Add a comment December 4th, 2008 by admin
I was pretty busy bouncing from press conference to press conference at the 2008 L.A. autoshow. I didn’t cover the Nissan press conference but having previously owned a 350Z I had to check out the newest incarnation of the Z car, the 2009 Nissan 370Z.
My first reaction was, “What did they do to the lights?”. It looked like the new Nissan Maxima headlights, which I wasn’t too fond of. But after closer inspection I started to get what the designers were going for. I love the new shape and roof line. It looks just like the old school Datsun 240Z, a car I would love to own if I had the chance to pick up a project car.
The Nissan 370Z gets a welcome boost in power from a 3.7L V6 engine. This new power plant puts down 332 horsepower and 270 lb-ft. of torque. This is about 26 more hp than the previous model. Not bad, but I doubt previous owners will notice much of a difference on the butt dyno. I still think they should’ve come out with a tuner version of the vehicle that has a 4-banger turbo power plant. Take a look at the new Hyundai Genesis Coupe. They’ll be coming in both a V6 and an I4 turbo. Smart move if you ask me.
A lot of 350Z owners are enthusiasts. A lot of enthusiasts like tuning, modifying and upgrading. I’m not sure how this power plant will do, but the old 3.5L V6 didn’t respond too well to modifications. You had to drop some serious coin to put down more power. Granted, it was still fast and a very balanced vehicle. But not tapping into that huge aftermarket is a big mistake. Especially in our current economy. These days, not a lot of people can afford $30,000+ vehicles. So tuners and aftermarket enthusiasts are going to buy cheaper cars that they can upgrade to satisfy their need for speed.
If someone from Nissan happens to read this and a tuner version of the 370Z comes out. You’ll be getting a bill from me Nissan. I’ll also take a 370Z as payment if you would like me to continue my research.
3 Comments September 4th, 2008 by admin
The Nissan GT-R is back and I want one. Ask any car enthusiast about the GT-R and the majority of them will say the same. With insane twin-turbo V-6 power, edgy looks, and a cult-like following rivaling that of the Beatles, the 2009 Nissan GT-R lives up to the hype.
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1 Comment September 3rd, 2008 by admin
Shooting in a studio is something I’m still very new to. It’s worlds different from shooting on location. The great part about shooting in the studio is that you can control almost everything. It’s awesome for shooting black cars because it’s easier to control reflections. The studio is also good for details and interior shots. In this particular photo I was bouncing light off of a flat above the vehicle using a pair of ARRI hot lights. The benefit of constant lighting is it’s always WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get). So if you want highlights to accentuate the fenders you manipulate the lights until you get what you want. Here’s a few other studio shots I took using similar techniques.
3 Comments August 24th, 2008 by admin
When I get a black car to shoot I try to find a nice open space to minimize distracting reflections. A good photographer friend of mine, Ron Perry, suggested a spot that would be perfect. Unfortunately, instead of a colorful sunset I got an overcast marine layer because the location was close to the water. The car looked great but the bland sky made for a bland photo. Luckily, my wife and I went to Hawaii for our honeymoon and I grabbed a great shot that worked perfectly with the black Dodge Challenger SRT8.
3 Comments August 24th, 2008 by admin
If you looked up Billy Badass in the dictionary you’d find a picture of the 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8, taken by me of course. You can practically feel the chest hair sprouting every time you mash the pedal. This might not be a desired side effect if you’re of the feminine persuasion but it’s a small price to pay to drive a vehicle putting down 425 horsepower and 420 lb ft of torque. This brute strength emanates from a 6.1L SRT HEMI V8 engine, so you aren’t going to be winning any fuel economy awards. But if you want that old school muscle look without having to worry about old school reliability, the 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8 should be on the top of your list.
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5 Comments August 19th, 2008 by admin
To say that there’s a rivalry between the 2008 Subaru Impreza WRX STi and the 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X is a bit of an understatement. But let’s just say they’re not on speaking terms at the moment. As an automotive enthusiast, I think that rivalry is good. It raises the bar and we get bigger and better toys to play with. Take the current incarnations of these two vehicles. A lot of people are saying that they are the best they have ever been. Having driven both vehicles I can honestly say…they’re both pretty fun. But what do you expect from a photographer. I’m not a professional driver, nor am I an automotive editor. I do know my way around a camera however. So I say let’s bring these cars to my home court. Let’s have a little Photo Faceoff. It’s o.k. to be superficial in this situation. Succumb to your “OOoohhh Shiiiiinnnnny” reflex. Check out the rear ends, gawk at the headlights, and when you’re done, cast your vote for the winner of this Photo Faceoff.
Evo VS STi
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