PHOTO COVERAGE :: Formula Drift Long Beach: Reasoning

Everyone has a reason. Can’t live life without one. A reason to look forward to, look up to, or even a cause for motivation. Even Formula Drift has its own reasoning. Some people go for the vibe, others to see their hero sliding though the clipping point and for me, well my reason..it’s a bit complicated. I mean, I was set, I made plans, and I had a pretty good expectation on how the event would unravel and I would be able to carry out everything I needed to do. Well, things don’t usually go according plan. Life happens. Especially for me and and learning how to cope with it has been a day job, Monday through Sunday. Despite the off course day, I managed to shoot the event from a different perspective, on a personal level.

Unlike previous events, this was my first time flying to an event rather than driving. It was less stressful and it went really smooth. Though I still had to wake up at 3:00AM, the hour and half flight was better compared to the six hour drive from Sacramento to Los Angeles. SMF to LAX I went and I arrived in socal promptly at 7:25AM. From LAX onward it was off to Long Beach.

There was a little hold up at will call and we, Jaryl and I, were already late for media meeting. Before I started stressing, Jaryl reminded me 1 of 3 advices he gave me that day. Advice #1: Can you do anything about it right now? Well no. So should you trip about it? No. Then don’t worry about it.

After that bit we got our credentials and we headed into the venue. It was early and the gates weren’t open to the public. It was a great opportunity to sneak in clean shots of the vendor area. As we were walking around we ran into the ever so busy Tailyr Monette, who now is working for Nexen. Nice seeing her again after so long, even if it was for just 5 minutes and, maybe, I should’ve spent those 5 minutes a bit more wisely. Well life happens.

Anyways, Elysha Lee was co modeling alongside her for Nexen. I went ahead and personally apologized to her cause of our hold up at the previous Thunder Drift event. She was working the grid and because of my sticker shenanigans with Julian Jacobs, we held up competition. Sorry about that.

So after that bit we ended up running into Ashley Sarto. What a character. She’s at the top of her game, jetsetter official, and she is still keeping it real. We had the paper stacking jokes rolling while we were looking for her coffee assistant, make up crew, and the hot lights. Oh and guys, don’t even try, she got that international UK boyfriend swag.

We really wanted to showcase some of the rides at Fatlace’s show, but I have a hard time shooting car shows. Maybe it’s the repetition, but I just can’t get the capture. I mean don’t get me wrong. I love a nice ride, but when it comes to car shows, it’s complicated. Regardless, I was able to snap some artistic shots of event.

Before we knew it, lunch time. We decided to hit up a neighborhood joint called MVP’s Grill & Patio which serves excellent food. Pricing wasn’t bad and the fact it was so chill, we really felt at home.

After the meal, back on track. We ended up snapping some cool spots right on grid. The great thing about Long Beach is the depth of field you can get with your shots. Everything was based on the street so you can rake up some nice long shots. It was a bit of a walk though so it was a workout for us.

From there on we shot top 16 and I wasn’t feeling myself by the end of the event. Really just out of it and dude Jaryl, I know you’re pretty understanding, but I want to say sorry again. I just couldn’t shoot any more photos..and Jaryl counters with advice #2 right before we leave track: Let it play out. Whatever it may be don’t force it to happen, just let it play out. So it was his second piece of advice and I’m getting even more confused with his deep advice. Nonetheless, I still take it to heart.

So we ended up leaving before the event ended. We smashed to Venice to swing by Wabi-Sabi, a great Japanese restaurant. We got there around 5:20PM and the place opened up at 5:30PM. So 10 minute downtime, and I tell you, the people we encountered while waiting in front of the restaurant were either friendly or random. We met so many people there who thought we were paparazzis, shot for a magazine, and oh since we had our FD bracelets still on, some people thought we came from some release party. Too much.

After our 10 minute timer went out we went into Wabi-Sabi to wind down on good sushi, drinks, and reviewed the photos. I’m quite satisfied with all my shots and well the day was nothing like I expected, but I’m okay with it. Which leaves me to Jaryl’s last piece of advice: Be yourself. And while I’m typing this blog entry at LAX airport, all three pieces of advice make sense.

Simply put, we can’t change the way we feel, the way things happen, the moments that don’t occur, actions, words, or where we stand in life. We can’t push things to happen, go against the flow of life, or even predict our own future. Rather, we learn to live and let go, keep what’s necessary, and we continue to push on forward. We can’t expect anything to go according to plan. And I do apologize again to Jaryl and the rest of the staff of my vulnerability, but I built this site on principle, truth, and reality. No more, no less. Though I have my own battles, I won’t leave my team behind and everyone who reps us to the fullest. At most, a promise I can keep even in my shortcomings. Well my flight is boarding to Sacramento. Until next time. It’s going to be a quiet one.

:. Michael Cabuco at LAX 7:58 PST 4/9/2011

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