Dearest Camera,

We've only known each other for a little less than a year now, but what a time together it has been, no? In those few months we've both had our fair share of getting blasted by tire shards, tire smoke, and countless beautiful sunrises and sunsets. And I have to be honest with you; there have been others before you and
you're not my first light collecting device I've been with. The others were mere flings. You on the other hand, are more than just a fling. We have traveled the country, learned so much about each other, and our emotional roots for each other have dug deep. We may have had a fantastic time this year, but there is so much more growing to be done in the coming year….

Ken Block & The Gymkhana Subaru, Salton Sea, California, USA: Who would've known that in the middle of summer, we'd have the opportunity to shoot worldwide internet celebrity, Ken Block at the most surreal of locations? It smelled like death and decay, the air temperature hovered somewhere between 110° Fahrenheit and death, but Kenny the Block, in his wedding day tuxedo, proved that he had the essence of rally flowing in his veins –what a trooper!

Formula D, Wall Township, New Jersey, USA: My dear, remember New Jersey? It was our first trip out of state together. It rained heavily during practice and it was also your first test of how well you were built. Your magnesium body and weather sealing proved to work perfectly during the rainy drift sessions. The sky then cleared up the next day paying the way for Jeff Jones and DMac ripping it with some super close, door to door, tandeming.

Twins Turbo Time Attack Supra, Rosamond, California, USA: This insane Supra, built by the twins at Twins Turbo Motorsports, was taken with one of my ex-cameras, Nikon D80. Please don't be jealous. You know how things are, my dear Camera. I learned a lot with D80, but it was a short relationship. And it was all my fault. I took dear D80 further than it was build to do and it just couldn't take the abuse anymore and left me for another owner….

GMG AUDI S5, Fountain Valley, California, USA: When we met, it was lust and love at first sight. Just like this S5.

Formula D, Long Beach, California, USA: And since that first meeting, we've been through so much. We both set the tone for the shooting season with our attendance at the first round of the Formula D 2009 season. Whenever drivers like Eric O'Sullivan flew by, we were pelted by hot rubber….

Pikes Peak Hill Climb, Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA: But it wasn't just rubber that was flung at us. Remember almost getting beheaded by WRC driver, Marcus Gronholm, when we were in a ditch along Pikes Peak trying to get a shot? His front splitter was no more than two or three feet away from us as he plowed by! The result of was getting pelted by rocks, pebbles, and dust at high speeds. I know we enjoyed it!

ALMS Petit Le Mans, Road Atlanta, Braselton, Georgia, USA: Tire shards? Dirt? Rocks? How about we add torrential rain to the list too? We couldn't help but to cheer after Allan McNish put on some fantastic moves at the start of the the Petit Le Mans and passed us by at the Esses. We barely noticed how absolutely drenched we were getting. The sights and sounds of the race were enough to put a smile on our faces throughout the rainy experience.

Bonneville Speed Week, Wendover, Utah, USA: We've witnessed many gorgeous sunrises and sunsets during the course of our relationship, dear Camera, but you'll have to agree with me that the sunrises at Bonneville take the cake. We witnessed four sunrises during our stay in Utah, and each one was completely different, and completely alien. Each morning felt like we were on a different planet. Only the presence of a second rising sun was missing to complete the outer-worldly feeling.

Bonneville Speed Week, Wendover, Utah, USA: There's just something about Bonneville…

Bonneville Speed Week, Wendover, Utah, USA: Ah! We almost forgot to add salt on the list of natural elements we've been encrusted with…

Formula D, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA: We met some wonderful people during the course of the year….

Formula D, Irwindale Speedway, Irwindale, California, USA: …witnessed some very intimate moments…

Formula D, Wall Township, New Jersey, USA: …and captured some heart pounding action.

Formula D, Long Beach, California, USA: I have to be honest with you again; there was a moment of infidelity. I cheated on you. I met a camera that was a bit older, more mature, and had much more experience under its belt. I was drawn to it. Mesmerized by what it can produce. There was magic that could not be ignored with the film cameras. Yeah, you heard me correctly, CAMERAS –plural. I'm apologize, I am only human…. I hope you can forgive me for my unfaithfulness!

Formula D, Long Beach, California, USA: I may have been unfaithful to you, but you never left my thoughts. I realized what I had with you and I couldn't bare the thought of a life without you. Who else would I be able to share experiences like getting a face full of Hankooks from Robbie Nishida's 350z?

Tommy Roberts' S13, San Diego, California, USA: We've both had our fair share of doing things that aren't acceptable in normal society. Take this shoot with Tommy Roberts' infamous gold S13. Driving around downtown San Diego on a Thursday night in a bright gold, slammed, stripped out, caged, and loud race car is definitely something that normal society just would allow. At one point, a law man was following us around. What a night that was….

Triangle Blasphemy, San Diego County, California, USA: It is always the little things we relish; like the sound of an American built V8 bouncing off the mountain side coming from a Japanese sports car. Oh what sweet music that was…

Matt Powers' S14, Pacific Beach, California, USA: The morning after the V8 symphonic concert, we met up with a relatively unknown drifter. Who would've known the monster that we were unleashing! You and I always express how excited we are to see how Matt will do in the up coming 2010 season. I'm ready for it, are you?

Formula D, Wall Township, New Jersey, USA: I've mentioned earlier that it is always the little things we cherish. Like this quiet scene of Daijiro Yoshihara and Tyler McQuarrie waiting for the rain to pass during the Formula D New Jersey practice day…

D1GP USA, Anaheim, California, USA: How is it, my dear Camera, that you and I have never grown tired of tire smoke, tire shards, or even the smell of burning tire? At D1GP Anaheim, Daigo Saito supplied us with what seemed like an endless supply of the that familiar burning rubber we so crave.

Formula D, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA: Remembered when we experimented and tried new things? Those were always fun times. Take this shot of Mike Essa and his RX-7. It was shot at a John Brooks shutter speed of 1/6th of a second! We wasted a lot of memory card space for this one shot, but it was sure worth it.

Formula D, Evergreen Speedway, Seattle, Washington, USA: Somehow, you and I, bring out a side to people that they never thought was possible. We have a great working dynamic that gives people the confidence to trust us and our crazy ideas. Chris Forsberg was a bit skeptical when I asked him to bring a shirt, tie, and slacks to Formula D Seattle. The resulting picture of a reverse superhero shot proved to be worth it.

Bonneville Speed Week, Wendover, Utah, USA: This photo of the clouds and sun of Bonneville is a fitting end to this letter and our year together….

We've always both agreed that if your life is not in danger while
taking a photo, then it's a photo that is not worth taking. We've been through the rain, mud, and salt. We've hung out of countless cars at motor way speeds (and sometimes beyond), we've had hot tire thrown at us, we were almost beheaded by a WRC driver, and my feelings for you deepened with every passing day…. What a year it has been, right? We've had our ups and downs, but at the end of the day, we are a team. This year proved to be a pivotal year with steep learning curves. We've got a long way to go, but as long as we have each other, my dearest, 2010 will be a year worth capturing with your lens.

Always yours,
Linhbergh Nguyen

P.S. Thank you for a fantastic year. <3

P.S.S. I got you some fantastic toys for Christmas!