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2009 Kia Soul - 3rd Street Promenade - Santa Monica, California - August 19, 2008

This past week, I was staying at the Double Tree Inn on 4th Street in Santa Monica, just over the freeway. Considering our office is located on the opposite side of the Promenade, it was some good morning exercise to walk from the hotel, carrying my backpack with my laptop and work items AND my camera gear. (I try not to go anywhere without it when I'm in Santa Monica.)

After eating breakfast at the diner at 3rd and Broadway, (eggs, hash browns, (yum), chicken sausge (not so yum... more bleh)) my boss and I trekked up 3rd street towards the office. I can't quite remember if we planned to stop at the Coffee Bean or not, but in any case we were walking on the right road.

As we walked along, we noticed people with HDV cameras filming and doing sound checks along the block. Having a few friends in the filming industry I figured they were either a) filming a commercial or b) site scouting - either one would be fun to see. At first, I thought about snapping a few photos of the crew, but then I saw this car at the end of the block.... bonus score.

So, we turned the corner and headed west toward the office and I starting undoing my equipment and switched to my Sigma 24mm f/2.8 lens for a close-up shot. The lighting wasn't great as it was early morning and it was a little hazy - or smoggy... not sure which really. Above is the resulting picture... the only one I was able to get off before being tapped on the shoulder and asked to leave the area.

Anyhow, here we have it - the 2009 Kia Soul!