Photography

Photography, needless to say- it changed my life. Not only am I passionate about it, I feel it sometimes drives my life in the right direction. Hard to imagine for those that don't take pictures. Other photographers will know what I'm saying.

I'm still an amateur photographer, by far. I still go through my "phases" when I learn a new technique and use it to hell. Usually, it earns some criticism for it being overused. It's alright though- that's all a part of my learning curve.

So anyway, about photography. I first learned on a Canon AE-1, which some of you may know as a pioneering SLR camera. I quickly excelled and began to use DSLR cameras. My first own DSLR camera was a Nikon D100. Not much, but it was what I wanted. I could have easily afforded something more up to date, with a better sensor and such, but I wanted all the "bells and whistles" that the once high-end camera had to offer. All the dials right at my fingertips, which meant no digging through menus to change my ISO or F stop. I learned a lot with that camera, and regret trading it off to fuel another passion of mine- paintball. But that will get its own blog another time.

I started to use a Sony A100 recently. Though it is more of a "prosumer" camera and it doesn't have as many features as others, it does have the same sensor as the Nikon D200 (which is the camera I wanted). Not as good as the newer D300 or the lately released D700, I made do with it. It was a big upgrade, and I was excited. I learned yet another great deal of skills with this camera, most of it being post-processing and shooting in RAW format.

I have a long way to go, and I figure I'll take my time. I see friends who picked up photography before I did with all their gear and equipment. However, when I take a look at their work, I'm able to point out multiple mistakes and ways the shot could have been taken "better." I put better in quotations because it really is all in the eye of the beholder. Anyway, the best example I have of how the gear doesn't make the photographer is my good friend Mace. He is one of the best photographers that I personally know, and he shoots with a Canon XT. It isn't always about the camera body, or even the glass (though that is one of the more important things).

So, I'll just take my time. I'll learn slowly, maybe even take a couple of formal classes. I'll save for a good camera (I'm anticipating the release of the D3) and for some good glass. I'm not even going to attempt to find my own "style" yet, because I have so much more to learn about other things. Hell, I just grasped the concept of composition. I won't watermark or put black borders on my photography, because that's just a sure sign of one using photography for all the wrong reasons.

Oh, and for most of you out there: for all of our sakes, please at least learn how to bracket your shots.

Touge?

As many of you probably know already, I used to be an avid follower of the movement known as "touge." I caught on late, I know, but I was passionate about the activity. I wasn't big on drifting, in fact, I believe that the only positive properties of drifting are the aesthetic ones. Anyhow, touge means "mountain" or something like that in Japanese. It's their slang for spirited mountain driving. Some of you may be thinking..."Oh, I've done that before." It may be a bit different from what you're thinking. Here's a video:




I slowly started in my Impreza 2.5RS early in 2007. My usual partner was Wayne, also with an Impreza 2.5RS. Our home road- Calaveras. The sweeping turns mixed with the technical sections and sharp hairpins made it a thrill to drive. One night, on our way back down after a successful run, I understeered into the wall making a left turn on a hairpin. Amateur mistake- I was still new to touge after all. The good thing is that I only bent a control arm, and that was an easy fix.

A couple of passes later on in the year, I race my friend's Integra Type R up Calaveras. I'm leading, and slowly setting a gap between us as he was fairly new to mountain driving. I guess I got a bit cocky and over-revved the motor a few times...the product of all that...I had rod knock. That motor was done. It took me two months to source out another EJ251 within my price range and in decent condition. That motor went back in, and I was back.

I became friends with some regulars on Calaveras (they were actually there the night I tapped the mountain) and we became regular touge buddies. Mike and Daryl with their Miatas with full suspension, Joseph with his DA Integra on Koni Yellows and coil-over sleeves, and a couple new-comers to the game. We had lots of fun up there with each other, but it eventually got a tad dull after our skill levels became similar. We then began to look for races...to get the thrill of the chase. You'd be able to find us at the bottom of Calaveras on Piedmont road, lined up and ready to chase after any prospective driver heading up. A lot of victories, and some ass-handings were given to us. All-in-all, a fun experience.

Why did I make this post? Well tonight, I finally got to experience the thrill of touge after a year of retirement since I rolled my 2.5RS on Calaveras road. Yeah, most of you already know, but I rolled off onto a service road...and actually drove away from it. In fact, I drove 10 miles to my friend's house. Not to stray from my point, but I finally got to see Calaveras during the daytime the other day. Needless to say, I nearly shat my pants. If I had done another rotation while rolling off the mountain, I would have wound up in an 80 foot ravine. That probably wouldn't have ended well. Looking back, I'm glad I only did one roll and only went down about 25 feet or so.

Anyway, back to the point. Tonight, we touge'd on the local road (Redwood Rd. in Castro Valley). I was in my buddy's TurboII RX7 with his new wheels on (R32 Skyline GT-R wheels) with some "meh" tires. It was still exhilarating. Following us was Miata Rob, Luis in his AE86 Corolla(who later on that night, ended up with rod-knock on his motor, and then his crank punched a hole through his block), Rocky (in his Highlander instead of his track-prepped RX7, that guy has hands), Ramon in his 300ZX (AKA, the shopping cart), and Mace (back in his super dumped 5th Generation Prelude with a fresh transmission). It was fun. Way more fun than a typical Saturday night at the races. I really do miss the touge, but the fear I now have keeps me from going.

I have my GSX now...a fast car in a straight line but a pig in the mountains due to its lack of handling capabilities. My idea is this: Get an Impreza L and slowly build it back to 2.5RS spec, with an EJ205 WRX motor swapped in. Of course, I'd go all-out with a fully tuned suspension, roll cage, seats, harness, etc etc. I've been needing a daily driver anyway. It really is a good idea, and I'd be returning back to the Subaru family.

I'll think on it. It's 7:12 AM, and I need to get some sleep.

macehella: turbbboooo blog

So for the past three hours, I've been researching turbos on dsmtuners.  A lot of insightful stuff, once I sorted through all the bullshit and ill-informed users.  I've had my heart set on an MHI Big16G turbo that I was going to buy off my friend for $200.  Not a bad price, considering he ordered his through FFTEC and it was installed by them.  It costs about $550 new.  Anyhow, I built all my mods surrounding this turbo.

The idea of a larger turbo had entered my mind, but I'd have to restart my entire build.  I've pieced together several parts now.  If I were to go with a larger turbo, they'd most likely have t3/t4 flanges.  This poses a problem, because then I'd have to buy an intake manifold (I planned on using my stock one, but ported), a custom #bolt flange for the o2 sensor housing, and a custom downpipe (or have the one I have re-welded).  I already have a downpipe, and the only o2 sensor housing I can use that allows me to have a 38MM Tial WG (which I already have) recirculate uses Mitsubishi stock turbo flanges.  I quickly got the idea out of my mind until I was ready to go big (GT35R).  

Today, I saw something interesting as I was looking through posts.  A member had asked a question about where he could buy an install kit for a 16g (oil lines, washers, gaskets, etc).  Another member linked him to the DSM Turbos page on STM's (Street Tuned Motorsports) website.  I clicked on it, as I needed an install kit as well, hoping to be able to purchase one.  The first thing I saw caught my attention- a 50 trim turbo that uses the stock mounting flanges.  Looking deeper into it, it didn't cost that much money.  $629 for turbo without the internal wastegate.  My jaw dropped- I decided to do some more research.  STM had recently started to carry these 50 trim Garrett turbos, but I found out that SBR (Slowboy Racing) had been carrying these for a while.  They use Garrett cores, so all parts are interchangeable and the quality is there.  For the price, you just can't beat it.  A 50 trim would double the size of my stock t25.  For the compressor side, at least.  I'd be able to go with my original plan of using a ported stock 2G exhaust manifold and a Punishment Racing o2 housing w/ External WG recirculated.  

I've been up all night deliberating what I would do.  I realized that the price of a new 50 trim falls within the  boundaries of my budget.  Another thought crossed my mind- will my fuel upgrades be able to keep up?  After some more research, I found several instances of others running 50 trims at 20+ PSI with 650cc injectors at below 80% IDC under full boost.  This is perfect for me, since my fuel management will be an Apex'i AFC Neo.  Since this is a piggyback system, it is said that the AFC Neo cannot control more than 680cc injectors, since instead of actually modifying the fuel curve of the ECU, it is only fooling the ECU's fuel readings and advancing the timing to compensate.  My 190lph Walbro fuel pump will do just fine for my horsepower goals, as long as I get the rewire kit, which isn't very expensive.  Everything seems to be falling in place for this new turbo, and I really think that's the turbo I'll be running.

Xu.

I am Xu.