Meet the Artist
Lisa M. Zunzanyika is a retired Air Force Combat Photojournalist. During her 22-year career, Lisa traveled the world documenting the military in peacetime, wartime, and humanitarian operations. She is a graduate of the Military Photojournalism Program at Syracuse University, through which she earned the distinction of being the first African American Female Combat Photojournalist in Air Force history.
An award-winning photojournalist, Lisa has been lauded for her talent throughout her career. Of note is the 1998 Military Photographer of the Year: 1st Place Illustration category award. Her military photographs have been featured in national and international military and civilian publications as well as books such as “This Is Our War: A Soldier's Portfolio: Servicemen's Photographs of Life in Iraq” by Devin Friedman and the Editors of GQ. She was recently featured in After Action, a 7-part veteran docuseries on PBS.
Now a freelance photographer and owner of Simply Zee Imagery, Lisa’s images have been featured in the Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs PANDEMIC ATLANTA exhibit, in books such as “Usability Testing Essentials: Ready, Set...Test!” by Carol M. Barnum, and national magazines such as “Mantra Yoga + Health Magazine” Issue 19.
Lisa describes herself as a right‐brain creative with left-brain tendencies who combines her photojournalism storytelling acumen with her web design, marketing, and communications background to craft compelling imagery.
In March of 2020, I had a revelation. I was only creating photographic images when I was commissioned to do so. And while I am grateful and want more of those opportunities, that is not why I create.
I decided to make images just for the sheer pleasure of seeing, composing, and experimenting. Days later, the Pandemic lockdown began, and it was the perfect situation for me to have fun with my imagination and creative eye. What started as a fun way to spend my time at home turned into an unexpected
cathartic experience.
For example, at that time, my hair was loc’d, and half my head was shaved and maintained by my barber. Since we were in lockdown, I had to shave my head for the first time in my life. At first, I was nervous, but I stood in front of the mirror, looked myself in the eye, and quickly summoned the courage to take the clippers to my hair.
The first pass was surreal. A sheet of my hair slowly cascaded to the bathroom countertop. I was mesmerized. I touched and massaged my hair in awe of its softness and curliness.
But that reverie was abruptly interrupted by a flood of childhood memories of being teased about my hair and its texture. A wave of sadness washed over me as I remembered how much I loved my hair back then.
That feeling was replaced by pride because of how much I love my hair now.
I felt compelled to find some way to pay homage to my hair, especially when one of my locs fell out.
My series of hair images grew from these moments of love, loss, and growth.
Amplified Whispers Fine Art and its collection of images
were created during the 2020 Pandemic lockdown
