When we think of either paparazzi or spy cameras, I believe most of us wouldn’t connect them with the late 19th century. Photographer and scientist Carl Størmer (1874 – 1957) had an unusual and controversial hobby at the time. He was only nineteen years old when he walked around Oslo with a spy camera hidden underneath his vest. He was secretly taking photos of famous men and women of the time. because of this, he is sometimes referred to as “Norway’s first paparazzi.”
Photographer sues model Gigi Hadid over unpermitted instagram post
by 44 Comments
Famous model Gigi Hadid is being sued for copyright infringement. Last week, Photographer Peter Cepeda filed a lawsuit against her because she posted his photo of her on Instagram without his permission. She allegedly ripped the photo from a news outlet, removed the credit byline, and posted the photo to her profile. By doing this, she violated the copyright law, so Cepeda and his agency INF decided to file a lawsuit.
French president sues photographer for secretly photographing him on a vacation
by 14 Comments
Unlike some previous French presidents, Emmanuel Macron demanded privacy while on vacation. However, this didn’t prevent a paparazzi photographer to stalk him around Marseillee. He even entered the president’s private property to take the photos, which was the last drop. After this, Macron reported him to the authorities, and he has filed a legal complaint.
Khloe Kardashian is being sued for posting a photo of herself to Instagram
by 4 Comments
I don’t normally care what the Kardashians do. This current suit being brought against Khloe Kardashian, however, highlights something rather important. It’s something often misunderstood by clients, celebrities, and the general public alike. Just because you appear in a photograph does not mean that you have the legal right to use it.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, “KoKo” apparently hasn’t heard this rather important fact before. It’s not uncommon knowledge that celebrities have a love-hate relationship with the paparazzi. But regardless of what you might think some of their ethical standards, their rights still stand. Including Copyright. Kardashian is being sued by UK based photo agency, Xposure Photos.
Anti-paparazzi scarf has become a popular celebrity fashion accessory that’s rendered completely useless by turning off the flash
by 13 Comments
It’s a neat idea. Anti-paparazzi clothing. Clothes that makes photographing you a fruitless exercise. The idea first came up at the beginning of last year, when Chris Holmes came up with the Anti-Paparazzi Collection. This recently popular version has been made by ISHU.
It’s a fairly simple concept, that works on exactly the same principles as signs on the highway that shine bright in your car’s headlights, or Hi-Vis clothing to help cyclists and pedestrians be seen when out in the dark. For those applications, it works brilliantly.
California Governor puts an end to paparazzi drones
by 1 Comment
Just three days after California Governor rejected several drone-related bills, the Los Angeles Times reports that Gov. Jerry Brown signed legislation intended to protect the rich and famous from the prying eyes of the paparazzi.
Bill AB 856 expands privacy protections by changing the definition of a “physical invasion of privacy” to include a drone invading the airspace above private property in order to record video, sound or capture photographs.
Violators of the new law will face fines ranging from $5,000 to $50,000.
Flashback Anti-Paparazzi Clothing Now a Reality. Nay Sayers, Eat Your Hats. Maybe.
by 10 Comments
Several readers and many people I spoke with were unimpressed by the anti-paparazzi clothing we covered last month.
The most common response was “I’ll believe it when I see it”. Well, it’s time to start believing.
A crowdfunding campaign has successfully raised the necessary funds for the Flashback Photobomber Hoodie and Silver-Screen Scarf to start shipping in August.
The fabric used in this line of clothing is embedded with glass nanospheres that reflect light and therefore mess up the exposure of photos taken with a flash.
However, its main feature might also be its weak spot.
Justin Bieber’s Defense For Running Over A Paparazzo: “He Refused To Move”, And I Don’t Blame Him
by 8 Comments
The singer’s lawyers have requested to dismiss a civil lawsuit filed by paparazzo Walter Lee who claims he was hit by Bieber’s Ferarri back in 2013, arguing it was Lee’s fault.
A video of the incident leaves some doubt as to the paparazzo’s claims and will kind of make you hate anyone holding a camera.
Meanwhile, Bieber tried avoiding a visit to the courthouse in another paparazzi-related lawsuit, claiming it would be too expensive for him to show up.
New Line Of Reflective Clothing Determined To Battle Paparazzi Flash Photography
by 9 Comments
The paparazzi can be a pain in the butt if you’re a celebrity, assuming you didn’t call them on yourself, but a line of concept clothing is threatening to fight back.
The brainchild of Chris Holmes, who you might have seen DJing for Sir Paul McCartney, the Anti-Paparazzi Collection consists of clothes designed to bounce back the paparazzo’s flash and overexpose the photos. The flash-back is attained thanks to the reflective threads of which the clothes are made.
Even if launched, the clothes won’t render Roman Abramovich’s anti-paparazzi laser useless.
With Photography Comes Responsibility: Why Recent Paparazzi Activities Are Dangerous for Photographers and Their Rights
by 11 Comments
We’ve done reports over stories that we hear of how people have been treated by police when practicing photography in public. Most of the time they’re journalists, bystanders, or someone trying to expose police in acts they probably shouldn’t be committing in the first place. And we’ve always treated the subject with importance because photography isn’t a crime. A state isn’t truly free if it isn’t a state that builds on a right to a freedom of speech, and photography is one method of that freedom of speech. But what about when photography itself is used in an abusive manner? Like the case just a few weeks back involving the subway guy from Massachusetts? Photographers should never be punished for taking pictures in public, but that statement itself comes with responsibilities on the photographers themselves. I want to focus a bit on something that really blurs the line between what’s appropriate and what isn’t: paparazzi photography.
This post comes after recent news of Kanye West settling a case involving an incident last July in where he assaulted a photographer as he was trying to leave the LAX airport. Before you pick up your pitchforks at me bringing him up, understand why I decided to bring him up. Out of any of the many celebrities that are mobbed today by paparazzi, Kanye West is arguably the most controversial through how may times his impulsive actions have become headlines for paparazzi on TMZ.[Read More…]
