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17 Risky Photos From ‘Golden Age Of Paparazzi’ Exhibit That Prove They Were Even More Annoying Back Then
While the paparazzi are often harshly vilified by the media, celebrities, and onlookers alike, a new photo series exhibit at the Centro Italiano per la Fotografia in Turin presents their controversial work as a unique art form.
The term 'paparazzo' (plural: paparazzi) was introduced to the world via Walter Santesso's role as a persistent news photographer in Federico Fellini's iconic 1960 film, La Dolce Vita. This started both a cultural 'Golden Age' in Italy and a rampant international increase in brazen cameramen invading the personal space of famous people for that perfect, intimate, newsworthy shot. Some popular celebrities were flattered, while others became violent. Artists and photo editors, such as the British Alison Jackson, even resorted to staging 'scandalous' photos of the rich and famous using lookalike actors.
The profession's glory days came to a screeching halt in 1997 when Princess Diana's tragic death in a Paris car crash was blamed by some media outlets on the paparazzi who chased her in a nearby vehicle. Today, the paparazzi face numerous legal restrictions as the catalysts for anti-stalking and harassment bills in many countries, and many are currently under restraining orders.
Whether you love or hate the job, the vintage photos showcased at Arrivano i Paparazzi in Turin provide a nostalgic window into the past, as well as a poignant commentary on the struggle for privacy famous people still face. Scroll down to see our favorite black and white photos, and vote for the ones that made the most impact on you.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Anita Ekberg Facing The Paparazzi With Bow And Arrows, October 20, 1960
Cesi Baca 8 years ago
Love how the paparazzi are wearing suits, as if they were doing a real job.
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Matthew Hyder 7 years ago
Whoa, scary. XD Getting all up in people's business sounds really frustrating though. :( To be honest, I kind of wish I was famous and loved by people, but I hate if it was only for my work or I had to deal with a lot of papparazi or even gossip if I did anything people thought was bad or something... I like, hardly ever get people to respond to me on yhe internet ehich is the only place I have to interact with people though... Sorry for making that depressing, didn't think I'd even have so much to say about this. :?
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#2
Kate Moss And David Bowie, 2003
Yvonne Bernal 8 years ago
RELAX folks - YES, this is staged because it is one of many pics from a photoshoot of David Bowie and Kate Moss taken by the great Ellen von Unwerth for the October 2003 issue of Q magazine.
Cesi Baca 8 years ago
This was a photo shoot for the 2003/May issue of British Vogue magazine. The photographer who did the shoot is well known and repsepcted., hardly paparazzi.........Come on Boredpanda, took me a minute to find this online.
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Gwinevere von Ludwig 8 years ago
Thank you Yvonne. I mean, I don't really know what this was trying to prove anyway (if the photo weren't staged). Bowie had been happily married to Iman for 11 years at this point, and Kate Moss was never anything more than a loving friend/fan. We miss you Bowie!!
#3
Jackie Kennedy Captured By A Celebrity Photographer While Walking Quietly On Madison Avenue In New York. October, 1971
lazy panda 8 years ago
There was a documentary about Jackie on Netflix a while back and apparently, this photographer stalked her to the point where she had to take out a restraining order on him.
Agnes Jekyll 8 years ago
This is an iconographic photograph of her; it sucks that it was taken under such nasty circumstances. I'll look at it differently from now on. Glad I have the full story.
Amina Hays 8 years ago
A car honked its horn which made her turn around, that's when this picture was snapped.
DancingToMyself 8 years ago
"Without any breasts" - said my stupid German teacher. :/
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#4
Brigitte Bardot Leaves The Hotel Forum. Rome, 1965
Matthew Hyder 7 years ago
I find it funny that there's pictures taken of people taking pictures. :p
DancingToMyself 8 years ago
Her head looks enormous in this pic. And she was such a beautiful lady!
Ged Maybury 8 years ago
She WAS a giant compared to those sleezy low-lifes. [acknowledging "Hampster" for the observation.]
Little Menace 8 years ago
You must not know her at all, because her name is Brigitte, not Bridget. Plus [as a titbit], I actually had my hair ruffled by this lady in 1969, when I was a toddler standing behind her in a queue for at a cheese stand in St. Tropez.
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#5
Tazio Secchiaroli Flees An Angry Walter Chiari. The Actor At The Time Was In A Relationship With Superstar Ava Gardner And Was Followed Every Step By Paparazzi. Rome, 1957
Agnes Jekyll 8 years ago
Before Paparazzi sued! Chiari has two fists with his name on both of them.
#6
Sofia Loren At Ciampino Airport, Returning From The United States. Rome, November 14th, 1961
just a thought ! 8 years ago
I know she must have not liked this ... But I really like this pic...
#7
Aiché Nanà's Striptease At Rugantino's Restaurant, Rome 1958. Aiché Nanà And Tazio Secchiaroli, Whom Took The Picture, Were Both Fellini's Inspirations For The Film "La Dolce Vita." The Film's Character Paparazzo, Inspired By Secchiaroli, Is The Origin Of The Word Paparazzi
Raquel Leal 8 years ago
The difference between the men and women faces and body language is great!
blugeagua 8 years ago
I don’t know, the one woman in th very front looks like she’s secretly enjoying the view.
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Maura Donnelly 7 years ago
Please look up the difference between "who" and "whom" and when to use them CORRECTLY.
#8
Don Gussoni Quarrels With Photographer Giacomo Alexis, Rome 1959
#9
Photojournalist Tazio Secchiaroli Hides Armed With His Camera. Rome, 1958
Matthew Hyder 7 years ago
Geez, hiding with an expression like that, he looks like a sleazy peeping tom that should be aware of how shady he is or whatever. :p
#10
Lucien Benedetti And Marina Meucci Stand Against The Photographer. Rome, Circa 1965
#11
Stefania Sandrelli. Rome, Early 60s
#12
Soraya's Arrival At Termini Station Attracts The Attention Of "Assault Photographers"
Matthew Hyder 7 years ago
I'd like to see someone turn the tables and see how they like it. :p Go papparazzi on the papparazzi! XD
Load More Replies... Echo 8 years ago
Yeah really. Some of these I am just like. Look dude you wanted to be famous. Deal with a guy wanting to snap pictures of you while in public. But this proves the other side of the problem. You should be disturbed or detained because someone won't keep away from you. Just wow.
#13
Anthony Steel Lashes Out Against Photographers. Rome, August 1958
Ok Ha-Neul 8 years ago
he's getting chased and still taking pictures? wow this dude has the dedication of a thousand hungry roaches
Matthew Hyder 7 years ago
LOL, it would be alnost funny if it wasn't kind of sad. XD He kind of looks like he's making an Arnold Schwarzanagger face or something. :p
#14
Alain Delon And Romy Schneider Dance During The Golden Age Ciak Evening At Brigadoon Restaurant. Rome, July 29, 1961
#16
Marilyn Monroe Lookalike Underessing Before Jfk Impersonator
Alusair Alustriel 8 years ago
Lookalike and impostor... I thought paparazzi were after the real deal.
Chess Wizard 8 years ago
You must have missed that bit in the intro. " Artists and photo editors, such as the British Alison Jackson, even resorted to staging 'scandalous' photos of the rich and famous using lookalike actors."
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#17
Patrizia Pellegrino With Her Children Play On The Marina Beach
Amina Hays 8 years ago
Oh stop getting your knickers in a twist, it's just a mother playing with her children several years ago. Get over it.
Amina Hays 7 years ago
Regarding the people saying this is horrifying and other words to that effect, I'm just curious as to what you think a water PISTOL should look like, instead of a PISTOL shaped water PISTOL? I just like saying pistol. Pistol pistol pistol :-)
Bama Katt 5 years ago
THANK YOU. I know lots of people are afraid of guns, like a handgun is gonna up and attack you its own, and I've seen that carried to some pretty ridiculous extremes. But being afraid a pistol shaped squirt gun even EXISTED, that's a new one. Oh noes!! Look what she's teaching the children!! She's teaching them that be frightened little lemmings for the rest of their lives if they don't learn how to read context.
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Add New Image
What do you think ?
Melissa Nunya 8 years ago
I remember seeing a paparazzi picture of Jennifer Lawrence in a bathing suit. It said some cute headline about her but when you looked at the picture, she looked like she was trying to get away from the photographer and her face is distressed. I couldn't believe they posted it. It was disturbing.
Katinka Min 8 years ago
I don't understand why people want their stars to look horrible, upset, sad etc. The whoe point of a star is to be glamorous and sell a dream, an illusion. And to get these 'candid' pictures paparazzi are absolut c*nts towards the stars, cussing at them, harrassing them, scaring them etc. They rang Amy Winehouses doorbell shouting that one of her friends is dying outside - and then sold a picture of a dishevelled and distraught Amy to the mags. I don't understand why that is legal.
Taryn Wallace 8 years ago
While I agree that a lot of the time they are hounded mercilessly I will say that it is nothing new. Without paparazzi we wouldn't get such gems as the Kardashians or Paris Hiltons who are literally famous for being famous.... unfortunately for them it is a lifestyle choice and they did kinda know what was in store when they signed up for it. I'm not saying it's right unfortunately it is just how it is.
Gayle Bynum Cardosa 8 years ago
Taryn I hope you will see my comment below and perhaps change your opinion a little. People often use that "it's what they signed up for" excuse but that's not a real thing. Nobody signs up for fame. People become actors because they like to act. They don't start because they think they'll become famous. People like the Kardashians enjoy the paps and invite them in which is why they have a show. The rest of them didn't "sign up for" the hounding nor did they sign up for anything else. They chose an artistic profession that has it's ups and downs. It's extremely unfair of people to say that. Most people have a perception of what it's like and they're very much off base. They're not massive a******s doing yoga and eating wheat grass shakes and demanding only yellow M&M's while throwing cell phones at assistants. There are so many stories that are 100% false or half false. People base their thoughts on famous people with no real idea of what they're like and it's not fair.
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S. 8 years ago
The paparazzi can and is often a pain in the neck. And celebrities DEFINITELY did not "sign up for this", as many peeps are stating. I strongly agree with Gayla; no human beings deserve to be photographed 24x7 mainly because they're famous celebrities. We don't know how is the life of a celebrity. Although, it is true that there are some celebrities who don't mind the paps. But still, celebrities still deserve privacy.
Black Dahlia 8 years ago
If you don't like the notoriety f being famous then don't become famous. It's not like it's forced upon you like winning the lottery.
Kristel Bijnen 8 years ago
I agree to a certain degree. But at the same time, why don't they just leave them alone. They are just human beings like us. Yes, they have a talent, but why take photo's to show the world. They are equal to every other human being on earth. Having a talent or not. And we do not get photographed daily.
Load More Replies...
Gayle Bynum Cardosa 8 years ago
that's such b******t. They're entitled to have a life. I am often employed by celebrities and spend lots of time with them. They are mercilessly hounded by photographers and people. Out on a boat (I work on private yachts) people will literally paddle out to our boat or come as close as they can and there will be helicopters buzzing us. We have to close our blinds because there are people with telephoto cameras everywhere. It's ridiculous to expect that someone is expected to be "on the job" 24/7 just because they make more money than the average person and the "love the fame/money". Do you like your job? Do you like the money you make? Do you think you should be expected to work 24 hours a day and be on call all the time because of it? No. So why should they?
Load More Replies... Melissa Nunya 8 years ago
I remember seeing a paparazzi picture of Jennifer Lawrence in a bathing suit. It said some cute headline about her but when you looked at the picture, she looked like she was trying to get away from the photographer and her face is distressed. I couldn't believe they posted it. It was disturbing.
Katinka Min 8 years ago
I don't understand why people want their stars to look horrible, upset, sad etc. The whoe point of a star is to be glamorous and sell a dream, an illusion. And to get these 'candid' pictures paparazzi are absolut c*nts towards the stars, cussing at them, harrassing them, scaring them etc. They rang Amy Winehouses doorbell shouting that one of her friends is dying outside - and then sold a picture of a dishevelled and distraught Amy to the mags. I don't understand why that is legal.
Taryn Wallace 8 years ago
While I agree that a lot of the time they are hounded mercilessly I will say that it is nothing new. Without paparazzi we wouldn't get such gems as the Kardashians or Paris Hiltons who are literally famous for being famous.... unfortunately for them it is a lifestyle choice and they did kinda know what was in store when they signed up for it. I'm not saying it's right unfortunately it is just how it is.
Gayle Bynum Cardosa 8 years ago
Taryn I hope you will see my comment below and perhaps change your opinion a little. People often use that "it's what they signed up for" excuse but that's not a real thing. Nobody signs up for fame. People become actors because they like to act. They don't start because they think they'll become famous. People like the Kardashians enjoy the paps and invite them in which is why they have a show. The rest of them didn't "sign up for" the hounding nor did they sign up for anything else. They chose an artistic profession that has it's ups and downs. It's extremely unfair of people to say that. Most people have a perception of what it's like and they're very much off base. They're not massive a******s doing yoga and eating wheat grass shakes and demanding only yellow M&M's while throwing cell phones at assistants. There are so many stories that are 100% false or half false. People base their thoughts on famous people with no real idea of what they're like and it's not fair.
Load More Replies... S. 8 years ago
The paparazzi can and is often a pain in the neck. And celebrities DEFINITELY did not "sign up for this", as many peeps are stating. I strongly agree with Gayla; no human beings deserve to be photographed 24x7 mainly because they're famous celebrities. We don't know how is the life of a celebrity. Although, it is true that there are some celebrities who don't mind the paps. But still, celebrities still deserve privacy.
Black Dahlia 8 years ago
If you don't like the notoriety f being famous then don't become famous. It's not like it's forced upon you like winning the lottery.
Kristel Bijnen 8 years ago
I agree to a certain degree. But at the same time, why don't they just leave them alone. They are just human beings like us. Yes, they have a talent, but why take photo's to show the world. They are equal to every other human being on earth. Having a talent or not. And we do not get photographed daily.
Load More Replies... Gayle Bynum Cardosa 8 years ago
that's such b******t. They're entitled to have a life. I am often employed by celebrities and spend lots of time with them. They are mercilessly hounded by photographers and people. Out on a boat (I work on private yachts) people will literally paddle out to our boat or come as close as they can and there will be helicopters buzzing us. We have to close our blinds because there are people with telephoto cameras everywhere. It's ridiculous to expect that someone is expected to be "on the job" 24/7 just because they make more money than the average person and the "love the fame/money". Do you like your job? Do you like the money you make? Do you think you should be expected to work 24 hours a day and be on call all the time because of it? No. So why should they?
Load More Replies...
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