The Toyota FT-86 will be remarkable vehicle when it's officially released. With the increase buzz from the media regarding the recalls Toyota needs to find a way to create more passionate vehicles. While surfing the net I came across an interesting photo. The photo depicts a family portrait of the FT-86 in the context of the Corolla AE86 (its most obvious predecessor) as well as the Celica and Supra. I'm quite surprised that the MR2 didn't appear on this photo.

A few weeks ago we shot a red 1999 Ferrari 360 Modena for a client. The finish product is truly a work of art. Frank Castillo of KWIKFILMS has crafted a remarkable video piece. His editing creativity paired with his videography skills made the Ferrari video one of the best KWIKFILMS has produced so far.

Check out the video and you'll see what I'm talking about!

Film director Michael Bay confirmed on his blog the arrival of the Ferrari 458 Italia in the forthcoming Transformers 3 film. Bay also announced it during a Ferrari charity event where he was raising money for a hospital being built by Ferrari in Haiti. Currently, the new Ferrari Autobot hasn't received a name.

In Ferrari's first official announcement of the car, the Ferrari 458 Italia was described as the successor to the F430 but arising from an entirely new design, incorporating technologies developed from the company's experience in Formula 1. The car was designed by Pininfarina, as with all recent Ferrari models. The car's interior was designed using input from former Ferrari Formula 1 driver Michael Schumacher, including a new steering wheel design which incorporates many features and controls as opposed to them being on the dashboard, similar to racing car designs.

I haven't been to impressed with the Subaru Impreza since they decided to redesign in 2008. The 4-door STI sedan turned to a hatchback and the sedan, well it looked like a Toyota Corolla. Subaru is now trying to capture the appeal back with the 2011 Subaru Impreza WRX.

The new WRX is set to debut at the 2010 New York Auto Show. With the new STI-styled flared fenders, blacked out grill and restyled front lip spoiler it will be hard to distinguish the WRX with the STI. Wider fenders require wider wheels. With a 1.5 inch-wider track front and rear, the 2011 Subaru Impreza WRX's stance is decidedly more aggressive, and with firmer rear subframe bushings pulled from the STI and wider 17x8-inch wheels wrapped in 235/45R17 rubber. The result is a increase in stability that can better handle the 265 horsepower turbocharged 2.5-liter 4-cylinder Subaru Boxer engine.

"The new wide-body designs mark another major step on the continuous evolution of the WRX to give driving enthusiasts an even more compelling all-wheel drive performance package," said Tom Doll, executive vice president and COO of Subaru of America, Inc.

Building & Mounting The Rig Assembly
The basics of it are simple - attach the cups to the car, roll the car, take a photo while it's moving. I'll go over some of the specifics below.

First of all, attach two super clamps to the end of your cups and then one to the end of the magic arm. The cups should be arranged on the car and positioned. Remember to put as much distance as you can between camera and car so that you don't have to shoot at the widest angle possible - this helps avoid distortion.

You want to find sturdy, flat sections to attach the cups. Try putting the cups close to the edges of the body panels where they are most sturdy, not directly in the center where they have less support. If you aren't careful, you can dent or flex a panel and possibly crack the paint.

Remember to always use the covers on your cups when you aren't using them. I clean the surface with spray on glass cleaner before I apply it. These cups can leave small pressure rings on paint, and if any dirt is on the cup you can cause deep scratches so be extra careful. Warn the owner of the car that a slight buffing may be needed afterwards. Never apply to a freshly painted surface.

If you have it available, the spray on clear bra can help prevent many issues with paint damage if you apply it before you apply the cups!

Next, you'll want to pump your cups up until they grip and the red line is no longer visible. Now you can apply your pipes to the clamps. Tighten every knob on the cup and clamp, and give it a firm tug to make sure everything is sturdy. Now you can attach your sections of pipe using the compression couplers mentioned.

Attach the Manfrotto Magic Arm to the end of the pipe via the super clamp. Position the camera and set it to shutter priority mode, or manual mode. Attach your wireless shutter trigger or set the camera to timed shutter release. Now you're ready to take the shot! Its time to push!

When pushing the car, you'll want to move very slowly. The slower the better, to prevent camera shake. Make sure the engine is off, and if possible lock the steering wheel in place to keep it from moving.

Taking The Shot
The technique to taking the shot is to take a long enough exposure to show a sense of motion while still showing detail in the background. This is really up to you and your own preference - try a few at a slower shutter, and try a few at a longer shutter. You may need to use a neutral density filter to get the exposure times you need - the fastest shutter speed I'd recommend is 1.5 seconds. I've done as long as 20 second exposures.

Set the timer or use your wireless remote, and slowly push the car and take the photo. You may want to take a static shot first so you have a sharp image of the body of the car you can merge and blend into your moving shot if it doesn't come out as sharp as you desire.

Post Processing
Notice you don't see the rig on any of the car shots. You will need to post process the rig away. As far as the post processing goes, it takes a little creativity - practice with your clone tool! Remember, use the biggest and softest brush you can get away with. Practice makes perfect, and never rush the job!

Below is a YouTube video of the rig removal in post production.


Also, take a look at some of James Evins Rig shots on his flickr when you get a chance. His rig photography is awesome..