Lloydslens.com
This blog/Website chronicles the photography of missionary photographer Lloyd Smith
It all began in a Mexican Restaurant in 2004…Missionary David Wagner from Builders International spoke at our church in Longview, WA (Columbia Heights Assembly of God). After the service Pastor Kent asked Helen and me to join them for lunch at a Mexican restaurant. We sat across the table from David who said that he had heard I was a photographer and he needed one for his upcoming Vision Casting trip to Venezuela. I had never heard of Builders International or Vision Casting. He went on to explain their vision and I joined him for the first Vision Casting event in Venezuela in November of 2004. From that Mexican restaurant chance-meeting I have been in 25 foreign countries shooting photos for the Assemblies of God World Missions (AGWM) and others. On one 10 day trip we were in and out of 23 airports. That meeting in a Mexican restaurant changed the direction of my life and the focus of my photography. I have probably photographed close to 1,000 wedding and have over 1 million photos in my computer. I had taught photography at a college level for 15 years and junior high/middle school for 20 years so this really expanded my experiences.
After photographing B.I.’s projects and other missions around the world since 2004 – (Argentina (4), Bangladesh, Belgium, Belize (3), Brazil, Cambodia, Chile (3), China, Columbia, Costa Rica, Democratic Republic of Congo DRC, Haiti (5), Honduras (2), Israel, Jordan, Kenya (2), Macedonia, Mexico (6), Nepal (2), Philippines, Poland (2), Republic of Congo RC, Russia, South Africa (2), Spain (2), Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Thailand (3), United Arab Emirates (UAE), Venezuela (4), two Mexico cruises and one Bahama cruise), I needed a platform to upload them on so I have placed 125,000 photos of the projects, country scenes, and local people in 208 albums on my Picasa Web/Google Plus page and on a blog Website – www.lloydslens.com
The older albums begin at the bottom of the blog page starting in 2004 and ending at the top in 2017. (Click older or newer posts to navigate the pages or keep scrolling down.) It is interesting to note that the years of 2004 and 2005 were photographed with film, and from 2006 on are photographed with Nikons (2 D200s, a D300-s & 2 D500s) digital cameras.
The albums are set up in a blog so I could attach category words. If you look to the right side of the page you will see the titles to all the albums and words that describe what is in the albums. Click on the word, i.e. Vision Casting, Haiti, etc., and it should bring up every album from any vision casting trip or Argentina to see all Argentina albums, etc. Just click on the title next to the photos to bring up the actual album. (I have stopped adding the titles and words to the search).
I have added two albums of my very first mission trips to Mexico in 1980 and 1994 shot with film.
After I got back from Russia one of my friends sent me this note:
“I went through every picture of the Russia trip…I tell you, one of my favorite things about your pictures when you travel is that you do such a good job of showing everyone the culture, the people, the landmarks…I swear, you are supposed to be working for National Geographic. I really had no idea what Russian people were like, other than what you always hear politicians yammering about. Hey, I have to ask….are there really that many interesting people all over the place, or do you just have a good radar?”
I was sent a note by professional photographer Mike Hagen from Visual Adventures:
“We have a saying at our church that you never retire from Kingdom service. I’m proud of you for supporting the mission of Builders International with gusto. It is important to their cause and important for others in their 70s, 80s and 90s to remember to never stop serving.”
From a Rotary friend: “Thanks for sharing your adventure journey and wonderful photography. Thought I was looking at National Geographic. Regards, Gary”
From a friend: “I cannot say enough about how much I admire your work, Lloyd. The variety of all the things you’ve been able to capture in photographs is truly impressive. Keep up the good work.” Jeff Paterson
From Ty Morris, Assistant Principal, R. A. Long High School: “Hi Lloyd – You are a very talented individual – The QUALITY of a person’s life IS in direct proportion to their commitment to EXCELLENCE! The photographs that you share are the result of high intention, sincere effort, intelligent direction and vision. Great work!”
To contact Lloyd Smith click on the e-mail below.
Lloyd shooting winter photos at Mount Rainier National Park
Lloyd shooting in Nepal.
Lloyd Smith ready to shoot with his twin Nikon D500s.
Lloyd's Lens 