Meet Zach Lafaro of Greater Denver Area

Today we’d like to introduce you to Zach Lafaro

Hi Zach, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I was born and raised in Erie, PA, on the peninsula of Lake Erie. There, I grew up boating, exploring, and learning everything I could get my hands on. During my adolescence, I was constantly exposed to nature’s wonders, such as beaches and forests. This helped develop my ever-growing sense of curiosity and fascination with our planet. Throughout my early school years, I wanted to be fully immersed in creation from pottery, drawing, photography, painting, and more. I saw expression in many forms and fell in love with how hands-on pottery was and how freeform drawing could be. It was apparent from a young age that my mind was eager to soak up all the wonders it could find.

This aspect of my life stays true to this day. I continually crave inspiration in any form I can find. Whether it’s lights and lasers shooting through the crowd at a concert, to birds singing their song as I work in my bedroom, so much of life entices me to create from the heart. I later fell in love with photography and graphic arts for their unique ways of expressing what the viewer sees. Naturally, I embraced these media and challenged myself to find their full potential.

I felt this massive push to create anything and everything during my time at SCAD (Savannah College of Art and Design), where I earned my Bachelor’s Degree in Photography, engulfed in inspiration, culture, and a plethora of artistic mediums. I truly felt that this was where I was supposed to be. I wouldn’t give up my college experience for anything, and through those four years, I carved out what I truly wanted.

Before moving to Denver, I thought I knew what life might be like, but it has exceeded my expectations. I was drawn to the culture from when I visited to the day I moved in. Alongside Colorado’s mountainscapes, there seems to be no shortage of inspiration or vivacious livelihood. It makes me proud to say that Colorado feels like home.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
There have definitely been challenges that arise, but with most things, I try to spin them on their heads and look at the flip side. I tend to view struggles as opportunities to grow more than hardships we have to “deal with”. In times of struggle, I like to think back on the saying, “Good timber doesn’t grow with ease; the stronger the wind, the stronger the trees.”

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Currently, I focus on Concert Photography and Graphic Design for album covers. I specialize in multi-genre creative work such as blending photography with graphic design, hand-altering t-shirts, and unique motion graphics.

I’ve developed a style that I find very fun to work with. I tend to work minimally and use what I have on hand, and then go in later to add or remove things. I spend a good chunk of my creative time editing after the work has been shot. I find that it’s the blending of shooting alongside editing where I can see my vision come to life.

I’m heavy on color, texture, and pattern within my work, and most of it has at least two of those aspects if not more. I enjoy lyricism and poetry, which finds its way into a handful of my projects. What comes to mind is the work I created during my final semester at SCAD. This was challenging but also very visceral at the time. I photographed various subject matter, created writings, and designed graphics for the project. The photographs were made using a 4×5 analog camera, printed via flatbed utilizing UV acrylic-based ink on double-sided acrylic sheets to give an intimate and tactile experience.

I think what sets me apart from others is that I tend to utilize almost anything I find as pieces or inspiration in my artwork. This can range from an iPhone photo of clouds to a knick-knack I find while thrifting. To me, it’s finding something that piques my interest and then taking it 50 steps further.

How do you think about happiness?
Lots of things!

Music
Plants
Clouds
Animals
Coffee shops
Tiny things
Breakfast foods

The list could go on!

Intrinsically, I enjoy looking for things that make me happy or brighten other people’s days.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://zachlafaro.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cloudgxrden/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zach-lafaro-1752641b7/

Image Credits
Zach Lafaro – Photographer and Creator of all artworks shown.