EOC Week 6: Ron Galella

Ron Galella is a paparazzo photographer with a great reputation. “[He] is clearly willing to take great risks to get the perfect shot. As a result, he has endured two highly publicized court battles with Jacqueline Kennedy-Onassis, a broken jaw at the hands of Marlon Brando, and a serious beating by Richard Burton’s bodyguards before being jailed in Cuernavaca, Mexico.” (http://www.rongalella.com/about-ron.html). I personally do not like his photography methods. I feel as if he is a stalker with a camera at hand. He invades people’s lives and shares his photos with the whole world. If I was the subject of his photos, I also would be very upset. Ron Galella constantly in my face with a camera is not a way I would like to live my life.

On the other hand, the subjects that he is shooting are famous people; famous people who should know that they are, and will always be in the public eye. Also, (even though I do not like this type of work) Ron Galella has made a name for him.

Ron's body of work exhibited at museums and galleries throughout the world, including the Museum of Modern Art in both New York and San Francisco, the Tate Modern in London, and the Helmut Newton Foundation Museum of Photography in Berlin. Ron's passion for photojournalism has also given rise to many highly acclaimed books including Disco Years (PowerHouse, 2009), which was honored as Best Photography Book of 2006 by The New York Times, and Smash His Camera, a documentary of his life and career by Oscar-winning director, Leon Gast (When We Were Kings, 1996), which premiered at the 2010 Sundance Film Festivaland received the Grand Jury Award for Directing in the U.S. Documentary category. (http://www.rongalella.com/about-ron.html)

The work that I have seen by Ron Galella is a fine art feel to them. His photos are not of celebrities coming out of the car with no panties on, it is more than that. My favorite one is of Jackie O riding her bike with her son, or the one with the woman walking into a building with an umbrella covering her face. Even though these celebrities try to hide their face or try to avoid him, their characteristics show through the photos.

As I reflect on what I have just blogged, I realize that I am on both sides of liking/disliking Ron Galella. To clarify, I respect Ron Galella on doing what he is passionate for. If being a paparazzo keeps him smiling and enjoying life, the so be it. However for me, I could not see myself doing what he does for a career.