civicdrivr

iTrader: (9)

Ive been gone for almost a week and this thread doesn't even advance a full page???

J, you slippin man.

rockstar143

iTrader: (6)

You know it, my brother.
Well, as some of you know...after that last coat of that Chemical Guys Pete's 53 Carnauba...I wasn't happy. Days later it was streaking in the sun...and it formed this "haze" that looked like swirlmarks. In addition, it formed a coat that would not allow the purely polymer based sealants I'd been used to layer on top of.

Fk that, returned to amazon for full refund. No questions asked. Next step this weekend was to strip. I'd been meaning to do a quick detail anyway. The brutal summer washes had left me with some swirls again.

Then, when leaving work yesterday I noticed that my left tail was a bit "off"...the reflector looked like the vinyl had peeled upward on the bottom. Low and behold...get home and take the tail apart and the fkn reflector is MELTED!!!!?? There's a burn mark on the brake lens too. I don't have any clue how it happened. I used another reflector from a throwaway set in the attic...resealed...and polished the red brake lens. Back to new!



still baffled by that one.

civicdrivr

iTrader: (9)

This is the reason I don't like throwing away most of my parts.

CLtotheTL32

iTrader: (3)

Damn J, that's some random shit happening.

Undying Dreams

iTrader: (3)

That's really weird.

rockstar143

iTrader: (6)

So, fixed that last night...changed my oil, and rotated my tires...they're getting there. Need to think about my next set and getting an alignment from a place where they know what they're doing. Rotating entails me removing the 10MM v1 spacers and putting the 20MM V2 spacer on the back. This keeps the same stance but allows full rotation.

Did all that last night:
Tail repair
rotate tires
change oil (this time did 4.5 quarts with the extended performance Mobile 1)
Washed rims inside barrel and out

Today:

Polished top panels that the sun bounces off of with makita rotary, white pad and Megs 205...easy one step solution to make it look better without dedicating a day to it.

Sealed with that sample of the Wolfgang Deep Gloss Sealant I had gotten from Nick@autogeek. I fully plan to buy a full size bottle of this stuff. It is BY FAR the easiest to apply and remove and leaves the deepest gloss that I've seen. Longevity doesn't matter much to me as I polish every 2 months anyway. Athough the longevity could be fine. I don't recall feeling like the car had a deeper shine since the last time I used this stuff.

Then I polished the exhaust, put on tire shine (GLOSSY for you Chad!), protectant and windows inside, Griot's leather rejuvenator inside, and some Megs trim dressing everywhere it needed it.

The car is happy...as am I.

Oh, and another thing...to polish, decided to remove the spoiler to get under there. Then I noticed that the metal shavings from when I repaired the broken holding bolt had stuck to the double sided tape and embedded themselves in the paint under the spoiler...and started to rust. Awesome. I'll likely be putting the spoiler back on, but since it was off, wanted to leave it off. I buffed the rust and put touch up paint on it, and made my usual black vinyl cutouts to cover the spoiler holes in the trunklid. Doesn't look awesome, but doesn't look bad.

Here are some new ones...behind Walmart of all places...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rockstar143/8172830042/http://www.flickr.com/photos/rockstar143/8172830042/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/rockstar143/, on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rockstar143/8172800495/http://www.flickr.com/photos/rockstar143/8172800495/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/rockstar143/, on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rockstar143/8172800011/http://www.flickr.com/photos/rockstar143/8172800011/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/rockstar143/, on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rockstar143/8172799543/http://www.flickr.com/photos/rockstar143/8172799543/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/rockstar143/, on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rockstar143/8172827920/http://www.flickr.com/photos/rockstar143/8172827920/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/rockstar143/, on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rockstar143/8172798591/http://www.flickr.com/photos/rockstar143/8172798591/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/rockstar143/, on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rockstar143/8172826948/http://www.flickr.com/photos/rockstar143/8172826948/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/rockstar143/, on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rockstar143/8172797373/http://www.flickr.com/photos/rockstar143/8172797373/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/rockstar143/, on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rockstar143/8172796939/http://www.flickr.com/photos/rockstar143/8172796939/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/rockstar143/, on Flickr

Steven Bell

iTrader: (2)

Nice shots Jeremy. Interesting insight about the Wolfgang's stuff.

I've updated the title for you too.

CLtotheTL32

iTrader: (3)

Gorgeous shots J

First and fifth

Undying Dreams

iTrader: (3)

Awesome update J

Love the pics, they get better every time

You really love parking in areas you're not supposed to park in.

KJ TL-S

iTrader: (9)

Looking sweet as always. I love those tails on your car.

rockstar143

iTrader: (6)

Thanks much, buddy! I wish I knew why they melted!

Thanks Ty/Austin...my alltime fav of the bunch is #6 for some reason.

Austin, you already know I'm a rebel, man!

Steven, you're the man. Thanks much!

Undying Dreams

iTrader: (3)

I dig #1 & #7.

Predatorbird

Both the car and pics look great. I've been having bad luck the past few times I've shot my car. I'm not getting good shots anymore and my post-processing has gone downhill.

rockstar143

iTrader: (6)

Thanks man...
Honestly, I put that 50MM F1.8 that John and Sean (not Sean John) recommended me about 6 months ago and have not looked back, buddy. I do manual mode lately, but I cheat and put it on auto first to get an idea of where the settings should be, then I play with it from there.

Oh, and none of these were touched up, which is kind of a relief because it felt like cheating, these are straight shots (and then pop bottles...)

But trust me, I know the rut well, where nothing is coming out right...and you get home thinking you've got some gold and have NOTHING but fkn overexposed or underexposed or blurry or sucky.



Here's a good example of what that lens is great at...
creating that depth depending on what you're wanting to focus on.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rockstar143/8174168678/http://www.flickr.com/photos/rockstar143/8174168678/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/rockstar143/, on Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rockstar143/8174168912/http://www.flickr.com/photos/rockstar143/8174168912/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/rockstar143/, on Flickr

DynamicJ32

Great pics! You can further adjust the blurry/crispness of your depth by altering your aperture (F.stop)

The lower the number, the more blurry the background; the high the number, the more everything becomes into focus. But remember you will have to compensate the shutter speed accordingly.

Here's an example of what I mean - same focus point, no settings have been changed but only the f.stop is changed. Makes the world of difference!

rockstar143

iTrader: (6)

It's funny you mention that. Today I was playing with it and trying to get a more blurry backround but then didn't compensate for it with the shutter speed enough so it ended up being WAY dark. I'll get it eventually but thanks for sharing.

?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rockstar143/8174136965/http://www.flickr.com/photos/rockstar143/8174136965/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/rockstar143/, on Flickr

DynamicJ32

lmao!

Use the light meter!



Make sure its at/close to zero and you will have the perfect shot every time!

Also, when you are using the light meter, make sure to point your camera AT the subject you are shooting to get a proper reading (if your camera focuses on a bush, it will meter off of its brightness, not the car, and compromise the exposure of your subject)

Predatorbird

Thanks for the pointers. I honestly cheat on all my stills and shoot in Aperture Priority while my rolling shots are done in Shutter Priority. When shooting with my "nifty fifty" I use a tripod, set a 2 sec timer, and start playing with different f stops. I admit the past few times I went out it was a bad time of day to go (noon). All my shots have been overexposed, not completely in focus, and grainy when loaded on my comp.

I may have to wash my car today and go play with my camera late afternoon to see if I can redeem myself with some decent shots.

rockstar143

iTrader: (6)

I look forward to it, buddy. And about noon...trust me, I know the feeling but then imagine having to deal with NOT overexposing at noon due to sun but then not darkening too much to make the car look like a friggin black blob.

Great great tips...I had started piecing that whole light meter thing together, but honestly...it's nice to get the reassurance!

rockstar143

iTrader: (6)

Probably should have made the clouds more dramatic, but didn't wanna mess with it.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rockstar143/8174169694/http://www.flickr.com/photos/rockstar143/8174169694/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/rockstar143/, on Flickr

swoosh

iTrader: (5)

damn that looks awesome....

first off, awesome shots....car looks "mind blasting"

second, you are turning into quite a photographer dude....

DynamicJ32

Moneyshot!

rockstar143

iTrader: (6)

Really? You like that one? I gotta admit, giving me the pointers you did, I know you know your sh8t so your opinion matters. Thank you!

Wacker

Finally got a haircut eh?

MEKO

iTrader: (1)

So these shots are new... it's snowing here
Nice shots and car flowsss
Loved the tails and that last picture is just awesome!!!

ebelp

J, try P (Program) mode. It's similar to Auto mode in that the camera will choose the shutter speed and aperture value for you, however, you still have some manual control over the white balance, flash and exposure comensation if necessary. I hate how in the flash pops up automatically in Auto mode...

rockstar143

iTrader: (6)

^^^Thank you, John. I'll give that a whirl next time!
I too hate the fk out of that. If I wanted flash, I'd have turned it on!

Meko, thanks man. I have to say, every time I put love into the car I have a renewed sense of love for it.

About the haircut, yes SIR!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rockstar143/8174170060/http://www.flickr.com/photos/rockstar143/8174170060/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/rockstar143/, on Flickr

nickn7

your car almost looks like a mazda6 in the reflection of this picture

swoosh

iTrader: (5)

^^^ how dare you

damn, its crazy how well everything flows on your car J....the visors, the wheels, the exhaust, all the mods flow very very well....

and the car looks amazing well without the trunk spoiler....keep it off for a while

The Machine

iTrader: (8)

Beautiful shots as usual J!

rockstar143

iTrader: (6)

That was my goal! To make my car look like a Mazda SIXXXX!!!

Thank you much, my friend. Honestly, I agree, I kinda dig it the way it looks right now too! I can live with the little vinyl patches I have on there to cover the holes now. Not the cleanest looking but it gets the job done and allows me to change my mind often since I'm nuts.

J.

Chip,
Thanks buddy.

swoosh

iTrader: (5)

well yeah....at time i miss my spoiler too....so its a good option to have rather than getting the holes filled professionally

rockstar143

iTrader: (6)

Yes sir...no professional filling of my holes is planned!
it's funny but I agree, I want the option to switch it. It amazes me how I can look at it from certain angles and LOVE how the spoiler looks and then other times I don't.

Who gets us?!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rockstar143/8174138089/http://www.flickr.com/photos/rockstar143/8174138089/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/rockstar143/, on Flickr

k1x

iTrader: (1)

beautiful stance,nice shots!!!

rockstar143

iTrader: (6)

K1x...I love you.
Thanks buddy.

24no7

iTrader: (2)

Rockstar i want your tail lights bro!

Undying Dreams

iTrader: (3)

I see your photo talk and raise you J's ass.

rockstar143

iTrader: (6)

Thank you brother...honestly, with the repair I had to make, I DID consider throwing the reds or smoked tails back on, but I knew I'd miss these too much. Gotta put in the work to make em, but I'm super happy with em!

J.

Austin, I'LL handle the gratuitous ass giveaways thank you very much!

Predatorbird

I took some new shots yesterday and they came out amazing! I'm back in the saddle. Check out my progress thread to see the new hotness.

I'm going to get together with JayVee real soon to get some shots that will rival yours and UD's from your little get together.

rockstar143

iTrader: (6)

...in for nudez.
I'll go check out your thread, buddy.
Glad Stella got her groove back!