everyone’s busy schedule and a huge thanks to Nina Gregory for taking a couple days to see what Formula DRIFT is all about.

Excerpt from interview:

“After years of surging popularity, NASCAR has hit a speed bump. Same with IndyCar. Meanwhile, Formula 1, the premier motor sport in the world, has never really gained traction here in the United States. But as NPR’s Nina Gregory reports, there is a new entry in the racing world. It’s called drifting.”

Take a listen to the interview titled, “Drifting Attracts the Next Generation of Racing Fans,” HERE.

The tenth year for any company is a milestone in this day and age. Many companies come and go faster than ever before. What some have called a fad, drifting has proven to be a new mainstay motorsport and the Formula DRIFT series has taken over as the global leader of the sport. I am proud to have worked with this great company for the past 7 years and have made lasting friendships from this amazing client. From helping build and manage the website to marketing and advertising campaigns I have had the opportunity to be a part of this team, yet the public relations aspect is what I am most proud of.

This season has started off on a high note with the first event selling out and garnering great press coverage including a television segment on KTLA news, the cover of the LA Times, coverage in the Long Beach Press Telegram and even an upcoming segment on National Public Radio (NPR). I am extremely excited for what lies ahead this season.

Sampling of press coverage garnered from Round 1: Streets of Long Beach below:

The Incase DSLR Pro Pack fits a ton of essentials for my work and travel needs along with a few non-essentials. (from the top left to right) Muji face paper (a must for traveling in humid climate), car keys, Altoids, Blistex, AA batteries (for flash or Magic Mouse), 2gb key shaped Forza Motorsport thumbdrive, notebook, Sharpies, Pilot G-2 .5 pen, Apple iPad, 15″ Macbook Pro, decals (for random sticker bombing and also the oh so essential Supreme decal lol), Compact Flash case and cards, MiFi, Lens Pen, 2TB Portable Hard Drive, spare Canon battery, lens cloth, SanDisk Compact Flash Reader for Firewire, Canon 70-200 2.8 IS II, Electric Visual sunglasses, Incase USB Mini Cable Kit, Apple Magic Mouse, Filter Case w/ filters, Canon 580 EXII flash, air blower, Pocket Wizard Flex TT5, Pocket Wizard Mini TT, Pocket Wizard AC3 Zone Controller, Business Cards and Muji card case, Scosche in-ear monitors with tapLINE Remote and Mic, Recaro lanyard (for tradeshows), Formula Drift lanyard and hard card (2012 shown), Canon gel strap, Canon 5D Mark III, Canon 24-105, Canon 17-40, Canon 85mm, extra cables/cord pouch and Incase camo Pro DSLR Pack.

I own both the Incase Ari Marcopoulos Camera Bag for SLR Cameras and the first version of the Incase DSLR Pro Pack. The Pro Pack has been with me for over a year and has been with me for many adventures and over 25 flights. It fits nicely on both the overhead bin and under the seat. I do find that if you stuff the bag too much (only on some flights / carriers) it will not fit perfectly under the seat.

iPhone 4S photo

These items all fit within the camera portion of the bag nicely. The back compartment safely holds all the gear and is also easily adjustable to modify on the fly. I’ve been able to store the Canon 5D Mk III with lens ranging from a 40mm pancake lens to a 70-200. Most of the time I travel with the 24-105 attached to the body as this lens has become my universal go to lens for most of my photos.

iPhone 4S photo

The front space holds easily and comfortably a 15″ MacBook Pro, iPad, magazine, book, documents etc. It does have room for additional items as well if needed. I often roll-up my wrinkle resistant windbreaker for traveling and place it inside as well for quick access.

There are additional pockets on the front and side of the bag that provides easy access for things such as an iPod, keys, business cards, travel documents and more. I have found the top zippered pocket to be usual for holding an extra pen, gum as well as emptying my pockets before entering security at the airport. The front pocket is great for quick access to items such as a rolled up windbreaker or magazine/book on flights.

Incase branding is clean and subtle throughout the bag which is a nice design touch. There are a lot of details and thought that must of went into the design of this bag. From the adjustable straps on the side that hold a tripod comfortably on photo trips or the top strap of the bag that is very strong and durable. I’ve often packed my bag to close to 30 pounds when full and the should straps hold up very nicely.

Ergonomically the bag is very comfortable with air mesh padding for breathability and functionality when carrying a fully loaded bag. I’ve carried my first generation Incase DSLR Pro on multiple trips and on many flights often resulting in carrying the bag fully loaded through the streets of New York and San Francisco (I don’t recommend it to keep your back from not hurting the next day, but better safe than stolen).

photo model: Jose Martinez

One of the main attractions for the this bag aside from the design is the overall aesthetic as it doesn’t look like a typical camera bag. This particular version of the Incase DSLR Pro Pack is in a fashionable camo that is printed on a durable twill. The previous bag in a charcoal heathered fabric is great, but I feel this twill may last a bit longer especially in the bottom corners of the bag that seem to carry the bulk of the weight along with touch the ground the most.

The top compartment allows for quick and easy access to your DSLR camera for on the go. The zippers of the bag are also very durable and I have never had an issue with them. The pulls on the zippers make it easy to find and use especially when moving or traveling.

Overall, this bag is a great bag for everyday use and for travel. For a $150 it is fairly priced and a great alternative to most of the other camera bags on the market.

I had the opportunity to test out the new 2013 Lexus ES 300h, which is the first ES model hybrid. The exterior features sleek and modern body lines accompanied by the Lexus hybrid “blue” badging. In stock form the vehicle is equipped with 17″ wheels, but there is plenty of room to add a larger wheel and tire combo. The integrated rear wing was also a nice bonus to add a bit of sporty styling to the vehicle.

The interior cabin was what most have come to expect from Lexus and complete with buttery soft leather seats and maple wood accents (I would of preferred the available Piano Black myself), an amazing amount of room and sitting space for all passengers and all of the bells and whistles you could want from the HDD Navigation system with 8″ screen along with the the Lexus Enform app that provides connectivity to apps such as Bing, IHeartRadio, Pandora, Yelp and more. These progressive details is what truly separates Lexus from the rest. On the road whether it was stuck in bumper to bumper traffic on the 405 freeway or jamming through the back roads of San Diego county it was very convenient and easy to switch from the map mode, change music through the various apps and even SiriusXM satellite radio or jump on a Bluetooth assisted phone call. Using the Yelp app came in handy to help locate breakfast cafe’s. The intuitive design leaves you spoiled and complaining when having to drive the usual daily driver that doesn’t have these luxuries in the interior.

photo courtesy of Lexus

photo courtesy of Lexus

As with many of my test reviews I took the vehicle on an adventure and joined the Targa Trophy Experience #1 Event from HRE wheels in Vista through the backroads of San Diego to end up in the heart of Downtown San Diego. The mixed driving scenarios are a true test of a vehicle’s performance and comfort.

While cruising the ES 300h is smooth and responsive and perfect for city streets. Even on the freeway the vehicle had enough power when needed. The ES 300h features a Drive Mode select feature, with Normal, Eco, Sport, and EV modes. While cruising the Eco mode was my personal choice to save on fuel, but while on the rally and enjoying a day of spirited (but safe) driving through the San Diego back roads the Sport and Normal modes were for me. While in Sport mode an increased amount of power was easily obtained along with steering responsiveness and the vehicle felt solid through the twists and turns of the canyons. Now don’t get me wrong this is not a high-horsepower beast and by no means has the performance of other cars within the same price range, but it is a solid car built for daily cruising and commuting in style.

Additional bonuses included the Blind Spot monitor which signals in your rear view mirror whether a vehicle is in your blindspot and the back camera along with parking sensors as this is a larger vehicle that I’m used to so every inch counts when parking in a Downtown area.

Fuel economy was amazing being able to drive from HRE through the Targa Rally of about 150 miles and from Downtown San Diego back to Long Beach while having still about a half tank of gas left. The downside to owning the version over the regular ES 300 or other vehicles in the same class would be the elevated price. Overall, this is a great car from is expected from a manufacturer such as Lexus.

This past weekend I was invited to check out the “Illest B-Boy Battle” in Costa Mesa, CA. Armed with my camera at hand I was able to capture some of the talent these dancers had. From the contortionist style twisting, to the fancy footwork and power moves there was great dance styles on display. Here’s a few snaps I was able to capture from the event.

It’s always great to see projects featured in print form. Nothing beats turning the pages of one of my favorite mags to see two vehicles I worked on side by side, even if its only the SEMA event coverage. Full articles to come. Stay tuned.

The second of two project vehicles from the past year was a Toyota FJ Cruiser for a new client, Scosche Electronics. The first project was a Subaru STI that debuted at SEMA back in November. The FJ Cruiser made its debut at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) just a couple weeks back. The build took a couple months to put together and a couple more months of proper planning as we collaborated with surf brand, Hurley, on the project.

Working with Hurley was a dream come true as it is one of the most innovative brands. As a sister company to Nike, Hurley is always on the cutting edge when it comes to products, design and style. With the help of design agency, Livery Production Gruppe, I was able to work with the brand to incorporate their “Flammo” design concept, which is a play on the words Floral + Camo into the build. The exterior of the FJ is wrapped in a ultra matte Hurley tiger camo, while the interior is a combination of black alcantara and leather mixed with Hurley’s aloha floral print. The material for the Hurley aloha print comes from their SIMA award winning board shorts that feature the same tiger camo and floral details.

The overall concept of the vehicle was created in collaboration with Scosche and my friends at Vapor Studio. The goal was to create a show-stopping vehicle that would turn heads, while promoting the products and lifestyle of the brand. Functionality was key as this vehicle will go on tour and will be a key asset in their marketing and sales campaigns. The interior is a key component in showcasing the product offerings of Scosche, which include both car audio and consumer electronics. The EFX line of speakers, wiring, amps and subwoofers were selected along with the most current head unit that is also bluetooth compatible and equipped with wifi.

To modernize the dash, BP Autosound, added an iPad mini and integrated it to work as a remote via bluetooth the entire system. BP also added VLED lighting to the custom door panels that serve a dual purpose of displaying products and adding style to the interior.

The trunk area is special as it houses two large 15 inch subwoofers and all the rest of the Scosche car audio equipment. A custom shelf was added that serves as a marketing collateral space for use at car shows and tradeshows for the company to have the proper material on them at all times for potential consumers. The rear hatch also includes a custom built iPad listening station equipped with four Scosche headphones that each have their own personal volume control making it easy to showoff the consumer product line.

The FJ Cruiser has been used by Scosche for the past few years as a show vehicle so it is often more difficult to take something that is modified and give it a new life. We upgraded the performance with a Magnaflow exhaust and K&N air filter. To give more lighting and an off-road feel to the already raised suspension and body mods we added Rigid Industries LED front grill and FJ LED light rack along with V-LEDs new V3 Triton headlight bulbs. An Inno surf rack was added for those days that Hurley may borrow the car for their surf team. Toyo Tires provided their new Open Country ATS II tire and Enkei supplied ST6 wheels in gunmetal.

The reveal at CES proved successful being a focal point of the Scosche booth along with the first project car, the Subaru STI. Media attention was gained as well including coverage from both Hypebeast and CNET. USA Today also expressed interest in the FJ Cruiser via social media. The work will continue with a tour of the cars this year by Scosche and more editorial to come.

Special thanks to everyone that made this build possible including Scosche, Ryan and Rod at Hurley, Vapor Studio, Ivan and the team at BP Auto Sound, Magnaflow, Lucio at K&N, Damon at Rigid Industries, John Park, Sean Griffin at Griffin Wurx Paint, Jon Sibal, Eric H. at LPG, Brian at Infinite Auto Design, HWY Auto, Alex at Enkei, Stan at Toyo Tires, Kyle at Inno, Eddie and Steve at Mackin, Jake at VLED’s and every one else that was part of this project.

SCOSCHE x HURLEY 2007 TOYOTA FJ CRUISER SPEC SHEET

Exterior:
• Hurley Tiger Camo Wrap
• Matte Black Paint by Griffinwurx
• Rigid Industries LED Roof Mount
• Rigid Industries LED Front Grill
• Decals by S&A Design
• Inno Surf Rack
• V-LEDS V3 Triton Bulbs

Interior
• Hurley Aloha Print Upholstery by Infinite Auto Design
• Custom Door Panels for Product Display w/ VLEDS lighting

Wheels & Tires:
• Enkei ST6 Wheels
• Toyo Tires Open Country A/T II

Performance:
• Magnaflow Exhaust
• K&N Cold Air Intake

Audio/Video/Electronics:
• Scosche Electronics EFX System built by BP Auto Sound
1. Car Stereo Receiver with Wireless App Control (SCDBTA60) w/ Control iFREQ App
2. EFX 15” Competition Subwoofer x 2
3. EFX – 2000 Watt Mono Amplifier x 2
4. EFX – 1200 Watt 4-channel Amplifier x 2
5. EFX Speakers – 3.5” 2-Way Coaxial x 2
6. EFX 1 Farad 20 Volt Capacitor x 2
7. EFX Ground Distributor x 3
8. EFX 4-4 Gauge Out Distribution Block
9. EFX Negative Battery Clamp
10. EFX Positive Battery Clamp
11. Scosche Frosted Black Speaker Wire 14 gauge
12. HeXaD Wiring
13. HyperFlex Accumat
14. iPad Mini Mounted in Dash Equipped with Scosche Wireless App Control
15. backSTAGE pro – Headrest Mount for iPad x 3

• Scosche Consumer Electronics
1. Reference Headphones x 2
2. Realm On-Ear Headphones x 2
• V-LEDs Lighting

The second half of 2012 continued to be busy and eventful. Looking back on the year it has truly been a blessing to be able to have had all these amazing experiences work with so many great people and companies. I’m looking forward to seeing what 2013 has in store.

Past Year in Photo collections: 2011 Part 1, 2011 Part 2 and 2010.

June 28, 2012 | Los Angeles, CA

Nike continued to innovate and take excercising social with the Nike+ training and basketball launch. #gameonworld became the hashtag promoting the new technology incorporated within the footwear and in turn taking training to a new level. Held at the Montalban theatre a special event was held that showcased the new products that measures your achievements.

June 29, 2012 | Downtown Los Angeles, CA

Skotch Davis is a hip-hop artist based out of NY and has been around for a minute. Looking to release his debut project soon we linked up at the Illest Downtown LA location to talk about what’s next for the rising star.

July 13, 2012 | Washington D.C.

With all eyes on the Olympics and the next basketball Dream Team being assembled it was a blessing to be invited to the Nike World Basketball Festival in Washington D.C. The event had many facets revolving around the love of the sport of basketball. One memorable experience was visiting the remodeled Barry Farm Recreation Center for an exhibition match between Team Nike and Team Goodman League. The Goodman League is one of the top summer leagues in the nation and home of top NBA stars such as Kevin Durant and Michael Beasley. Players that competed consisted of standout street ball, college and old NBA players such as “2 Hard 2 Guard”, “Baby Shaq”, and Boo Jackson.

July 14, 2012 | Washington D.C.

Converse hosted a block party to celebrate the World Basketball Festival and give back to the community with special performances from The Dream and D.C’s own Stalley.

July 15, 2012 | Washington D.C.

One of the highlights that will forever stand out was my experience at the Armory during the Nike World Basketball Festival when the members of Team USA took center stage for a practice session and scrimmage. With media access to the sidelines it was a surreal experience to see the best players in the world working together in unison on their way to winning the gold medal.

July 16, 2012 | Washington D.C.

Nike hosted a dunk competition that took the art of dunking to a new level. Jus Fly won with an array of dazzling dunks including his under both legs dunk and his signature dunk of a front hand spring to grabbing the ball on the ground to in between the legs dunk.

August 2, 2012 | Downtown Los Angeles, CA

Nike opened their 6th and Mill skatepark and invited us to join in the release of the latest Paul “PROD” Rodriguez signature shoe. Along with Nike teammate Theotis Beasley, Paul answered a few questions and gave a quick skate demo. These two guys are so talented and to see them in person both makes me miss skating and also realize how far ahead of the game they are.

August 5, 2012 | Hungtington Beach, CA

Nike was the title sponsor for this year’s US Open of Surf in Huntington Beach, CA. The event lasts almost a full week and consists of everything from surfing to skating and more. The weather was absolutely perfect and it was a blast just hanging out and watching the competitions. It was a good break from the regular work life.

August 9, 2012 | Boston, MA

We traveled to Boston on our way to Maine for a family reunion and it was the first time in years that I’ve been to the city. We made the most of the couple days we were there doing some of the usual tourists things such as walking along the Freedom Trail. It’s a great city with so much culture along with amazing food. Highly recommend the lobster rolls from Neptune’s and also a must stop is the Bodega boutique (if you can find it.)

August 12, 2012 | Maine

This was the first family reunion I’ve ever experienced and it was perfect. Anytime that you gather family members from across the nation in one place is good enough, but the addition of visiting the gorgeous state of Maine made this a trip of a lifetime. This part of the country is simply amazing and full of picturesque scenes and landscapes. I’ll be sure to come back to both take more photos and eat more lobster.

August 29, 2012 | Los Angeles, CA

I visited a friend’s new shop RSTRADA that specializes in tuning Porsches and other high-end machinery. The space is the ultimate man cave.

September 1, 2012 | Wingdale, NY

We took a trip back to the east coast for a wedding in Brooklyn, but took a day to visit with relatives in Connecticut. They gave me a tour of where I grew up in the small towns of Wingdale and Dover Plains. It was quite the trip down memory lane as I haven’t been back here in over 25 years.

September 7, 2012 | Montreal, Canada

The traveling continued with my first trip to Montreal. NOS Energy Drink entered the MMA world with their sponsorship of the UFC’s “The Ultimate Fighter” reality show and welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre. I was on hand to work with MMA media to announce the partership.

September 23, 2012 | Los Angeles, CA

Illest launched their first collab with Hasbro’s Transformers with the first collection. The much anticipated release saw hundreds of fans line-up to be the first with the exclusive apparel.

October 3, 2012 | Los Angeles, CA

Auto Concierge, a boutique club for members with exotic rides held their launch event for their Los Angeles location. The event showcased a few hot hot and even a plane. I was asked to provide event images for the company to use for their marketing use.

October 8, 2012 | Buena Park, CA

And so the work began on the first project car of the year, a 2012 Hyundai Veloster Turbo. I wanted to keep the project under wraps until it debuted at SEMA within the Hyundai booth, but also wanted to showcase the partners products involved as well as tease the debut so I lined up the aftermarket parts and decided to shoot it an “essentials” style. Every time I work on a new project I am reminded how fortunate I am to have the great sponsors and clients that I have that make it all possible.

October 16, 2012 | San Diego, CA

Toyo continued their campaign with MMA fighter and UFC bantamweight champion, Dominick Cruz. Unfortunately, Cruz is rehabbing for an injured knee and so we kept the photo shoot to a portrait style shoot with a few rounds of him punching the heavy bag. He is a great guy and I hope he recovers soon to defend his title.

October 21, 2012 | Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

Another wedding of the year took us to the beautiful Dominican Republic. It became a week of relaxation, food and plenty of rum.

October 25, 2012 | Long Beach, CA

This year I worked with a new client, Scosche Electronics to produce a project vehicle for their booth at SEMA. With a love for action sports they wanted to partner with a brand to showcase their lifestyle. I was able to work with Alpinestars to showoff their new global luggage collection and use the material for the interior upholstery of the vehicle. The car is definitely one of my favorite builds.

October 21, 2012 | Las Vegas, NV

SEMA is always a crazy time of year and leading up to the week long tradeshow can be overwhelming, but it was all worth it when I surprisingly won the inaugural President Choice Award for the JP Edition Veloster Turbo. I am very honored to have this award for this car that had a lot of work done to it in very little time.

November 1, 2012 | Las Vegas, NV

Sanctiond Car Care continue this launch year with a major announcement with the partnership with Snoop Dogg (Lion). I assisted to bring media members and influencers to the booth to see both founder Mister Cartoon and Snoop including members from DUB, RIDES and even MMA legend Rampage Jackson.

November 10, 2012 | Los Angeles, CA

Nike celebrated 10 years of skateboarding with their “Made for Skate” exhibition at their 6th and Mill skate park. The event was great with a DJ performance from Atiba Jefferson and his brother, “The Blackouts” and with a classic display of skate kicks from the years. For being only in skating for 10 years they have helped bring the sport to the next level.

November 14, 2012 | Huntington Beach, CA

When my close friend Gene asked me to shoot his family again I was honored as I shot them before when little Harlow was only a baby. To see how quickly and fast kids grow-up it has made me realize the importance of photography and holding on to these memories. This was possibly my favorite image of the entire year.

November 21, 2012 | Long Beach, CA

The motorsports world met the electronic music world when Nitto Tires signed Steve Aoki. A small and intimate group was invited to see Aoki learn to drift for the first time. Formula DRIFT pro’s helped get the superstar DJ going sideways in a car.

November 28, 2012 | Los Angeles, CA

Each year I make sure to attend the annual Los Angeles Auto Show during their press days to see what the next year has to offer in vehicles. There is definitely some hot cars that will come out soon, but the vehicle that caught my eye the most was a full competition race car – the Bentley GT3 that made its debut.

November 28, 2012 | Los Angeles, CA

Following the press day RECARO held a special event that invited journalists, industry VIPs and a few influencers to gather to see a collection of cars (including the JP Edition Veloster), watch the premiere of the ID Agency’s Devil’s Playground video and see the famous Mitsubishi EVO that crashed at Pikes Peak (or at least what was left of it) in person. Guests included a who’s who of drivers and friends from Ken Block, Tanner Foust, Vaughn Gittin Jr, Tommy Kendall and Dai Yoshihara.

November 29, 2012 | Los Angeles, CA

With an all-star line-up I couldn’t resist the invitation to check out the screening for Gangster Squad. The movie was great and the after-party hosted by SA Studios was the perfect way to end the evening.

December 1, 2012 | Newport Beach, CA

It’s always heartwarming to be with a family for their first newborn. When asked to photograph these events my goal is to find the genuine moments that really capture the feeling.

December 1, 2012 | Los Angeles, CA

A new client for the year was iZZi Gadgets and I helped with their launch event at the Crewest Gallery in Downtown Los Angeles. A collection of iPhone photos using the iZZi Gadgets were put on display featuring work by skate photographer Atiba Jefferson, Willie T, Yuri Hasegawa, ManOne and pro skater Arto Saari. Arto is not only an amazing skater, but fantastic photographer.

December 2, 2012 | Long Beach, CA

With the holidays quickly approaching it becomes photo season for holiday cards. This image was one of favorites as it shows little Luke with his sister twirling in the background. This was especially rewarding considering that Luke couldn’t sit still for more than a few seconds unless he had Pinkberry.

December 6, 2012 | Buena Park, CA

The third project vehicle for the year went underway. This time around it was with a Toyota FJ Cruiser for Scosche. It became hectic towards the end to get it ready for the CES show in Vegas, but came together nicely. I’ll have to wait a week to post the final images and shots from the Scosche booth at CES. Stay tuned…trust me it is worth the wait.

December 7, 2012 | Long Beach, CA

Ducati invited me to photograph their press conference and activation at the International Motorcycle Show held in Long Beach. With MotoGP star Nicki Hayden in attendance and a collection of fine bikes, Ducati had one of the best displays of the show.

December 8, 2012 | Brea, CA

Maternity photos have become popular in the last few years. Not having done many I was excited to try a few shots using props to symbolize the newborn. Mike and Katie kept all their original ultrasound images and we hung them by a string and clothespins across the small bridge for this shot.

December 12, 2012 | Irvine, CA

After the last maternity shoot I found that I like to use props and when Mary and Anthony showed me what they brought it was perfect. Mary’s little “Lambie” is due any day now and I’m excited to meet the little guy.

December 15, 2012 | Las Vegas, NV

Continuing with their newly formed partnership and to celebrate the season finale of “The Ultimate Fighter” NOS flew in Georges St. Pierre for a special interview on FOX. I was on hand to assist with the media interviews and customer activation for NOS.

December 24, 2012 | La Mirada, CA

My nephew’s first Christmas. It was only fitting that I started the year with his birth and end with him. Thanks 2012 it’s been real. 2013 let’s do this!

It has become a tradition for me to share the past year through my photography. Even with social media specifically Instagram becoming popular not everything can be shown so these posts serve as a visual year book.

2012 was an incredible year full of surprises and opportunities. I am very fortunate to have had these amazing experiences shared with the following photos and brief descriptions. The late Steve Jobs once said, “Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do.”

Past Year in Photo collections: 2011 Part 1, 2011 Part 2 and 2010.

January 5, 2012 | Fountain Valley, CA

This was a very special day for me as I became an uncle. My little nephew, Liam Riley Pangilinan was born and I couldn’t have been any happier to welcome him to the world.

January 11.12 | Las Vegas, NV

I attended the Consumer Electronic Show (CES) for the first time in years. I was hired by Ferrari by Logic3 to take photos of their booth display, activation and new product offerings. The company won numerous awards that week including an award for their booth that included a beautiful Ferrari on display.

January 20, 2012 | Los Angeles, CA

Pirelli Tire celebrated their involvement with Supercross at Dodger Stadium. I managed the media that attended the event along with taking a few event photos of my own. Pirelli’s riders James “Bubba” Stewart and Davi Millsaps were in attendance to pose for pictures along with answer media questions.

February 2, 2012 | Los Angeles, CA

Continuing with the projects for Pirelli I was managed a small video production that showcased the ride and drive event for the newly designed Porsche 911 equipped with Pirelli P Zero Nero A/S.

February 2, 2012 | Los Angeles, CA

I attended the Brisk Bodega Cantina event that celebrated the release of Star Wars: Episode I in 3D. The event included an exhibit featuring original artwork inspired by Brisk and Star Wars, with a Dark Side vs. Light Side theme. Entertaining the crowd through the evening was DJ Just Blaze.

February 13, 2012 | Las Vegas, NV

The second trip to Las Vegas for the year was for the MAGIC trade show. I was asked to help coordinate a few special show cars to display at the PUMA event and invite a few key media members. The event showcased the new partnership with PUMA and BMW and AMG motorsports. Along with rapper Meek Mill, there was a special performance from one of my favorites, Santigold.

February 19, 2012 | San Francisco, CA

Every now and then a road trip is in order. Taking the ID Agency Ford Focus that I built and debuted at SEMA I decided to showcase the car at the WEKFEST car show. The Bay Area is one of my favorite places for the scenery, food and many good friends that live in the area.

March 3, 2012 | Los Angeles, CA

I had the good fortune to work with Nike this year as a brand ambassador. They invited me to participate in the launch of the Fuel Band. Not only did they graciously gift me with products to wear, but also surprised us with a full event experience in a Hollywood backlot that was complete with stunt work, football and even Michael Jackson style dance lessons.

March 27, 2012 | Irwindale, CA

One of the most anticipated cars to come out in the past few years has been the Scion FR-S. An affordable turbo charged, rear-wheel drive sports car. When I was asked by a good friend, DC Chavez to assist him with him film shoot of the test day with Formula DRIFT driver Ken Gushi and his new Greddy Performance Scion FR-S I jumped at the chance. I shot behind the scenes and caught up with the drivers and teams that were in attendance as they prepared for the season opener in Long Beach.

March 28, 2012 | Los Angeles, CA

One of my new clients for the year was Sanctiond Car Care founded by famed tattoo artist Mister Cartoon. What really drew me towards the brand was the lifestyle aspect of it. From collaborating with fashion giant UNDFTD to MMA fighters and artists it really is a brand that touches on many of the things that I am personally into. I assisted with the media portion of the day that included media tours and product demonstrations inside Cartoon’s office/car museum/car guy lair. A few of my photos were used in the interview I set-up with Hypebeast.com.

March 28, 2012 | Los Angeles, CA

The second half of the day consisted of a massive launch party complete with celebrity guests and a lowrider “hop-off.” It was a long day, but well worth the hard work it took to kick-off the campaign for Sanctiond. More to come.

May 5, 2012 | San Francisco, CA

One of my good and long time friends, Mark Arcenal asked me to help him with the PR for his quickly growing brand, Illest. The fashion brand has started to grow world-wide in just a few years. I took a trip up to the office called the “Paddock” to meet with the creative team along with see how the brand has evolved. Of course being a car guy the “Paddock” also doubles as RWB USA (famed Japanese tuning company) and a few gems were on display (pictured above).

May 11, 2011 | Atlanta, GA

I’ve been lucky enough to do what I love and work with great people and companies. One of those companies is Formula DRIFT where I have managed the PR, creative and some marketing efforts. We traveled to Road Atlanta and I took some time to photograph, the Formula DRIFT champion, Dai Yoshihara as he was just signed to be a driver for the Illest brand.

May 16, 2012 | Los Angeles, CA

The new Lexus GS is one of the best all-around vehicles I have been able to drive. The car not only looks the part, but performs as well. I had the opportunity to take the car for a road trip to Santa Barbara, San Jose to see the Strikeforce fight and back to LA for a quick photo session with artist Insa’s building in Downtown LA.

May 16, 2012 | Hollywood, CA

A good friend of mine and publicist for artists invited me to attend the REDI listening party at the SoHo House. It was a good evening with a couple friends and was great to hear the album and meet the artists behind the music.

May 26, 2012 | Las Vegas, NV

Whenever I’m invited to attend an MMA event I rarely turn it down. This time was no exception as I was invited by Toyo Tires to check out UFC 146. With photo credentials for the weigh-ins I took full advantage and shot what I could with what I had on me. I was able to capture Jason “Mayhem” Miller’s last weigh-in for the UFC as shortly after losing the fight he was cut from the organization and he followed that up with a mental break-down. Pretty sad to see someone with that much talent go in that direction.

June 3, 2012 | Whittier, CA

Another proud moment of the year was being asked to be the godfather for my nephew. He must be one of the happiest kids of all-time as he rarely cries or throws tantrums and mostly he just smiles.

June 4, 2012 | Los Angeles, CA

One of the major events that I worked on was Microsoft’s activation for their new gaming title Forza Horizon at the annual Electronic Entertainment Expo better known as “E3″. I produced and managed the outdoor activation that was complete with VIP rides in super cars, a collection of stunning cars on display including the Hennesey GT1000 (yes that’s 1000 horsepower and yes I was able to drive it) and of course the selection of spokesmodels for the 3-day event.

June 5, 2012 | Los Angeles, CA

Here’s a memorable story that went along with this crazy week. E3 also coincided with the NHL Finals and with the Staples Center right next door to the Convention Center and the LA Kings on the brink of winning the Stanley Cup I was advised that the very expensive vehicles (over $1M) that we had on display wouldn’t be safe even with the overnight security we had hired to protect the cars. So the decision was made to take down the activation area and set it up all over again the following morning – sometimes you have to make these sacrifices in this line of work. The Kings ended up losing, but better safe than sorry.

June 25, 2012 | Brea, CA

As a fan of mixed-martial arts I have been very lucky to be able to work with companies such as Toyo Tires that support the ever growing sport. One of the true legends of the game is Josh Barnett, who was the youngest UFC heavyweight champion at one time. Josh has become a good friend over the years, but this was the first time I was able to take his photo in a professional setting. He is a classic character and knows just how to pose and what faces to make when the camera is on him. He also knows how to ham it up a bit and do some crazy things that wouldn’t imagine a guy his size could do such as the “Showtime” kick off the fence.

June 25, 2012 | Brea, CA

Toyo wanted a very dark and raw image that showcased the fighters as the warriors they are. Multiple shots and looks were taken to take advantage of the time we had with the athletes. I asked Anthony “Showtime” Pettis to sit and wrap his hands to show the process and preparation that is required to fight. This was one of my favorite images from the shoot. The main image that was captured was a an action sequence shot of Anthony’s famous “Showtime kick,” where he ran up the cage and threw a face kick to be the last man to beat the current UFC champion Benson Henderson while they both fought in the WEC. Toyo used this image for a limited edition poster that was available for signings at the UFC fan expo, but you can also download the image as a desktop wallpaper HERE.

To be continued with Part 2.

Last night in Downtown Los Angeles, iZZi Gadgets celebrated their launch with an event titled, “LA Enhanced” at the Crewest Gallery. The event showcased photography using iZZi Gadgets by artists, skaters and photographers including Arto Saari, Atiba Jefferson, ManOne, Willie T and Yuri Hasegawa in conjunction with Skateistan and the Stronghold Society. Proceeds from sales of the prints will be donated to the Connect the Dots project.

I’m proud to have been part of the gallery showcasing a couple of my photos along side these great photographers/artists and working with the team to produce the event for a great cause with the Connect the Dots project that shares the joy of skateboarding with those in need. More info below.

The Connect the Dots Project is the first-ever cultural exchange between the boys & girls students of the Skateistan skateboard school in Kabul, Afghanistan and Lakota Native American boy and girl skaters from the Pine Ridge reservation in South Dakota in the United States.

The project includes coordinating and producing skate decks, products and various other cultural products and art that can be exchanged in a peaceful attempt to bridge cultural and gender gaps by utilizing something both groups have in common…skateboarding. These are two of the most impoverished groups with very little means that have found time and energy to help one another ½ a world away with what they have at their disposal.

For more information visit: www.izzigadgets.com, www.crewest.com and www.skateistan.org.

Thanks to everyone that came out and supported the gallery.