A year ago today, ‘Lessons I Didn’t Learn In Photo School‘ debuted as my guest blog on Scott Kelby’s Photoshop Insider. Little did I know that those 13 micro-essays would be the start of a writing adventure that extended through much of 2009 here on PixSylated. Little did I know that LIDLIPS would connect me to 1000s of photographers around the world in a way I never expected.

So far, I have published a total of 100 LIDLIPS. You can read the whole collection here on PixSylated. You also get them in a book that is available worldwide (see the links below).

It seems appropriate that today, exactly a year after the adventure began, I should start publishing the second hundred.

LIDLIPS #101
Run when the wind is at your back – even if you didn’t plan on going in that direction.

Every once in a while, you will find yourself in a situation where your thoughts and actions resonate together in a way you didn’t expect. You’ll slide beyond the boundary of what you think you are capable of doing. You’ll realize that what you are doing is extremely good, but you won’t know where the ability to do it is coming from. When you feel the vibration and know that you are moving beyond your limits, keep going–even if you’re heading in a direction that seems foreign to you. Soon, it won’t seem so foreign and another horizon will appear.

So thank you Scott for letting me drive your blog for a day. Thank you Brad for extending the invitation. Without you, LIDLIPS would likely not have happened.

LIDLIPS Flickr Group

If you are a fan of LIDLIPS, join the LIDLIPS group on Flickr here. You can share your thoughts about specific LIDLIPS. You can share your LIDLIPS-inspired photos. If you have your own LIDLIPS, I hope you’ll share it there as well.

LIDLIPS Book Goes International

There’s no doubt that we live in a digital age. Books are no exception. Thanks to print-on-demand technology, you can literally get a printed copy of LIDLIPS out of a vending machine (this machine at these locations). Fortunately, the same technology also feeds the largest book distributors around the world. So even if LIDLIPS is out of stock today, it’s typically back in the warehouse within a week.

No matter where you live, there’s a copy of LIDLIPS close to you.

Amazon USA

Amazon Canada

Amazon UK

Amazon Germany

Amazon France

Amazon Japan

Book Depository (free shipping worldwide – great source for Australia and New Zealand!)

Autographed Copies are available via this page on PixSylated.

LIDLIPS Among Great Company

On a busy day recently, LIDLIPS popped up to #4 among photo criticism books. Talk about a reason to be humble… these are iconic titles. Now you know my inspiration for LIDLIPS #101.

“This book isn’t about lighting or technique.  It’s about how you think about photography, how it intertwines with your life, how it excites your passion.” David Ziser – Digital Pro Talk

“Just got a gr8 new book frm @syl_arena called LIDLIPS. EZ read & full of pearls of wisdom 4 photogs. I luv this bk.” Kevin Kubota – Kubota Imaging Tools (via Twitter)

“Syl Arena has come out with his new book. LIDLIPS or Lessons I Didn’t Learn in Photo School is a an insightful and humorous book looking at what it is we do as photographers.” Moose Peterson – Wildlife Photographer

Buy your autographed LIDLIPS directly from PixSylated for $14.95, plus shipping.

Or you can buy LIDLIPS from Amazon or Barnes & Noble (unsigned, of course).

Buy LIDLIPS on Amazon.

Buy LIDLIPS on Barnes & Noble

Lessons I Didn’t Learn In Photo School opens up new territory for photographers. As our world becomes increasingly cluttered with cameras, there are fewer people who truly understand the nature of photography. Refreshingly, LIDLIPS presents thought-provoking insights on photography as art, philosophy, science, business, and lifestyle. This collection of 100 micro-essays discusses photography from angles you’ve likely never considered: relationships, persistence, creativity, leadership, confidence. In a unique voice, LIDLIPS proves that there is much more to crafting great photographs and being a photographer than knowing how to operate a camera.

Author Syl Arena spent many years in photo school-eventually earning a BFA in fine art photography. Yet, the most important lessons he learned about being a photographer, he learned by being a father, husband, business owner, mentor, and artist. Photography, it turns out, has more to do with who you are as a person than with the brand of gear you use. For both amateurs and pros, LIDLIPS will expand your understanding of photography and inspire you to create images in completely new ways.

Here’s a sampling of a few LIDLIPS titles:
#1 – If you can’t be remarkable, be memorable.
#17 – Learn to think of the viewfinder as optional.
#22 – There is nothing more interesting to us than photographs of other people.
#32 – Be open to your camera capturing realities you did not see. #46 – Creativity comes as a breeze before it comes as a gale.
#56 – Hollywood is waiting to teach you how to light.
#68 – Making yourself vulnerable is a sign of strength.
#77 – Play photography like a team sport.
#83 – Sometimes the best way to see something is to not look straight at it.
#92 – The exotic is easy. The common is hard.

If you’re curious about the results of the “votes” on the eight LIDLIPS cover candidates from last week’s post, read on.

About the new LIDLIPS Cover

Many thanks to the 100+ PixSylarians who added their comments to last week’s post that presented eight cover designs.

^ The clear winner was Minimalist #8–with almost 50% of the votes. This black cover was my favorite among the bunch too.

^ The second most popular was Red #1–which received 30% of the votes.

What impacted me the most were the five people who said that they did not like any of the options. My friend, John Paul Caponigro, was the first dissenter and stepped up to do what any friend should do during a critique–be passionately honest. JP wrote:

Syl!
None of the above.
They’re all way too generic for you and a new book concept.
They don’t leverage your sexy color photographs or your distinctive hairdoo.
This is a great opportunity to assert the image of your brand.
Don’t play it safe.
You with a thousand flashes going off over your head.
You in an interesting environment looking off into space camera on the ground.
You and something high concept 21st century.
Be bold. Be distinctive. You are. So this cover should be too.
That’s my vote.

Within minutes of reading JP’s comments, I headed back to the drawing board (literally). My take-away was the huge disconnect between the cover candidates and the tone of the LIDLIPS. I see my LIDLIPS as being modern, bold, brief, and willing to test the boundaries of  photography. [As for me with a thousand flashes going off over my head, that's the tone of my next book–Speedliter's Handbook–to be published next spring.]

For the cover photo, I choose one of my favorite photos from the past year. It’s a photo of nothing more than light. I whimsically fired off my camera while walking down a sidewalk. I don’t remember what I was responding to–but there was something there that inspired me. No focus. No composition. No exposure setting. I just fired. The machine responded and collected a load of photons. I think it’s one of the strongest images I’ve ever made. [Sneak peek: LIDLIPS #101, A photograph does not have to be about anything.]

The design elements were inspired by a number of readers. Anna hit the nail on the head when she wrote:

The first time I saw one of your photographs it took my breath away. It was an image used for a LIDLIPS blog entry, delivered into my inbox earlier this year. I think you should use one of your own unique and compelling photographs for the book cover with the acronym “LIDLIPS” reversed out, (large, if you prefer) across the top, and then in smaller type “Lessons I …” and the sub-head somewhere at the bottom. This will guarantee striking, clean layout that reflects what the book is about, and because of the image, a more effective way to sell the book.

My friend, Bob Ray, reminded me of my ultimate goal with these powerful words: While photography is art to be viewed, book covers are art to entice a sale. As much as my ego would like to believe that every photographer knows about my brand and my persona, I am reminded that the world is a much larger place than I think it is and that the vast majority of people who see this cover online or in a bookstore will never have heard of me before.

In the end, I’m very happy with this cover–and very grateful that I had so many “beta-testers” for the earlier versions. There’s nothing I want to add, nor anything I feel it could do without.  All encouragement about my crazy hair and flash madness aside, this cover is a reflection of who I am and the Lessons I Didn’t Learn In Photo School.

Red Cover #1

Thanks to the encouragement of so many PixSylarians, I’m very pleased to announce that my collection of the first hundred ‘Lessons I Didn’t Learn In Photo School‘ will be published as a book just in time for the holidays. It will be a 220-page paperback with one LIDLIPS per spread. Each page opposite will present a question or two about how you relate to that LIDLIPS and have a journal-style space for you to pen your own thoughts. Amazon will have LIDLIPS for sure. You’ll also be able to order autographed copies via PixSylated.

Cast your vote for your favorite LIDLIPS cover concept. In case you’re willing to judge a book by it’s cover, you have eight to choose from. There are four main cover treatments and an alternate for each. Vote for your favorite(s) and add any relevant design suggestions via the Comments section below.

Red Cover #2

White Cover #3

White Cover #4

Alt Cover #5

Alt Cover #6

Minimalist #7

Minimalist #8

Just received word from Amazon that they have shipped my copy of Joe McNally’s new book, ‘The Hot Shoe Diaries‘. Man it’s been a long wait. I first wrote about ‘THSD’ last July (8 months ago).

This is the book that the yokels who criticized Joe’s first book, ‘The Moment It Clicks‘, expected to get. What they thought was missing from ‘TMIC’ is exactly what ‘THSD’ is –– a book filled with how-to advise from Joe. He talks about light, about gear, about exposures and settings. Joe takes you from the basics of the how and why of a single speedlite onto wrangling a pair of speedlights and then into my favorite jungle — using lots of speedlites.  Of course, the text is pure McNally. A bit irreverant. A bit New Yorker. A bit mad scientist. Never, ever dull.

You can check out the details and even download excerpts of ‘THSD’ on the Peachpit site. If you’ve not yet ordered your copy, there’s a much better price over on Amazon.

And “Yes”. If you’ve been reading PixSylated for a while, you can be sure that I’ll pimp The Hot Shoe Diaries just like its big brother. You should plan on Pimping Your McNally too.

As photographers, we are visual creatures. We need to feed that vision by spending a lot of time looking at the works of other photographers. No, I’m not thinking of Flickr. I’m thinking of photography books -  books OF photographs, not books about the how-to of photography.

There are hundreds of photo books published each year (actually thousands if you count the photo books micro-published through Blurb and the rest). Here’s a round-up of titles that have caught my attention over the past year.

Consider this to be the First Annual PixSylated Photo Book Survey. As it’s the first, I’m taking the liberty of dipping into 2007 as well. The second annual list will be just photo books published in 2009 – I promise. Don’t read anything into the sequence – after the first handful.

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Wisdom by Andrew Zuckerman
Zuckerman photographed 50 compelling people – all over the age of 65. Each shares their wisdom for succeeding generations. A few of the subjects are: Chinua Achebe, Madeleine Albright, Dave Brubeck, Clint Eastwood, Jane Goodall, Henry Kissinger, Graham Nash, Desmond Tutu… Includes a DVD of the documentary by the same name. Hardcover, 206 pages, Oct. 2008, $32

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The Hot Shoe Diaries by Joe McNally
OK. Even though Joe’s newest book won’t be out until sometime after the New Year, it’s still at the top of my list. Don’t know Joe McNally? Then, check out his first bestseller, The Moment It Clicks and my review. Joe has circled the globe almost as many times as Santa. His photographs and his stories are always memorable. Paperback, 272 pages, Feb. 2009, $27

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Annie Leibowitz At Work by Annie Leibowitz
Regardless of whether you love her or despise her, Annie Leibowitz is one of the most iconic photographers of our time. Annie Leibowitz At Work is the most how-to of all the books on this list. No, you won’t find lighting diagrams. Instead you’ll be regailed with rich photographs, stories of their creation and thoughts on the journey of a photographer. Hardcover, 240 pages, Nov. 2008, $24

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Over: The American Landscape at the Tipping Point by Alex MacLean
I’m fascinated with aerial photographs. Given that Alex MacLean has been making them for more than 30 years, there’s no doubt that he’s in the pilot’s seat when it comes to the creation of a photo book that comments on the interface of natural and manmade environments. Beautiful and environmentally challenging at the same time. Hardcover, 336 pages, Oct. 2008, $28

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Vanity Fair: The Portraits by Graydon Carter
Vanity Fair Magazine has published compelling portraits for nearly a century. Their list of contributing photographers includes such luminaries as Edward Steichen, Herb Ritts, Annie Leibowitz and David LaChapelle. This thick volume presents a broad collection of stunning Vanity Fair portraits through the ages. Hardcover, 374 pages, Sept. 2008, $41

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Joyce Tenneson: A Life in Photography 1968-2008 by Joyce Tenneson
I had the good fortune to run into Joyce Tenneson while attending a workshop in Santa Fe a couple of years ago. Her work is enchanting and ephemeral. The book is the first retrospective collection of Tenneson’s work and presents works from many of her well-known series along with early photographs, self-portraits and writings. Hardcover, 160 pages, Apr. 2008, $21

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American Farmer: The Heart of Our Country photographs by Paul Mobley
Paul Mobely photographed 300 farmers in 35 states for this project. Some are nearly broke. Others are very wealthy. Some farm a small patch. Others farm thousands of acres. Books like this remind me that every bit of food that crosses our lips was produced by a farmer – somewhere. Hardcover, 276 pages, Oct. 2008, $32

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Inside Iran by Mark Edward Harris
It’s too easy to “evilify” an entire country when you’ve never been there. LA-based photographer Mark Edward Harris follows up his 2007 Inside North Korea with Inside Iran. Both are beautifully photographed and worthy of your time. Harris goes well beyond the stereotype created by our mass media and intimately captures life in each country. No doubt – both have oppressive governments. That does not mean that the country is not filled with warm-blooded humans. Hardcover, 208 pages, Jul. 2008, $35

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Life: The Classic Collection by Editors of Life Magazine
A large format book that presents a wide range of Life’s most classic photographs. Large pictures with relatively little text. A unique feature is that 25 iconic images are perforated for removal and framing – with a second copy each permanently bound in the book. Hardcover, 144 pages, Oct. 2008, $19

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Planet Earth by Alastair Fothergill
This is the coffee table book produced after the Discovery Channel / BBC series of the same name. The DVDs are a favorite here in the Arena household. Beautifully photographed and insightfully narrated. The book is equally well produced and features more than 400 photographs. Hardcover, 312 pages, Mar. 2007, $27

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Performance: Richard Avedon by John Lahr & others
Avedon was synonymous with celebrity portraiture. More than 200 of the 20th-century’s most famous and infamous entertainment personas are presented in this bold retrospective of Avedon’s work. The hardcore Avedon enthusiast will appreciate the insights shared by a critic and four artists who knew him well. Hardcover, 304 pages, Oct. 2008, $45 [Avedon fans should also check out Portraits of Power - a retrospective look at his work with politicians and political events - both mainstream and alternative. Hardcover, 298 pages, Oct. 2008, $39]

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The Americans by Robert Frank / intro by Jack Kerouac
The 50th anniversary reissue of this classic looks at America in the mid-50s. Financed by a Guggenheim grant, Robert Frank traversed the continent and captured the hearts and souls of Americans from all walks of life. Contains 83 tri-tone plates – each re-scanned and re-cropped by Frank. Hardcover, 180 pages, May 2008, $27

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Creature by Andrew Zuckerman
It’s not often that you can have an entire zoo on your coffee table. Andrew Zuckerman’s Creature features 150 studio portraits of wild animals. Graham Nash, a pioneer in digital print making, wrote the forward. Fascinating and beautiful. Hardcover, 200 pages, Nov. 2007, $60

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Ansel Adams: 400 Photographs by Ansel Adams
As a photographer, I grew up in the era and under the aura of Ansel Adams. A portrait of Adams, taken by Henry Wilhelm, hangs above my desk. This large collection is presented in chronological sequence and grouped into five eras of Adams’ career. A great way to become acquainted with one of the most beloved and controversial photographers of the 20th-century. Hardcover, 440 pages, Oct. 2007, $27

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My Last Supper by Melanie Dunea
My friends know that I love food more than I love photography. ‘My Last Supper’ brings both worlds together. Melanie Dunea asked 50 famous chefs to describe their final meal. Their stories and recipes are savory. Dunea’s portrait of each is like a rich, butter-cream icing. Wish I’d thought of this project. Hardcover, 224 pages, Oct. 2007, $27

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Discoveries: Henri Cartier-Bresson by Clement Cheroux
Here’s another book on the list that’s not been published. I have to confess, this is one that I know virtually nothing about. But hey, it’s Cartier-Bresson. Any new book on this influential photographer is worth keeping on the radar. Paperback, 160 pages, Dec. 2008?, $11

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Athlete by Walter Iooss
With 300 or so Sports Illustrated covers to his credit, Walter Iooss is among the most legendary of legendary sports photographers. Iooss pairs the best shots from his 50-year career with anecdotes about their creation. A must-have for the sports shooter and armchair athlete. Hardcover, 236 pages, May 2008, $24

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Nurse: A World of Care by Peter Jaret and Karen Kasmauski
Insightfully written and beautifully photogaphed. Jaret and Kasmauski were Pulitzer-nominees in 2003 for Impact: From the Frontlines of Global Health. Their new book continues the standard for excellence. Kasmauski’s photographs have been featured in more than 30 Nat. Geo. articles. Hardcover, 238 pages, April, 2008, $30

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Tim Walker Pictures by Tim Walker
It’s not often that mere mortals can get inside the head and heart of a top fashion photographer. This large and thick edition provides just that opportunity. Known widely for his work in Europe, Walkers photos and insights won’t disappoint readers on the other side of the Atlantic. Hardcover, 363 pages, June 2008, $79

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Meditations In Silver: Photographic Studies by Paul Caponigro
When I was coming of age as a photographer in the ’80s, my trinity was Ansel Adams, Paul Caponigro and Minor White. Of the three, Caponigro’s work resonates with me some 25 years later. His still lifes, the subject of this book, are often superficially simple, yet complex and provocative beneath. Meditations In Silver is the volume that accompanied the solo exhibition of Caponigro still lifes at the Santa Barbara Museum of Art earlier this year. Hardcover, 69 pages, July 2008, $50.

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A Camera, Two Kids and a Camel by Annie Griffiths Belt
As one of the first female photographers for the Nat. Geo., Annie Belt would have an interesting story to share. Add to that a couple of kids, a sense of humor and a world-class portfolio and you have a marvelous photo book.  Hardcover, 224 pages, March 2008, $24

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Storm Chaser: A Photographer’s Journey by Jim Reed
When it comes to photos of tornados and hurricanes, I defintely want to be a voyeur. Fortunately, for more than 15 years, Jim Reed has chased extreme weather with his camera. Reed’s images remind me that natural power, devistation and beauty often go together. Hardcover, 192 pages, Oct. 2007, $24

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Beautiful Sheep photographed by Paul Farnham
It’s one thing to make beautiful pix of fashion models. It’s entirely another to make beautiful photographs of sheep. Paul Farnham’s shots are proof that you don’t have to be beautiful to be beautifully photographed. Hardcover, 112 pages, Nov 2008, $14

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Hungry Planet: What the World Eats photographedby Peter Menzel
Photojournalist Peter Menzel surveyed the globe for eating habits. He covers 30 families in 24 countries. Each family purchased a typical week’s groceries. Each family was photographed with all of the food spread around them. Insightful, beautiful and challenging. Paperback, 287 pages, Sept. 2007, $17

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The Oxford Project by Stephen Bloom & Peter Feldstein
You’ve heard of Oxford, right? Oxford, Iowa that is. In 1984, Peter Feldstein managed to photograph nearly every person in his hometown – population 676. Twenty years later he returned to make new photographs. Author Stephen Bloom adds the insights gained from the subjects about the passage of time and the changes in their lives. One of the most popular photography books this year. Hardcover, 264 pages, Sept, 2008, $32

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National Geographic: The Photographs by Leah Bendavid-Val
If you need a small-format (6″ x 6″), encyclopedic collection of Nat. Geo. photography for the guest bedroom or to park on top of the loo, this is the volume for you. Hardcover, 336 pages, Sept. 2008, $12

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Brought To Light: Photography & The Invisible 1840 to 1900 by Corey Keller & others
I almost passed over this book, until I noticed that it was produced by the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. Over 200 vintage photographs from the 19th-century remind us that all we take for granted was once new and, perhaps, revolutionary. Hardcover, 208 pages, Nov. 2008, $32

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The Best Photo Book Store… Period.

All of the links above will take you to the easy-to-use-beheamoth Amazon. If you are looking for a rare, out-of-print or otherwise special photo book, I suggest you check out Photo-Eye. Should you find yourself in Santa Fe, consider Photo-Eye a must-visit shop.

The PixSylated Wishlist At Amazon.

I’ve heard that my family members periodically take a peak at PixSylated. So, to all of you, the quick answer is “No, I haven’t snuck out and bought all of these books.” I have, however, tarried in every bookshop I’ve come upon in the past year. Here’s the PixSylated Wishlist at Amazon.

I have the good (and bad) fortune to live on a hilltop halfway between Los Angeles and San Francisco. It’s a great place to live if you like to mindlessly stare out at vineyards and oak-studded hills. It’s a lousy place to live if the Light Magenta cartridge on your Epson 3800 runs dry on a Saturday morning when you are printing for a client. I know from past experience that the nearest replacement cartridge is exactly 132 miles to the south at Samy’s Camera in Santa Barbara.

Let’s see. I don’t have to deliver the prints until Monday afternoon… At $4.65/gallon for gas, the round trip down to Samy’s would cost almost $80 bucks in fuel and waste the better part of my day. My other option, fingers crossed, is that Amazon has one in stock and can still get it out the door. I check online and see that it’s in stock and I have 50 minutes to get it ordered. Here’s the part I love the most… Amazon’s shipping charge for getting it out the door on Saturday and to my studio on Monday morning is $3.99. Just $3.99?

That’s not a typo. It’s not supposed to be $39.90 (which I probably also would have paid to avoid the drive to Santa Barbara). For about the cost of a grande latte, I can get Amazon to deliver almost anything they have in stock to me overnight. If I can be a bit more patient, Amazon doesn’t charge me anything for 2-day delivery. What my secret? Amazon Prime.

For a $79 annual fee, Amazon Prime provides unlimited free 2-day shipping. An upgrade to overnight delivery is just $3.99 per item. I’ve found that Amazon’s prices are very competitive on all kinds of photo gear and printing supplies – especially when shipping charges are figured in.

You can get a free, 30-day trial to Amazon Prime by clicking here. [Be forewarned, just like that mom who puts a kitten in your child's arms and says "Take it home for the weekend... if you don't like it, you can bring it back on Monday", once you get used to free, 2-day delivery, you'll be an Amazon Prime customer forever.]

Two Keys To Happiness With Amazon Prime

The first key to happiness with Amazon Prime is making sure that the item is in stock and sold by Amazon. Once you’re an Amazon Prime member and logged in to Amazon, you’ll see the Prime logo in the items that are eligible for Prime shipping. In the photo below, the first item is Amazon’s listing for the Epson 3800. The second listing is for the same printer from a third-party vendor. [While the third-party price is lower, I put one in my shopping cart and learned that I'll have to pay $50 for ground shipping that will take a week to get it here. Having an expensive, heavy printer bounce across the country for a week in a truck to save $23.99 is no bargain when my Amazon Prime will get it to me tomorrow for $3.99 in shipping or the day after for free.]

The second key to happiness with Amazon Prime, if you need it tomorrow, is check to see that there’s still time to get it shipped today. In the photo below, you’ll see the tiny green type that says I have “7 hours and 15 minutes” to order the Epson 3800 for delivery tomorrow. The only time Amazon didn’t get an overnight shipment out the door for me was when the clock said they had 8 minutes. So, will they be able to ship my Light Magenta cartridge within 50 minutes on a Saturday morning?

Update – Monday morning 11:15: Great! The Fedex guy is at the door with my Light Magenta cartridge. So, I’m back in business. Amazon Prime comes to the rescue (again).

If Joe McNally were a cartoon character, I think he’d be the Tasmanian Devil (although I’m sure that some days ol’ Joe feels like he’s Wile E. Coyote). Why the Tasmanian Devil? He never slows down. Between shooting, blogging and teaching, Joe’s the photographic equivalent of a whirling dervish. Fortunately for the legions that follow in his dust trail, Joe has also been carving out time to write his next book The Hot Shoe Diaries – Creative Applications of Small Flashes.

Good news. You can pre-order it now on Amazon. For those who waited to order Joe’s first book, The Moment It Clicks, and could not get it until the second printing, you know that you’ll want to pre-order your copy of The Hot Shoe Diaries. So, do it now. We’ll wait for you to come back. If all goes as planned in the McNally household and at New Riders Press, you’ll have it in hand by Christmas.

And for the four of you who have been reading PixSylated for a while, the answer to your other question is “Yes”. I’ll pimp The Hot Shoe Diaries just like its big brother. Click here if you’d like to get a close look at Joe’s first book and read my original post on ‘Pimping Your McNally’.

For frequent McNally installments and more details on The Hot Shoe Diaries, keep an eye on Joe’s blog.

[And thanks to The Man himself for giving this cub reporter the go ahead to run with the story before he made the big announcement.]

PixSylated’s 3-Part Series On Learning Food Photography

• Part 1, Books that deal with food photography and styling.
• Part 2, Workshops, seminars & conferences / trade associations / a DVD.
• Part 3, Site of food shooters & stylists, web videos on food photography, blogs, online resources and sources of supplies

Shooting food is the culinary equivalent of fashion photography. It just happens at a slower pace and smaller scale. Both can be much more difficult than they appear to the uninitiated.

• There’s the issue of lighting. A strobe setup that works when shooting a glamor headshot won’t work when shooting a meal that’s 12″ square. Yet the lighting concepts are often the same.
• There’s the issue of perishability. Just as a waif of a model can’t look like a Cosmo cover 24/7, the food photographer is always wary of his subject melting, wilting, loosing it’s shine or effervescence.
• There’s the issue of styling. Food for photography often is not food for eating. Just as the fashion shooter often lets another professional deal with hair and makeup, a food stylist understands how to primp and massage food for the camera.

Part 1 – Books on Food Photography: If you’re looking for books on nature photography, you can find a herd of them. If you’re looking for books on food photography, you’ll find a scant handful. Here are virtually all the relevant food photography books currently on the market (as both in-print and out-of-print titles).

I’ll start with books that cover food photography from cover to cover. Then, I’ll describe a few titles that only have a chapter or two that relate directly to food photography – but even a single chapter is often worth the cost of the book. Finally, I’ll review a couple of books that deal with food styling more than photographic technique. Even these titles offer valuable insights for the food photographer.

Books on Food Photography (cover to cover):

Digital Food Photography – Lou Manna
This is THE book to get when you’re starting down the path as a food photographer. Lou Manna is a New York-based shooter who also offers workshops every other month or so in his studio. Lou’s comprehensive book covers not only photography, but also such important factors as: how food photography is used (editorially, in marketing and on packaging), the role of the food stylist and the role of the prop stylist. His no-nonsense talk about food photography covers gear, composition, lighting, retouching and how to get in the business. If there was an award for Mr. Congeniality in the food photography world, Lou would be the perennial winner. [Thompson Course Technology, © 2005, 296 pages, 7.5" x 9", $26–$40, widely available]

Lighting For Food & Drink Photography – Steve Bavister
This book is the Holy Grail for many food photogaphers. It presents the work of more than 20 leading food shooters in the classic format of RotoVision books. Nearly every spread presents a seductive, full-page shot paired opposite a how-to description and explicit lighting diagram. The book starts with ambient light shots, then works through one light setups, two light setups and then “sophisticated” setups. This is the book I open when I need a dash of visual inspiration. Although published in 2001 and full of anecdotes about shooting film, the book is more valuable today than when it was published with a cover price of $35. IF you can find it, expect to pay something north of $200 for a good used copy. Amazon lists two copies as being available (but not for long). In my correspondence with RotoVision, they said that they have no plans to reprint or issue a new edition. So, if you’re serious about your craft as a food photographer, don’t hold your breath for a “cheap” version anytime soon.  [RotoVision, © 2001, 160 pages, 9" x 10.75", $200–$250, a rare find]

Note: Don’t confuse Lighting For Food & Drink Photography with RotoVision’s 1994 Pro-Lighting: Food Shots. The earlier book is done in the same, great RotoVision style, but presents many images that by today’s standards are very dated. For the money, say $75 to $100+, I’d buy Lou’s book (above) and the next three books instead.

Books on Food Photography (at least in part):

Studio Lighting Solutions – Jack Neubart
This is one of those books that you open and think “hey, it’s a food photography book” – because that’s what the first chapter covers in detail. Beyond food, you’ll find great stories and how-to about the creation of solid photography in the realms of product, fashion, jewelry, nature, thematic and automotive. I managed to glean great tips and insights from every chapter. A great value for the price. [Amphoto Books, © 2005, 176 pages, 8.5" x 11", $20-$30, widely available]

Still Life and Special Effects Photography – Roger Hicks and Frances Schultz
As mentioned above, I love the format of RotoVision books. A big, beautiful photo opposite a detailed lighting diagram with just enough words to explain how the image came together. Although this book is a compilation covering a wide range of still life photography, there are many direct and indirect lessons on food photography. For instance, I found that the techniques for making a length of rusty chain look beautiful are equally applicable to lighting bread. Given that it costs about as much as a good pizza, Still Life and Special Effects Photography is another must-have for the food shooter’s library. [RotoVision, © 2005, 288 pages, 7.5" x 10.5", $16-$25, widely available]

Light: Science & Magic – Hunter, Biver and Fuqua
I bought this book for the chapter on shooting glass – a subject that vexes many food photographers. I read it. Then I read the whole book from cover to cover. My recommendation… buy the book for the chapter on shooting glass and just start reading at the beginning. Great material on the mechanics of light presented in pieces that a photographer can digest. The chapter on shooting metal is equally helpful – especially for those holiday shots where you have crystal stemware, china and silver together. [Focal Press, 3rd Edition, © 2007, 308 pages, 7.4" x 9.8", $36-$40, widely available]

Books on Styling Food For Photography:

The first thing I learned about styling food for photography is that I want to be the photographer and not the stylist. For advertising and packaging shoots, a food stylist is the indispensable equivalent of a makeup artist and hair stylist. I need to focus on creating the image and not on how to keep the carrots looking fresh. When you are starting out, you’ll probably have to style your own food or find a stylist that is just starting out as well. Either way, a general knowledge of food styling will be invaluable to the development of your portfolio. Here’s a classic and a new kid.

Food Photography and Styling – John Carafoli
Dare I say that John Carafoli is the godfather of modern food styling? In addition to having several decades of styling experience, having been published internationally and having taught many of today’s leading stylists, John is the co-founder of the International Conference On Food Styling and Photography (to be held again next year in Boston). The current edition of Food Photography and Styling was re-published directly by the author in 2003. Many thanks for this, John. The original edition, published by Amphoto in 1992, has long been out of print. Chapters include: Drinks, Poultry, Steam, Pizza, Ice Cream, Pasty, Special Effects and Shooting On Location With People. While some of the photography is dated by today’s standards, John shares many styling secrets that are as relevant now as they were when this classic was born. Order from the author for $65 postpaid – and ask that he autograph your copy. Sometimes available from Trengove Studios for a bit less (and without the autograph). [Carafoli, 2nd Edition, © 2003, 144 pages, 8.5" x 10.5", $65, limited availability]

Food Styling For Photographers – Bellingham & Bybee
This recently published book is a how-to primer on preparing food for the camera. Bellingham is an Oregon-based stylist. Bybee is a Dallas-based commercial photographer. The detailed content runs the gamut: cold beverages, salads, pasta and sauces, burgers and sandwiches, grilled and roasted meat, vegetables, ice cream, desserts, breakfast and garnishing. My only complaint is not about the information on styling – which is comprehensive and easy to follow. Rather, as a food photographer, I am naturally interested in the sets and photo techniques used to create the hero shots. While there are a number of set shots and brief descriptions of how the shots were created, their small size and limited number suggests that they were an afterthought. Again and again, I wished that Bybee’s comments on her vision and process had been greatly expanded into the ample amounts of adjacent white space. Clearly, the book was written primarily for food stylists. A more appropriate title would have been Food Styling For Photography. Nevertheless, Food Styling For Photographers is an important read for both students of food photography and styling. [Focal Press, © 2008, 249 pages, 9.3" x 7.5", $31-$40, widely available]

Also In PixSylated’s Series On Learning Food Photography

• Part 2, Workshops, seminars & conferences / trade associations / a DVD.
• Part 3, Site of food shooters & stylists, web videos on food photography, blogs, online resources and sources of supplies

Don’t want to miss the next installment of PixSylated? Get the new posts automatically by RSS or email. You’ll find links for each in the left column.

Photography Book Now confirms the suspicion that on-demand printing of photo books may be considered as a future Olympic sport. There’s the Competition (deadline July 14) with a great list of awards and an equally impressive roster of jurors. After the winners are selected, Photography Book Now then turns into a social and educational roadshow with stops scheduled in San Francisco, London and New York.

Photography Book Now is presented by Blurb with a laundry list of other sponsors: Canon, Livebooks, American Photo, SmugMug, Flickr…

Photo District News is the juggernaut for information on the professional photo industry. Oriented towards pros, PDN is also a valuable resouce for students and aspiring amateurs. The monthly print versions of PDN focus on specific themes (editorial, photojournalism, stock, wedding, etc.). Check out the following online resources as well:

PDN Newswire – timely updates on news in the photo industry

PDN Pulse – blog on professional photography by PDN editors

PDNedu – magazine for emerging photographers and photo educators

PDN Contests – gateway to stardom (even if short-lived) for pros and amateurs

The annual subscription is $65 — although members of many pro associations may be able to subscribe for substantially less.

From the PDN site:
“Photo District News (PDN), the award-winning monthly magazine for the professional photographer, has been covering the professional photographic industry for over two decades. Every month, PDN delivers unbiased news and analysis, interviews, and portfolios of the latest photographic work. PDN delivers the information photographers need to survive in a competitive business – from marketing and business advice to legal issues, photographic techniques, new technologies, and more.

PDNonline covers breaking news stories and delivers in-depth features on the photo industry, including interviews and profiles, reports on new products both analog and digital, and information on useful sources for professional photographers. PDNOnline’s photo essays and galleries explore the work of photography’s masters and today’s emerging talent.”