Lloyd Zeffler

Makenzi

2009-07-01T09:16:00.003-07:00

Some people I have to chase down with a tire iron to be able to take their picture. Other people, I can call 30 minutes before and say - "Hey uh, youwanna shoot?" - and we are off and running. I like that. I like this chick too. She's pretty cool. Check out a few more at the Makenzi Flickr set.

photo shoot disclaimer

2009-06-29T11:08:00.002-07:00

Meeting up with friends - or complete strangers - to take some photos is great fun. The benefits don't end at having a handful of good images that we are both pleased with. I feel like stepping out and providing my photography as a service as helped me crawl out of my shell, and afforded me the opportunity to meet some exciting people that I would never have known otherwise.

The only problem with the "business" is that for as many incredible people I get to meet, even more have tried to connive or just blew off an appointment. Sitting alone at a street corner at 6:30 in the morning is not a good time. Even worse when I could be at home watching cartoons with Izzy.

I quickly came to appreciate the people who were willing to let me know they couldn't make an appointment, or were going to be late. Calling me 15 minutes after were are scheduled, to tell me you will be another half hour late does not count.

I like to think that I am very easy to work with, and that anyone I photograph will get more than their money worth. That's the mission. I sit awake in bed worrying about that, at least when I am not sitting awake thinking of new shoot ideas.

With that said, I hope anyone and everyone feels free to contact me with questions or ideas. I am open to a lot of things. I also understand life happens, and something like a photo shoot is easy to reschedule. All it takes is a quick email or phone call. You may be surprised at how obliging I can be. But I'm not waiting on street corners anymore.

Send me an email for rate information - zane@lloydzeffler.com. Rates start at $75 - travel fee may be necessary for shoots outside of Metro Phoenix. TFCD shoots are not completely off the table, but I will have to look at those case-by-case. Feel free to ask.

Vinyl Art: Storied Past

2009-06-26T15:56:00.010-07:00

Daniel Edlen is an artist - local to Phoenix - who creates paintings of rock stars on record albums. If that wasn't proof enough of how crazy is he is about rock and roll, he opened a contest to anyone who wanted to share a story from their life that revolved heavily around music. I love this kind of stuff, and can't wait to read the entries. Check out his art at Vinyl Art. Easy enough name to remember. If rock and roll isn't your thing, he also has taken on drawing in books. Has a sweet Hunter S. Thompson work up right now on his blog at vinylart.blogspot.com.

...and now for my own entry.

---------------------------

Music saves lives. That is no doubt. What a cliché. The problem is it is true. Many people have stories of life on the edge, struggles and other problems that they overcame with the joyous noise of rock and roll.

Songs can empathize, lift up or just provide a distraction from the woes of the world. Music did not save my life. Music embraced my life.

I grew up in a small town. Music created a sense of new worlds and incredible people. Rock stars may have well been fictional characters in bawdy literature. These rock and roll visions blew up colors ten times more vibrant than the brown and tan I saw everyday out my front door.

As a young man, I was in a hurry to get out of that town. Out of that high school. Out of college. In the rush, only music stopped time. I can clearly remember moments when music transcended and took me somewhere else. Time stopped for a moment. In that moment, it was just me and the music, and usually a 1989 Toyota Corolla.

Most people probably remember music from a great party, or some event that marked their life.

My moments were quiet and personal – apart from the bumper rattling noise clanking from the car speakers – moments where music made me feel invincible. Moments where everything was perfect. That is a tall order to fill for a 3 ½ minute rock song.

It was a rare moment. But when it comes and it feels like your heart is going to explode from your chest, you do not want it to stop. When it does, you start searching for it, desperate to feel that again. You cannot look for it. It has to find you.

impromptu Izzy shoot

2009-06-24T08:14:00.002-07:00

Give him a little time in between shoots, and Izzy is always happy to take a few photos. Even though he only ever wants to be photographed riding his bike.

I asked him to close his eyes and think about ice cream. He thought that was hilarious.

Then he wanted to take pictures of me. He told me to close my eyes and think about Thomas the Train.

Queensryche: American Soldier review

2009-06-23T07:08:00.002-07:00

My review for Queensryche's new album - American Soldier - is live on antiMusic. You can see it, as well as the always delightful Day in Rock at www.antimusic.com.

Queensryche: American Soldier

Ghost in the Machine: Robert Smith by iri5

2009-06-22T07:44:00.002-07:00

Ghost in the Machine: Robert Smith, originally uploaded by iri5.

I am a sucker for some great rock and roll art. Iri5 is a freelance artist, and explains she works with non-traditional media. Like cassette tapes.

I ran across her Ghost in the Machine series - similiar to the above work of Robert Smith of the Cure, she also has Jimi Hendrix, Tom Waits, The Beatles, Bob Dylan and others.

She mixes some of my favorite things - a great and unique idea, with musicians I love and my misty-eyed sentimentality for cassette tapes. I don't even know her but I can tell I already like her.

Many iri5 works are available for sale (here) and she also does commission work. View her Flickr profile or her Web site.

Hope is in the Cards

2009-06-20T07:42:00.002-07:00

The more I get the hang of Twitter, the more I like it. Depending on who you follow, it is an easy way to learn about new ideas, artists, projects, whatever. Avoid the spammers and you are in business.

Yesterday I saw a note from one awesome photographer about an awesome...program, I guess you could call it.

Hope is in the Cards is an effort to send more than 300 million messages, stamped with the word HOPE. It is very easy to be involved - buy a card or write a note for someone you know who might need some encouragement. On the back of the envelope, stamp or write HOPE.

"Hope" might be more of a slogan these days - but it's not the one word on the back of the envelope that matters. We have all probably had experiences where a small gesture like a handwritten note with a few words of encouragement was a very welcome sight.

Russ Haan started Hope is in the Cards. He is a struggling small business owner trying to raise a family. A common story becoming more common lately. He realized that while he was having to make sacrifices, he was still very blessed. He had the idea of - what if every American could send one person a card of support? What could happen? At least someone could go to the mailbox and see something other than bills.

I love anything that gets people writing something more than a text message. Specifically when it can help others.

Click for the Hope in the Cards Web site.

Resurrect: The Art of the Reclaimed Object at Mesa Arts Center

2009-06-19T09:27:00.002-07:00

The Mesa Contemporary Arts Museum at the Mesa Arts Center may lack the girth of larger museums, but always has a steady stream of new art coming through. The newest exhibit is Resurrect: The Art of the Reclaimed Object.

Reclaimed object is a nice term for trash. Marcel Duchamp gets credit as the first to take trash and create something new. Green art I suppose, for all of or environmentally-conscious friends. Much of the Resurrect exhibit is great, a few pieces were bland, but one stood out.

California Dreaming #2 by Sandow Birk and Elyse Pignolet is a recreation of an oil rig built from trash found on beaches. Its detail is incredible, funny and sad at the same time.

Thursday is free admission day at Mesa Contemporary Arts, but regular admission is under $5 most days.

Phoenix New Times has an extensive write-up on the exhibit here.

Heaven & Hell - The Devil You Know Review

2009-06-17T07:14:00.002-07:00

My review for the new Heaven & Hell record - The Devil You Know - is now up at antiMusic.

Heaven & Hell is just Black Sabbath with Ronnie James Dio on vocals, for all you old timers. You can read the review at - Heaven & Hell: The Devil You Know. I would recommend catching them live, coming to a city near you I suppose.

c/o Manchas Designs

2009-06-16T10:45:00.002-07:00

Another great design by Will from Manchas Designs. Leave him a comment and I'll be sure to pass it along.

300,000 views at Associated Content

2009-06-15T13:37:00.002-07:00

Today I logged in to Associated Content - an action that occurs less and less frequently the past few months - and was surprised to see I passed the 300,000 pageview mark. It is not that big of a deal. Many writers have blown by that in a few months. The milestone makes me want to consider making a concerted effort to write for them more.

Associated Content has its bugs and hangups, but I never approached it as an opportunity to rake in piles of cash. I couldn't crank out enough copy at the velocity required to make serious money. I was always embarrassed to write Top 10 lists, or the little anecdotes that Internet readers crave. (By the way, my article with the highest pageview count is a top ten list on best prom songs. I went with some classics which angered Jonas Brothers fans.)

I was given the runaround on my last dozen or so articles. Piddly payouts and such. But the final straw came with the last article I published - this one, if you want to help push me towards 400,000.

I put work into getting this interview together, and got clearance for a ton of photos to accompany the article. Another piddly payout and they wouldn't allow any of the photos. Why bother if I can't present the article as best, or at least as I, would like? I can put it on my blog. Nobody will see it there either, but at least it would be to my liking.

I can picture my wife rolling her eyes reading this and thinking I should just shut up, suck it up and write some article for a little extra dough. So, in the interest of pleasing my wife, and helping to subsidize the increasing cost of footwear for a three year old, I shall push to write some new content for AC. Who knows, there might even be an article you would want to read.

Summer cleaning

2009-06-12T12:40:00.003-07:00

You may, or may not, notice a few subtle changes around here. Some subtle changes at the Lloyd Zeffler MySpace and Facebook. And if I can figure it out, some changes at Twitter. If you use Google Reader or another feed you might not be seeing photos in the posts. I would love some feedback from anyone using a feed, or doing anything other than the traditional viewing of blog. Can you see the photos or is it just a mash of text?

Sorry again about getting your hopes up for a weekly, Thursday photo shoot. It seems the second I said that out loud every possible subject ran for the hills. So I will bide my time, and prepare what will hopefully be a higher level of photographic majesty...or something.

With all of this goofy photo taking, it is easy to forget that I actually am a writer. I've fallen behind on a few projects and such in the transition to my new job, but now that I am back in the workin' groove I will be able to catch up. Speaking of the new job, it is a great environment and is affording me opportunities to work on various writing and editing projects.

I am also considering going back to school - since one benefit is free tuition. Leaning towards a BA in English Literature.

I am also shopping around for someone to help me build a Lloyd Zeffler Web site. My ambitions outweigh my wallet, as usual. But I hope to make it a combination of photography and writing. Essentially, this blog on steroids, and funky.

One last bit of news. The $75 photo shoot rate is reaching its end. You have until the end of July 2009 to take advantage of me. Rates will still start at $75, but the new rates will help even out my workload. There are many hours in front of a computer screen trying to make you people look cool. Hopefully it pays off and people are ecstatic about their photos. That's the point anyway.

I really didn't think this through

2009-06-10T13:08:00.002-07:00

While shining in the brilliance of my Thursday Photo Shoot idea, I forgot that people are busy. At least the interesting people are busy. Nailing it down to just Thursday was a mistake.

Instead of setting down any specifics, I am going to wallow in the spirit of the Thursday Photo Shoot. Weird and wonderful photo shoots with engaging people. I have several people on tap who are willing to run with my ideas. They just could not make it on a Thursday evening. Maybe Tuesday. I do not know. We have yet to synchronize our calendars.

For the moment, these photos will have to do.

Some people are really easy to photograph

2009-06-08T20:00:00.004-07:00

I love kids that don't have to do anything and still look great in photos. Some people say, "Yeah, I want it, but I'm too shy." Other say, "I want it, and I am going to take it." Then there are the cool kids that say, "I want it, but I'm so cool it will come to me."

I don't know what it is. But I know this shoot was fun. I hope you like it.

Many more to be seen (and I really hope you go see them) at the Laura set on Flickr. By the way, the proceeds from this shoot benefit the ever closer Heart for Africa trip.

Thursday Shoots

2009-06-05T15:58:00.003-07:00

I love it when a plan comes together. I love it even more when a plan is suck, but you turn it around and have something totally unexpected. Like a canoe under a tree. Who knows where these things come from?

After my shoot last week I had the idea to do photo shoots every Thursday. This is a chance to push myself to come up with weird and wonderful ideas every week. It is also a chance to hang out with some of the people who have been supportive and excited about Lloyd Zeffler Photography. Which is exactly what I aimed for this week.

At this point this is going to be invitation only. We'll shoot Thursday and I will try to have a photo blogged by the weekend.

Many more photos to see in the BOSH set on Flickr. Make sure you check them out.

c/o Manchas Designs

2009-06-04T13:42:00.001-07:00

c/o Manchas Designs, originally uploaded by Lloyd Zeffler Photography.

Stay tuned for future collaborations.

Africa

2009-05-30T20:21:00.002-07:00

Africa consumes all conversation at the homestead as of late. More specifically nailing down the final details of my wife's trip and a steady stream of education on life in Africa. My excitement for my wife far outweighs the anxiety I have sending her to another country for 11 days. She has not even packed her bags yet, but this experience has already been humbling.

Part of the preparation to join Heart for Africa includes several videos and books that explain the circumstances and what to expect in Swaziland. I must be honest and say I feel shameful for the petty concerns that often absorb our life. Since Izzy was born we are concerned that he would grow up overweight, instead of grateful that we have the means to feed and care for our child. I can be confident that Izzy will not know what it feels like to go hungry. He has two parents - and a slew of family - that will love and care for him. He will pass up more opportunities than some children will ever have. It feels embarrassing to complain of our own circumstances.

I am proud of my wife and the desire she has to make people feel special. Her trip may include hammering nails, digging holes and all sorts of odd jobs to help build dorms, plant gardens or help developing businesses, but I know her favorite time will be any moment she gets to spend with children. She has a wonderful ability to relate to kids. She hasn't even gone yet and I can see a change in her. It is helping to change me as well. A new perspective and appreciation for what we do have, and an increased willingness to help.

Part of my own anxiety about an endeavor like this is having a group of white people fly over to help "fix things." Fifteen Americans with shovels and hammers can't change a culture. I do appreciate, however, how Heart for Africa intends to work with people in Swaziland to make each village as self-sustainable as possible. They seem like a good organization doing everything they can to make a difference.

Burgess and I both want to live lives of some significance. A good job, a few kids and a speedboat to splash about on the weekends will never be enough for us. In one way or another we want to touch lives and make people feel special. Hopefully this can be just the start.

Thank you very much to everyone who has been generous and helped send Burgess on this trip. Thank you to everyone in our life who gives us love, support and friendship. If you are reading this, it is most likely you. You beautiful thing.

downtown comic book artist

2009-05-29T15:58:00.003-07:00

I love photographing artists. Any kind of artist. This funky gal is a bloomin' comic book artist. Just finished her first full-length comic. And she is 12-years-old. Only great things to come as she gets better. This was a fun photo shoot, I hope it shows. Check out more at the Lloyd Zeffler Flickr.

Manchas Design

2009-05-26T18:01:00.004-07:00

A friend of mine wanted to do a photo shoot that he could take and help market his graphic design aspirations. Here are the few that I messed with on my own, once I pass them on to him and he works his own special brand of magic they should be something else.

If you have any graphic design needs, check him out. He's got some groovy work and is a good guy to boot. These are just a few of the photos - the rest are on flickr at the BJ&Eli set.

I probably have an affinity for his graphic design, 1) because it's good and 2) because he tends to incorporate his son as much as I do mine.

Expect to see his work around here from time to time as I am hoping to use his talents to make mine look better, or something.

2009-05-25T20:51:00.002-07:00

Reminder: Heart for Africa Photo Shoots

2009-05-23T15:00:00.003-07:00

Just a quick reminder as May is almost over. All shoot proceeds in May and June will benefit my wife's Heart for Africa trip. We are hoping the wonderful and highly attractive readers of Lloyd Zeffler are willing to pass the info on to friends and family who are looking to do photos.

Family photos, engagement photos, senior photos - 2010 seniors are already getting started - and any other kind of photo.

Every shoot in May and June goes directly to the Heart for Africa fund. Shoots are $75. I will have to charge extra to travel outside of metro Phoenix.

If someone is interested in photos but doesn't want to schedule a shoot in May or June, I am not going to tell them no. After June the proceeds go back to benefiting the Lloyd Zeffler Debt Relief Fund. Unfortunately non-profit but will help a certain three year old get to college in 15 years.

Email me directly if interested - zane@lloydzeffler.com.

Another round of catching up

2009-05-23T08:23:00.003-07:00

This was another photo shoot from last weekend with an awesome family. This little girl would strike a new pose at each shutter click, it was amazing. She never repeated herself. Since these last two shoots are in Holbrook, AZ, there are a few overlapping locations. For some reason, after living in Holbrook for some 15 years, I struggled to find any good locations. There seems to be a unhealthy amount of wall murals. Cool people always trump any lousy location, so we were in business.

Check out the rest at the flickr set. Proceeds from this shoot benefit my wife's trip with Heart for Africa.

Catching up with new photos

2009-05-22T22:47:00.004-07:00

Greetings, friend. It's been a little while. In some fashion or another I was able to stay busy during unemployment. Photo shoots were flying everywhere. Now that I am back on the chain gang, it is a little harder to keep up. This shoot was from last weekend with some very cool kids with lots of hair. I dig lots of hair. And kids that do what they want.

I thought we got lots of very cool shots. Some of my favorites are below, check out many more at my flickr set for this shoot. Proceeds from this shoot benefit my wife's trip with Heart for Africa.

Ch-ch-changes

2009-05-15T16:24:00.002-07:00

Driving back to Holbrook, AZ last night - our home base for a few days - a few ideas hit me all at once. One: I remembered how much I love driving down I-40. Whether it was in Tennessee for a few hours on a Sunday some months back, or the past 11 years of driving back and forth across a little stretch of Arizona. There is something therapeutic about it. Driving west and watching the sun go down is one of the few things I miss about country living.

Two: For the first time in my life I can feel a genuine swell of forward momentum. Life has turned 180 degrees in three months. After losing my job I was beyond stressed. I feared the worst and shut down. Even in the good times I have always had a sense of dread. Nothing lasts and anything good will soon lead to heaps of bad. I suppose that is no way to live. It is impossible to enjoy the victories when you have already coiled and prepared for the worst.

Once I picked myself up out of the fetal position, life started to turn. Opportunities are starting to happen. Beyond just the new job and Burgess's trip to Africa. I am amazed at the change in our circumstances and our outlook. This is going to be a fun summer. There is one thing in my life I always wanted to do - no matter what - and that was be creative. In any capacity. I'll be honest and say it is a great feeling to create something that people get excited about, that I can get excited about. It's better than any paycheck. It's too bad excitement doesn't pay the bills. We'd be rolling in a Bentley right now.

Downtown Ballerina

2009-05-12T21:06:00.003-07:00

I have had the great fortune to photograph some very cool people the last few months. Everyone is excited and up for whatever. They all seem to be doing incredible things with their lives as well.

This incredibly poised lady is a ballerina. At only 13 she has already been invited to dance abroad. She visited Poland, for example. I am amazed by people who can excel at a talent and use it to really live. She is super sweet and her mom and grandma were great fun. Mom even jumped in as a photo assistant. A fun shoot, and we are going to do it again with her dance partner in the very near future. They will be bringing along the company director who I am told is boiling over with poses. We are going to try and meld the graceful dancing with whatever it is that I do.

We were shooting at not the most opportune time for lighting, but I tried to embrace the hard natural lighting. I don't really have much choice. Her athleticism and style completely saved the shoot. Just watch her feet and the little nuances.

I am going to be slightly immodest for a moment and say that I really like how these next few turned out.

Per usual - tons more at the flickr set - Downtown Ballerina.