Here Come the Venice Paparazzi!
By Karl
Abrams
Whether it’s a local red carpet
event with cameras flashing or a Venetian bohemian reading poetry on the beach,
the photographers of the Venice Paparazzi will probably be there,
enthusiastically snapping spontaneous photos that are, if you have no
objections, blended together into a beautifully crafted internet web site
(venicepaparazzi.com) for all to see. Here you will have your instant place in
Venice history and even--if you want-- a new sense of feeling like a
celebrity.
The Beachhead recently interviewed the team members
of the Venice Paparazzi. What became clear in the interview was their
collective vision to make everyone in Venice feel important, in whatever they
do. Each member of the paparazzi team seem to delight in this endeavor
with artistic dedication.
They are not
the paparazzi that many people might picture however. They don’t jump out
of shadowy hiding places to scare the likes of Princess Diana. The staff of the
Venice Paparazzi have a much different style and a way of making everybody feel
comfortable right away. And they don’t bug you like a relentless mosquito,
even though the word paparazzi actually means “mosquito” (in a
dialect of Italian) and Fellini first used it as the name of a nervous
photographer in La Dolce Vita.
Be
it at art openings or business parties, weight lifting or skate boarding,
competitive sports, or just hanging out on the boardwalk -- their photographs
are about the people of Venice expressing themselves. Edizen Stowell and her
team want their web site to become the first and foremost source of photographic
information about the people that make up our one-of-a-kind
community.
Edizen founded the
Venice Paparazzi (VP). It originally started off as Edizens.com in May
2006. The name was changed 5 months later to VenicePaparazzi.com to make it
easier for people to remember.
She
explained how her team is determined to artistically document the evolving
phenomenon of Venice on their online photo
album.
Her husband Alex, a Soviet
strength training specialist and professional extreme metal musician is also a
cofounder of the VP. Their photo careers began in 2003 when they opened their
“photo booth” on the west side of the Venice beach boardwalk where
they sold photo key chains and prints to locals and tourists alike. Alex sees
their present web site as a natural extension of their photo booth. The web site
offers photographs of the Venice lifestyle and culture, a Calendars of Events,
Recommended Things to Do, Interviews and Spotlights, as well as local business
and artist Directories. You can even download event registration forms for
Venice Recreation and Parks.
VP now does
video as well in a rather unique way. In the tradition of soapbox orators,
VP brings a “speakers corner” to Venice where locals can express
their opinions on current events. If you are interested in speaking your
mind, visit the VP “Outdoor Studio” set up on the Venice beach
boardwalk every second Sunday of the month between 1-4 PM. All videos will
be uploaded on the VP site, You Tube, and
MySpace.
VP also uses video to
highlight local businesses and organizations, as well as artists and community
members. Other local photographers and videographers who share VP’s love
of the “Spirit of Venice” have been quick to join
in.
J. Grant Buckerfield, Aoy Austin,
Jackie Burke, Jackie Martin and Sara Gepp are four more photographers on the
team who bring in their own special
touch.
J. Grant’s specialty is in
graphic design, photography and film production. When he's not taking shots for
the Venice Paparazzi, he's writing soundtracks for TV and film under the name
“Big Noise” (www.bignoise.tv). The ex-BBC radio producer has
written music for top TV shows and has worked with some of the UK's top DJs
including Pete Tong and Fatboy Slim. His creative talents will help VP grow and
evolve.
Aoy’s specialty is public
relations and sales. She is a venture capital consultant by trade and knows how
to help the VP expand.
Jackie Burke holds
a B.S. from East Carolina University in film production. Her expertise,
creativeness and energetic North Carolina style works well with the VP
team.
Jackie Martin, known to
Venice Paparazzi as “Jaxs” is the host of VP and brings an upbeat
quirkiness to interviews as she is very comfortable with people and cameras.
She loves diving into the unknown. That and her ferocious imagination is
perfect for the VP.
Sara Gepp is
relatively new to the VP crew. She’s a transplanted Minnesotan who
first became enchanted with Venice Beach in 1991. Holding degrees in both
fashion design and audio engineering, Sara lends a unique perspective on the
Venice beach lifestyle.
Together,
they offer full photographic services including red carpet events with roaming
photographers, graphics expertise and layout
design.
VP have also been getting
enthusiastic support from local artists and musicians, as well as shop owners
and boardwalk vendors. Even the Department of Recreation and Parks, the Rotary
Club of Venice and the Venice Chamber of Commerce support the VP. Councilman
Bill Rosendahl has expressed his enthusiasm as
well.
Although only in their first year,
the VP have already been presented with a "Certificate of Appreciation"
expressing the gratitude of the Los Angeles City Council and paying tribute to
their first year of service to the Venice
community.
Now, when the VP arrive at an
event, people get excited. Here comes the Venice Paparazzi they say, let
the party begin!
One question remains,
however. How will future historians view the history and people of Venice as
seen through the lens of the Venice Paparazzi? After studying the Paparazzi
website of Venice photographs, will they get a balanced picture of the spirit of
Venice? Will the homeless and the skateboarders, the artists and the poets and
the beats get their recognition too alongside the upscale parties of the rich
and famous? Only time will tell and the commitment of the VP to keep a balanced
perspective of the uniqueness that is Venice. So far, so good. The Beachhead
congratulates their efforts in being another unique way to keep the spirit of
Venice alive for future generations.
Posted: Tue - January 1, 2008 at 03:57 PM
