Federico Fellini's
internationally popular film La Dolce Vita, Italian for "The Sweet Life,”
made in 1960, coined the name “paparazzi” for the pesky freelance photographers
shown in the movie. I believe the movie justly named the photographers for what
they were, oversize mosquitos or parasites if you prefer. I think the movie
adequately predicted how the paparazzi would evolve into the nuisance they are
today for the rich and famous alike. The paparazzi antagonize and manipulate
people into doing things in front of the camera that they normally wouldn’t do,
all in the name of getting the shot. They will chase celebrities in cars and
act recklessly trying to photograph the celebrity. Look at what happened to
Princess Dianna. If it weren’t for the paparazzi, she would quit possibly still
be alive today continuing to do good things around the world. The paparazzi
have no shame and no ethics as far as I am concerned and I would rather never
take another photograph again then act like them and jeopardize my integrity.
As for the photo assignment
this week, to photograph our self as a paparazzo in the field, I plan to keep
it simple. I plan to try doing it two different ways. First I want to find a
party or events were paparazzi might be and photograph the scene. Then I plan
to take a self portrait wearing all black and carrying a camera bag and camera
and edit myself into the picture as if I was there the whole time harassing whatever
celebrities that may have been there. The second shot I might try is to
actually join the paparazzi on whatever red carpet event they are on and
photograph myself in the crowd with them or have another photographer help me
by taking a picture of me in the paparazzi crowd acting like one of them.
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