Ron Galella defines paparazzi. Presented here are approximately 150 images from the American photographer’s extensive archive of famous people caught unaware, posing for the camera, hiding from the camera, loving the attention (as evidenced by open smiles), or hating it (as evidenced by outstretched palms or raised middle fingers). Galella has always tried to capture the moments when these stars come down from their gilded pedestals to become persons. This collection of images is accompanied by often-hilarious diary entries from Galella—how he got the images, where they were taken, what the public’s reaction was to seeing their favorite stars in person. A lot of material is covered here—cities like New York, Hollywood, Las Vegas, and stars like Andy Warhol, Barbara Streisand, Jackie Onassis, Cher, Sammy Davis, Jr., John Travolta, Frank Sinatra, Warren Beatty, and numerous others. Galella’s Nikon has captured them all.

Published: 2004