Perplexed by Paparazzi

Aspen was once a town where the likes of Jack Nicholson, Jennifer Lopez or Mariah Carey could walk around town unrecognized, and local retailers say paparazzi are ruining it.

A recent visit from Seal turned into a punch-up, and a number of recent incidents have some locals riled as well.

"I'm embarrassed of our community," said Ricki McHugh, owner of McHugh Antiques on Aspen Square. Her store was overrun last week by paparazzi chasing Seal's wife, Heidi Klum. A visit from Jennifer Lopez earlier this week forced her to batten down the hatches against an aggressive mob of photographers.

J-Lo first visited McHugh Antiques on Thursday morning without incident, but when the star and entourage came back in the afternoon, the paparazzi pounced.

"The second time she came back, she was literally being chased down the street," McHugh said. The star eventually slipped behind closed doors and hid behind a painting in McHugh's shop. Photographers took pictures of the flustered star through the store window before she could escape to an awaiting car.

"This town has never been abused by the paparazzi like it is now," McHugh said. "It is embarrassing as a community to have people come to enjoy this beautiful place be harassed."

Read the rest HERE.

COX RECRUITS PAPARAZZI FOR RESEARCH

Former FRIENDS star COURTENEY COX shocked a paparazzo who was trying to snap a picture of her and her family at Disneyland by asking him for his help on her new TV series.

Cox is starring in the new US TV show DIRT about the world of a fictional celebrity tabloid and wanted information to help make the show more authentic.

She explains,"I came up to him and said, 'Look, you can stay in the park, but I need your phone number and I want to do some research for our show with you and he came into the writer's room and talked."

Cox insists the new show isn't about her getting back at celebrity magazines, adding, "This is absolutely no revenge on the tabloid media. "There's no way really to pay back the paparazzi. If anything, it's going to get worse, probably, because if they watch this, I can only imagine it getting worse. "I'm not paying anyone back, it's really just a good TV show."

The Photographer’s Right

A Downloadable Flyer Explaining Your Rights When Stopped or Confronted for Photography

The Photographer’s Right is a downloadable guide that is loosely based on the Bust Card and the Know Your Rights pamphlet that used to be available on the ACLU website. It may be downloaded and printed out using Adobe Acrobat Reader. You may make copies and carry them your wallet, pocket, or camera bag to give you quick access to your rights and obligations concerning confrontations over photography. You may distribute the guide to others, provided that such distribution is not done for commercial gain and credit is given to the author.

Download The Photographer’s Right in PDF format

A Stand for Photographer’s Rights

The right to take photographs in the United States is being challenged more than ever. People are being stopped, harassed, and even intimidated into handing over their personal property simply because they were taking photographs of subjects that made other people uncomfortable. Recent examples have included photographing industrial plants, bridges, buildings, trains, and bus stations. For the most part, attempts to restrict photography are based on misguided fears about the supposed dangers that unrestricted photography presents to society.

Ironically, unrestricted photography by private citizens has played an integral role in protecting the freedom, security, and well-being of all Americans. Photography in the United States has an established history of contributing to improvements in civil rights, curbing abusive child labor practices, and providing important information to crime investigators. Photography has not contributed to a decline in public safety or economic vitality in the United States. When people think back on the acts of domestic terrorism that have occurred over the last twenty years, none have depended on or even involved photography. Restrictions on photography would not have prevented any of these acts. Furthermore, the increase in people carrying small digital and cell phone cameras has resulted in the prevention of crimes and the apprehension of criminals.

As the flyer states, there are not very many legal restrictions on what can be photographed when in public view. Most attempts at restricting photography are done by lower-level security and law enforcement officials acting way beyond their authority. Note that neither the Patriot Act nor the Homeland Security Act have any provisions that restrict photography. Similarly, some businesses have a history of abusing the rights of photographers under the guise of protecting their trade secrets. These claims are almost always meritless because entities are required to keep trade secrets from public view if they want to protect them.

Paparazzi sues celeb blogger for $7.6M

LOS ANGELES - Celebrity blogger Perez Hilton is being stalked by paparazzi in court, at least.

X17 Inc., a Los Angeles photo agency known for its images of stars in personal or embarrassing moments, has filed a $7.6 million federal copyright infringement lawsuit against Hilton.

Hilton's Los Angeles-based site, PerezHilton.com, posts tabloid photos of celebs and adds cheeky captions and rudimentary doodles.

The suit claims Hilton used 51 photographs without permission, payment or credit, including images of a pregnant Katie Holmes, Kevin Federline pumping gas and Britney Spears showing her, um, assets.

"We've had trouble with a lot of bloggers," X17 co-owner Brandy Navarre told the Los Angeles Times for a story on its Web site. "But he's the biggest, and the most arrogant and pigheaded about it, frankly.

"He is stealing our images and costing us money every day," she said.

Hilton, whose real name is Mario Lavandeira, said he believes he has done nothing illegal.

"I am going to vigorously defend myself," he said. "I am willing to step up to the plate and fight for my rights and fight for the rights of all bloggers."

His attorney, Bryan Freedman, said Hilton has a legal right to make satirical or humorous use of newsworthy photographs.

If the copyright lawsuit succeeds, "the effect would be to eliminate the ability to comment on and transform photographs under the fair-use exception to the Copyright Act," Freedman said.

But X17's lawyer, John Tehranian, argued that Hilton "is basically free-riding on the labor and efforts of X17 and its photographers who stay up all night and roam the city."

Seven other photo agencies sent Hilton a joint letter demanding that he stop using their photographs but they have not sued, the Times said.

SHEPHERD Treats Photogs Like Cattle

The Good Shepherd
Ziegfeld Theater, 7pm screening

Arrival area was in the shape of an 'L', two sided on the short side.
Photographers were packed in tight like cattle going to the slaughter.

Talent were relatively cooperative; Matt Damon and wife posed, DeNiro posed (shocking!), Billy Crudup... then Brangelina showed up....

The walked up the middle of the street from 6th ave towards the premiere. Together they walked past the fans smiling and holding hands. They then posed for the photogs.

They posed together along the short side of the 'L', but broke off once they reached the corner. Pitt ran in and Jolie did interviews.

Calling the list was a mess. Universal had their list and we had ours. The list universal list was called, allowing those shooters to take a place first, to be followed by 'our' list.

Things got really fouled up from that point on. Shooters first on the list wound up in the 2nd and third row. People who showed up last, wound up in the front row. Tempers flared as shooters jostled for position.

At 7:30 in the MORNING their were already 8 people waiting. Anyone know what time the first shooter arrived?

Steve Azzara Book Launch on December 8th

Book release party/birthday party.

New York Photographer Steve Azzara launches his 2nd book from Tiger Press,

IMPORTRAITS: The Import Models, while cover model and # 1 East Coast Import Model, Jasmine Mai celebrates her birthday at FLOW 150 Varick Street (between Spring and Vandam)

Jasmine and some 20 other import models will be available for a photo op at 9:30 pm.

These are the beautiful girls you see at car shows around the country throughout the year. Don't miss this one!

Press members are invited for the photo op and to party the night away.
Press MUST RSVP to Tony at JENNARAZZI@AOL.COM

Book can be seen at Importraits.net

Here's a funny outtake from The Holiday premiere.

Thanks to Evan for the pic!

Victoria Beckham's paparazzi snub

Victoria Beckham was snubbed by paparazzi after she tried to control pictures taken of her at an awards ceremony.

Prior to the Bambi arts awards, held in Germany, the former Spice Girl handed out an agreement for photographers to sign which stated she wanted copies of all the snaps and the ability to use them for promotional purposes.

The document limited the number of pictures that could be published of Victoria's gold embroidered Osaka Hilton gown.

It also restricted the snappers from revealing any "confidential information" they might learn about her during the ceremony.

The Associated Press (AP), Reuters and two German photo agencies rejected the agreement, so in desperation organisers drew up a separate agreement allowing them to cover the event as long as they promised only to take photos of Victoria on the red carpet.

AP chose to snub the event altogether while the other photographers agreed but refused to photograph Victoria in protest.

A source said: "The gown was hideous anyway. It looked like a bedspread. What has she got to hide?"

X17online.com Sues PerezHilton.com

Yes, it’s finally happened – after ignoring countless cease and desist notices from numerous photo agencies and media outlets, Mario Lavandeira, a.k.a. Perez Hilton, has been sued in federal court for copyright infringement by X17, Hollywood’s largest celebrity photo agency. X17 contends that Lavandeira, the owner and operator of the celebrity gossip blog PerezHilton.com and the self-styled “Queen of All Media,” has knowingly and willfully used X17’s images on his blog without permission from the agency, thereby violating federal law. Lavandeira’s actions have caused substantial damage to X17’s business in the form of diversion of trade, loss of profits, injury to goodwill and reputation, and the dilution of the value of its rights.

In court papers filed today, X17, the owners of X17online.com, seek over $7.5 million in damages for Lavandeira’s infringing activities.

Mr. Lavandeira has been featured in countless magazines and newspapers and has appeared regularly on various television news outlets in the U.S., Canada, and the U.K. GQ listed him in their Man of the Year issue; the AP and the LA Times have profiled him; the New York Post called him one of the 25 most powerful Latinos and he has appeared on almost every major U.S. network commenting on the day’s entertainment headlines. He is said to be shopping around a reality show and he is set to appear on MTV’s New Year’s Eve special. “Perez” claims he receives 2.5 million unique visitors each day on his website.

Mr. Lavandeira has regularly infringed on X17’s large scoops. While it usually takes weeks of effort by a team of photographers and reporters to break a story, for Mr. Lavandeira, it has been as simple as a right-click.

Mr. Lavandeira is profiting through advertisements on his site (one-week ads on his site go for between $9000 - $16,000) and has gained relative fame from the success of his blog, which, X17 contends, is due in large part to the quality and quantity of celebrity images he posts on his site, many of which are owned by X17.

X17 is repped for advertising by Gorilla Nation, the world’s largest online ad rep firm. As X17 made its foray into the world of celebrity blogs, they sought out Gorilla Nation to represent them to the brand marketing community. Gorilla Nation was excited to take on X17online.com as the first and largest celebrity photo agency to start their own website to allow the public direct, free and immediate access to the biggest stories in Hollywood, told with the most sought after images of the stars.

CAMERON DIAZ DAZZLES FOR THE HOLIDAY

The Holiday premiere
November 30, 2006, 7pm
Ziegfeld Theater

Tented arrival area with somewhat cooperative PR.

A-list was placed right after the outside shooters creating a long pap pit.

We did have a few shooters leave, as we were stacked a solid two rows deep and spots were limited. And we had to rip open the tent for ventilation.

Everyone posed. Kate with droopy hair, a stern Jude and a VERY leggy Cameron.
PR was even nice enough to give us a cast shot of Kate, Jude and Cameron.

From my reports there were 18 people on the list at 11am.

K-Fed: "FUCK THE MEDIA! FUCK THE PAPARAZZI!"

Kevin Federline doesn't like the media - and the hate is mutual.

Kevin Federline recently declared himself the most hated man in America.

While on stage at Hollywood's House of Blues recently, K-Fed screamed, "F**k the media, f**k the paparazzi. Maybe because I took their queen I am America's most hated."

Earlier this week, K-Fed was the butt of jokes at the American Music Awards, at which Britney Spears presented an award nomination, while K-Fed's look-a-like doll was booed.

Britney Spears filed for divorce from Federline this month citing irreconcilable differences and since then K-Fed has been blamed for the breakup by the media and fans.

Since the split, there have been rumors the 28-year-old former dancer has been trying to sell a four hour sex tape of him and Britney Spears, but later he has denied the tape ever existed.

The couple have both filed for custody of their two sons, Sean Preston and Jayden James.

K-Fed reportedly wants at least $6 million from his ex-wife, despite signing a prenuptial agreement.

Damon is to keep the paparazzi away

Matt Damon has a genius plan set to keep the paparazzi away from him. He is determined to appear as “a dull persona” and as boring as possible whenever he gives an interview.

As newkerala.com mentions, the “Bourne Identity” star revealed that he was "actively trying" to avoid all the publicity that has dodged his every step for better part of a decade.

"I've worked very hard in interviews to portray a very polite and boring person. I'm actively trying to get away from the over-exposure that happened eight years ago," said Damon quoted by Contactmusic.

Damon, who became a first-time father in June this year when wife Luciana BozBarroso gave birth to the couple's first daughter Isabella, hates press conferences.

The only time he will willingly appear in front of the cameras, is when he's promoting his newest film.

The reason why Hollywood hunk not often gave interviews is because the only thing they do is "hurt" an actor's career.

"The only thing a celebrity can do in one of these articles is hurt their own career. If I give you a really good interview, am I going to get a movie out of it? F**k no! So what's the argument for saying anything, unless you have this rampaging need to please?" also said Matt.

Hilary Tricks Paparazzi

Hilary Duff has found a way to fool invasive paparazzi.

Duff recently told Jane magazine, that if she's ever arguing with boyfriend Joel Madden and the photogs are trying to snap pictures, they'll just smile and laugh pretending everything is okay. Duff says the couple will forget they were fighting in the first place.

WOW...she's VERY clever.
Now why do we care about her?

TomKat ado ignites Dolce Vita in Rome

ROME - Poised with his camera outside Rome‘s elegant Hassler hotel, the so-called King of Paparazzi is waiting to get a shot.

"The Dolce Vita is back!" Rino Barillari exclaimed triumphantly, referring to the 1960 Fellini movie that coined the word "paparazzi" and gave the world the image of the glamorous Swedish star Anita Ekberg splashing around Trevi fountain.

It‘s Friday — five days since Tom Cruise first landed in Rome ahead of his highly awaited, Saturday wedding with Katie Holmes , expected to take place at a 15th-century castle in the lakeside town of Bracciano, 27 miles north of Rome.

On Wednesday, at last, Cruise and Holmes left the hotel for a late-night visit to City Hall, sending paparazzi chasing after them on motor scooters through the capital‘s streets.

"I got some good pictures," Barillari said cheerfully in a telephone interview.

His Web site features the logo, "The King of Paparazzi," and his battle cry is "War is war!" His subjects have included Liz Taylor and Richard Burton, Marlon Brando, Frank Sinatra and Peter O‘Toole.

"This is the wedding of the century. In the whole world they will be demanding the most beautiful pictures," Barillari gushed.

VIP guests who have been spotted in Rome in the past couple of days include Jennifer Lopez and her singer husband Marc Anthony , Will Smith , Brooke Shields , Jim Carrey , and soccer star David Beckham and his wife, Victoria.

The good news is there is money to be made merely by getting pictures of some of Cruise and Holmes‘ guests, Barillari and other photographers said.

Still Barillari insists "the good times are back," citing as well this year‘s inaugural Rome Film Festival, which brought such stars as Cruise‘s ex, Nicole Kidman , to the Italian capital.

Paparazzi King Gets Face Bashed In

Blood streamed down the face of "Celebrities Uncensored" paparazzi guru E.L. Woody after a late night argument turned violent outside of Area nightclub in Hollywood.

It all went down as Brody Jenner exited the club, smiling and waving to waiting shutterbugs. While Woody photographed him, a random clubgoer approached and began shouting, "What are you doing? You don't need to shoot him, leave him alone." According to Woody, the man then broke a microphone off of another photog's camera.

Woody says he quickly approached the attacker and told him that he would have to pay for the damaged camera. That's when things got bloody. According to Woody, the man then grabbed another mic and smashed Woody in the face with it, opening a bloody gash above his left eye.

Private security quickly threw the alleged attacker in handcuffs and tossed him in the back of a security vehicle, while a battered Woody screamed at him. "Look what you did to my face? If you can't handle your liquor, you shouldn't be out! I don't care who you are, you're going to jail!"

E.L. Woody is scheduled to undergo a CATscan at a local hospital and will get stiches later today. Woody tells TMZ he will definitely file charges.

Cruise-Holmes wedding recalls Rome's Dolce Vita

La Dolce Vita is back.

Rome basked in Hollywood glamour on Friday as paparazzi gave chase to Tom Cruise and his bride-to-be Katie Holmes, along with a jetload of celebrity guests, ahead of their wedding on Saturday in a lakeside town north of the Italian capital.

"La Dolce Vita returns to the Tiber" and "Hollywood decamps to Rome" read Italian newspaper headlines, reviving memories of the 1950s and '60s when the Eternal City teemed with film stars.

A medieval castle in the lakeside town of Bracciano, 40 km (25 miles) north of Rome, has been tipped as the venue for Saturday's wedding, although seasoned showbusiness watchers do not rule out a last-minute change of plan to outwit the media.

"I just came to have a good time in Italy," American movie star Will Smith told reporters after landing at Ciampino airport on Friday.

Jim Carrey, Jennifer Lopez, Jada Pinkett Smith, Brooke Shields and "Mission: Impossible III" director J.J. Abrams are among the guests already here for the nuptials. John Travolta, who shares Cruise's Scientologist faith, was also expected.

Shields, who last year had a public spat with Cruise as he criticized her for taking medication to treat post-partum depression, braved the waiting photographers for a shopping stroll around the Spanish Steps.

UPDATE: Denise Richards Won't Be Charged

Police said Friday that Denise Richards won't face charges for throwing two laptop computers over a balcony in a tussle with paparazzi in western Canada.

The actress was accused of hurling two laptops from a balcony at the River Rock Casino and Hotel on Wednesday, hitting two elderly women below.

The incident occurred after two photographers tried to snap pictures of Richards by gaining unauthorized access to the set where she's filming a movie with actress Pamela Anderson.

The 90-and 81-year-old women were sitting in the lobby when the computers hit them on their arms, causing minor injuries.

Royal Canadian Mounted Police Cpl. Peter Thiessen says it's not in the public interest to bring criminal charges.

He says the photographers, Richards and her management company have agreed to settle the matter civilly regarding the damages to the photographers' laptops.

HONORING ALL WHO SERVED

Crowe blames press for his ‘paparazzi-hater’ image

Academy Award winner Russell Crowe has blasted the media for portraying him as a violent man.

Though he admits that he has made many mistakes in the past, he insists that he is not as regularly involved in fights as the media depicts him to be.

Crowe, who was arrested last year for assaulting a hotel employee with a telephone in New York, expressed frustration over reports on his fights with paparazzi.

"There is a lot of just intentional misinformation, as well. I''ve never had a fight with a photographer, for example, but you can find hundreds of articles on the net which will list me fighting with paparazzi, something I do apparently on a regular basis,” Contactmusic quoted him as saying.

"But that''s just not true. I just don''t bother letting it bug me anymore, and because it doesn''t bug me, in this odd way, it happens less," he said.

Meanwhile, according to reports, Crowe has revealed that he was shocked while shooting for ‘American Gangster’ in New York, as the film’s police supervisor was the same one who had taken his mug shots after his arrest in the telephone assault case.

Crowe was arrested and charged with second-degree assault in connection with an incident at the Mercer Hotel where he threw a telephone at a clerk, who refused to help him phone his wife in Australia.

Denise Richards scuffles with paparazzi in B.C.

Hollywood actress Denise Richards got in a scuffle with a paparazzi photographer Wednesday in Vancouver, where she is shooting her new film "Blonde and Blonder."

A laptop computer was hurled and a senior citizen was injured during the bizarre clash, according to reports.

Richards, whose on again, off again relationship with actor Charlie Sheen has been targeted by the tabloids, was filming a scene at the River Rock Casino Resort in the Vancouver suburb of Richmond.

According to eyewitnesses, Richards spotted two unauthorized photographers shooting pictures from a balcony, and stormed upstairs to confront them.

"At one point Denise was observed to grab the laptop of one of the photographers and throw it over the balcony. The laptop hit on the way down an elderly woman on the arm," eTalk gossip blogger Elaine (Lainey) Lui told CTV Vancouver.

The 80-year-old woman was only slightly injured, according to witnesses.

Cpl. Peter Thiessen, a media relations officer for the Richmond RCMP told People magazine that officers were called to the casino.

He confirmed Lainey's report, saying Richards threw the laptop off the balcony, after which it "struck an 80-year-old women in a wheelchair. It struck her in the arm. She was not interested in pursuing criminal charges and suffered only minor injuries."

The River Rock Casino Resort told CTV Vancouver the photographers did not have permission to be on the premises.

Richards was interviewed by police, along with her costar, B.C. native Pamela Anderson, about the incident.

The film production company agreed to pay for the damages to the photographers' computer, Thiessen said.

A representative of the Blonde and Blonder film told People there were no serious injuries and the event was getting blown out of proportion.

Filming was reportedly halted for an hour because cast members were upset about the incident.

"Blonde and Blonder" is described as "Legally Blonde" meets "Dumb and Dumber."

Lindsay Lohan Involved In Another Paparazzi Car Crash

Lindsay Lohan was involved in her third car crash in two years on Tuesday after being rear ended by a paparazzi.

The actress was uninjured following the incident and was able to drive her black Mercedes away after the 2am crash.

A source told the New York Daily News: "She was apparently able to drive a short distance from the crash. But she later pulled over and called a friend to pick her up."

In 2005 Lohan was involved in two similar incidents which resulted in new laws being passed in California to make paparazzi liable for more damages.

Madonna gets bruised in paparazzi scuffle

Pop diva Madonna got a bruise on her cheek after being shoved by paparazzi at London's Heathrow airport over the weekend, while she was holding her adopted son David Banda.

Madonna returned to her home in London from New York City after spending a week there promoting her latest children's book, "Too Good to Be True," along with her U.S. TV concert special.

"She had the baby in her arms when it happened," TMZ.com quoted a source close to the singer, as telling People magazine.

"When she landed in London, there was a lot of pushing and shoving. She was jostled around. She got hit in the paparazzi's commotion," the source added.

However, the singer's 13-month-old son, whom she is in the process of adopting from a Malawian orphanage, was not hurt in the scuffle.

"Thank God the baby is OK," said the source.

Britney Spears Files for Divorce

I guess we we'll all be on Britney watch...

Britney Spears has filed a petition for divorce from Kevin Federline.

Spears filed legal papers today in Los Angeles County Superior Court, citing "irreconcilable differences." In her petition, Spears asks for both legal and physical custody of the couple's two children, one-year old Sean Preston and two-month old Jayden James, with Federline getting reasonable visitation rights.

As for money, sources tell TMZ the couple, who married in Sept. 2004, has an iron-clad prenup. Not surprisingly, Spears is waiving her right to spousal support. She's also asking the judge to make each party pay their own attorney's fees.

Spears gives the date of separation as yesterday, the same day she flaunted her incredible revamped physique during a surprise appearance on David Letterman's show. Sources tell TMZ there was no single reason for Britney pulling the plug, rather, it was "a string of events."

Spears has hired powerhouse celebrity divorce lawyer Laura Wasser, who has repped a number of celebs, including Angelina Jolie, Nick Lachey and Kiefer Sutherland. We're told Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillippe asked Wasser to rep both of them in their split, but Wasser declined for personal reasons.

VH1 CASTING FOR REALITY PAPARAZZI SHOW

Hey Guys...

I just received an email that VH1 is interested in casting some of us for a 'reality paparazzi' show. I've attached the email that I received so you can read it for yourself.

If anyone is interested, email me and I will send you the contact name and number.




This show is a straight up fly on the wall look at the daily life of the paparazzi. We call it observational documentary. The ins and outs, what's at stake to get that perfect shot, the pressure to be the one hot off the press, etc, etc.

There are no surprises, vote-offs, cast-offs or eating of the innards required.
We are looking for outspoken, articulate, fun, hip, energetic photographers that have a passion for their job. High marks if we can get a female.

If you have any questions, concerns about me, my experience, our production or any other please feel free to call me or write back.

We need to cast this ASAP.....

PHOTOGRAPHERS CAPTURED! (...on film)

Dangerous event photographers caged...from the Glamour Awards Monday night.
Toss in a bag of Halloween candy and they're good to go.

Thanks to Alyse L. for the contribution!

Where's Winona?

October 25, 2006

Guilty as charged.

I fell for Winona Rider being on the tip sheet for the event at the Guggenheim.
This makes it the third event this week she's been on a list and been a no-show...

Sienna Miller and Anne Hathaway were in great fashion at the Bergdorf Goodman dinner.
But we all weren't too happy to hear Misha Barton wasn't going to make it... after waiting till 9pm.

Looks like Fall/Winter shooting is coming on strong. I saw a lot of wool hats and gloves out there today. It's the most, wonderful time of the year! Ugh!

Ewan McGregor: "We should encourage people to beat up paparazzi."

Paparazzi: 101
They're considered the bottom feeders of the fame machine -- but we can't help but enjoy their results

More than cellulite, paternity suits and box office bombs, celebrities hate the paparazzi. These photographers are professional stalkers with telephoto lenses. When the stars complain that they can't live a normal life, they're talking about these guys.

Is a celebrity sporting a gut at the beach? Caught in a compromising position with a "friend"? Or simply trying to take her kid on a rickshaw ride like Angelina Jolie (and Brad Pitt) did last week, when a paparazzo was roughed up by a man thought to be her security guard. If the paparazzi can get the picture, they're in for a big payday.

Recently, it's been rumored that Joe Simpson, the manager/dad of Jessica and Ashlee Simpson, is trying to beat the paparazzi at their own game. Radaronline.com reports, "On several occasions, a camera-wielding Simpson has gone toe-to-toe with other snappers for shots of his own daughters, then approved only his own images for distribution through WireImage."

At other times, Joe has provided the agency with exclusive (and even racy) shots of his daughters on family getaways or in other putatively private moments."

READ THE REST OF THE ARTICLE HERE.

L.A police rescues Longoria from frenzied paparazzi

Washington, Oct 20 (ANI): Desperate Housewife Eva Longoria was saved by the Los Angeles Police Department after she was hounded by the paparazzi while trying to leave a night club.

The men in uniform came to her rescue after several photographers got dangerously close to her SUV.

But once Longoria was out of the frenzied crowd, she looked back and pointed to something behind her, reminding the crowd that her pals were there to handle her business, reports TMZ.com.

And after she safely left from the venue, one of the photographers was clearly unhappy with the situation and yelled "Pigs" at the cops.

On hearing his comment, the cops then slammed on their brakes and got right in the photographer's face to deal with his outspoken behaviour.

Photographer: I Was Punched on Jolie Set

PUNE, India (AP) - An Associated Press freelance photographer says security guards protecting a movie set where Angelina Jolie is shooting her latest film punched and threatened him at gunpoint Friday, in the second run-in between the star's security and the news media this week. Jolie is in the western Indian city of Pune to film scenes for "A Mighty Heart," a movie about the life of slain journalist Daniel Pearl.

Most of the scenes are being filmed inside a spacious bungalow in the Pune suburb of Aundh, chosen because the area resembles Karachi, Pakistan, where Pearl and his wife Mariane spent time.

The bungalow is located inside a gated community that has been largely closed to the media.

The photographer representing the AP, Guautum Singh, said he gained legitimate entry to the area and was accosted by security guards after giving Jolie his business card.

Singh said he was down the road from the bungalow when he spotted Jolie in the back of a taxi while filming a scene from the movie. When the filming paused, he said, he put down his cameras and approached Jolie to give her his card, which she accepted through the window of the taxi before it drove off.

At that point, he said he was approached by one American security guard and two Indian guards, all of whom verbally abused him. One of the Indian guards punched him in the face and he swung back, also hitting the guard in the face, Singh said.

Then, he said, the other Indian guard "grabbed me and the first guard punched me again."

Singh said the first Indian guard then drew a gun and said he would be shot if he did not leave. The American guard did not take part in the scuffle, but witnessed the incident, the photographer said.

Singh said he was then let go, and he collected his equipment and departed. Jolie did not witness the incident, he said, adding that his face was bruised under his right eye but he was otherwise uninjured.

The altercation was not the first that Jolie's security has had with a photographer since she and Brad Pitt arrived late last week in Pune, where hordes of photographers, television cameramen and reporters have followed their every move.

On Oct 8., as the couple was leaving the Le Meridian hotel where they are staying, one of their security guards manhandled a British photographer trying to take their photo, grabbing the man by his neck and verbally abusing him.

Video of the incident was broadcast on India's CNN-IBN news channel, and the Hindustan Times newspaper identified the photographer as Sam Relph of Barcroft Media. The newspaper reported the security guard had shouted at photographers to stop shooting the couple and grabbed Relph when he refused to put down his camera.

The couple's children - Maddox, 5, Zahara, 18 months, and 4-month-old Shiloh Nouvel - have accompanied them on the trip to Pune, about 100 miles south of Mumbai, India's financial and entertainment hub.

Dan Futterman portrays Daniel Pearl in the movie that will be co-produced by Plan B, a production company founded by Pitt and his ex-wife, actress Jennifer Aniston.

The movie is based on an adaptation of Mariane Pearl's book, "A Mighty Heart: The Brave Life and Death of My Husband Danny Pearl."

The Wall Street Journal reporter, Pearl, was abducted and murdered in Pakistan in 2002 while researching a story on Islamic militancy.

STERN STAR's Black on Black

STERN STAR DIAMONDS EVENT
H Stern Store, 10/10/06, 7pm

Black Carpet.

Black Backdrop.

Night time in the city.

Ashley Judd in black.

Dana Delany in black.

Molly Shannon in black.

Do I need to say any more?


I think Evan's expression sums the night up!

Pitt-Jolie Guard Manhandles Photographer...

A British photographer is considering taking legal action against Hollywood superstars Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie after he was violently grabbed around the neck by the couple's bodyguard.

Sam Relph was outside the couple's hotel in the city of Pune in India when he claims the bodyguard ordered him to stop following the couple.

The unidentified man then grabbed Mr Relph by the throat and pushed him along the pavement.

The incident was captured on film by an Indian cameraman.

Two Indian journalists also complained that they had been threatened by the same security guard.

Pitt and Jolie are in India to shoot scenes for a movie about the life of slain journalist Daniel Pearl.

The couple had gone on a rickshaw ride around Pune with their son Maddox.

But they were followed by photographers and cameramen, forcing them to turn back after 20 minutes.

See the video HERE.

If John Holmes Were a Telephoto Lens...

The World's Largest Telephoto Lens

THE ULTIMATE PAPARAZZI LENS!

The built-to-order Zeiss Apo Sonnar T* 1700mm F4 lens weighs in at 564 pounds.

To put that in perspective, llamas rarely break the 450-pound mark.
This gargantuan lens now holds the record for "the largest telephoto lens for civilian use in the world." (There are, of course, larger telescopes for looking deep into space, and who knows what the Pentagon's got.)
While the identity of the owner is unknown, we do know that he (or she) has an expensive interest in long-distance wildlife photography, and decided that a Hasselblad 6x6 medium format camera and a Zeiss lens would suit those needs best. Whoever the person is, the boys at Zeiss are the real stars for outdoing themselves on the size and weight of the glass, not to mention developing specialized aiming and focusing systems for the epic lens.

BRITNEY'S VIOLENT PAPARAZZI FANTASY

by World Entertainment News Network


Singer BRITNEY SPEARS hopes to live out her fantasy of shooting the paparazzi in her next pop video.
Spears, who gave birth to her second son SUTTON PIERCE last month (SEP06), is currently taking a long break from making music to focus on rearing the three-week-old tot and his older brother SEAN PRESTON, one.
Despite having babies on the brain, Spears has been considering her pop comeback.
She says, "Maybe in my next video I'll be a police officer. And I could be shooting all the paparazzi! "That's a great idea. I love it."

Clooney wants to outwit paparazzi by dating different actress every night

NEW YORK -- Paparazzi, beware. George Clooney has a plan to put celeb-snapping photographers out of business.

"Here is my theory on debunking photographs in magazines, you know, the paparazzi photographs," Clooney says in the November issue of Vanity Fair, on newsstands Tuesday.

"I want to spend every single night for three months going out with a different famous actress. You know, Halle Berry one night, Salma Hayek the next, and then walk on the beach holding hands with Leonardo DiCaprio.

"People would still buy the magazines, they'd still buy the pictures, but they would always go, 'I don't know if these guys were putting us on or not.'"

The 45-year-old actor-director who won a best supporting actor Oscar for his role in "Syriana" might loathe the tabloids but has good things to say about his fellow thespians.

"I will tell you right now -- (Cate Blanchett) will win the Oscar," he says of his co-star in the upcoming drama "The Good German." "She's the best actor working today. Not actress, she's an actor. Intimidating, in a way, to work with an actor that good."

He says Johnny Depp "just keeps doing really good stuff. He's just a really, really smart and good actor."

And Clooney thinks Clive Owen is "the big find in the past two or three years. I think he's a movie star. He's, like, a man -- there's a sexuality and a masculinity that I think is really interesting."

Alrighty then.

MADAMA's at the MET

Gala opening night of MADAMA BUTTERFLY
September 25, 2006 6;30pm

The nice thing about this event was that it was over by 6:30!

PR provided us with a lot of room, but we still ran three deep in places. Two arrival areas for stills; one as the talent arrived, then video followed by another stills area. I wish there would be more events at the MET, tons of room.

We also had a great list of talent; Meg Ryan, Jude Law, Sienna Miller, Liv Tyler, Naomi Watts, Sean Connery. It was nice to shoot in daylight with talent in good fashion.

But don't fret my friends... we'll be shooting everyone in black overcoats at night soon enough!

Do Paparazzi Go Too Far for Celebrity Photos?

This is a partial transcript of "The Big Story With John Gibson," September 21, 2006, that has been edited for clarity.

JOHN GIBSON, HOST: It was just another day for one shutterbug paparazzi in L.A. until Justin Timberlake and his gal pal Cameron Diaz decided to fight back. According to a police report filed by the actress, a paparazzi jumped out of a bush. The two chased after him. Then the photographer came at Diaz full speed in his car.

Is this a case of a paparazzi gone mad, or should the famous couple have left the guy alone? Star magazine editor at large Jill Dobson is with me now from L.A.

So, Jill, sorting out the facts will always be a little tricky in these things, but what do we know the facts are at this moment? Who was attacking whom?

JILL DOBSON, STAR MAGAZINE: Well, what first happened is that Cameron and Justin were leaving a friend's home in Hollywood just after midnight Tuesday night/Wednesday morning, and apparently the paparazzi photographer was in the bushes and took a picture of them and startled them. And then according to the police report, at that point, Cameron started running after him for what she called a short distance, and at that point he got in his car and then, according to Cameron, started driving toward her. And at that point, she feared for her life and had to jump out of his way, and she actually called it assault with a deadly weapon. The car being the deadly weapon.

But the question here is: How scary was this for the photographer, because Cameron and Justin have had run-ins with the paparazzi before. In fact, in 2004, they chased after a photographer and reportedly Cameron grabbed his camera and Justin, you know, nearly hit him. So there have definitely been some tensions between this couple and the paparazzi for several years.

GIBSON: All right, now there is a new California law — we put a little fullscreen up on the screen that shows what the law includes. This goes into effect or went into effect in January of '06. It supposedly provides stronger protection for celebrities and their families. Triple the dollar damages if an assault takes place.

Does this actually put the paparazzi guy on the defensive here?

DOBSON: I think it does, and I think there is a need for a law like this. Certainly when celebrities' lives are in danger, if a photographer is coming after you in his car, or if you're driving and there are so many photographers around you that you fear for your life, there certainly has to be some legislation, especially in Hollywood, to protect the celebrities, and I think that's why this law was put into place.

GIBSON: Jill, the other thing is, people sometimes wonder why the photographers go to these lengths to get these pictures? What is a picture of Cameron Diaz and Justin Timberlake worth?

DOBSON: Well, a picture of them, not that exciting. However, they were recently photographed for the first time holding hands, because they generally don't show affection in public because they don't want to make the paparazzi happy. So that particular picture, not that much.

On the other hand, you know, a picture, Anna Nicole's picture of her son, the last picture of him alive, just sold in a bidding war for approximately $400,000 for the rights for magazines, plus another $250,000 for TV. So there's money in it. It just depends on how exclusive the photo is and how valuable it is for the magazines and the TV shows.

GIBSON: So this explains some of the paparazzi's motivation?

DOBSON: Right. And the real key is to either devalue your own photo, and that's like when Sarah Jessica Parker had her baby she invited the paparazzi to come take pictures of it. And that way, no one had the exclusive and people left her alone.

GIBSON: Jill, I've got to run. Jill Dobson, thanks very much.

DOBSON: Thank you.

THE VMA HAS GONE AWAY!

MTV VMA's
Radio City Music Hall

IT'S OVER!

It was a crazy week.

The parties were so-so, it all depended which ones you went to. Over all it was lackluster...

The VMA's weren't that bad. We had a long red carpet and we only ran two rows deep about 3/4 of the arrival area. We had plenty room to double dip. :)


Press room wasn't that bad either. Beyonce, Lil' Kim, James Blunt, Axl Rose...

The only bad thing was the imaging that I had to do till 6am.

Now that it's all over...IT'S FASHON WEEK TIME!

I'm on vacation for a while...so enjoy the mayhem you sickos!

Good Luck My Intrepid Photographers!

I think Henry L. put it best while waiting outside Letterman last week, "This week all hell is going to break loose!"

Parties every night, LATE parties no less...

VMA's on Thursday....

Keep this in mind my fellow shooters. Let's not let this week stress us out. Remember the promise for the last two years in Miami. A lot of parties LOOK better then they turn out.

Let's all just be happy we don't have to deal with Hurricanes and that wonderful August Miami Heat!

Have fun... NOT!

A Good Premiere? It's All An ILLUSION.

The Illusionist Premiere
Chelsea West Cinema
7:30pm

Sometimes I wonder...and hope for the best at a premiere. And once again, I am let down.

Two photo pits were set up. One for A list and one for regular press.

Arrival carpet was in the shape of an 'L'. The regular press was set up on the short part and A list on the long part (along with video).

Now does it make any sense to put the 40-50 photogs, 3-4 rows, deep in the shorter arrivals area? And the 10-15 "A" list on the longer part? Oh... I forgot... God forbid the 'special' photographers had to work two rows deep. Boo-hoo.

Not only was the arrivals a packed madhouse, but their were two house shooters on the carpet, a bottled water promotion handing out water and a slew of PR clogging the carpet.

One agency had 3 SHOOTERS transmitting from the event. One in Regular Press, one in A list and one on the carpet.
THREE PHOTOGS!
THERE WERE ONLY THREE NAMES ON THE LIST!!!

Paul Giamatti; Jessica Biel; Edward Norton.
Do these names warrant Oscar like coverage?

I guess if you can't produce quality, kill 'em with quantity.
(Oh My..Who said that?)

Lindsay Lohan's paparazzi love

LIFE STYLE EXTRA (UK) - Lindsay Lohan loves being hounded by the press because it means people still like her.

The 'Just My Luck' actress has revealed that although she doesn't like being followed by the paparazzi it would be upsetting if they didn't - because her popularity would be on the wane.

She revealed to Elle magazine: "I literally come out of my hotel and the photographers are there. It's not like I ask them to follow me. But you know, it's actually weird when the paparazzi's not there and things aren't being written, because you kind of wonder, Do people not care anymore?"

The flame-haired actress also admitted that she will only have sex with men who can be faithful to her.

She added: "My mom's going to kill me for talking about sleeping with people. But if I'm going to give my body to someone, I'd rather them not be with other people.

"I love having a variety of partners. I think everyone does, especially at my age. I mean, if the sex is bad, the relationship's not going anywhere."

Will Ferrell wants more Paparazzi

Talladega Nights star Will Ferrell feels insulted that the paparazzi aren't interested in him.

"They don't care about me. Not in America, at least. But a weird thing happened in London, last year. I was strolling around with my wife and child. We were curious to see if anyone would notice or even care that I was there. Suddenly, this photographer just kind of materialized and went 'click'. Then he ran away," Ferrell told Total Film magazine. The star claims he called after him saying: "Hey! It's okay! Make me more famous!"

"It was just one guy. I was appalled and insulted. I wanted to know where the others were hiding."

Penn and Teller once made this really great bad movie called Penn and Teller Get Killed.

The plot of the film involved Penn commenting on a national morning television that he wish his life was more exciting, and someone was out to kill him. The rest of the film, as you may have guessed, involved just that. A classic example of the saying "Be careful of what you wish for, you just might get it."

I'm wondering if that saying even crossed Ferrell's mind when he decided to make the joke.

LOHAN: 'LETO COULDN'T HANDLE PAPARAZZI PRESSURE'

LINDSAY LOHAN has hinted that her brief fling with CHAPTER 27 costar JARED LETO was doomed because the actor hated being part of the paparazzi circus that followed the actress on their dates. Neither Lohan nor CAMERON DIAZ's ex-boyfriend have spoken publicly about the 2005 romance, but now the MEAN GIRLS star has opened up about why she and Leto didn't gel. She says, "Jared was so paranoid. He'd always be like, 'Don't come over if you're going to bring 15 f**king paparazzi.'"

REUTERS Pulls Doctored Photo From Lebanon

Thought this was interesting...
Anybody ever heard of a Healing Brush...jessshhhh!

Reuters admits altering Beirut photo



Reuters withdraws photograph of Beirut after Air Force attack after US blogs, photographers point out 'blatant evidence of manipulation.' Reuters' head of PR says in response, 'Reuters has suspended photographer until investigations are completed into changes made to photograph.' Photographer who sent altered image is same Reuters photographer behind many of images from Qana, which have also been subject of suspicions for being staged.

CLICK HERE to see a website that analyses the photo in depth.

Overheard at Half Nelson Premiere

Mitch to Nikon Deb: "Are you going to the World Trade
Center Premiere tomorrow?"

Nikon Deb: "I'm not sure-depends on the weather"

Mitch: "You know it's a true story, don't you"

Priceless....

JOHNNY DEPP-rives Photogs Leaving Letterman

NYC Press Corp- Class of 2006


Johnny Depp on Letterman
July 27, 2006

Ok... is it me or does it feels like we're fighting in a war when we shoot Letterman?

It's been really hot this week, and we're all jammed shoulder to shoulder jostling for a spot and we've been running 3-4 rows deep. Sweat, dehydration, misery and attitudes... just another day at the office.
Letterman has had a great week. Scarlett Johansson, Letterman on a motorcycle, Johnny Depp, Colin Farrell and Jamie Foxx. That's some good stuff.

Depp was quite gracious when he arrived. He posed for a good minute and he was in good fashion. More than enough time to get some good shots.

Exits were another story... It was great if you were a fan.

The police shut of the entire block with barricades. They created a barricaded enclosure that ran from Hello Deli to the stage door where the press was set up.

When he came out, he walked the ENTIRE perimeter, signing for hundreds of fans and posing for photos. But when he came up the press pit, he waved to the crowd and ran into his SUV.

Great arrival, not so great exit... for us anyway....

BRAD AND ANGELINA INVITE PHOTOGS TO SHOOT SHILOH!!

Wasn't this a great gesture on their part?

Bradgelina invited the NYC Press Corp to their home to photograph a family portrait of them and their newborn Shiloh.

They were very nice by the way. They didn't say much as we clamored for the best photo.

Heck, Shiloh didn't even cry once with all the flashes going off in her face!

Brad and Angelina posed nicely and didn't make any sudden movements. I guess they figured if they stood still, they wouldn't create a panic amongst the photographers.

We all acted somewhat organized as we rotated positions, changing composition and trying different lighting.

Angelina even wore a slightly revealing thin black shirt; with her nipple protruding (I guess it was a little cold in the room).

All this and we didn't even need to go to Africa!

Class Act!!!!

(By the way, this was at Madame Tussauds)

MONICA SNAPPER HIT BY CAB

A paparazzi photographer chasing singer MONICA has been hit by a taxi in New York City.

The accident occurred on Wednesday afternoon as the R&B star left a magazine shoot.

Monica's representative tells PageSix.com, "We had just left a shoot for the teen magazines to promote Monica's new album, THE MAKINGS OF ME.

"We were on Eighth Avenue, by 39th Street, and the photographer was in the street by Monica's SUV when he stepped too far out in the street and was hit." The photographer was hurt, but got the shots he craved when Monica ran over to check he was ok and posed as he continued to snap away.

SuriWatch: Baby Carriage Allegedly Captured On Film By Paparazzi

While falling far short of obtaining images of the world's most suspiciously unseen baby, paparazzi agency X17 thinks it's captured photographic proof of possibly imaginary infant Suri Cruise's existence by snapping a picture of a stroller in the shadows behind Tom Cruise's Telluride compound. A blurry, long-distance image of what may or may not be Suri's brightly canopied conveyance (yellow circle) hardly seems evidence of anything more than a Team Cruise drone's ability to shop in a baby store; in fact, we're inclined to think that the more easily identifiable cooler (red circle) is more compelling confirmation of the Miracle Baby's actuality; it's much easier to imagine Katie Holmes placing her alleged daughter inside the plastic box and wheeling her into town for a Starbucks run, secure in the knowledge that a cooler's insulated walls can't be penetrated by even the most advanced of paparazzi technology.

Aniston Security Lets Paparazzi Know Who's Boss

As Jennifer Aniston spends some time at Moxie Studios in Los Angeles, her security does its best to inform the paparazzi they are at high risk of being arrested. One of her security personnel makes it very clear that he is not happy about their presence, all while turning the tables and pointing a video camera on them.

The bodyguard does his best to scare the paparazzi by throwing out advice like: "The sheriff is coming right now, I hope no one has any infractions on their vehicles," "...I don't have to warn you anymore. I'll just hook you up and take you to jail" and our personal favorite "Hope everyone is from America."

The guard's warnings seem to have worked, because Jennifer's exit was extremely quick, not leaving much opportunity for the cameras to get that money shot.

CLICK HERE for the video.

UMA is SUPER at Soggy Premiere

SUPER EX GIRLFRIEND Premiere
Chelsea West Cinema
July 12, 2006, 7pm

DISPITE all the extremely foul weather(the torrential downpours),the slightly cramped working conditions under the tent and running and hour late; I think no one can really complain about the photo-op that Uma gave us.

Uma walked the entire rug, back and forth TWO times wearing her jean jacket, and ONE MORE TIME after video interviews WITHOUT the jacket. It was also great that she was in beautiful fashion wearing a great necklace and all smiles the entire time.

We did have our fun though... Chanting UUUUUUUUUUUUMAAAAAA, UUUUUUUUUUUMAAAAAA!
No harm done, she actually acknowledges the chants with a smile and a wave.

How about when Fran Dresher met up with Uma? We started chanting FRUUUUUMA.

We all applauded her for her co-operation, and she curtseyed to the press.

Everyone was definitely in high spirits....

Nobody Gets RICH-ie at Letterman

Well...it looks like Nicole Richie blew off Letterman again.

But we did get Anderson Cooper (yeah!...not!) and Michael Douglas without the wife.

And have no fear, he blew past us on exits, with dark sunglasses and a fake "I care" wave.

Summers mighty slooooowwwwww..........

Paparazzo Taken to the Woody-Shed?

Is Woody Harrelson a natural born choker?

The answer is yes, according to one shutterbug.

The Los Angeles Police Department has initiated an investigation into allegations made by a paparazzo, who claims he was assaulted by the Emmy-winning, Oscar-nominated actor outside a Hollywood nightclub Thursday night.

An LAPD spokeswoman told E! Online Thursday that the case was being investigated after the photographer, Josh Levine, filed an assault report.

Jane Robison, spokeswoman for the Los Angeles District Attorney, said the probe is still ongoing, but investigators could bring charges as early as Friday.

Levine, who was covering a fashion premiere at the Element Club for the online celebrity site TMZ.com, claims the 44-year-old Harrelson became enraged after Levine began shooting photos and video as Harrelson and his five-person entourage made their way to the hotspot.

Per the police report, Harrelson asked Levine to stop tailing him, prompting the photographer to reply, "Can't help it, man. You're just so sexy."

Harrelson confronted Levine and alleged grapped his hand that was clutching the camera.

Levine said, "All I'm doing is my job."

To which Harrelson responded: "Will you stop doing it, please?"

At that point, according to the police complaint, "the victim asked the suspect to release his camera, stating 'Hey, bro, let go of my camera.' Suspect replied, 'Stop filming me,' and broke the victim's camera viewfinder with his right hand."

The report states that Levine then pulled out a compact digital still camera and began snapping shots of Harrelson manhandling his camera. Harrelson finally released him, but not before apparently grabbing Levine's neck "in an attempt to choke the victim."

TMZ.com posted video from another angle that shows Harrelson with his hand around the back of Levine's neck, but it's unclear if he's choking the photographer. After the altercation, Harrelson let go and walked away, while a bodyguard prevented the paparazzo from following.

According to the TMZ.com video, after the incident, Levine flagged down a police cruiser and said, "Hey, bro, I just got assaulted by Woody Harrelson. He just choked me out right now."

But the officers apparently had little sympathy for the shutterbug. The squad car drove off without taking a report. Levine went to the nearest police station, the Hollywood division, and filed his allegations. Then he went to the hospital for minor abrasions on his neck and was quickly discharged.

Harrelson's publicist, Ina Treciokas, blamed Levine for instigating.

"Unfortunately, this is not the first or last time the paparazzi have provoked an incident with a celebrity," she told E! Online. "Mr. Harrelson is evaluating all of his legal options against the photographer."

Two weeks ago in a similar confrontation, photographer Anthony Goodrich filed a police report against Bruce Willis, accusing the Die Hard star of assaulting him outside a trendy Los Angeles eatery when he shoved his camera into his face, chipping a tooth. Willis fired back with a defamation lawsuit seeking at least $1 million in damages.

As for Harrelson, he is currently in theaters in Robert Altman's A Prairie Home Companion and appears in Richard Linklater's A Scanner Darkly, opening Friday. Last month, Harrelson and his wife also welcomed their third child, a daughter named Makani Ravello.

Kidman and Urban release a wedding photo for charity

And it failed. The press has failed to fork out cash to a children’s hospital in exchange for use of the photo.

In an effort to stave off paparazzi, Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban released one photo of their June 25 wedding in exchange for a charitable donation. It turns out the press is a bit stingy.

The couple requested that those media outlets that used the photo make a donation to the Sydney Children’s Hospital Foundation, but the hospital says it has only received “about six or eight donations,” averaging $550 each. There has been no comment yet from the happy couple.

I wouldn't pay money for a crappy photo either...

No DEPP, but KATE shimmers

Letterman
June 29, 2006

Johnny Depp was scheduled, but we got Kate Bosworth instead.

She posed nice when she went in, but made a bee line for the SUV when she left.

Unfortunately for her, by trying to go 'around and behind' the shooters, we cut her off before she got to the car door. She looked like a deer in headlights.

Nice going, you bastids! LOL!

Kidman to paparazzi: This Bud's for you

If you can't beat 'em, toast 'em.

Rather than wasting their time trying to shoo the paparazzi away from their Sydney home, newlyweds-to-be Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban treated the 20 or so photographers camped out at their home Tuesday with a cooler full of beer accompanied by a note that read, "Enjoy! Nicole and Keith." The gesture was welcomed by the 'razzi, who enjoyed a cold one at the behest of the Oscar-winning actress and the country hunk, and went over better than, say, a bushel of poisonous apples.


If I was Kidman, I would have called the police on paps for drinking in public! LOL.

~~~ATTENTION ALL NY PAPARAZZI!!~~~

Ok Everyone....LISTEN UP!

Britney Spears just broke down in tears to Matt Lauer saying her biggest wish is for the paparazzi to “just leave her alone".

So everyone stop shooting her.

(My duties as a Good Samaritan have been completed. I can go to heaven now.)

Hilton Offers Spears Paparazzi Tips

Paris Hilton insists pop star Britney Spears should try and cooperate with the paparazzi and not antagonize them.

The hotel heiress, who appeared on the talk show "The View," claims she sympathizes with Spears' battle with the media, but that the best way to handle the pesky photographers is to smile and work with them.

She explains, "(The paparazzi) annoy me, too.

"I can understand going to a press event or a premiere that's fine, they're there, but when they're waiting outside your home every morning and following you around every single day it's hard.

"I'd rather them just take pictures at events, not at my house.

"I think it's better just to smile than when people give the middle finger or are rude to them, because that's what they want you to do.

"They want to get a bad picture."

Britney Spears Complains About Paparazzi

Britney Spears Complains About Paparazzi and Says She's an Emotional Wreck Right Now

NEW YORK Jun 12, 2006 (AP)— Britney Spears says her marriage to Kevin Federline is "awesome," and scrutiny from the paparazzi has made her an "emotional wreck."

Opening up in an interview with NBC's Matt Lauer to be aired Thursday on the "Today" show and "Dateline," the 24-year-old singer says it is not true that Federline is living in the basement, as some media have reported.

Spears insisted that she loves her husband.

"He helps me. He has to. I'm (an) emotional wreck right now," she said.

The paparazzi have "crossed the line a little bit" by showing her in private moments, she said. She also defended her parenting skills, saying, "I know I'm a good mom."

She drew criticism earlier this year when she was photographed with her infant son, Sean, sitting on her lap as she drove. She cautions against judging her.

"I did it with my dad. I'd sit on his lap and I drive," the Louisiana native said. "We're country."

The singer said she feels like a target. Asked what she would say to the paparazzi as individuals, she says: "You have a life. And if you don't, you have to realize that we're people and that we … just need privacy and we need our respect. And those are things that you have to have as a human being."

Federline and Spears married in the fall of 2004, and their son, Sean Preston, was born last September. She revealed last month that she is pregnant again.

Federline also has two children, Kori and Kaleb, with his former girlfriend, Shar Jackson.

JERRY LEWIS Keeps 'Em Laughing

Jerry Lewis Friars Roast

June 9, 2006

The set up for this event is the same every year.

The press set up behind a small 'wall' (about 4' high and 3' thick). We shoot from behind the wall as the talent passes in front and on the stage. It has never been an ideal shoot.

You spend the event shooting various old school comedians and lesser talent (Tony Roberts, Pat Cooper, Steven Van Zandt).

Finally they bring out Jerry Lewis. Of course, everyone is trying to say hello to him, so all the press are blocked from getting a shot. After this mayhem, we finally get Jerry to pose with the Friar Award. But we can't get him solo and the entire stage is cluttered with riff-raff.

Jerry does eventually come to sit directly in front of the press. He then proceeds to place the entire rim of his drink in his mouth and do some classic Jerry Lewis faces.

After all this silliness, an entire mob of press chases him to the adjacent room, where he proceeds to hide under a tablecloth to get away from the photographers.

As we were running to the other room, Andrea took a nasty spill and wiped out on the floor. (Hope you're O.K.)

Funny event: As a group of photographers were waiting outside the event in the halls of the Hilton for Jerry to exit, Ice T and Coco come walking down the hall. We try to stop them, but Ice T rushes pass and says they can't stop because they're "In The Mix".

About 3 minutes later, Coco comes back to us and asks if we want to take her picture. We tell her "Sorry, right now we're 'In The Mix'." We refused to shoot her and she just said "Oh..." and walked away.

Priceless!

Arnold Newman dies in New York at 88

Photographer famed for his revealing ‘environmental portraits’

NEW YORK - Photographer Arnold Newman, whose “environmental portraits” of artists and politicians revealed their souls through evocative settings and lighting, died Tuesday. He was 88.

Newman, who was in rehabilitation from a recent stroke, died of a heart attack at Mount Sinai Medical Center, according to associates at a gallery that represented him.

“Arnold had an ability to see things that transcended what everybody else looked at,” said Ron Kurtz, owner of Commerce Graphics, a New York gallery that deals in his fine art prints.

Based mostly in New York, Newman traveled the world to photograph artists, scientists, fellow photographers and politicians. Working as a freelancer for Life and other magazines, he photographed Pablo Picasso, Marilyn Monroe, Ronald Reagan and Mickey Mantle.

His portraits were posed to bring out what the subjects did, revealing them in their own environments. Among his best-known works were those of Igor Stravinsky at the piano and Nazi industrialist Alfred Krupp looking demonic in his factory.

Charities to benefit from first Brangelina baby pix

A week after her birth was announced to a waiting world, the infant daughter of Hollywood power couple, Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, is already trading her instant celebrity for charity dollars.

The first pictures of Shiloh Nouvel Jolie-Pitt -- following a top secret photo shoot at the couple's fortress hideaway in Namibia -- are to be licensed worldwide by Getty Images, with all the profits going to charity, the photo agency said.

"The photo shoot took place over the weekend, but I can't give you any more details about that," Getty spokeswoman Deb Trevino said Monday, adding that exclusive deals had already been worked out with a number of publications.

Shiloh was born on the night of May 27 near Swakopmund, some 400 kilometers (250 miles) from the Namibian capital of Windhoek.

Pitt, Jolie and their two adopted children had checked into a beach resort near Swakopmund in early April -- their bodyguards and Namibian police shielding them from the ever-present paparazzi.

It was not immediately clear which charities might benefit from Shiloh's first baby photos but, in a joint statement, Pitt and Jolie highlighted the high rate of child mortality in poor nations.

"While we celebrate the joy of the birth of our daughter, we recognize that two million babies born every year in the developing world die on the first day of their lives," the statement said.

"These mothers and children can be saved, but only if governments around the world make it a priority," it added.

D2Xs replaces D2X as Nikon's flagship digital SLR

Nikon has unveiled the D2Xs, the company's follow-on to their 14 month old flagship camera the D2X. The main change in the new model is inside the viewfinder when Hi-Speed Crop mode is enabled: gone are the corner and edge markings delineating the smaller shooting area in favour of an innovative masking system.

There are other refinements in the D2Xs, relative to the camera it replaces, including a new wide viewing angle rear LCD, beefier battery, new software for verifying the authenticity of the camera's photos and numerous other nips and tucks to the feature set. But the headline act in the D2Xs is the new viewfinder.

CLICK HERE for the full review.

CANCELED!- Rob Thomas/Jewel on GMA

There is no GMA tomorrow due to bad weather expected.
They have moved Rob Thomas/Jewel inside the GMA
studios-NO PRESS

Thanks to NikonDeb for this info.

Britney Spears Sours on Big Apple: May Abandon New York

Britney Spears is reportedly tired of Kevin Federline, tired of the paparazzi and the media attention and one report suggests she's tired of the 'Big Apple.' Will Britney abandon on New York City?

Gotham was not kind to Brit on her last trip and a report says she took notice.

Page Six notes that Spears fled California and K-Fed for New York with her infant son, Sean Preston, where she had a disastrous time. Her mission - at least according to one report - was to announce her pregnancy 'officially' on The David Letterman Show' before K-Fed could cash in on the scoop.

Here's a bit of her trip as described in the New York Post:

In the city, Spears, pregnant with the couple's second child, was continuously followed by a pack of paparazzi who caught her waltzing into Tao restaurant at 9 p.m. with her cranky baby and a pal - and leaving an hour later when he proved inconsolable.

The next day, a tired Spears tripped on her pants and almost dropped her young son - all caught on camera - and was later snapped sobbing at a deli.

"She felt drained and bombarded," our source said. "She is not very comfortable in this city, and New Yorkers didn't make her feel welcome. She has said she will never come back unless she has to."

Memorial Day 2006

Remembering with gratitude and pride, all those who served to protect our country.

WireImage Is Nobody’s Friend

A weird little sidenote to the Axl Rose/Tommy Hilfiger beat down late Thursday night: the photo of the two fighting on the cover of the Saturday Post is credited to DMI, an “independent” photo agency owned by MediaVast, which also owns WireImage. Writes a reader in the know:

The Post’s cover photo was taken by a Wireimage photographer inside the nightclub Plumm, and marketed under DMI to protect Wireimage’s celeb-friendly image. They won’t make celebrities look bad, and publicists know that. You won’t find passed out, drunken people in the Wireimage archives. Wireimage is known to pull images off their site at a celebrity’s request.

So by funneling the less-flattering photos to their sketchy sibling, WireImage stays cozy with the PR gatekeepers.

This concludes today’s lesson in celebrity photojournalism. Tomorrow: what’s up with Patrick McMullan’s hair?

Feds Raid Home of Photo Agency Head

Allegations of illegally hacking into Us Weekly computers

(May 23, 6:35PM ET) -- TMZ has learned that the FBI searched the home Tuesday of a woman who runs an LA paparazzi agency.

The allegation is that her computers were used to illegally hack into the computers of Us Weekly magazine to obtain information about celebrities, in particular Charlie Sheen.

Sources tell TMZ the U.S. Attorney obtained the search warrant several days ago. Law enforcement went to the home of Jill Ishkanian, a partner at Sunset Photo and News, where they seized computers and other items. As of now, the official file is sealed.

Ishkanian founded Sunset Photo and News last year after leaving Us Weekly, where she worked as a reporter.

TMZ repeatedly called Sunset Photo and News for comment, but each time company reps immediately hung up the phone.

In a related development, TMZ spoke with former Hollywood madame Heidi Fleiss, who says she was contacted by officials and accused of being involved in the alleged hacking plot. The reason? Sources say Fleiss and Ishkanian are close friends. Fleiss told TMZ the allegations against her are "ridiculous."

UPDATE 7:15PM ET: Ishkanian's lawyer, Glenn Feldman, contacted TMZ and says his client has been subpoenaed by Britney Spears' lawyers in her suit against Us Weekly. Spears claims that an article in Us Weekly alleging she made a sex tape with husband Kevin Federline was bogus. Feldman says he finds it "coincidental" that his client is suddenly being targeted. Feldman adds that Ishkanian "did not receive any information from Us Weekly by hacking into any computer, especially information about Charlie Sheen."

REVLON FLAIR A Flop

REVLON FLAIR Fragrance Launch
Mr. Chow Tribeca

I believe Jonny Rotten of the Sex Pistols said it best, "Ever get the feeling you've been cheated?"

With Cannes in full swing, I expected this week to be quiet, but this event would have been a nice start. The tip sheet read:

Revlon and Isabeli Fontana roll out the red carpet to introduce Flair.
Expected guests include: Kate Bosworth, Halle Berry, Eva Mendes, Isabeli Fontana. More to be announced.

The PR and security made a real stink about being on the list and having your press pass out. Steve even got into it with security because they wouldn't let him stand in the press area.

And yet with all this mess, PR was nice enough to inform us as we checked in that Halle and Kate wouldn't be coming. (This was the only reason I and many others was there).

Elton John says photographers "should all be shot"

Please note strong language in paragraph 5.

CANNES, France (Reuters) - British pop star Elton John launched an expletive-laden tirade against the press in Cannes late on Saturday while presenting an award to a young actor during the annual film festival.

At a ceremony held by luxury jeweller Chopard, everything seemed to be going smoothly enough as John presented the Chopard Trophy to young Canadian actor Kevin Zegers, who co-starred in the film "Transamerica" with Felicity Huffman.

"He (Zegers) is only 21 years old, already he showed incredible talent and maturity," said John, wearing dark glasses and accompanied by actress Elizabeth Hurley.

"I sincerely believe he will be a huge star and a great actor for many, many years to come."

Then, as photographers called out during his address, he added: "If you saw 'Transamerica' ... I'm talking ... you fuckwit, fucking photographers you should be shot, you should be all shot. Thank you."

After handing the award to a smiling Zegers, he added: "They are a nightmare."

John, who is 59, is no stranger to strong language. Most recently, viewers complained when he swore during the Paul O'Grady Show on British television.

Britney Stumbles -- Almost Drops Baby Sean

Oops, she almost did it again. Britney Spears stumbled this afternoon as she was leaving a New York City hotel and almost dropped little Sean Preston.

We're told Britney was leaving the Ritz Carlton, holding a drink in her right hand and Sean in her left as she maneuvered through a crowd of onlookers. Britney moves through the crowd and then she suddenly trips, the baby's head goes backward and his hat flies off his head. Britney regained her balance and the baby seemed ok.

After the incident, Spears said, "This is why I need a gun."


Oh you guys are sooo bad. Kudos to the Pap who nailed this set.