Ricky Chu and I, Medium Monster – coming soon – recently shot a video for Mitsubishi Motors USA. Mitsubishi has teamed up with Jim Russel Racing School to do the Lancer Evolution Experience. Which is rumored to be under $1,000 for the class- which is much less than comparable driving schools. Plus you get the chance to push an EVO X around the track hard.

Rik and I followed the caravan of Mitsu’s up the 5 and to Infineon Speedway in Sonoma, California.

Here we go…

Crossing over into wine country.

The signs said “no stopping” “emergency only” – does that include shooting a pack of Mitsbishi Lancer EVO’s coming across the bridge?

Mako nose of an EVO X and the FJR-50 open wheel car.

Outlander was a smooth ride.

plenty of cargo space for gear.

Taillight* detail shot Mitsubishi Outlander.

Interior.

Grilled.

Dutched.

This is my – “the third Sony EX-1 I’ve worked with now has back focus issues too?” face.

On a serious side note, the Sony EX-1, one of the best small form factor solid state professional HD cameras on the market has back focus issues that Sony technical support and repairs are un-willing to recognize. All three of the EX-1′s I’ve shot with over the past year and 4 months have lost their ability to focus through the zoom focal lengths. At the widest focal length- the camera will focus to infinity easily- then as you zoom manually and increase the focal length- the camera looses focus and blurs. Sony put a “hidden” menu which has an FB Adjustment feature. Which sets the flange back focus i.e. back focus (odd naming convention considering the lens on the EX-1 is not innerchangable). It would be nice if Sony stepped up their warranty like Panasonic- my new Panasonic HPX-170 comes with a 5 year warranty. In comparison to Sony’s 1 year. Solid state cameras have VERY few moving parts and are not subject to the wears of video heads on tape based cameras. Step up the warranty program Sony- you are making a great product with the EX-1 & EX-3- don’t let down consumers by being cheap on the coverage and support of your products.

Ricky Chu & his Pac Rim T-shirt.

Everyone into the Outlander- time to get some grub.

Formula D Long Beach 2009 from Will Roegge on Vimeo.

Long Beach Formula Drift, round one, was well over a month ago. Slacking on finishing edits. By this time I should have completed an edit for Formula Drift Atlanta Round 2.

To give a little insight into my editing process. I usually review all of my footage. Grab “selects” and string them together in a sequence. Prior to launching Final Cut Pro- I’ve usually selected several songs that I want to use. The nicest part of making my own edits- is the ability to use whatever music I desire. No worries about copyright, because I’m not selling anything or producing the video for money.

The song I picked for this edit is special. I first heard this remix at the Sundance Film Festival 2009. My old roommate Brian Steele had played Tokyo Police Club for me a while back. Then Dave Drusky, the coolest person I know from Portland, introduced me to the remix by RAC- while at Sundance. It fit my life at the time incredibly well. Lyrically and compositionally.

Its difficult to use songs that you particularly care for in an edit- because it inevitably means that you must listen to them repeatedly. Which can kill the freshness and one’s desire for future listening.

Tokyo Police Club – Be Good (RAC Remix). 

Tanner Foust : Slow Motion Scion tC from Wrecked Magazine on Vimeo.

Joey Redmond got me to shoot Formula Drift Round Two for Wrecked Magazine. Thanks Joey! Here is a single slow motion run by Tanner Foust in his Scion Tc. Respect to Joey for the color treatment, it came out looking nice.

Can’t wait to see how the guys at Wrecked Magazine put my camera work to use.

I was lucky enough to be at the 2010 Mustang unveil back in November. Today, I got to work one on one with the 2010 Ford Mustang GT coupe. Shooting around Marina Del Rey, Pacific Coast Highway, and in the canyons over Malibu.

So come along with Ricky Chu and I as we shoot the 2010 Ford Mustang for Auto Blog and StreetFire.net

Framing up the 2010 Mustang GT in the LCD of the EX-1.

While not being the biggest Ford fan, I gotta admit the front grill of the Mustang is well designed. Recessed headlights and over-sized badge. Super clean.

Gitty-up ponies…

Ricky’s face says it all, early AM shoots are for suckers.

Wide Angle lens equipped StreetFire.net EX-1. The lens looks like Hal from a Space oddesy. 

Following the Mustang down PCH en route to Malibu.

Some nice switch-backs up in the Malibu hills.

The Mustang waiting on a turn-out for the next canyon run.

Rik examines the view. From the chase/lead camera car the benzo wagon. Maybe day dreaming about the AMG wagon?

J.Ramsey does his impression of driving the Mustang GT.

Neighborhood Watch. If I don’t call the police my neighbor will…

High Angle Rear 3/4. The Mustang’s angled rear tail lights look angular and strong from this view. 

Vanilla Sky sunset. In another life when we are both cats.

Since I haven’t done a photo blog in a while – here is a photo from February. Got a sweet birthday/valentine’s day package. Thanks Burga’time you are the best. I want everyone to know.

Recently, I’ve been over posting content from my job. This edit, albeit 20 seconds short, is what I love to do – shoot/edit/color. Matt Oates came to me with a fantastic idea. Use a bee costume for a quirky short series of vignettes with simple messages. Over the past weekend, Matt, Brent, Mike, Shana, and I scraped together our combined resources and shot 4 scenes.

The test footage above was just an idea that came about while shooting the first scene. Utilizing the Sony Ex-1′s ability to over crank (60p frame rate playing at 24fps) I captured these 3 shots of Mike chasing Brent (Bee).

The footage came out looking great. As always the Sony Ex-1′s # CMOS 2/3″ sensors have good latitude and at full zoom/end of barrel focal length (& ND filters) the DOF is more controllable than other similar cameras.

Here’s to the chase!

1977 Nissan Skyline Japan HD from Will Roegge on Vimeo.