Customer Reviews

LIDLIPS Lessons I Didn't Learn In Photo School: 100 Modern Insights On Photography

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Syl Arena's sense of humor comes through full scale with LIDLIPS. The insights he shares through his experiences in his photographic career gets you to think about what's going on in your own. I'm a newby to the "business" of photography even though I've enjoyed photography for decades. Reading quickly through the 100 lidlips I'm looking forward to taking some time with each one of his thoughts as well as bouncing and sharing with fellow photogs.

Karen Bobotas
[...]

If you are looking for an instruction manual on how to shoot pictures, keep moving. That is not the point of LIDLIPS. This is a book about being a photographer but could just as easily be used in a general business class. The "lessons" are all things Mr. Arena learned by doing or not doing something in the real world. Some are no brainers that we just need to be reminded of - like not letting gear define us as photographers. Others are things that are counter to other advice - like not worrying about having a "look" of your own.

More businesses fail because of a series of small mistakes than ones that flame out in a huge ball. LIDLIPS gives you lessons to prevent you from making mistakes others have already learned from. Lessons like #25 - "Your client has her own problems. She doesn't want to hear yours" - are ones I would rather not learn the hard way. Same with #47 - "When the client says 'It's a simple job, don't worry' its time to worry." Both of those would make great reminder signs in an office.

None of this means there is not advice on shooting in LIPIDS. Advice about learning from Hollywood (#57) and about shooting the common things around you (92) will make you a better photographer. But even the lessons that don't explicitly describe shooting apply to being a photographer.

Syl Arena is an exceptional photographer who has built a successful business centered about photography. A big portion of that is teaching workshops. But at the same time he maintains a number of websites where he gives away knowledge by the bucket loads - including every one of the LIDLIPS. I had read them all multiple times before I bought my copy of the book. It has earned a place in my camera bag because of the many things I want to be able to remind myself of. Instead of playing Angry Birds while waiting for a model, I can pull out LIDLIPS and answer one of the questions that is on every other page. I am not the smartest guy in the world but I am smart enough to learn from someone who has DONE what I want to do.

...reading his book. I have to admit that this is the best $$$ I have spent on a book in a while. Clearly a thought provoking, introspective book. I keep it handy for those moments when I am particularly frustrated or lacking creative flow. Of course it's also a great read when things are going well and I have a little time to kill and just want to read a few passages. It's clearly an inspiring book that will stay in the back of your mind long after reading. While everyone will find the book useful, I think it is most useful to those that are experienced shooters comfortable with their craft and are looking for new ways to explore the way they approach their work and creative process. After reading this, I felt I had spent time with a Zen master, more so than a photographer. As a final note: one lesson Syl imparts is to always be thankful to the masters that choose to share their experience and time with others in their craft. "They choose us, we don't choose them". Syl, thank you for writing an inspiring, introspective book and sharing your canny insights on the creative process.

Awesome name. LIDLIPS.

I am not a "traditionally" trained photographer. I have spent maybe 10 hours in a darkroom and never owned a `real' film SLR. Video was my first love anyways, it was only two years ago that I started shooting professionally. This lead me to think `am I missing something that other photographers got at photography school?' Read tons of books on the subject, from theory to functionality. I spend a ton of hours working with the camera in the field, but never taught by a master. Looking up specialty schools you will find no shortage of people saying, `full sail didn't provide me with the skills I needed' or `save your money from x,y,z and invest into gear'.

Well, Syl Arena DID go to a `photography' school, and instead of complaining about it's short falls, he wrote this book. LIDLIPS is SHORT. I mean REALLY short. But it's not meant to be burned through on a lunch hour break. The way I approached it was reading 1-3 LIDLIPS a day and reflecting on them. It truly is a book to keep handy to get a quick dose of inspiration!

Wish it was 1,001 Lessons, but that's the only `con' but at $0.15 per nugget of wisdom, I can't knock it. 5 out of 5 from the Monkey Butler.

[...] for more!

This is a well-written un-complicated little book that will really get you thinking. I highly recommend it for any level photographer.

A good humorous read that will not fail to make you smile.

Many of the comments and situations outlined in the book you will recognize as something you have done at some stage or another - which makes it a good text to read from time to time to keep you on the straight and narrow.

Not a book to read cover to cover in one sitting, but more a book to leave on the desk and pick up from time to time and read a page or two.

This book is pathetic! There is NO significant photography information in this book. It should not be in the photography section at all. It is a mediocre attempt at philosophical discourse by an unqualified author. Mr. Arena ia a gifted photographer. In my opinion, he should continue with that profession and not pursue a career as a life counsellor.
LIDLIPS Lessons I Didn't Learn In Photo School: 100 Modern Insights On Photography