mclaws road

The following kids were the sweetest and funniest kids, and I know about sweet and funny kids. The bigger kid with the beard graduated high school with me. It is always exciting to see kids you grew up with make good of themselves. A sweet wife, great kids and the ambition to work hard for his family. I could not be happier for him.

Here is just a few of the photos we took on the Fourth of July. Check out the rest at the McLaws Flickr set.




The following young lady is their exchange student. Exchanged from Denmark.

600

I blindly passed a milestone for the Lloyd Zeffler blog - post number 600. Next month marks three years, but I didn't realize there are over 600 posts here. What an absurd number. I am sure the majority are quite pithy, with links to reviews or articles I have done. I have relied the last few months on photo-only posts.

Despite its shortcomings, I am proud to say this blog is evidence of improvement. I can see that I have become a better writer and a much better photographer. That is reason enough to raise my fist in a moment of quiet triumph. My number one goal is to just always work to keep getting better. I don't think I will ever get to the point where I am content with where I stand as a writer or photographer. If that moment ever comes it will stop being fun. Every day above ground is a good day, and a day to try and become better than the day before.

Thanks to everyone who has stuck around for nearly three years. Thanks to all the new kids who just got on board. Thanks to everyone who comments - all three of you. Thanks to all the lurkers, I hope you are having a great time.

If you feel inclined, let me know if there is anything you would like to see more of around here. I am an obliging fella who aims to please. You just might see your idea up here.

P.S. We are merely a few days before my wife departs for Swaziland. Unfortunately, we are not the hi-tech globe-trotting types, so you will have to wait upon her return to see any photos. In the meantime I will try to post any updates I get from her. Either here or on Twitter. Thanks again to everybody who has been incredibly gracious and helped put her on this trip, and everyone else who has been as excited as we are. That is some wonderful support as well. Thank you. you are amazing, beautiful people.

Makenzi

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

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

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.

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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

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

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