It’s certainly been an interesting year.  Not always great, sometimes downright difficult, but not bad, either.  It seemed to go by much faster than previous years, but maybe that’s attributed more to my age, than space-time actually accelerating in front of me.

I found myself surrounded by incredible people throughout the year.  Many influenced the photos you see here.  The input and feedback I got from them changed the way I look at everything I shoot.  Though it’s clear I’m still trying to find my way through the process, I’m constantly evolving and I hope what you see next year will be better than what you saw this year, and subsequent years will be even better than the next.

I want to say thank you to some of the most influential people in my life this year starting with my Sainted Mother.  She made her way to the exit in February and left this Earth with little fan-fare and zero regret.  That may be the biggest lesson I’ve gotten this year or any other.  Leave this life behind knowing that you truly lived it and left nothing left undone or unsaid.  I’m still struggling to make this my reality, but I’m confident I’ll get there someday.

Thanks to my wife for her unending support as I try to, once again, reinvent myself in an effort to find some internal peace and satisfaction.  She is the rock I rely on each and every day.

Big thanks to Greg Trachy and Chris Nazarenus for giving me this awesome platform to play on.  Had you not invited me to the party, I never would have realized how much I loved and missed looking through the viewfinder.  Thanks for believing in me.

To the amazing photographers I’ve met over the past couple years: Linhbergh Nguyen, Larry Chen, Andrew Bohan, Alex Wong, Jay Canter, Dave Phillip and Camden Thrasher.  I am blown away by your talent and motivated to improve and work harder each and every time I review your work.  Simply brilliant.  I am inspired.

The photos below are my favorite from the past year.  Are they my best…?  I don’t know, but they are the ones that I enjoy looking at the most.

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Hours before my Mothers passing, my stepdad sits with her and holds her hand one last time.
Ken Gushi gets ready to Run in Long Beach.  Ken made two of my favorites this year.
Ken Gushi gets ready to Run in Long Beach.
Matt Field gets Bil Baldwin to do something very rare...Move off his iconic spot on the Long Beach wall.
Matt Field gets Bil Baldwin to do something very rare…Move off his iconic spot on the Long Beach wall.
Daigo Saito leads Fredric Aasbo in Long Beach.  These two would have epic battles all season long.
Daigo Saito leads Fredric Aasbo in Long Beach.  These two would have epic battles all season long.
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My son and I were wandering through SAn Francisco one sunny spring afternoon and happened upon a street fair that featured these basketball acrobats. High flying fun, for sure.
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That same street festival also yielded this awesome lowrider.
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Summer Jam was no less fun. Here is Crick Filippi, who took the top spot.
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Sunrise at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb is always an amazing sight.
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Mike Ryan takes his irresponsibly fast Freightliner through lower section practice at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb.
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A crewmember for Pat Doran gives him a thumbs up at a private test session at an undisclosed location high in the Colorado Rockies. Pat was one of the most interesting people I met all year. A true character, and brilliant driver.
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This lovely beast belongs to one of my favorite drivers at Pikes Peak, Jeff Zwart. Pretty cool to say I got second place in Time Attack in 2010 to this very beautiful car and it’s very talented driver.
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Sebastien Loeb. I was a skeptic when I first heard that he was coming to Pikes Peak this year. I didn’t like the idea that a team could just throw money, and arguably the worlds best driver, at a project and come up here and blow away the existing record. Then I met him, and saw his team in action and realized that these guys did way more than just throw money around and buy a record. These were some of the most professional people I had ever met. Each working incredibly hard on their piece of the puzzle. And this guy…amazing. So professional, and so giving and endearing to his fans. I couldn’t be any more impressed. Here he is, at the drivers meeting, genuinely paying attention an taking in all the information. Can you imagine the backlash had they come up here and NOT accomplished exactly what was expected?
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Jack Rogers reels it back in from near disaster during middle section practice at Pikes Peak. A bit of oil got loose from the engine and found its way under the tires at the most inopportune time.
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Kalifornia Katie stages her Pro Stock Motorcycle at the Sonoma Nationals at Race Sonoma.
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The Legend. John Force. Sixteen time NHRA Champion gets ready for his first round run at the NHRA Sonoma Nationals.
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John Force gives a wave to the crowd as he walks the track before final eliminations begin.
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Northern California race car driver, Lars Wolfe, makes a funny face at a test session at Race Sonoma.
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Indy Cars belong on road courses. Going through the chicane at Race Sonoma.
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Indy Cars heading into the esses at Race Sonoma.
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The late Roger Rodas jumps the curb in turn 3A at Race Sonoma during the World Challenge race.
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Mariah Longo is a fixture at Race Sonoma. Not only is she a professional model and grid girl, she also does the promo videos and other promotional work for the track.
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The Ultimate Driving Machine comes up over the rise.
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Formula Drift finals in the House of Drift, Irwindale Speedway. When the weather is just right, these are the incredible views of Downtown Los Angeles that are available from the track.
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Matt Powers, quite possibly one of the most charismatic drivers in Formula Drift, has a quick conversation with a Formula Drift official.
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2013 Formula Drift Champion, Mike Essa, just moments before he finds out that his motor is wasted and the still undecided championship is now out of his hands.
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The Audi TTRS of Rotek racing blasts through the morning sun at the 25 hours of Thunderhill. They would go on to win the race.
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A beautiful classic Ferrari comes out of turn three at Laguna Seca during the Monterey Motorsports Reunion.
F1 at the Monterey Historic races at Laguna Seca.  Beautiful Cars.
F1 at the Monterey Motorsports Reunion at Laguna Seca. Beautiful Cars.
I saw the true meaning of sportsmanship at the Monterey Historic races at Laguna Seca this year.  This Brabham flipped down the corkscrew and two fellow competitors, running 1-3 at the time, came to his aid.
I saw the true meaning of sportsmanship at the Monterey Motorsports Reunion at Laguna Seca this year. This Brabham flipped down the corkscrew and two fellow competitors, running 1-3 at the time, came to his aid.
Pikes Peak veteran Kash Singh not only drove his Pikes Peak race car from Detroit to the race in Colorado, he then followed me to Bonneville just to get these shots.  Feature coming soon.
Pikes Peak veteran Kash Singh not only drove his Pikes Peak race car from Detroit to the race in Colorado, he then followed me to Bonneville just to get these shots. Feature coming soon.
Pikes Peak veteran Kash Singh not only drove his Pikes Peak race car from Detroit to the race in Colorado, he then followed me to Bonneville just to get these shots.  Feature coming soon.
Pikes Peak veteran Kash Singh not only drove his Pikes Peak race car from Detroit to the race in Colorado, he then followed me to Bonneville just to get these shots. Feature coming soon.
I enjoy San Francisco at night and this is one of the reasons why.  The Palace of Fine Arts looks amazing at night.
I enjoy San Francisco at night and this is one of the reasons why. The Palace of Fine Arts looks amazing at night.
I had the opportunity to hang out with several talented photographers in San Francisco one Friday night.  This was one of the resulting images from that night.  A well weathered man rides the train home at the end of a long night.
I had the opportunity to hang out with several talented photographers in San Francisco one Friday night. This was one of the resulting images from that night. A well weathered man rides the train home at the end of a long night.
Bryan Smith heads down the front stretch and towards the checkered flag at the Sacramento Mile.
Bryan Smith heads down the front stretch and towards the checkered flag at the Sacramento Mile.
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Winter Jam at Sonoma Drift was incredible this year. The Formula Drift setup was used and the action was awesome. Here is the E30 of the event champion, Donovan Brockway.

Happy New Year everyone.  See you in 2014.