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Report: #804430

Complaint Review: Jeff Muzila - Willoughby Hills Ohio

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  • Reported By: supportREALartists — Ohio United States of America
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  • Jeff Muzila Willoughby Hills, Ohio United States of America

Jeff Muzila Jeff Zephix, Zephix Studios, iZephix, DarkZephix Fake, fraudulent photographer, stealing photos, compulsive liar, sociopath Willoughby Hills, Ohio

*General Comment: Then why read these?!

*General Comment: Side Note

*General Comment: He strikes again huh?

*General Comment: He strikes again.

*Consumer Comment: He has a new Facebook page

*General Comment: Real photographers don't steal others work.

*Consumer Comment: To whoisthis2449

*Consumer Comment: JEFF IS SCAM ARTIST!

*Consumer Comment: just trying to clear up the facts on him...

*Consumer Comment: rusty10 is clueless

*Consumer Comment: I heard back from National Geographic...

*REBUTTAL Owner of company: I have to agree with the poster above

*General Comment: From the outside looking in

*Author of original report: I am obviously not hiding from that report!

*Consumer Comment: 3rd Party Review

*Consumer Comment: This is not a personality contest

*General Comment: True

*Author of original report: More talk with no evidence!

*Consumer Comment: not sure about this

*Consumer Comment: Team Mike! :-)

*General Comment: This Report is Valid

*Consumer Comment: Mike Adams a fake? not at all

*Consumer Comment: Mike Adams is amazing, Jeff Muzila- a jealous liar

*Consumer Comment: This is a matter of criminal affairs

*General Comment: Two of my pictures have been stolen by Jeff Muzilla

*Consumer Comment: Mike Adams - Shooting Friend/Model

*General Comment: Mike Adams tells the truth

*Consumer Comment: Mike is real

*Consumer Comment: Jeff and Friends,

*Consumer Comment: 100% True

*UPDATE Employee: Mike Adams is no fake

*Author of original report: Oh yeah? I am a fake? Let's see about that.

*Consumer Comment: 100% False

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Jeffery Muzilla, also known as Jeff Zephix, Zephix Studios, iZephix, and DarkZephix, has been fraudulently parading himself around Cleveland as a local "photographer".

His "images", were an unusual high quality.  He was even making claims to be an official photojournalist for National Geographic. 

He started to generate a buzz and gather Facebook friends rather quickly, and has publicly been asking those friends to increase his friend count (has an infatuation with reaching the 5,000 friend limit) by suggesting all their friends to him so that he can sell prints.

Over time though, some local photographers were getting tips from people that they saw Jeff using their images and playing them off as his own.  This upset them greatly, so they reported the images as stolen and Facebook removed them.  This shows he was also not very smart, because why steal from local photographers, but then add everyone you can from Cleveland?  People were going to recognize those pictures and who they really belonged to, and did.

Jeff, however continued to post more new "images", which were just upsetting people who were keeping an eye on him.  The word was spreading fast about what he was doing.  So, a few people decided to run a search on all of Jeff's "images" (through sites like TinEye.com), and found out that every single one was stolen from dozens of photographers across the internet, from Model Mayhem, to Tumblr, Flickr, even Getty Images.

In his model photographs, he was even making up fake names for the models that he "shot".

A local photographer (one who had an image stolen from Jeff) and a couple of his model clients, who have all worked together numerous times and were friends, decided to speak up about Jeff in a status update, reveling this fraudulent activity.  They also contacted all of the photographers who's work was stolen and told them to send Facebook a DMCA take down notice immediately.

It was easy to see that the National Geographic claim was a lie.  They list their photographers and past photo contest winners on their website, and his name was nowhere to be found.  A local news station even confirmed it was a lie by directly calling their offices.  They never heard of a "Jeff Muzilla".

Jeff was exposed and under a lot of heat, but that did not stop him.

He got upset at the local photographer for calling him out, despite all that evidence against him.  He posted a status update with a picture of that photographer and told his friends that Facebook Headquarters notified to him that he was the one that was "hacking" his account.  His account was never hacked by anyone obviously, it was just getting reported so much by all the people, photographers, and models that saw he was a fraud.


Through internet searching, we saw that Jeff has a history of this behavior.

In May of this 2011, a Facebook group page for Nelson Ledges Quarry Park put up a post about him being a fraud, trying to sell fake nature images off as authentic images of the Ledges.

A local prosecutor has told us that he has a Sandusky and Willoughby Hills arrest for domestic violence.  He is also has a report publicly listed on the Cuyahoga County Clerk of Courts for divorce with children and domestic violence.  

He has tried to lure women to his house for "photoshoots", and new female photographers to his house for photo "lessons" under the false pretense of a established photographer.

He has tried to sell images that do not belong to him, and if anyone has given him money for this please speak up.

So we have extreme lie after lie, a history of violence, and he shows no remorse when confronted with evidence.  Jeff Muzilla is a dangerous, unpredictable sociopath.  Be aware!

This report was posted on Ripoff Report on 12/03/2011 12:29 AM and is a permanent record located here: https://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/jeff-muzila/willoughby-hills-ohio-/jeff-muzila-jeff-zephix-zephix-studios-izephix-darkzephix-fake-fraudulent-photographer-804430. The posting time indicated is Arizona local time. Arizona does not observe daylight savings so the post time may be Mountain or Pacific depending on the time of year. Ripoff Report has an exclusive license to this report. It may not be copied without the written permission of Ripoff Report. READ: Foreign websites steal our content

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REBUTTALS & REPLIES:
3Author
29Consumer
1Employee/Owner

#33 General Comment

Then why read these?!

AUTHOR: JeffisAFraud - (United States of America)

POSTED: Tuesday, August 07, 2012

I agree with you, haters are gonna hate.  But this is a place for people to keep other people updated and aware of things that are happening.  If it bothers you so much then why even read this?  And we do have proof, we have the originals, plus NUMEROUS witnessess of the photographer taking the picutres. The pictures were taken by a photographer/bird bander and he takes people with him everytime.  So they all see the birds and photos that were taken. 

And so what if there's no money made, it's principle.  People put hard work, time and pride into their work and for someone else to be taking the lazy way out and passing off other peoples work as their own is offensive and irritating. So we use this place as a medium to communicate to others what is happening.   And yes the pictures were removed from Facebook. 

There were originally 8 pictures that were his and then there was only 1 remaining, which that was also sent to facebook to be removed, but now his Facebook has been apparently hacked and he's shut it down. To use only twitter... If it was indeed hacked and someone else added the pictures then great, this is no longer an issue... But it anymore show up on any of his pages twitter, instagram or facebook, they will continue to be reported to be removed...   As I think any person who takes pride in their hard work would do.

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#32 General Comment

Side Note

AUTHOR: JeffisAFraud - (United States of America)

POSTED: Friday, August 03, 2012

I just noticed too, he does have his privacy settings set as high as he can, but sadly the photos are being stolen from Flickr not facebook. This Jeff really does his research, if only he spent as much time actually taking his own photos as he does stealing photos then he'd probably be a great photographer!

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#31 General Comment

He strikes again huh?

AUTHOR: Tj McCurdy - (USA)

POSTED: Monday, July 23, 2012

Im subscribed to Jeff and I highly doubt that he posted your friends pictures up.  All of the pictures he posts, are still up, none have been removed.  How do we know your friend didn't take Jeff's pictures and say that they were his?  We don't know.  You can't prove it.  Nobody can.  Both can say they have the original but when it comes down to it, if BOTH are hobby photographers and NEITHER are making money off of the pictures, then why would it even matter?  I post-edit photos as a hobby and do minor photography if i feel I see something worth while.  I'm not making money off of it, and if Jeff or any random person were to take a picture I took/edited and said it was their own, I wouldn't care.  If they made a profit off of it I would then say something, but only then.  Neither are making any money so what would be the big deal?  Get use to the fact that some people actually steal others pictures because with the internet and todays technology, everyone is doing it... nothing is private anymore.  If it is such a big deal, your friend should turn his privacy settings on.  Simple as that!  God you people are annoying!  Get a life and stop hating.  Haters gonna hate!


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#30 General Comment

He strikes again.

AUTHOR: JeffisAFraud - (United States of America)

POSTED: Monday, July 23, 2012

Jeff Mizula or Zephix Photography is most definatly a scam artist.  My brother is a hobby photographer that posts his hobby for all to see, and we found a bunch of his photos on Jeff's facebook site. We tried to leave a message for him to remove them. Instead he changed his privacy settings. So then we contacted facebook and facebook removed them.    Not only is it a crime to do this, it is also a slap in the face of the person who actually went through all the hard work to get the picture and edit the picture and post it for their friends to enjoy and see.    Someone else should not profit or gain credit from the use of someone elses hard work.    For the life of me I can't understand that if you want to be known for beautiful pictures, why you wouldn't just go out and take them yourself. It's an amazing and beautiful thing to be doing.   So just stop being lazy Jeff and do the leg work yourself!!!     And FYI this only happened last week. So for other photographers out there, he is still doing this. And we're located in Canada, he's stealing work from anyone and everyone.

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#29 Consumer Comment

He has a new Facebook page

AUTHOR: ClevelandLocal - (United States of America)

POSTED: Friday, February 03, 2012

https://www.facebook.com/jzephix

He has pictures posted in his gallery, check to see if they are yours.

This statement on the page as well...

"Since 2006 I have dedicated my life to gain experience and knowledge in techniques and various styles of professional photography particularly of modeling, nature, and landscape. I am always on the outlook for innovative, stylized, dynamic, and unique ways to capture the soul of a subject by capturing every movement and angle during a photography moment in order to create an astonishing collection of the world we live in.

There are a good many criteria and elements to be considered in taking a photograph and creating the right image for a model, from understanding and feeling the subject's movement , the lighting and the art of capturing the moment in a little frame in less than a second to the art and techniques of photo retouching and post production to make sure that everything comes to life whenever one looks in to that moment as an image."

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#28 General Comment

Real photographers don't steal others work.

AUTHOR: deeedeee - (United States of America)

POSTED: Wednesday, December 14, 2011

I find it sad that he has all those people on his facebook fooled. He is lying SO much. I seriously don't know what else to say but hes a lie. Jeff is stealing other peoples pictures and I was just aware from one of my friends, that she thinks he took one of the pictures also. I don't know if he did yet (because he has blocked me) but i think all of it a shame. Jeff's a jealous fake who is making it seem like hes the victim.

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#27 Consumer Comment

To whoisthis2449

AUTHOR: voiceofreason - (United States of America)

POSTED: Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Freedom of speech, etc is never 100% absolute. If he presents himself as a representative, in any way shape or form, of National Geographic, in tandem with committing fraud, forgery or whatever else, and leans on the cache of the one to succeed at the other, and National Geographic, upon learning of it, does nothing to stop him, then they end up with civil liability  to his victims. So yes, they are very much entitled to go after him for insinuating a tie to them that lends him undo credibility.

And I agree, Cleveland Browns suck.

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#26 Consumer Comment

JEFF IS SCAM ARTIST!

AUTHOR: deeedeee - (United States of America)

POSTED: Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Jeff is stealing other pictures! hes a scam artist. He blocked me five minuets ago cause i posted this link on his page. He told me "karma" and blocked me. He's lying! He stole pictures of tigers and said he took that at the Cleveland Metropark Zoo. he tigers in his picture was a Bengal tiger, the Cleveland zoo has Siberian tigers! Hes a fake! he gaining popularity off a lie! He doesn't work at national demographics! Someone should file fraud charges against him! 

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#25 Consumer Comment

just trying to clear up the facts on him...

AUTHOR: rusty10 - (United States of America)

POSTED: Friday, December 09, 2011

I do not want to get involved between any battles between Mike Adams and Jeff Muzila.  Im simply a local photographer that would like to see a con man outed so he cannot hurt anyone in any way.  My biggest thing is I just wanted to clear up that he does not work for national geographic as he is telling everyone.  Please contact them yourself if you need proof, they were very helpful and returned my message in about a day on the matter.  This message was what was returned to me from them.

Thank you for contacting the National Geographic Society. We do not have a contributor named Jeff Muzila, nor is he on staff here. We have heard from several photographers in the Cleveland area about this individual and the matter has been referred to our legal staff.


I hope this information is helpful.

Sincerely yours,

Julie Crain
National Geographic Society

That is pretty simple and I think sets most of what anyone needs to know about Jeff.  Its one thing if he simply lists he works for them on his profile but the fact that he is using it to network and gain leverage with people.  Nothing more needs said, if you are one that has images that were stolen then facebook im sure will have records of all the images he removed last week, take him to court and sue him for copyright infringement. 

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#24 Consumer Comment

rusty10 is clueless

AUTHOR: whoisthis2449 - (United States of America)

POSTED: Friday, December 09, 2011

rusty10, or are you Mike Adams in disguise?

Are you clueless?? No where on facebook does it require you to verify where you work. I could say I work for Hitler, Obama, Linebacker for the Browns, etc. It's the internet and you are free to express your right of speech and saying whatever the hell you want.

Now, If I was stealing copyrighted pictures and then watermarking them with NatGeo tags, then sure, that might be some legal issues since Jeff doesn't own the legal copyright info to stamp that on his pictures.

This story is all the same, it's the internet and he is free to do what he wants. Say he is a millionaire, gets drunk with hookers, who cares.

If you can prove he took your copyrighted picture AND made money off of it, then you could take legal action. But Zephix isn't incorporated, so there is no income associated with that, therefor he doesn't make a single dollar (unless cashed), hense why he says it is just for a HOBBY!

Mike, you think you own copyrights to pictures of Brandywine falls? Anyone could setup in the same exact spot and take the exact same picture. Then they violate your copyright? That makes no sense. You can't copright god's creation, he is the true copyright owner.

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#23 Consumer Comment

I heard back from National Geographic...

AUTHOR: rusty10 - (United States of America)

POSTED: Friday, December 09, 2011

Hi Guys,
I dont know Jeff or Mike but I am a NE Ohio photographer and some business associates turned me onto the fact Jeff Muzila was in fact stealing others work in the area and attempting to resell it.  After reading reports all over the internet bashing both Jeff and Mike both I wanted to find the truth.  I cant speak to Mike Adams character, not a fan of his photo work either, but I can through my research he seems to at least be using his own work.

A few days ago I contacted national geographic to confirm any information about Jeff as he talks non stop about it on his face book page.  Today I received a response.

I talked to Julie Cain from the National Geographic Society and she informed me that in fact NOT ONLY DOES HE NOT WORK FOR THEM OR WILL BE WORKING FOR THEM, BUT THEY HAD NEVER HEARD OF HIM UNTIL A FEW WEEKS AGO WHEN THEY WERE FLOODED WITH CALLS FROM CONCERNED PHOTOGRAPHERS FROM CLEVELAND.  She said their team of lawyers are currently investigating him and deciding the best legal action to take.  Even though he did not steal images from their collection the fact that he is violating other copyrighted images and then using their name falsely they will for sure be looking into the best action to take.

Glad to finally have the truth about this, crazy stuff.  As a photographer this makes me sick.  For the comment above thats a bit over the top.  In a way thats like saying if you dont have an alarm on your house its your fault you got robbed.  Now I watermark everything that goes on the internet and would suggest everyone else does as well.  I will say as for the people who got there stuff stolen, yeah your not the brightest on the defense end of your work, however its not their fault and Jeff should still be punished to the full extent of the law when it comes to copyright infringement.

I would encourage Mike and others to keep fighting, hire a lawyer and take action.  If you back down your only opening his experience to hurt future artists.  Set an example for people of his type that their is consequences that will catch up with you if you choose to replace personal development and skill with theft.

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#22 REBUTTAL Owner of company

I have to agree with the poster above

AUTHOR: WilliamtheChild - (Canada)

POSTED: Wednesday, December 07, 2011

This little spat reminds me of a show I watched the other night; The Biggest Loser.

Who cares.   The guy jacked a few of your pics, did you see this stupid jerks tribal tattoo's? He is bozo the clown.  Are you really that threatened by this mongoloid that you have to empty out your rolodex and drag everyone you have ever worked with in the past 20 years (all 5 of them) into this mess.  Half of them now probably believe you are some type of polaroid pervert from other post about you on here, I know I do.   

The issue is (and I will put this as nicely as possible) both of you are bottom feeding trash who are light years from working for a firm like Nat Geo.   I mean really man; a fat chick choking on a burito, and thats your featured piece?   Atleast you still have your 11000 people or whatever on facebook who took the millisecond to click the "like" button on your page.  I bet you get mobbed when you leave the house/trailer/sexoffender halfway house/wherever.  You jumped the shark long ago brah; its name was Jeffery Muzilla.

Sweet dreams!

P.S.  Cleveland Browns Sucks

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#21 General Comment

From the outside looking in

AUTHOR: Charlie Bogett - (United States of America)

POSTED: Wednesday, December 07, 2011

All i see is an angry person who failed at a passion, seeing another person surpassing him in a field he failed in, then trying to deflate that person who is doing so well at a career.  Mike it looks like you have some jealousy issues.  anything and everything on the internet is up for grabs if it isn't copy-rite.  lying isnt a crime, it is just frowned upon.  get your balls out of a twist.  if he is willing to use other peoples stuff, take it as a f**king compliment, and dry your pathetic tears.  dont wanna see your s**t popping up else where, do something about it personally, like a logo, but dont piss and moan over something you could have personally prevented.  that goes to the rest of the whiney 'victims', if there is not sign of this person changing, then fix your own crap so it cant happen again  

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#20 Author of original report

I am obviously not hiding from that report!

AUTHOR: SupportLocalArtists - (United States of America)

POSTED: Wednesday, December 07, 2011

Now tell me, why would I create a report on this site about Jeff if I was hiding from a report written about me?  That would not make much sense would it?  I knew Jeff would find it and I do not care.  It has been there for years for anyone to search and find.  I could have changed my photography name to something different to avoid being searched and found, but I have not done that.  Anyone who reads the whole thing can freely come to their own conclusion.

You know what one thing stands out in reports?  Evidence.

People who lie do not have any evidence to back up their claims.  People who lie to not post their real full names in reports.  

That report about me has been up for years.  It has not cost me any legit work because anyone with any common sense can read it and tell it is fraudulent.  I reply to it even saying I most likely know who  the people are and I dare them to leave their names so that we can handle this legally but they refuse.  They hide behind a computer, like Jeff is doing.

Feel free to check my records.  I have never been charged with ANYTHING outside of my trespass for photographing an abandoned building which will soon be off my record.

And again, the smoking gun here is the references.  I have hundreds of people at any time I can provide to you that I have worked with.  You can call and talk to them.  You can verify that they are real.  Nearly all of the models I have worked with have returned with me to shoot 2-3 times, and many even shoot in the nude because they TRUST me.  

Jeff again, has proven nothing, but he keeps trying to fight by slandering me.  Keep digging Jeff, you will not be able to do anything to me.  You won't even reply to this report as yourself because you know better.  

So just like the other people that made up the reports again me, respond as yourself (with full name) with these claims again me, I dare you.  These reports are legal documents and anyone can be held liable for what they say.  They are never deleted either, so you would not be able to hide anything later.

I am done responding to you, or anyone else after this gets posted.  The ball is in Jeff's court now.

Mike Adams



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#19 Consumer Comment

3rd Party Review

AUTHOR: Heather - (United States of America)

POSTED: Tuesday, December 06, 2011

http://www.ripoffreport.com/photography/outsidergraphics-com/outsidergraphics-com-michael-555e7.htm

"Michael Adams Outsider Graphics Pervert Sexual Preditor Loser Scumbag Unprofessional Brunswick Ohio"


I don't know who to believe...

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#18 Author of original report

More talk with no evidence!

AUTHOR: SupportLocalArtists - (United States of America)

POSTED: Tuesday, December 06, 2011

The "gear" pictures do not prove anything, they look like nothing but web-grab photos yet again.  The alleged 5D picture is cropped so tight that you can't even see where he is, he can be at a store taking a self shot of himself.  It proves nothing.  There are no photos of him with any gear what so ever.

I have plenty of pictures of me, with my camera, at events, urbexing, and more, and with my models, shooting buddies, and clients, before, during, and after shooting.  These are all public and can be seen on my Facebook and my Flickr.  

The Canon 50D ($1600 when I bought it brand new) is a junk camera?  I know real pro's that make a living off of photography still use old 20D's.  Sure, gear matters, but not more than skill does.  And skill or any other photography knowledge is something that no one has ever seen Jeff talk about either.

You say I am unemployed, but then say I work at a temp agency...a temp agency IS a job.  There is an application process, there are drug tests, and clean records gives you more job opportunities.  Doing good work enables you to return to those jobs, and can lead to permanent offers from the employers.  And like I mentioned earlier, its not a place for lazy people.  It's manual labor.  Plus I like my open schedule for my art, AND paying photo gigs, which I do get (and proved by my many references (models, clients) here in this very report page.

And speaking of references, Jeff still has yet to provide anyone with ANY.  Where are they in his defense?  He has none because he has not done any photography.  Lets see proof of a single model shoot he did, where we can see the models real portfolio.  Let's see him OUTSIDE with some shooting buddies.  There are simply just none!

The images that were stolen, and proved they were stolen with official DMCA takedown notices via Facebook, Jeff clearly cropped out the photographers copyright.  He did so with my picture of Brandywine Falls that he put up.

Insulting "fat" people was not very mature either.  

Jeff, personally I will say this.  I honestly don't care what you do or what you claim.  But when you used my picture, you got me involved.  As long as you don't use my pictures (or my friends pictures) again, I don't care what you do or what you claim.  You can claim you are the President of the United States for all I care.  Posting pictures of me on your Facebook, claiming I am a stalker and a hacker will not make me or my supporters back down.  Everything you do or say is getting logged by many people.  You are heading down a bad road of potentially serious legal action.  I know you think this is all a game, but it crossed that a long time ago.  You are hurting people and that is not funny.

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#17 Consumer Comment

This is not a personality contest

AUTHOR: Al - (USA)

POSTED: Tuesday, December 06, 2011

This is not about Mike vs. Jeff, who has better equipment or who is nicer. The fact is that Jeff Muzila took possession of pictures from several photographers without authorization and tried to sell them as if they were his own. Facebook closed all Jeff's accounts because they were in violation to their policies. Several of the DMCA Notice of Copyright Infringement reports sent by the photographers along with proofs the pictures didn't belong to Jeff were sent to Facebook. Those and other investigations helped Facebook with the decisions to take the accounts down. Jeff will hopefully learn from it but if he doesn't, we will easily take down any account (from Facebook or not) he uses to commit copyright infringement. Online service providers like ISPs, Facebook, flickr, etc are usually very sensitive about this kind of crime and will investigate and close down violating accounts.

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#16 General Comment

True

AUTHOR: CoffeyS - (United States of America)

POSTED: Tuesday, December 06, 2011

This is what I know:
This photographer took a whole set of my photos (I am a model) that I shot with another photographer and posted them on his Facebook Fanpage as his own. He even put them into a folder under a fake name. I don't know why anyone who appreciates his own work or respects that of others would do such a thing. 

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#15 Consumer Comment

not sure about this

AUTHOR: whoisthis2449 - (United States of America)

POSTED: Tuesday, December 06, 2011

They both seem strange. Mike is the weirdest guy I've known. He is unemployeed and just a creep. He tries to lure good looking models by doing shoot for free (no wonder he doesn't make money and needs a temp agency). One of my friends said he was offered some weird sex acts in order to try to model. That's not creepy is it?

Jeff on the other hand is probably luring woman too, who knows. The images weren't watermarked nor copyright on them, so who would anyone know who is stealing from eachother?

I wouldn't trust either of them, at least Jeff has shown evidence that he owns high end gear (with him in the pictures, clearly not photoshopped), while Mike just has pictures of fat girls on his page and uses junk cameras. Maybe Mike is Jeff's evil opposite or vice versa.

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#14 Consumer Comment

Team Mike! :-)

AUTHOR: AConcernedFriend - (United States of America)

POSTED: Tuesday, December 06, 2011

I was one of the thousands that Jeff added on Facebook. I was initially impressed with his "work" and "accomplishments" with National Geographic.

He asked me to come over his place for a photoshoot, and believe me when I tell you, that I am no model, not one that someone with his so called accomplishments would ask to shoot. I was no where near the quality of the models that he had listed on his page. Polar opposites really.

Anyway, I told him that I don't really model, that I just got a camera and am still learning photography. He then asked me to come over for a "lesson".

He really wanted me to come over, but something did not feel right to me. I am glad I never accepted any of his offers, especially given his public records.

I too have been friends with Mike for a long time (he has taken couple pictures for me on 2 occasions) and I give him a lot of props for standing up to Jeff. The truth always comes out sooner or later.

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#13 General Comment

This Report is Valid

AUTHOR: Anonymoose - (United States of America)

POSTED: Monday, December 05, 2011

I have known of Mike Adams for even longer than I have known him personally. I found him and his work while searching online for a reputable photographer in the Cleveland area and a few years later after I had lost weight and was again looking to get photographs taken for my art/dance, Mike Adams was still the only photographer I found that I was able to trust enough to work with.

Mike was able to get a picture that I am featured in on the front page of the major website for hoop dancers/dancing in the U.S. which was great for me as an artist and also as an entrepreneur.

I trust Mike Adams with my original ideas and also with my Professional image.

As an art student/security officer/locksmith/ebay & etsy seller since 2008 and fellow artist I am appalled to learn that Mike Adams and other photographers have had their intellectual property stolen and sold. I am happy to see that the facebook page that these pictures were posted on is now unavailable and hope that it will remain so.

As far as anyone (especially female models) that are considering meeting up with Jeffrey Muzilla aka Jeff Zephix at his Home Studio located in Willougby Hills (via FourSquare) aka Zephix Studios, I would be absolutely concerned about this due to the domestic violence charges filed against him and also due to his online dating profile at VampireFreaks.com in which he quotes himself several times, shows as a member of the "Sexaholics" group and seems to rely heavily on his "resemblance" to Johnny Depp as an effort to lure in women.

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#12 Consumer Comment

Mike Adams a fake? not at all

AUTHOR: Kait - (United States of America)

POSTED: Monday, December 05, 2011

   I have also known Mike Adams for several years now, and have also shot with him twice (working on our third). He is not only a photographer to me, hes one of my closest friends, near and dear to my heart and would NOT make this stuff up. If he has references,that proves Mike is right. If this was a case that was in court, this man Jeff would lose because he has no proof, and no references to "his" photos. Mike has more likes on his photography page for Facebook than any other photographer i can think of, and it took him a lot of sweat and blood to get to wear his is. I would be mad to if someone was claiming my photos as his own.

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#11 Consumer Comment

Mike Adams is amazing, Jeff Muzila- a jealous liar

AUTHOR: katya - (United States of America)

POSTED: Monday, December 05, 2011

I am a local model/actress who has personally worked with Mike and he has become my favorite in Cleveland. I have been doing modeling and acting work professionally since I was 4 years old, and know the business inside and out. Mike is one of the best photographers I have worked with to date. He and I are currently in the planning stages of several more shoots, and I chose him above all others to shoot me. The first shoot we did he was amazingly professional, incredible to work with, and the pictures were AMAZING. I have honestly never gotten better feedback on a shoot than we did with that first one. Hence why we are planning more. We did everything with natural light, and I did my hair and makeup. Again, I am a professional who usually has a team do this for me, but the pictures with Mike far surpass any I have taken before.

Jeff on the other hand has been caught red handed stealing pictures from Mike, other photographers and other local models like myself, which is absolutely unacceptable. We get paid for what we do. You cannot steal my image without paying for it, and if you are a model/photographer and he stole yours, I strongly advise that you consider reporting the theft. We can not allow counterfeit people to infiltrate our business. These types of photographers give the legit ones a bad name. People are scared off by these imposters and go on to tell horror stories of the field in which we work. Jeff claimed on his facebook page (before it was deleted) that he was shooting high quality pics with his iphone. Really?? Mike has real industry standard equipment. I am sure all "National Geographic Photographers" use their iphones.....

In terms of Mike being a criminal... that is simply laughable. For Jeff to call Mike a criminal (for a misdemeanor trespass) while he has domestic violence charges all over the place is ludicrous at best. I know that I as a model would NEVER go on a shoot alone with a photographer with the criminal record that Jeff has.

As for Jeff being "honest".... egregious. Honest people don't have 3 facebook accounts deleted in a week. Honest people don't steal pics from models and photographers and claim them as their own. Honest people don't claim they worked for a modeling agency from 1996-2005 when it didn't even exist until 2010.

To Jeff- quit blaming your shortfalls as a person and a "photographer" on other people. Man up and do the right thing. Stop this charade now, it is just getting sad. I am sad for you. But mostly, I am sad for anyone who believes a single word that comes out of your mouth.

I love you Mike and will support you whatever. You made a huge difference to me. Thank you.

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#10 Consumer Comment

This is a matter of criminal affairs

AUTHOR: Claudia - (Spain)

POSTED: Monday, December 05, 2011

I have worked with Mike twice, and I have gone urbexing with him once and we are planning to get him down my country for a friends wedding next summer. I know him from a long time now and I have seen how he has grown and how his photos have evolved. He is a professional, and his photos show it.

I have seen this person (Jeff) photos and I have seen the original pictures too, so there is no point going over the subject that he is stealing. It is a fact.

What we should be pointing out here is that he must be punished for the crime he has committed. Coming from a long line of scientists and artists, my family has been involved in all kind of legal process because of people like this Jeff. In my country, this is a matter of the Justice system because it is consider as stealing, either if it was an idea, a scientific theory or a copy of a canvas painting. Here people go to jail for stuff like that.

So, I applaud the effort that Mike and his fellows photographers and models are doing with this guy, and I hope more people speak up when it comes to things like this.

It is time to foment the appreciation of creative minds and to punish those who attempt against it.

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#9 General Comment

Two of my pictures have been stolen by Jeff Muzilla

AUTHOR: Al - (USA)

POSTED: Monday, December 05, 2011

I am one of the photographers that had images stolen by Jeff Muzila. I've received a tip from someone saying that some of my Flickr images had been posted on Jeff Muzila's Facebook account, that he was promoting them as his own pictures and that he was selling them. I went to the mentioned Facebook  account and found two of my pictures there. I've reported to facebook's DMCA Notice of Copyright Infringement. Other photographers also reported him and his account was shut down the next day. I found out he started using his old Facebook account as private so I have no way to check if my pictures are still there. 

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#8 Consumer Comment

Mike Adams - Shooting Friend/Model

AUTHOR: Lacey - (United States of America)

POSTED: Monday, December 05, 2011

With all due respect, you (Jeff) have a reputation of being false with your talent.  If you were truly capable of creating such wonderful photographs, you would not have to steal the hard work of others.  You have stolen from Mike and because you were caught doing it again, you now feel it necessary to smear his name.  I am not only a friend, but a shooting buddy and a model of Mike's.  His talent is true and that makes him far better of a person than you.  He is speaking out for the others photographers who are not aware of your thievery. The energy you must spend into seeking out photographs to add to your fake portfolio must leave you a lot of time to manufacture a story line to go along with it.  I have seen your "work" and regardless of the subject, photographers tends to have a signature embedded in their work - yours do not - it is apparent that it is the work of others.  You are quite pathetic to try to fake your way into a career.  And you obviously have too much time on your hands.  Build your talent - should you have any - and take credit for your own work and not the works of others.

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#7 General Comment

Mike Adams tells the truth

AUTHOR: RS Photography - (United States of America)

POSTED: Monday, December 05, 2011

I am a personal friend of Mike Adams and I have checked out the allegations on tineye. I must report that 7 out of 10 images i found on Jeff's profile were found to belong to many other members of flickr.com and Getty Images. I think it is insane that Jeff Muzila believes it is proper to claim another person's work as your own. In the academic world it is called plagiarism and in the professional world it is called theft. I have come to a conclusion that Jeff Muzila is a fraud, and anyone who doesn't believe should look into the work he claims as his own.

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#6 Consumer Comment

Mike is real

AUTHOR: Amanda - (United States of America)

POSTED: Monday, December 05, 2011

I have been friends with Mike Adams for years now. I have modeled for him 3 times so far, and am always open to doing it again. I even want him to take pictures of my son. Mike has photographed me in different settings, under different circumstances and has always remained professional.

He has worked hard to get where he is and it is horrible that someone just came by and tried to pass off his work as their own. How about learn to take your own pictures?

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#5 Consumer Comment

Jeff and Friends,

AUTHOR: Amber - (United States of America)

POSTED: Monday, December 05, 2011

You may be saying that the photographer that has sent in a report about you (Jeff) is a fraud. Well, I'm a friend of his and I know his work. He's excellent at what he does. 

I've noticed  the pictures that he (Jeff) has on his profile are other peoples and some do look fake. This is ridiculous to steal others work, say it's your and then say that the photographer who's reporting you (Jeff) is a fake. It's just wrong and useless to do such things. 

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#4 Consumer Comment

100% True

AUTHOR: T - (United States of America)

POSTED: Monday, December 05, 2011

I have known Mike Adams since 2005. I have had 8 photo shoots with him, he did an amazing job with my pictures, as well with pictures of my children. Also, I have went out on shoots with Mike with my own camera, and everything was very professional. Not once were there any unconfortable moments. He is a professional behind the camera, and also when you need some photography pointers he is very well educated with multiple types of cameras.

As for his "criminal" background, he has trespassing on his record because he is a urbex photographer, which means you go into abandoned buildings and such to take photographs. It's a risk that all urbex photographers take.

This Jeff Muzila fella is a total fraud. I have looked at his profiles on Facebook, and you can right away tell that those are not his photographs.  For one the photographs of the "thunderstorms" We live in Northern Ohio and the pictures he was "taking" were more of the Southern/Midwest America (Oklahoma etc.). Also, when asked to do a shoot with Jeff, he will doesn't respond to any emails that you send to him about doing a shoot. How professional is that? And a "photographer" to say that he uses his IPhone as a camera, is certainly not a photographer in my book, but a man trying to get attention for something that he is not.

With that being said, I would like to say that I 100% back Mike Adams, his photography, and his designs. Because I know that everything that he does is real, and will look absolutely the way you want it to. 

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#3 UPDATE Employee

Mike Adams is no fake

AUTHOR: Tina - (United States of America)

POSTED: Monday, December 05, 2011

My name is Tina, and I have modeled for Mike Adams 3 times so far, and always am open to working with him again. He has photographed me in abandoned buildings and in his apartment, from clothed to nude. I am very thankful that he has worked with me because it has taken my portfolio to a much higher standard. I am now respected as a local model because I worked with him.

I also recently got my first DSLR and I paid him for a class, which he did a great job of helping me understand how to use it.

He is not only a photographer, a teacher, but also a good friend.

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#2 Author of original report

Oh yeah? I am a fake? Let's see about that.

AUTHOR: SupportLocalArtists - (United States of America)

POSTED: Monday, December 05, 2011

My name is Mike Adams.  I am one of the many photographers that had images stolen on Jeff's profile.

I was very upset to see him with a photo of mine on his profile, portraying it as his work.  I sent Facebook a DMCA take down notice and it was quickly removed by them.  I still have that email from Facebook to show you.  He has the ability to file a legal claim against me if he would choose to do so, and Facebook would revel to him my personal information so he could file it.  But of course he would not.  He could never prove that the image is his.  I have the original files to show for evidence, he does not.

If Jeff is indeed a real photographer, ask him for real references.  Ask to speak to models he has photographed.  Ask to speak to clients he has worked with.  He will NOT be able to provide you with any.

He works for National Geographic eh?  CALL them and ask directly.  You will get your answer, and that will be a NO.  Do it for yourself, don't just take my word for it.

What in the world is he trying to accomplish by harassing me for calling him out on his lies?  It's like he honestly believes these lies he has made up in his head.  Why is he trying to portray me as a fake photographer when I have real references and he has none?  

I am the most "liked" photographer on Facebook in the city of Cleveland, maybe even the entire state of Ohio with 11,000+ likes on my page.  I have done 100's of model shoots, and the majority of them come back for return shoots (oh, and you can directly speak to them at any moment).  Photographers have come from overseas just to go urban exploring with me.  I worked for Best Buy for 3 years, was an All-Store MVP, have trained multiple stores and 100's of customers on photography.  I can provide anyone at any time with real references.  Just ask me.  Don't just blindly believe something just because someone tells you something.  Do your own research.

And so what?  I currently work at a temp agency.  This allows me to make my own schedule so I can be flexible and accept photography jobs and conduct photography training classes when ever I get them.  What is wrong with doing some honest hard work?  This work is not easy by any means either, this is all manual labor.  We work at construction sites, landfills, we move furniture.  It's not for the weak and frail.

My "record" is a misdemeanor, which was from photographing an abandoned building for artistic purposes.  These charges are common with urban exploring photographers, and we know that is a risk by shooting them. I think Jeff has me trumped with his 3 domestic violence charges which are also public, like mine.  You be the judge there.  

I don't know which is more upsetting, Jeff being honestly upset for being called out on his lies, or that SOME people are blindly defending him without checking into things for themselves.

I will notify all the photographers and my clients about this slander.  I have nothing to hide.

Mike Adams


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#1 Consumer Comment

100% False

AUTHOR: Tj McCurdy - (USA)

POSTED: Sunday, December 04, 2011

I am a very close and personal friend of Jeff Muzilas' and once I heard about this, I decided to take matters into my own hands and stick up for my friend without his knowledge.  The creator of this article is the fraud.  None of the information he provided was at all correct.  He did not contact any local photographers or news stations because he is not local to Jeff.  Not to mention Jeff is a new employee at National Geographics, therefore has not had his name put onto the website yet (brand new, just received the job with pictures to prove it).

If you were to look at the creator of this articles Twitter account, he is unemployed with a criminal background.  He is jealous and therefore feels the need to, in an easy way to say, stalk my friend on Facebook and make up false information.  Jeff is a real photography with real equipment.  Just because you are jealous, doesn't mean you must make up lies.  Time to grow up and put on your big boy undy's and get a job.

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