New Website, New Blog!

For those of you who were wondering if I was ever going to update my blog again the answer is yes!
... Just not here.

Please visit Zac Lehr Photography which will serve as my new website and blog.

http://www.zaclehr.com/

Extra Special thanks to Michelle at Mockingbird Creative for the site's re-design.

Enjoy!

Jerry World!

Went to the palace at Dallas (OK Arlington but it doesn't rhyme) last night for the Arkansas/Texas A&M game. Arkansas won 47-19 and Jerry World is AWESOME!

When I walked onto the field I was awestruck. I really can't describe it but I was speechless and the place is incredible.

The first photo is mine and thanks to Wesley, Marc and Bob for the photos I'm in.

Pea Ridge!

I went to the Pea Ridge National Military Park this weekend on assignment. While I was there I shot a few extras.








Enjoy!

Bleeecht!

Space!

I went to Little Rock this weekend and visited the Space Exhibit at The Clinton Presidential Library and Museum with my family.

Before the going to space we fueled-up with lunch at the Flying Fish, a real favorite of mine. I had a 4-piece basket "Snappy", way too much food but delicious.


Then it was off to Space!
First thing we had to do was suit-up.

The boys:


And the girls:


The exhibit was just OK but it was pretty cool to go with our family friend Ed Jeter.
Ed worked for NASA during the Apollo Project and knew most of if not all of the astronauts including the ones who walked on the moon.
It was a fun afternoon but at the end we were all tuckered-out.


Enjoy!

Let's Roll!

I awoke this morning to find my neighbors had been"rolled" during the night.


When I saw this it put a smile on my face, even though it was like 8 a.m. on a Monday morning.

Personally I have only been "rolling" once. It was when I was about 14 and we got caught. We got caught because it was only like 9:30 or 10 at night, way too early but we weren't allowed out much later than that.

I am ashamed to admit I did not even know my victims, they were friends of the friend I was with. When we got caught they were like "And who are you?"

How embarrassing.

Whew!

You know sometimes a day at the office is more like a day at the lake.


Man, days like today I love my Job!

Les!

Les Paul, A.K.A. "The Wizard of Waukesha", died today, he was 94.

Paul was a pioneer in the development of the solid-body electric guitar which "made the sound of rock and roll possible." He called his invention "The Log".


This design was marketed by the Gibson Guitar Corporation as the "Gibson Les Paul" and is still one of the most popular electric guitars ever made.

Here's an example of a 1959 Les Paul and a Les Paul Studio model


A few years ago when I decided to learn guitar I picked the "Paul" because it was the guitar Eric Clapton played on the "Beano" album, it was the guitar of choice for most of the musicians I was currently listening to and it looked really cool!

I ended up with a 1991 Black Les Paul Studio.


In addition to guitars, Les Paul's many recording innovations include overdubbing, delay effects such as "sound on sound" and tape delay, phasing effects, and multitrack recording. He is often credited as being the 'father of modern music'.


Les Paul is the only individual to share membership into the Grammy Hall of Fame, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the National Inventors Hall of Fame, and the National Broadcasters Hall of Fame.

For over twelve years, until just recently, Paul continued to perform two weekly New York shows with the Les Paul Trio, at The Iridium Jazz Club in New York City

I had planned to see him play if I ever made it to the Big Apple but I guess I waited too long.

R.I.P. Les Paul you will be missed.

Stadium!

Just thought this was a cool photo.
Enjoy!

Betsy!

Talk about job perks...
I got to ride in an 83-year-old fire truck this week!
Anyway here a few of the extras that didn't make the cut for print.




WHEEEEE!


Enjoy!

SDC!

My buddy Don recently wrote about a trip he and his family took to Branson, MO and Silver Dollar City.

Back in the early 80's my family did the same thing. I don't remember a giant banjo or Butterfly Palace like what Don saw on his trip but we did do country music shows and the Silver Dollar City thing.

One of my favorite things at Silver Dollar City, other than Fire in the Hole and the Log Ride, was the old time family photo.

In the TinType photo above you see me (center) mom and dad on the left and grandma and grandpa on the right.

Here's one from another trip, from left, Greg, Barbara and Mark Friedman (family friends), mom, dad and me again.


Enjoy!

BoscoeDUCK?!

So yesterday I am at Murphy Park in Springdale and the duck on the right in the photo above comes waddling up to me.

Another bread beggar you say? No say I.

This duck came up to me... are you ready...

WAGGING ITS TAIL!

It then proceeded to rub on my leg. It would not leave me alone and I have never seen another duck do this. I decided this must be the re-incarnation of Boscodog, "Boscoeduck".

BTW the duck on the left kept trying to make sweet, sweet love to Boscoeduck so I guess Boscoeduck is a girl duck.

Here's a photo of her giving the same treatment to some folks with bread.


There were more ducks at the park than I have ever seen there before.


These guys must have been from a cloning experiment gone wrong or ducks and rabbits have more in common than you think.


Last one


Enjoy!

Is it Real?

Or is it Memorex?


Surely everyone remembers this commercial. If you don’t you’re probably too young to be reading my blog anyway.

I just finished restoring/rebuilding an all tube, circa 1962, Dynaco PAS-3 pre-amp and ST-70 amplifier. Actually I finished them almost a year ago but there was an electrical bug in the ST-70 I couldn’t find and I just now got around to enlisting professional help. The culprit? A bad ground. DUH!
Well I fired her up this week and OMG the sound is awesome.
Here’s a couple of photos of the finished ST-70.



When I bought this stuff a year ago my research told me, even though it was 47 years old and broken, it had the potential to put modern solid state systems to shame and was considered a “poor man’s” McIntosh. The PAS-3 was in working condition so all I had to do with it was have a tech go through it just to make sure I wasn’t going to burn the house down when I plugged it in.

The ST-70 however was a different story.


The unit was rough but the purchase price was pretty low so I bought it. First thing I did was completely disassemble the unit. I then replaced everything except the original transformers and power supply with new parts. I had the choice of upgrading the unit or keeping it stock and I chose to replace the old parts with new stock parts. I figured this was one of the most popular stereo amplifiers of all time why mess with a good thing. After spending a week or so trying to polish the rusted nickel finish on the unit I decide to have it sandblasted and powder coated. I then began re-assembly; it took me about a month.
Here’s a before and after of the restoration.


So... how's it sound?
Effing incredible!

For the techies The system is a Dynaco Pas-3, Dynaco ST-70 and Polk Audio Monitor Series 4 speakers. I am using a borrowed CD player and my iPod for input but will soon add a turntable (mine is broken beyond repair), an all tube FM tuner and a permanent CD player to replace the borrowed one.

Here's a photo of my listening room.


So you tell me, "Is it real? Or is it Memorex?" All I know is it sounds awesome.

Enjoy!

Billy!

Billy Mays, one of America's great, died Sunday, he was 50.

I became a fan of Billy back in his OxiClean days, The product amazed me because, during his "Wow!" demo, I could never figure out where all that red dye went when Billy dumped the OxiClean in the fish bowl. He went on to enlighten us with the Awesome Auger, Zorbeez, Mighty Putty and countless other must have products.

This Spring Billy and Anthony Sullivan invited the T.V. viewer behind the scenes of their world on The Discovery Channel's Pitchmen. It was awesome and I was an instant fan.

Last night I read his son "Little" Billy had requested fans wear a blue shirt today in memory of his father.


Billy Mays, 1958-2009
I'll miss you Billy.

Dirty!

I know they are just doing their job but it looks so pervy.

Near Miss!

He had me in his sights, all the meanwhile dad is giving me the "thumbs-up!"

Thank Chebus mom was paying attention!

Wakarusa!

Just got home from Wakarusa on Mulberry Mountian. The weather was great, the music incredible and the good times rolled. My only complaint was the stage next to my tent hosted trance music d.j.'s till sunrise each night so sleep was at a minimum. Highlights? Met G.E. Smith and saw the Black Crowes. Here are a few pix, more on my Flickr page.




Can't wait till next year.
Enjoy!