When the celebrity radar goes off, you must answer the call

(Copley News Service Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge)LOS ANGELES - They prefer to hunt lucrative "exclusives," but midafternoon, paparazzi partners Arnold Cousart and Sergio Huapaya leave Ben and Jen's Brentwood neighborhood for the "hot zone," which is moored by celebrity-trodden, boutique-lined Robertson Boulevard.

During the 20-minute drive over, Huapaya's eyes dart as he recognizes umpteen paparazzi, all in dark SUVs, passing each other on the streets of Brentwood, Beverly Hills and West Hollywood.

"There's the guy who was run over by Britney's mom," Huapaya mentions as a black 4-by-4 crosses an intersection. Lynne Spears apparently mowed over a shutterbug in 2004 after a crush of paparazzi surrounded her car when she and Britney went puppy shopping at a Santa Monica pet store. The photog suffered minor injuries.

On Robertson Boulevard, the late lunch crowd jams the Ivy, a celebrity hangout with ever-present paparazzi on the sidewalk.

"Hold on, something's happening right now!" Huapaya barks, as he cruises past the famed restaurant.

"It's coming south," he relays over his two-way to Cousart, who is about a block away. Huapaya circles back through an alley, stops at a red light at a corner and grabs his camera from the back seat. In a split-second, he's aiming out the driver's side window at the Duchess of York, Sarah Ferguson, who just emerged from the Ivy and is basically in his face.

The Weight Watchers spokeswoman has shed more flab and apparently wants to flaunt it. With a gaggle of paparazzi on her heels, Fergie opts not to duck into her chauffeured black Denali at the curb, but to milk a photo-op toddle down Robertson.

Huapaya is wheeling around the block to get back to Fergie when his celebrity radar buzzes. About 30 feet away, he spots a black Range Rover at a gas station. "Is that Kimberly Stewart?" he asks out loud, referring to rocker Rod's party-girl daughter.

Like other paparazzi, he's memorized a long up-to-date list of license plates and makes of celebrity-owned cars.

He soon parks and rushes out in front of strolling Fergie, who ridiculously pretends to act casual and chatter to a friend with a half-dozen photogs at her toes snapping away. As Huapaya ambles backward with camera to his face, Cousart, at the other end of the block, yells into the two-way radio: "Turn around! Turn around!"

Behind Huapaya is Stewart, frozen in the crosswalk and nearly trampled by the Fergie stampede. When the photogs notice her, the blonde tart bats her eyes and taunts, "Bye guys! I'm going shopping."

She skips across the boulevard like the Piped Piper, literally stopping traffic, with panting paparazzi in tow. When she enters the trendy Madison boutique, the shutterbugs frantically press their cameras to the store windows.

Huapaya isn't among them. He's across the street because his radar rang again. At the Lisa Kline boutique, the motorized black "paparazzi curtain" has been dropped in the front window to shield prying lenses. On the sidewalk outside, Huapaya recognizes the bodyguard of Grammy winner Alicia Keyes, who it turns out is shopping inside.

"Can I ask you to not take a photo?" the bodyguard nicely asks Huapaya.

"Sorry, can't," Huapaya politely answers.

"Thought I'd ask," the bodyguard shrugs.

One of Huapaya's two cell phones beep. "Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes got married at the Scientology Center today," he blurts out after disconnecting. On the paparazzi Richter scale, it's a magnitude 10. (And it'll turn out, not true. Another paparazzi agency, meantime, rents a helicopter to fly over the Scientology Center and Cruise's home.)

Nearby, Cousart, who dumped his SUV at a red curb, squawks into his cell. "Mandy Moore is on the move! She's going north on Laurel Canyon!"

Moore appears headed to the home of "Scrubs" star-boyfriend Zach Braff. "If we get a kissing shot, we're breaking a story," Cousart excitedly says.

Keyes slips out the boutique's back door, shrouded by employees who act as a human paparazzi curtain. Huapaya splits for the Scientology Center in Hollywood and Cousart leaves to check on one of his agency's photogs now parked a house down from what is believed to be Braff's canyon home. Moore's black BMW X5 is in the driveway.

En route, Cousart spots the SUVs of rival paparazzi parked on the Sunset Strip outside the castle-like Chateau Marmont hotel. The much sought-after, tabloid-fodder Jessica Simpson is having drinks inside.

It's now nightfall and cold. A dozen paparazzi line up on a strip of sidewalk across from the Marmont, legendary because John Belushi OD'd in one of its rooms. Over the next three chilly hours, there's no Jessica.

At one point, a Range Rover pulls into the valet.

"It's Lindsay!" a photog shouts.

Lohan's passenger-seat companion hides his face with a Chanel paper shopping bag, an unintentionally hilarious sight. As the camera-clicking paparazzi rush in the dark to the edge of the hotel driveway, the "Herbie: Fully Loaded" hipster exits her SUV and appears to deliberately turn toward the frenzied pack for a sec.

Once Lohan sweeps into the hotel, it's navel-gazing time again. Oscar-winner Cuba Gooding Jr. eventually trots up the sidewalk and a few paparazzi flash in his cursing face.

After he leaves, they gripe his picture probably won't sell.

Paparazzi spat with Heath Ledger: 'Bring it on' says snapper

Sydney - Paparazzi photographers who fired water pistols at Hollywood heartthrob Heath Ledger said Sunday he would be happy if the young Australian made good on his threat to press charges over the incident at last week's opening in Sydney of gay cowboy film 'Brokeback Mountain'.

Peter Carrette said the spray was in retaliation for a previous incident where Ledger is alleged to have spat at press photographers, a claim the star denies. Ledger's girlfriend and co-star Michelle Williams was also got a little wet on the warm Sydney night.

'Bring it on,' Carrette told Australia's AAP news agency. I'd love to see it, because he won't. He doesn't have a leg to stand on. Everything I say is a fact. It's true that he's misbehaved for the past 18 months, but he won't do it again in a hurry.'

Carrette doubted distributor Roadshow Films would make good on its promise to ban the five photographers from future red carpet events.

'They need us more than we need them,' he said. 'I put out to 56 countries of the world and if they don't need that sort of publicity ... they're cutting off their noses to spite their face.'

At the upcoming Golden Globe awards, Ledger has been nominated for best actor and Williams for best supporting actress for 'Brokeback Mountain'.

© 2006 dpa - Deutsche Presse-Agentur

The top is off Jennifer Aniston's paparazzi case

How many times do we have to go over this? When you take your bikini off in public, and someone takes a picture, your privacy is not violated. See, some celebrities just think they own everything.

Peter Brandt, the paparazzi being sued by Jennifer Aniston for capturing those topless photos of her, claims that the actress has no cause of action to bring forward her Violation of Right of Privacy complaint.

Brandt claims that Aniston's complaint doesn't really make sense. He also claims that it isn't very valid, because they've been over this already:

"The complaint does not state facts sufficient to constitute a cause of action, and the pleading is uncertain, ambiguous, and unintelligible."

Additionally this claim has already been decided in another case ... which held Aniston did not have a reasonable expectation of privacy with regard to a topless photo of herself because it was in the public domain."

What surprised us most about this complaint, is that it's coming from the girl who totally nipped out on every episode of Friends. Why do celebrities need to walk around their properties and lay on their lawn chairs naked anyway? Isn't that why we have magazines like Playboy and GQ?

You can read the court papers HERE.

Paparazzi shoot water pistols at Ledger

Five paparazzi photographers whom Heath Ledger allegedly spat at have retaliated at the Sydney premiere of his new movie - shooting the actor with water pistols.

As Ledger arrived with partner Michelle Williams at Cinema Paris at Fox Studios on Friday night, the photographers took aim at the Hollywood heart-throb with the toys.

They hit him in the face and chest, wetting his hair and clothing, in an action taking some 10 seconds.

Ledger put his hands up to protect himself and tried to shield his partner, who was also hit by the water, as they moved quickly inside the cinema complex.

Upon seeing the incident, security guards moved towards the paparazzi but the five had left the scene.

Veteran paparazzi photographer Peter Carrette, who was not (not) involved in the incident, told AAP: "Enough is enough.

"Some boys thought they would get him back for spitting at them. It's (spitting) totally out of order.

"I came here to do my job but if anyone spat at me I would deck them.

"We are just doing our job. He gets $250,000 a picture (a movie) and we get $250 a picture. Who the hell does he think he is?"

Last week, Ledger said he was hurt and embarrassed by claims he had spat at journalists on the Sydney set of the movie Candy last year and by a recent report that said his uncle spat in a photographer's face.

"It's disgusting and awful. I would never in a million years do anything like that," Ledger told News Ltd newspapers.

"I'm not some sort of dirty spitter."

To the premiere, Ledger wore a hooded jumper under a black suit jacket, his outfit completed with sunglasses and sneakers, while Williams wore a navy Chanel dress.

A Fair Weather REVIEW

National Board Of Review Of Motion Pictures Awards Ceremony
Tavern on the Green
6pm


For the first time in many years, this event (in the middle of an open air Central Park) had fair weather. We have shot this event in prior years (no joke) in snow, rain, sub-freezing temperatures, under no tent with no light, no help from PR and numerous other horrid conditions. But this year was very mild for winter. PR wasn't that bad and there was ample room provided for photographers (two sides as opposed to the usual one side.)

But of course....there's a kicker. Halle Berry was the last to show... and hardly stops. And of course...she wears that ol' NYC in Black Fashion. Meanwhile Felicity Huffman (in an amazing orange dress) posed so much we actually applauded her for her cooperation!

LOHAN BUYS BLOOD-STAINED ANTIQUE

LINDSAY LOHAN bought the blood-stained chair she sat on in a Hollywood antiques shop after recently running from the paparazzi - because she couldn't bear to think of it being sold on internet auction site eBay.

The teen actress/singer dashed into Hideaway House Antiques after crashing her Mercedes Benz in the street outside as the paparazzi swarmed around her last October (05).

She says, "I ran into the corner (of the shop) and sat down on this old chair, and I look down and there's blood specks all over the chair.

"I looked at my assistant. I said, 'Buy this chair. It's not getting sold on eBay.'"

Is Angelina Jolie Toying With the Paparazzi?

Angelina Jolie is pregnant and getting married - or not. Depending on your favorite tabloid, you can pretty much dress Angie up as a perggers mom, or a high flying airplane pilot that is madly in love with Brad Pitt. The reason, according to one published report, she loves to play games with the paparazzi.

Ang toys with photogs?

Keeping tabs wonders - is Angelina toying with the paparazzi?

The tabs are all over the place with their Angelina Jolie coverage this week. Us' cover story says that there'll be no wedding to Brad Pitt any time soon, quoting a rather muddled-sounding "source close to the actress" who says, "She wants to be married desperately, but is addicted to her independence."

Us also shoots down pregnancy rumors; of the photos that made gossips think they saw a bump, "a source" says, "She would totally play games with [photographers] just for fun. That's how she is."

-

Star, on the other hand, says the pair are on "the eve of their nuptials … which, sources say, could happen any day"; and Life & Style is downright cocky, describing the actress as "Mom-to-be Angelina Jolie" and claiming that she called Jennifer Aniston herself to give her the news.

-

Life & Style dishes that she called Jennifer Aniston and told her about the pregnancy to clear the air. "She hates the thought that there could be any hard feelings with Jen now that there is a baby on the way, a source that is called a friend of Angie and Brad's told the tabloid.

-

Sister publication 'In Touch Weekly' says Jen called Brad's cell phone and Angie picked up. Surprise!

Jolie grabbed the covers of all four tabloids and if she is just toying - she's really good at it.

Public Paparazzi Website Scoops Front Page Exclusive

(I-Newswire) - The Snitcher Desk is happy to announce the first of what promises to be many front-page exclusives submitted by a member of the public.

A quick-thinking amateur photographer landed a front-page photo exclusive for the New York Post with a snap of Yankees baseball star Derek Jeter and his MTV-veejay girlfriend Vanessa Minnillo. The sale was facilitated by the recently launched public paparazzi website The Snitcher Desk. Armed with a small digital camera, the sharp-eyed Snitcher photographed the couple poolside in Maui, earning him a four-figured sum that is still expected to grow from further sales generated through periodical titles. Not a bad return for a couple of minutes of his time.

Since launching in mid 2005 The Snitcher Desk has seen consistent growth in the quantity and quality of submissions from a growing band of Snitchers, which is reflected by this recent success - a mere hint at what is to come.

The Snitcher Desk is the missing link between the public paparazzi and the world's press. The submission process is simple. Users can either upload their photos direct to the site or send them instantly by e-mail from their PC or cellphone. If the photos are good enough, they are immediately piped onto its syndication network where the world’s media will have access to them in a matter of moments. The Snitcher Desk only takes a modest 20% cut of the fee received from its partner agencies, returning 80% to their customers, who can relax, as the only other steps they will need to take are the ones to the bank.

With the forever-evolving technology in the world of digital photography – be it on camera phones, or the increasing availability of more compact and higher quality digital cameras – the average member of the public has a good chance of getting a quality shot. Just by being in the right place at the right time, and aided by The Snitcher Desk, any opportunist could find their photographs on the cover of tomorrow’s papers in the US, the UK and around the world.

NAKED by STEVE AZZARA

Our buddy Steve has a new book comming out. You can check out the website at WWW.NAKEDBOOK.NET.

Thank God it's not Steve Azzara Naked...that would be bad. LOL!

New law hits aggressive paparazzi in the pocketbook

LOS ANGELES (AP) — They lurk in bushes, camp out in cars and hover in helicopters. Some are brazen enough to openly brandish their cameras, like old Western gunslingers.

They may be hated, but their work — candid pictures of celebs in unguarded moments — is coveted. They are the paparazzi, purveyors of pix that are the lifeblood of the weekly star-tracking mags and tabs. Their photos demand huge sums of money and are circulated worldwide. And as the public hunger for such glossy grist has grown they've become ever more relentless and ruthless. But starting Jan. 1, there'll be some new reins on the paparazzi parade.

That's when a new California law goes into effect that increases penalties against overly aggressive photographers — dubbed "stalkerazzi" — who forcefully thrust their cameras into famous faces or crash their car into a celebrity's vehicle. They'll now be liable for three times the damages they inflict, plus lose any payments their published photos might earn. Publishers can also be held liable.

Read the rest of the article on the USA TODAY WEBSITE.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYONE!!!

Strike Shuts Down NYC Transit System

It's official. Everyone goes nowhere!

Check the MTA website for contingency plans. Here's the link... MTA.

Due to a labor action by the Transport Workers Union, there is no MTA bus or subway service in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Queens. In response, the City has implemented its strike contingency plan. Residents who rely on MTA bus and subway service to get around the City are urged to make alternate travel arrangements and familiarize themselves with driving restrictions. Traffic and roadway limitations, including HOV and commercial vehicle restrictions, are in effect from 5 a.m. to 11 a.m., weekdays. Alternate side of the street parking is suspended. NYC public schools will open two hours late and buses will be running on a two-hour delay.

Warrant issued for paparazzi

Man allegedly struck a 5-year-old while trying to photograph Reese Witherspoon
Associated Press


FULLERTON, Calif. -- An arrest warrant has been issued for a photographer who allegedly struck a 5-year-old child with his camera while trying to take pictures of Reese Witherspoon and her children at an amusement park.

An Orange County judge issued the warrant Friday after Todd Kevin Wallace, 44, failed to show up for a bail hearing.

Wallace had been free on his own recognizance while awaiting trial on six misdemeanor charges stemming from the Sept. 2 incident at Disney's California Adventure.

He allegedly became angry when Witherspoon and friends declined to be photographed and cursed them. Witherspoon's group was at the amusement park for a birthday party for her 6-year-old daughter.

Police said Wallace took photos from afar, but once he got close to the group, he became aggressive and scared some of the people, including some children, who were in tears.

The city attorney's office requested the bail hearing after learning Wallace had been arrested Dec. 5 on an initial charge of stealing from an electronics store in the San Fernando Valley.

Wallace had posted $20,000 bail and was freed after the arrest pending arraignment on a felony charge of petty theft with a prior conviction, said Nancy Lidamore of the Los Angeles County district attorney's office.

The photographer served more than four years in prison after a 1993 conviction for second-degree burglary and receiving goods by fraud, according to state corrections records.

BENDOVA CASANOVA

Casanova Premiere
Lowes Lincoln Center

Well...this premiere great... huh? Anyone with me? I didn't think so...

The set-up was less than desirable. The first group of shooters were to the immediate left of the limo arrivals. It was a very small pen and everyone was stacked 2-3 deep. They had one movie poster set up on an easel, and it was too close. Most of the talent posed in front of the poster and then ran into the tented area where the second set of shooters waited. The problem with this was the second half of the first press area missed out on shots.

The second pit 'seemed' a little better, but I’m sure someone will let me know how things went in that pen.

Not to mention uncooperative security, PR and talent. Heath and Michele looking all around EXCEPT forward, Sienna in black head to toe, no Jude.

Great way to screw up YET ANOTHER Sunday.

Rick making faces in the backround of everyone's shots: Priceless.

THE ANTI-PAPARAZZI FLASH

The anti-paparazzi flash: 1. The celebrity prey. 2. The lurking photographer. 3. The offending camera is detected and then bombed with a beam of light. 4. Voila! A blurry image of nothing much.

The New York Times

If you have ever felt sorry for celebrities hounded by cameras as they go about their daily business - be that pumping gas or entering a flashy nightclub - you can rest easy. A group of researchers at Georgia Tech has designed what could become an effective celebrity protection device: an instrument that detects the presence of a digital camera's lens and then shoots light directly at the camera when a photographer tries to take a picture. The result? A blurry picture of a beam of light. Try selling that to Us Weekly.

The Georgia Tech team was initially inspired by the campus visit of a Hewlett Packard representative, who spoke about the company's efforts to design cameras that can be turned off by remote control. Gregory Abowd, an associate professor, recalls that after the talk, the team members thought, There's got to be a better way to do that, a way that doesn't require the cooperation of the camera. The key was recognizing that most digital cameras contain a "retroreflective" surface behind the lens; when a light shines on this surface, it sends the light back to its source. The Georgia Tech lab prototype uses a modified video camera to detect the presence of the retroreflector and a projector to shoot out a targeted three-inch beam of light at the offending camera.

HARD TO FOCUS ON JOLIE

ANGELINA JOLIE

FOCUS FOR CHANGE GALA
THE SUPPER CLUB
December 5, 2005

This may have been one of the smallest arrival areas ever. It rivals the Sony 19th Street Theater premieres on the side entrance.

One stanchion was set up, with a small backdrop. Only 3-4 people could fit in front (with everyone else stacked as high as you could go.) PR informed us that Jolie would not be arriving thru the main entrance. While scouting out the other options, she arrived out of nowhere and went into the hotel lobby next door.... now the fun begins.

Everyone breaks rank and chases her into the lobby. Their is an entrance to the Supper Club via the lobby, but Jolie and her security couldn’t find it right away. Now she is roaming the lobby, looking for this door, as more and more fans, paparazzi and gawkers assemble.

They find the door, but by this time a mini riot has ensued. Jolie didn't go right into the door, in fact, she kept going back and forth in front of the elevators...which in turned created more insanity. Some security guard went after Video Dave, Dennis lost his footing, someone towards the back of the pack got in a shouting match, and it looked like Diane fell down in the front of the pack.

Believe it or not, we almost pulled off a shot. But a lot of people got too greedy. Angelina yelled for everyone to step back (to give us a shot). But every time the pack pushed back, some sneaky bastard ran around the side to the front. This happened about 3-4 times before Jolie (and us for that matter) just gave up. Jolie ran into the door flanked by 3 security guards.

I apologize to whomever I elbowed while I tried to move the pack back. But I was consistently getting screwed with people jumping in my way that I had to take matters into my own hands. I have no regrets, but I hope no one was hurt.

HERE'S UPI's REPORT ON THE INCIDENT:

Paparazzi swarm Jolie in New York

NEW YORK, Dec. 6 (UPI) -- Angelina Jolie's human rights benefit was marred by a flood of paparazzi who accosted the actress outside the New York venue.

Jolie was on her way into the benefit Monday night for WITNESS, an international human rights group, when she stopped to sign autographs for fans waiting outside, TMZ.com reported Tuesday.

She was immediately swarmed by photographers and even pushed one camera out of her face, the Web site said.

As the crowd grew more unruly, she pleaded without success, asking the paparazzi to "just back up." Finally, her security guards were able to dislodge her from the mayhem and escort her into a back entrance.

The actress made national headlines this week when it was revealed Brad Pitt had filed papers in Los Angeles seeking to adopt her two children.

...and here's a link to the VIDEO.

APE SH*T FOR KING KONG

KING KONG PREMIERE
LOWES E-WALK
December 5, 2005

This premiere had bad written all over it.

It looked good in theory… a long arrival area, with sprawling backdrops depicting scenes from the movie. Ah...alas they figured out a way to mess it up.

Unfortunately, they didn't provide a separate entrance for the riff-raff, so we had to constantly shoot around the masses. And on top of that, nobody’s littered the background throughout.

Not to mention the fact that were on top of the backdrops (too close) and we were jammed into our side of the barricades like a bunch of bananas..(get it...King Kong...hehe...never mind). Shooters went three deep in places and there was no room to move because the side of the tent was right behind us.

Found this pic on VII

Looks like our fellow snappers, I def see b.zac in there...


cick here to see the pic..

Give Us Your Best Caption

Photo By LotsaPaparrazza

33rd International 'Who The Hell Is That' Awards

33rd International Emmy Awards Gala
Hilton Hotel

In theory...everything was done right for this event.

A huge tent covered the arrivals area to keep us dry from the rain...
A high double level riser was built to accommodate all the media...
All the talent was announced by a moderator via a P.A. system as they arrived...
There were no ugly barricades to stand behind, and an honor system of not 'rushing' the talent was kept...
An unprecedented amount of press crammed every corner of the arrivals area to shoot pictures.
Which lead to the question...

Who the hell are all these people?

Here's another unwritten law of press events... The better the PR treats us, the less talent will arrive at the event.

Oprah and Hillary Clinton decided not to do arrivals, which leaves...umm.... Bebe Neuwirth and uhh... Danny Glover? Oh god...

It's wasn't all bad: Vivica A. Fox looked great in blue fashion and Jamie-Lynn Sigler in a fur jacket and nice beige one piece dress. But you had to wait till the press room to get the Oprah/Hillary shot.

And of course, they both wear black.

But at least they gave us food! (The event staff...not Oprah...you silly.)

Funny Moments:
There was a Danish video crew and photographer on the riser towards the beginning (not part of the normal crew). They were going crazy for a lot of the people arriving... as the rest of us looked away and 'developed camera troubles'. But to help them out, when ever they wanted someone to look at them, we all pointed to the Danish crew and said "Give it to them". And it worked! But none of us shot a frame. DANISH EXCLUSIVE!

Who was yelling "HELP! HELP!". There was some crying "Help" towards the end of the carpet.
And what was that all about? I was at the beginning and couldn't see...

SYRIANA SUNDAY

Syriana Premiere
Lowes Lincoln Theater
November 20, 2005
6pm

One thing for sure...you keep throwing premieres on Sunday and us photogs are going to get a wee bit testy. Try not to think about the fact that there are another three Sunday premieres coming up...YEA!

After the list was called, four spots opened up on the inside. People who came late were getting better spots, the list was a bit chaotic, Larry and Andrea got into it...After much confusion, everything was sorted out.

As for the talent, everyone posed up a storm, (with the exception of Heath Ledger who blew by while Frank Langella was posing).

What was the whole Philippe/Andrea thing about? Testy, testy, testy.

Uma Thurman Blows Off Press, Zeta Jones Looks Her Best

Christopher Reeve Foundations Spirit Of Courage Awards
November 17, 2005

What's up with Uma?
PR promised us a shot of Uma, prefacing that it would be a "quick shot" because she was late.
Suprise! No photo. "Uma doesn't want to do the press room" WTF!

Catherine Zeta Jones looked a little tipsy tonite...didn't she?
She also look's about 10 years younger. Hmmm....

Angelina Jolie, Val Kilmer Meeting Foiled by Paparazzi?

A report from the UK says that the British paparazzi is hounding American actress Angelina Jolie to such extremes that the 'Mr. and Mrs. Smith' star is making changes to her plans just to avoid being photographed.

The story comes from Contact Music UK:

Paparazzi Breaks Up Lunch Date?

Val Kilmer and Angie were allegedly set to meet for lunch. But as the pair prepared to meet apparently photographers were hounding Kilmer and Jolie in an attempt to get a photo of the pair together.

So much so - the lunch reportedly never happened.

Kilmer explained it this way: "The last time I saw her she said: 'Come by the house', because I hadn't seen her home. But we got followed.

"I ended up pulling off and waiting at a pub while she went ahead and made sure no one was there (and) we ran out of time."

This is a bit hard to believe.

While Angie has been a bit camera shy with beau Brad Pitt, why would she care if she had photographs taken at a lunch date with Val Kilmer?

After all - those freaky 'Beowulf' pics are everywhere.

Aniston About Paparazzi: "I'd take 'em down"

Golden girl JENNIFER ANISTON wants to talk about her new thriller 'Derailed,' but all everyone else wants to know about is her personal life!

A graceful Jen is handling it well, telling DIANE SAWYER on "Good Morning America" Tuesday that she and ex husband BRAD PITT do talk: "Yes, we do. I do. That's very peaceful. It's a really peaceful thing."

She went onto clear the air about the state of her relationship with Pitt. "People want it to be this war and this mean, terrible, shallow thing that's just playing like some soap opera or storyline, and it's just not. So, yeah, pleasant ... done."

Jen also answered questions about her personal life from LARRY KING on "Larry King Live," airing Tuesday night on CNN.

King asked Jen how she handled dealing with the fact that her split from Pitt was front-page news: "I don't read them," she revealed. "It's toxic. I want no part of it, and the only way you can walk through anything like that with any kind of dignity -- it's just not to succumb to that crap."

King also inquired about Jen's rumored new beau, VINCE VAUGHN, but Jen wouldn't go there: "I'm not talking about it," she smiled. But the honey-haired beauty did say he was "funny" and a "great guy."

Jen had plenty to say about the paparazzi, telling King that she didn't think they had any business prying into people's private lives. "They chase you in cars, they run red lights, they drive on sidewalks ... they just want a photograph so they can make a buck."

Finally, Jen revealed that she did want children in the future, but paparazzi beware: If they try to take shots of mama Jen and her little one, "I'd take 'em down," she laughed.

A Throw Too Far At Letterman

It seems like the distance from the press area to the stage door at Letterman is remaining quite a throw. Today at Aniston, she made an attempt to come over to the pen when arriving, but only waved from the SUV window when leaving. Even with a 200mm, you couldn't get a tight head shot. When I asked the head of Letterman security, he still says we must”be punished for Madonna with the horse incident". This needs to change soon if we want to get some decent photos at Letterman. It's getting as bad as GMA in Bryant.

I heard there were 20 people there at 1pm. Good lord! By 5pm, at least 40+ shooters were in the press pen, 2 to 3 rows deep AND extended a car width into the street.

Clooney I'm no loony

LIFE STYLE EXTRA (UK) - George Clooney has denied reports he brawled with a security guard at a swanky London bar.

It was alleged the Hollywood heartthrob was involved in a fight outside Meza Bar in the early hours of Friday (04.11.05) morning.

Reports claimed the actor was angered by the guard's failure to control waiting paparazzi - and said he only backed down when his ex-lover Lisa Snowdon pulled him away.

But the 44-year-old star - who was in the capital for a gala screening of his latest movie, 'Good Night, And Good Luck' - has insisted he "did not get into a fight" and says he was defending a woman he thought was being mistreated.

Clooney's Los Angeles based publicist has released a statement saying: "George did not get into a fight with a security guard.

"However, he did get into an argument with someone connected with the movie. And, while it had nothing to do with the paparazzi, it did have everything to do with someone being unkind to a woman.

"No punches were thrown, but George told the person to knock it off."

This quote was brought to my attention by a fellow anonymous photographer:


For those with passsion (who work)

"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, and comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat"

THEODORE ROOSEVELT
(Sorbonne, Paris -- April 23, 1910)

Nikon offers D200 digital SLR

Nikon announced the D200, a new digital SLR camera that features capabilities and technology inherited from Nikon’s D2X professional DSLR series. The 10.2-megapixel camera will be available in late December for US$1,699.95

Features include an 11-area auto focus system, five frame per second (FPS) continuous shooting capability for up to 37 JPEG or 22 NEF (RAW) images, 2.5-inch LCD viewfinder, magnesium alloy body, and EN-EL3e battery good for up to 1800 images per charge (a “fuel gauge” displays the battery’s remaining power and advises you when the battery needs to be replaced).

The camera’s image sensor features high-speed four-channel data output and a new optical low pass filter that reduces moiré and color fringing and shifting. The D200 also features a 1,005 pixel sensor to evaluate exposure settings.

The D200 supports DX Nikkor lenses and the AF Nikkor series as well.

The D200 features wireless networking using the optional WT-3 Wireless Transmitter, which is expected to debut next spring.

Pitt Spots Paparazzi Peeping Into His Home

Brad Pitt contacted police Sunday night after spotting a paparazzi photographer peering into his Malibu home and trying to take photos of inside his living room, his spokeswoman said today.

The encounter occurred at about 7:30 p.m Sunday after Pitt, who was photographed earlier in the day strolling on the beach with girlfriend Angelina Jolie and her children Maddox, 4, and Zahara, 9 months, spotted the alleged trespasser lurking outside the home, according to Pitt's spokeswoman, Cindy Guagenti.

When the photographer realized he'd been seen by Pitt, he fled, Guagenti said. The incident was reported to the Malibu/Lost Hills Sheriff's Department, officials there confirmed.

"This just goes to show how low the paparazzi will go trying to get a photo," Guagenti said. "If they break the law, they will be arrested. This one got away but the next one won't."

Personal Foul at Letterman

As reported by Lawrence.

Here's a funny quip:

Uma Thurman was due to arrive at Letterman for Tuesday's show. But, the photo pen was set up a lot further back from the stage door than usual. When ask about this, one of the police offers responded, "The chief didn't like the way things went on Thursday (with Madonna). 10 yard penalty for roughing the horse."

We are in a twisted profession my friends.

To My Fellow Shooters....

There is a woman from Kent State University in Kent, OH who is doing a research paper about the paparazzi and their first amendment rights and restrictions.

This is not for reprint in a newspaper, it's sole purpose is a research paper in a class.

If anyone would like to contribute to her paper, please let me know and I will e-mail you her information. The project is due by October 31, 2005.

The questions are:

What is your name and occupation?

Do you ever take pictures of celebrities? If so, how often?

How would you describe the celebrity/paparazzi relationship?

Describe a situation (give an example) when you think the paparazzi abuse their rights?

What do you think about photographers who trespass, break the law, etc to obtain a photo?

Why do you think there is such a high demand for photos of celebrities?

Any other information you would like to add or is there another photographer you know that I could contact to get more opinions? I appreciate your time.

Spears Says Web Photos of Baby Are Stolen

Britney Spears threatened to take legal action after pictures of her newborn son popped up on the Internet, apparently stolen from a private photo shoot. At least two Web sites showed photos of Spears embracing her child, as well as a family portrait.

A statement released late Friday by Spears' record label, Jive Records, said the photos were swiped from a private photo session.

"Anyone who publishes, sells or otherwise exploits any of these images in any way will be subject to liability and damages for willful infringement of copyright, and will be liable for invasion of privacy," the statement read.

The pop star gave birth to her first child last month.

Spears and her husband, Kevin Federline, recently made their first public appearance since the infant was born, but there have been no clear images of the baby until now.

A representative for Spears declined to comment.

A ‘PRIME” Time To Go Ballistic

PRIME Premiere
Ziegfeld Theater, 7:30pm premiere
October 20, 2005

Well… everyone was calm and well behaved at this premiere, no?

Uma was supposed to be on Letterman, so a lot of shooters went over there to get her arriving/departing…using the time from their two hour break. Subsequently, Madonna was the talent on the show, and she proceeded to do an outside skit with Letterman, which involved the two of them riding horses up 54^th St. This ran longer than the two hours most people allotted for their time away from the Ziegfeld.

Once this insanity at Letterman concludes, everyone runs back to the theater.

Now the fun begins.

Sylvain has the list and proceeds to cross off anyone whose name hasn’t been accountable for the last two hours. He then begins the process of ‘re-writing’ the list, shuffling everyone accordingly. But it seems that some people were shooting Letterman, some in the annex, some checked back in then left again. So it got quite confusing very quickly.

While this is going on, people are getting irate with their ‘new’ status on the list. Tempers flare even more when Anthony and Dennis get into it. Personally, I don’t remember the catalyst for this tryst, but it went something like this…

… I make enough money

…the hell with the list

…you see my name and photos out their more than yours

…I don’t need to do 10 events a day

…you couldn’t do what I do

…look at how you dress

…you’re a tired man

…you’re an angry man

…let’s do this

Now the two of them drop their gear and look like their going to square off. As the volume reaches a fevered pitch, security from the adjacent building come out the squelch the commotion. PR, security, fans, photographers and pedestrians are now all focused on this. (Not good for our image by the way). Everything eventually calms down, but not for at least 5-8 minutes of heated actions.

As for the actual event, everyone posed, Uma was bouncing around and looking up a lot, Streep arrived from the wrong end of the carpet, but in the end, almost everyone got a shot.

MADONNA PROUD TO GET PAPARAZZI CLAPPING

MADONNA's favourite moment at Live 8 came when she talked the paparazzi into downing their cameras to clap along to her performance with the rest of the crowd.

During her rendition of MUSIC at the July (05) supergig, the star noticed photographers in the press pit weren't in the party spirit.

She tells British magazine Attitude, "I got all the paparazzi to clap their hands. That was my favourite moment.

"They were at the front, and everyone in the park was clapping their hands except them. They were taking pictures and I looked down and said, 'You too!'

"I know one of the paparazzi, RICHARD YOUNG, and I said, 'Come on, Richard, do it!' And he dropped his camera and the rest of them did."

Photojournalist action figure!!

Why no paparazzi one tho?? I think everyone would want one, dont you?

click here to see awesome action figure which could be yours!

Paris Hilton and Bijou Phillips Caught Up in Paparazzi Fight

By WENN

Hollywood socialites Paris Hilton and Bijou Phillips were caught up in a fight outside Los Angeles hotspot Mood on Wednesday night (12 October 05) when Hilton's bodyguard attacked a photographer.

The high-profile pair were leaving the club after partying with Bruce Willis, Lindsay Lohan and Eddie Murphy when a brawl broke out in the street.

The unnamed minder took offence when one snapper got too close to him and pushed him to the ground, yelling, "Don't ever touch me."

Hilton tried to defuse the situation by signing photographs from the front seat of her silver Bentley before driving off.

'Miami Vice' Crew Dresses For Farrell

UPI

Members of the cast and crew of "Miami Vice" are sporting T-shirts on their Florida set with a message to paparazzi: "Leave Colin Alone."

Production assistant Angie Lee Cobbs came up with the idea when she saw the number of photographers swarming around star Colin Farrell, People magazine reported.

Cobbs told People the paparazzi problem had gotten out of hand.

"I understand taking photos at premieres and events, but when they follow him around like this it's beyond normal," she said. "They show up at our Miami locations and curse us out when we ask them not to shoot.

"We feel protective toward him," she said of Farrell. "He's such a sweetheart and a down-to-Earth guy."

Cobbs is selling the shirts to fans on her Web site -- leavecolinalone.com -- and is donating the profits to the Princess Diana Memorial Fund.

Elton Backs Paparazzi in the Shooting War

Most celebs think of the paparazzi as a lower form of life but sometimes, even paparazzi can produce a cure for fame's afflictions.

Elton John believes London's rabid Daily Mirror did Kate Moss a favor by forcing her to confront her drug habit. Sir Elton says photos of the supermodel snorting coke compelled her to seek help in rehab.

"The great thing about England is that the media will give you a very hard time," the Rocket Man told the same paper this week. "They won't let you get away with it."

Elton suggests his own 16-year drug battle may have ended sooner if he'd been found out.

"I wish Elvis Presley had lived in England, because if he had, he would probably still be alive today," he says.

Back in the States, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger recently signed off on a law subjecting people who commit assault while taking pictures to stiff fines which may extend to the publications that buy the snaps.

But the paparazzi have another unlikely ally in George Clooney. He argues that paparazzi "can be real jerks," but "I'll take all of those hits [in the media] in lieu of trying to restrict it, because the dangers of restricting it [are] like burning the first book."

Of course, not all stars are so broadminded about their pursuers.

Charlize Theron is furious over the chopper noise that lens-wielding locusts brought to her mother's recent wedding ceremony in Pacific Palisades, Calif. The photographers thought that Theron, who was a bridesmaid, was marrying her longtime beau, Stuart Townsend.

And just last week, Tom Cruise's bodyguards got into a physical confrontation with photogs outside the Scientology Celebrity Centre in L.A. after the cameramen swarmed the entrance.

A security guard took out a camera to snap pics of the press for the "safety of ... parishioners," reports Jeanette Walls of MSNBC. Then the guard made a citizen's arrest.

Paparazzi Waiting for A Poop from Terry the Dog

SOFTPEDIA.COM
Celebrity-stalking photographers massed outside the coffee shop in Malibu where Shirley MacLaine had stopped with her canine soul mate, Terry.

The actress said: “I was so appalled. They were kind of waiting for Terry to walk out and perhaps take a poop or something, because she's famous herself, and what would I do about the poop? And would they make me mad? Because the whole point is, they want to make you mad, and then they get a good picture."

Luckily, the actress ran into two stunt men she had worked with. They gathered a group of men who huddled around and whisked MacLaine and Terry to her car, blocking them from view; the paparazzi never saw her leave.

So the photographers "got no poop and they got no me," MacLaine gloated.

Gallagher clashes with paparazzi

Liam Gallagher celebrated in style after Monday's (10.10.05) Q awards - by threatening paparazzi with a metal pole.

The Oasis frontman - whose band picked up two awards, including Best Album for 'Don't Believe The Truth', at the prestigious ceremony - was seen guzzling dozens of glasses of champagne at London's trendy Met Bar before confronting the waiting shutterbugs outside.

Liam, famed for his wild temper, picked up the steel queue barrier and brandished it at several snappers before friends pulled him back inside the club.

Cruise bodyguard 'arrests' paparazzi

Tom Cruise's bodyguard got into an altercation with photographers after paparazzi followed him to the Scientology Celebrity Centre in LA. Scientology Celebrity Centre spokesman Greg LaClaire told MSNBC that ''our security officer drove away and was at a stoplight on a corner. While he was sitting at the stoplight, the paparazzi jumped through the passenger window and started beating him. Our security officer . . . then made a citizen arrest."

CLOONEY FEARS FIGHTING PAPARAZZI WILL CREATE FREEDOM ISSUES

Movie star GEORGE CLOONEY is happy to ignore the over-zealous efforts of the paparazzi who follow him everywhere because he fears that by limiting their powers he'll upset freedom of speech.

While stars like REESE WITHERSPOON and CAMERON DIAZ rally to change laws and fight against celebrity photographers, Clooney, whose father is respected newsman NICK CLOONEY, fears stars could be setting a bad precedent if they continue fighting the paparazzi.

He explains, "These guys can be real jerks, these paparazzi, they're not trying to catch me doing something stupid, which I'll have to take hits for - they're trying to create you doing something stupid. They walk through the airport and go, 'Whose that fat chick you're with?'

"I'll take all of those hits in lieu of trying to restrict it, because the dangers of restricting it, or getting into those dangers, (is) like burning the first book.

"I get that they do some rotten things... It's a drag for me... (But) as a guy who believes in the free press, I think that some of these hits we have to take in order to not mess with freedom of speech."

Brad Pitt Has Plan to Foil Paparazzi

According to a published report Brad Pitt has formed a plan to foil the paparazzi from nabbing photos of him and gal pal Angelina Jolie and their ready made adopted family.

The hunky star is already being hounded on the set of "The Assassination of Jesse James" in Canada by photographers and if this report is accurate he must be growing tired of it.

Brad and Angie want privacy

Just last week an American photographer was arrested after being discovered on the same set where Pitt is shooting the Jesse James film.

Now the star has reportedly decided to acquire a very secluded pad in the Canadian wilderness for some private moments:

Page Six:

***

Brad Pitt is fighting back against the paparazzi.

The star was livid when pictures of him, Angelina Jolie and Jolie's son, Maddox, were snapped on her tucked-away British estate.

Now Pitt has bought a secluded, modest getaway cabin in the Canadian wilderness and instructed his bodyguards to take pictures of any lensmen who follow him and Jolie, should he need evidence one day in court after he presses harassment charges.

***

Shots of the photographers who follow Pitt and Jolie around are posted on sunsetprotective.com according to the Post.

Will this stop the photogs?

Likely not. And unless Brad and Angie plan on a secluded life in the Canadian wilderness they are going to be the subject of many photographers, published photos or not.

When Paparazzi Snap Back

It's payback time when celebrities bite the hand that feeds them.

Celebrities such as Paris Hilton, who shares her schedule with paparazzi so they can shoot candid pictures, stick to their side of the Faustian pact, accepting that privacy is the price of fame. But for stars who dare to fight back, media vengeance is brutal.

Just ask Kate Moss, whose recent trial by tabloid makes Diaz's skirmish resemble a slap on the face with a budgie feather. Earlier this year, the 31-year-old model successfully sued the UK's Sunday Mirror after the tabloid printed a story that alleged she had collapsed in a cocaine-induced coma in 2001. The paper was forced to print an apology and paid Moss an undisclosed settlement.

Just two months later, the same newspaper plastered across its front page photos of Moss cutting and sniffing lines of white powder, along with graphic descriptions of her alleged drug use. The shots showed her rolling a bank note and "hoovering up every last grain of the class-A drug".

Even the Mirror's fellow newspapers conceded the revelations were pure revenge. The Independent said Mirror editor Richard Vallance and Stephen Moyes, the journalist who broke the drugs story, had been trying to acquire evidence of her drug use ever since the libel defeat.

Read the rest of the article HERE.

Photography Site

with some really good video interviews for anyone interested.

Click Here

LA Paparazzi Call New Schwarzenegger Law `A Joke'

Photographers in Southern California, home to Hollywood stars such as Lindsay Lohan and Brad Pitt, say a law signed last week by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger won't curb celebrity-chasing paparazzi.

``It's a joke,'' said Frank Griffin, a partner at Hollywood photo agency Bauer-Griffin, who for the last 15 years has dispatched paparazzi to pursue celebrities. ``If the market says I'm going to pay you $1,000 for a photograph, you're going to get a lot of renegades out there.''

The law subjects people who commit assault while taking pictures to civil damages and loss of profits from the photo. Publications that solicit the photos also can be held liable.

Read the rest of the article HERE.

Paparazzi ruled out as cause of latest Lohan crash

Teen actress Lindsay Lohan has been involved in another traffic accident four months after a photographer crashed into her car, but police on Wednesday rejected suggestions paparazzi were to blame this time.

Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department spokesman Luis Castro said the accident on Tuesday was caused by another motorist making an illegal turn in front of the actress.

Conflicting accounts of Tuesday's incident had suggested Lohan had been trying to evade photographers or was driving too fast, but investigators have ruled out either paparazzi or excessive speed as factors in the collision between her car and a van in West Hollywood, Castro said.

"It appears it's ... the van's fault for making an illegal U-turn," he said. "At this time, we've ruled out that any paparazzi played a part in the accident, and speed was not a factor."

He added that investigators had determined that Lohan's black Mercedes convertible was traveling at about 35 mph when the crash occurred on fashionable Robertson Boulevard. They also concluded that no drugs or alcohol were involved.

Castro said the driver of the van, though apparently at fault, was not cited for the accident and normally would not be for such a routine accident.

Lohan, 19, the star of such films as "Herbie: Fully Loaded" and "Mean Girls," was taken by ambulance with a female passenger to a nearby hospital, where both were treated for minor injuries. The van's driver was taken to the hospital with "moderate" injuries, sheriff's deputies said.

The latest accident occurred just blocks away from where Lohan made headlines with a May 31 car crash involving a photographer who police said rammed his vehicle into her car while chasing the actress. In that case, the photographer was arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon.

Eyewitness accounts carried in the Los Angeles Times and other media outlets said photographers were taking Lohan's picture while she was shopping and dining a short time before Tuesday's accident. Her spokeswoman initially suggested the paparazzi were to blame for the collision.

Kate Moss Coke Video

If anyone cares to see the entire video, you can see it HERE. (In Italian)

Mounties Nab Pitt Chasers

CALGARY -- Paparazzi hoping to nab on-set photos of Brad Pitt playing the outlaw Jesse James are themselves getting a rough ride by police in Alberta.

Yesterday, the Mounties were called to a closed set north of Calgary to remove an Italian photographer who was hiding in some trees aiming to capture the Hollywood heart-throb on film. The day before, an American photographer was arrested after being discovered on the same set where Mr. Pitt is shooting The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford. And last month, a Canadian photographer was charged with mischief after he was found hiding at Fort Edmonton, which was closed to the public for filming of the same movie.

"It's becoming more and more unsafe," said film publicist Lee Anne Muldoon.

"We can't tolerate it and just say leave," she said.

The incidents have not resulted in injuries or threats to any of those involved with the film, she said, but they could. Celebrity photographers attempt to provoke the stars into creating a better shot, she said.

They are also disruptive. Production needs to be temporarily shut down. Some takes have to be redone if the photographers have made their way into the shots, she said.

Photos of Mr. Pitt, and specifically Mr. Pitt with his off-screen leading lady, Angelina Jolie, have become a hot commodity since he split with his wife, Jennifer Aniston. When Mr. Pitt landed in Alberta in August to begin shooting the $30-million western, so did the international paparazzi. A picture of Mr. Pitt smooching Ms. Jolie could be worth up to $500,000 (U.S.).

On Monday, Cochrane RCMP were called to an undisclosed location at about 11:30 a.m. after a report from film officials that members of the crew apprehended a freelance photographer from Los Angeles they found trespassing on private land.

"He was a little disappointed, but not surprised," RCMP Corporal Stephen Simpson said.

Just before lunch yesterday, police responded to a complaint about another trespasser on the set. The man, who had recently flown in from Rome and told police he did not know the set was off-limits, will not be charged.

Lindsay's Wild Ride

Eonline.com

Lindsay Lohan could have used a little bit of that Love Bug magic Tuesday.

As it was, the Herbie: Fully Loaded star could not avoid a messy car crash in West Hollywood that left her and two others hospitalized.

Lohan, 19, was behind the wheel of her black Mercedes-Benz convertible when it struck a maroon Chevrolet Astro Van shortly before 5 p.m., according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

Victoria Recano, a reporter for The Insider and Entertainment Tonight, was working on a story in the area and witnessed the accident. She said that Lohan was "driving really fast" when her car collided with the other vehicle.

Lohan and her passenger, whom Recano identified as the actress' assistant, initially appeared to be unharmed and ducked into a nearby antiques store, apparently to avoid paparazzi and TV cameras, Recano said. However, according to the sheriff's department, Lohan and her passenger were later taken by ambulance to an unnamed hospital for treatment of "minor injuries." The unidentified driver of the van, meanwhile, was rushed to the hospital with "moderate injuries."

The sheriff's department is investigating the accident. A spokesman could not say whether any charges would be filed, but said that "alcohol does not appear to be a factor." There was no immediate comment Tuesday evening from the actress' publicist.

Per the incident report, the van driver had been traveling north on Robertson Boulevard in front of Lohan when he apparently made a U-turn to pull into a parking spot and was struck by the actress. His vehicle in turn slammed into a unoccupied white van parked on the street.

News footage of the scene showed Lohan's Mercedes nearly totaled, with both airbags deployed. The Astro Van was also seriously dinged up.

Javier Ramirez, an employee at the Hideaway House antiques shop, said Lohan and her passenger darted into his store following the accident. "She was very upset," Ramirez told the Associated Press. "She kept saying, 'Oh my God. Oh my God. I can't believe it.' "

According to Recano, Lohan and her companion had been walking near power lunch spot The Ivy shortly before the crash and had been mobbed by a phalanx of photographers. But Recano said none of the two dozen paparazzi at the restaurant appeared to be chasing the actress at the time of the crash.

This is Lohan's third traffic accident in the past year.

On May 31, she suffered minor injuries after a paparazzo intentionally rammed her car, according to police. The incident left Lohan "shaken up and extremely upset," her publicist said in a statement.

Photographer Galo Ramirez was booked on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon and released on $35,000 bail. He is awaiting trial.

And in February, Lohan was sued by two Los Angeles residents for rear-ending them in August 2004 and leaving them with continuing "pain, discomfort and physical disability."

That suit is pending.

Schwarzenegger Signs Law Limiting Paparazzi Pursuits

North County Times wire services

LOS ANGELES - Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed into law Friday a Southland lawmaker's bill to penalize paparazzi when they engage in assaultive behavior in pursuit of a photograph.

"This bill hits the paparazzi where it hurts -- the wallet," said Assemblywoman Cindy Montanez, D-San Fernando. "Money is their motivation. So taking away their money will be the solution."

Through AB 381, a photographer engaging in a dangerous pursuit can now be held liable for assault and subject to civil damages, in addition to losing any proceeds from the photo or recording, according to Montanez's office.

This summer, several celebrities had clashes with paparazzi.

Lindsey Lohan's Mercedes-Benz was hit by a photographer's car, and Scarlett Johansson clipped another car when she pulled into a Disneyland parking lot to elude several vehicles containing paparazzi who followed her from her Los Angeles home.

In 1998, Schwarzenegger, who at that time was still making movies, and his wife Maria Shriver were boxed in by paparazzi as they picked their children up at school.

The two photographers involved were convicted of false imprisonment. One of the men also was convicted of reckless driving.

However, Montanez said her bill was more about public safety than creating special protections for celebrities.

"When paparazzi engage in reckless behavior on the streets and sidewalks of L.A. -- or anywhere -- it puts everyone in harm's way: the movie star and the movie-goer alike," she said.

The bill was supported by the Screen Actors Guild and Los Angeles County District Attorney Steve Cooley

HILTON: 'PAPARAZZI AND STALKERS TERRIFY ME'

Celebrity socialite PARIS HILTON is terrified of the paparazzi and stalkers who make it impossible for her to live a normal life.

The HOUSE OF WAX beauty feels so threatened she has been forced to employ four bodyguards to protect her.

She says, "The paparazzi, they're scary. They pretty much live outside my house: they're so annoying.

"And stalkers. I come across them all the time."

And the hotel heiress is frightened that snappers and intrusive fans will damage her relationship with shy fiance and Greek shipping heir PARIS LATSIS.

She says, "My boyfriend hates it all: he's very low-key and he hates cameras and says the only bad thing about dating me is them."

Britney Spears Baby Photos Nabbed from Chopper

This story comes from The National Ledger:

The race is on to grab the very first photo of Britney Spears' baby and the paparazzi will go to any length to grab the first baby picture. As it appears, they will go to any height as well.

The first photos of the baby boy appear to come from a helicopter. The photos are blurry but the first pics show Brit tending to her son, Sean Preston Federline, while her mother Lynne holds the baby.

You cannot see the baby's face.

Bang Media reported earlier that Britney and Kevin have allegedly accepted over $3-million to show home-video footage of the birth on their popular reality TV show 'Britney and Kevin: Chaotic', and will be a paid a further $1.5-million for a magazine deal (Reportedly OK! Magazine) featuring exclusive pictures of the child.

The couple is also rumored to have agreed a deal worth over $1.5-million to video the first few weeks of Sean Preston's life for TV.

These pictures are too blurry to ruin that deal, and that means the paparazzi will keep trying.

An Open Letter to The Early Birds From Lupo

Dear Early birds:

Congratulations!

You will have front row because you got to Letterman at 10am. Perhaps you will even have the best spot. Gee- it’s really too bad that you are putting in 7-8+ hours to get a few frames of George Clooney. For the average working American that’s a full day’s work!

Have you ever done the math in that?

If you are one of the lucky few to sell that perfect headshot of George of Gywneth or whomever you will probably get paid 75 dollars. That’s assuming of course that your picture will be selected over mine or that guy who comes in at the very last minute and always seems to get his stuff published - from the third row (Power to him!).
So 75 dollars divided by 7 hours- That’s about 10 dollars an hour!
This of course is assuming that imaging will only take several minutes.

– Now here's another factor. Because you arrived at 10 or 11 am to this the rest of us are also forced to arrive earlier than we usually might. So if I am the one to sell that 75 dollar headshot to People my take will also be divided by x number of hours.

Yes I am aware that in stock photography we will make more than one sale-possibly.
However these days we won’t make too many more. Read your statements people-study them!

George is having his premiere on Friday! Generally speaking next week the person we shoot will be in better fashion and more amicable to photographers in Europe or LA.

Back to the Letterman door - that Lindsay in the black dress, or Jlo in the tan outfit or even George will quickly fall to the wayside on many editor's lightboxes.
Considering this – do you realize that you are considerably reducing the amount of money that we are making from this shot?
That’s right! You are screwing up the whole business for the rest of us.
I have to get there early now so that I get a better spot than third row! With magazines paying less and less money per photo and YOU making us put in more hours we will get pennies for that stupid headshot. Perhaps you have nothing better to do with your life. Perhaps you feel very comfortable sitting on your ass on a tiny stool on a public sidewalk of New York City all day long.

Don’t you feel like a homeless person? Get used to it.
The way things are going you just might be one day!
Just do me a favor—don’t drag the rest of us down with you!
I would like to shoot other events during the day without having to wait all day for one picture.

Hint: if you get off your ass which by now has a huge imprint of your turtle stool on it (and has probably grown from your sedentary work ethic) , and start making more than one set of pictures (i.e. go to different events) you might actually start making money!

George Clooney is big – but the need for his picture in market is very finite in the bigger scheme of things.
I have gotten him very well in the past (when he was even younger and more popular).
A couple years later the aggregate sales still do not equate a full day’s work.

But don’t worry - when the time comes, I’ll put money in your cup to make up for it.

What Is The Deal With No Sarah?

New Yorkers for Children Gala
Cipriani's, 42nd St.
6pm

Sarah Jessica Parker was on the inital press tip sheet.
The closest Sarah got to Cipriani's tonight was on a passing bus advertisement.

But hey...we got Anna Wintour (not posing), Ahn Duong, Tinsley Mortimer, Debbie Bancroft, Dayssi Olarte de Kanavos and Russell Simmons. A real who's who of who cares. Oh yea, they almost all wore black, on an unlit arrivals area, at night. YEAH!

Seinfeld/Jessica gave us a great expression (see photo), Lenny Kravitz showed (all in black), posed quickly, and Melissa Etheridge ran by.

Paris Hilton Blames Paparazzi For Ticket

Los Angeles, CA (AHN) - Paris Hilton is issued a ticket in Beverly Hills for making an improper turn and equipment violation.

The hotel heiress was on her way up Rodeo Drive in her Bentley when officers asked her to stop.

Onlookers claim Paris tried to coax the officers, telling them she was trying to escape ensuing paparazzi.

Photographer Frank Rohmer tells The New York Post, "She was pointing at us, saying that it was our fault. She always drives crazy."

The "Simple Life" star could face a $300 fine.

Leo Looks In Every 'Direction'

No Direction Home: Bob Dylan DVD screening
Ziegfeld Theater
September 19, 2005/ 5pm arrivals.

This was one of the better arrival set ups that I hyave seen in a while. Red carpet extended from theater half way down the block towards 6th Ave. Long seamless backdrop, risers provided, and large studio lights every 20 ft. illuminating the carpet.

It looked great, but there wasn't much to shoot.

Leonardo DiCaprio arrived, and mildly posed. Wasn't a 'great' take, but you could pull out some photos. After that, it fell off. Matt Damon, Mike Myers were on the list but no shows.

Fashion Hell Week

I could post every day about how good/bad Fashion Week is going....but I'll leave it as an open posting forum, day by day....as things evolve.

So... Please share your stories!

CAAN BLASTS PAPARAZZI COMPLAINERS

Movie veteran JAMES CAAN has blasted celebrities who complain about paparazzi intrusion - insisting they should be thrilled that snappers recognise them.

THE GODFATHER star claims he has never had a bad encounter with the paparazzi, and he encourages them to take pictures of him.

He says, "When you start in this business, you pray for the day that people recognise you, that's your goal. And now these schmucks get there and then they go, 'Leave me alone.'

"What are you talking about? If I was a doctor... I'd have to expect phone calls at three in the morning - that's part of their job."

Protesters and Paparazzi Punctuate 'Life' Premiere

AN UNFINISHED LIFE screening
DGA Theater
September 7, 2005

Gosh...this was a great mess.

Fist of all, this is a small theater, right on a busy 57th Street. Anytime a screening is held here it always turns out to be a headache. And this time was no exception.

It looked good on paper. The arrival area the PR created was the best I’ve seen at this theater. Red carpet, backdrop, and even a riser was built. Shooters were able to go two deep on the ground and the riser was close enough for a third row. But...the front row was very close to the backdrop, so it was a tight crop.

Secondly, PETA had a bunch of protesters at the beginning of the carpet and at the theater entrance. Security was nice enough to warn me in advance that JLo wasn't going to walk the carpet. I tried to warn my fellow shooters that this was going to get even uglier, but it was at this time that....

JLo and Marc arrive. Now remember, there are about 40+ shooters facing the backdrop, lining the entire carpet, in a very small cramped area, with chanting protesters a few feet away, with rush hour traffic...and Jlo and Marc pull up to the theater and exit their SUV by the entrance of the theater. Not by the beginning of the carpet. They were then whisked into the theater and didn't pose for any of the photogs that had been waiting for hours.

So to make up for the debauchee, the PR decides they are going to escort all the shooters into the theater for a photo-op. HA HA HA! Yea...that'll work. Only the photogs on 'their list' were allowed into the theater (about 20) leaving another 20+ with nothing.

The only good thing to come of this is if you waited for exits. There were about 5 of us waiting on the street but the SUV for them to exit. Security and the police moved us behind a barricade to the right of the theater's doors. Somewhere about 10:15p they exit. And they pose....and pose....and pose. Together and then JLo even gives us fashion's. We shot for a good 2 minutes straight. But if you were buy the SUV's door, tempers flared between security and photogs. A lot of pushing and shoving created a small 'scene', but nothing too drastic.

You can read Liz Smith's take on the whole thing HERE.

FASHION ROCKS The Red Carpet

Fashion Rocks at Radio City Music Hall
6-8pm arrivals
September 8, 2005

The PR said there was no room. We proved them wrong! There was tons of room provided for TV, print, photo, radio and who ever else wanted to cover the event.

Arrivals ran from the stage doors of Radio City on 51st St. to the entrances towards the corner towards 6th Ave. They provided a two level riser to accommodate all the media.

There was a strict credential process which required calls to the PR, faxing letters, pre-marked spots. What did those who didn't have a credential do? They (including myself) walked down the middle of the street, right into the press area with no hassle! Go figure.

That being said, arrivals ran very smoothly. All the talent stopped, posed and were accommodating. Lisa Presley, Gwen Stefani, Alicia Keys, Beyonce, Rebecca Romijn, Heather Graham, Petra Nemcova, Shakira, Joss Stone, Ashanti, Macy Gray, Nelly....damn good list if you ask me!

Charlotte: Paparazzi make me smoke

Charlotte Church says it's the paparazzi's fault she can't stop smoking.

She says she craves cigarettes when photographers follow her around.

She said: "I've been trying to give up smoking so I was quite irritable as you can imagine. And they were following us around and I just wanted to throw something at them.

"I've not be using the nicotine patches, just willpower. But I have been told to chew on a straw every time I want a cigarette."

The singer said she has managed to cut down from 20-a-day to just two or three after meals reports ITV.com.

Realizing the health threat that camera equipment may cause to celebrities, Lexar and SanDisk have teamed up to offer Compact Flash cards in Regular, Light, 100's and Menthol.

Actresses Fight Back At Paparazzi

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Hollywood celebrities are at war.

Their target: the very people who help make them stars — photographers.

In recent months, three young A-list actresses have been in dangerous chases or collisions involving swarms of SUV-driving paparazzi.

Lindsay Lohan, 19, suffered cuts and bruises after her Mercedes was smashed by a minivan driven by a photographer; Scarlett Johansson, 20, sideswiped a car while fleeing swarms of paparazzi who had chased her for an hour; and Reese Witherspoon, 29, claims photographers used their vehicles to box in her car outside her gym, then followed her home, where they blocked her gate.

The stars and their handlers say some celebrity photographers are out of control, having crossed the line from doing their jobs to breaking the law.

"They'll do anything to provoke the stars," says legendary Hollywood publicist Warren Cowan, who has guided the careers of Paul Newman and Kirk Douglas and whose firm now handles red-hot Eva Longoria. "They really are stalkers."

The stars are fighting back.

Read the rest of the article HERE.