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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
