Two thousand and nine.
An incredible year to wrap an incredible decade.

I sit here, in the dark, in the glow of my computer screens. Fans from my computer tower are whirring away. I just shut down my brand new medium-format Epson – a Christmas gift to myself. Itunes is quietly playing music in the background. Around my feet are stacks of papers, calendars/flight information, pieces of camera gear, etc.
This my home, my office, my life.

When I try and reflect back on 2009, I’m at a loss of where to start talking since so much has happened. My life was uncertain when this year began. All I knew is that I would somehow stay here in Socal, I would continue to do photography and at some point, someone, would offer be a break.
I had a huge network of friends and family backing me, but, things were beginning to look as though I may need to return to the Bay Area. When February started I was thinking that I might have to leave Socal. But when February ended I was a full-time staff photographer for K&N Engineering, Inc.

I spent my Spring and Summer handling all photography for K&N Engineering and AEM Intakes. So, go pick up a copy of QUAD, Truckin’, Bagger, Import Tuner, Modified, D Sport, or 15+ other magazines and look for an ad by either of those companies… 9/10 times, those photos were shot by me.

I have been published this way in more magazines than I can count. My photography is used across both websites. My images are also in use by many of the racers and race teams that the two companies sponsor. In a matter of just a few months I had already given up trying to keep track of where all my work can be seen.
I used to try and keep clips of everything when I still worked in journalism/news… not anymore though, way too hard.

Also this year my photography has been featured many projects and press releases by my good friend, singer Jesse Hart. Professional BMXer and singer Rick Thorne has used my photography on many occasions for his band The Good Guys in Black.
Singer/songwriter and musician Derek Jameson has featured my photography on his newest CD cover and web media for his music. But the biggest publication work I shot this summer was Derek’s feature in Unzipped magazine. Our five image feature was in the July issue – this was a huge deal for us both.

My summer was a flash of desert races, long hot days at the track, equally long days in a dark studio, and lots of flying. I was humbled this year by how many friends booked me to shoot their weddings. Many of these weddings were hundreds or thousands of miles from me. To be selected to shoot such an important day and flown cross country to do it, was a huge compliment. My wedding photography has come so far since last year – and I was really able to start adding my own style to it, too.

I managed two major trips this year – more than I expected I’d be able to take, haha. My cruise with friends to Mexico was wonderful simply because I was disconnected from the world for three days. For three whole wonderful days I didn’t have cell service, email, texting… anything. I loved every minute of it.
I also was able to take a trip to South Korea. I spent two weeks traveling with my friend Colleen, who I hadn’t seen since college in Michigan. It was great to have her host me and show me around many sites and cities.

My fall and winter has been filled with many smaller projects and individual shoots for models and actors.
The next big release you’ll see of my work… is the 2010 K&N Calendar. You’ve seen teaser images from me the last few months, and I’ll be able to finally debut the final product shortly.

A year of ups and downs.
I still had instances this year that left me a bit blindsided or confused. But each time I’ve come out stronger and clearer of where I was supposed to go. There was less pain in my life this year. There was much less drama. A simple decision to no longer deal with those types of people this year meant that I wasted much less emotion on people or events that may otherwise have affected me more.

This year, 2010, brings with it many new opportunities. My work has gone many new directions and I’m excited to see how the next few months pan out. I will be flying many places for work, including multiple trips to Michigan, Florida, and the Bay Area.

A few shoutouts and Thank You’s to some of the major people who affected my life this year: Monica, Mom, Dad, TJ & Cassandra, Phil & Bryan, Beau, Lauren, Lisa, Stephanie & Adam, Tina H., my Topdown family, Jesse Hart, Rick Thorne, Derek Jameson, Sabrina B., Adam S., Nick O., Chris McEniry, Anthony and Promax Motorsport, K&N Engineering, AEM Intakes, Hart & Huntington, Weller Racing, BME Racing, all the other race teams I worked with, Jose/King, Asura, Todd & Jessica, Craig & Lisa, Kyle and Tiffanye, Arsie, Ahn & Krishan, Kamal, Colleen, Rosa, Ryan & Jenna, and many more of you I’m forgetting to list.

And a big Thank you to all my readers, fans and clients.
Without your support I wouldn’t be where I’m at today.

Let’s make 2010 even better than 2009, shall we?