A rare occasion in which to see young Richard Avedon photographing Sofia Loren; helping her choose the dress to wear, adjusting her hair, and deciding which earrings to use before going behind his Rolleiflex. You can go on a lunch break during Fellini’s 8 1/2 where cast and extras are captured off guard, see Anna Magnani and Tennessee Williams on Via Veneto, and De Sica on break with Sofia Loren on his lap.
Most of the photographs were taken during 1960’s golden era of the Italian film industry, Secchiaroli was Fellini’s inspiration for the roles of the photographers that follow Mastroianni in the movie “La Dolce Vita”. He was a named “Paparazzo” by Ennio Flaiano, one of the movies screenwriters that found the name in George Gessing’s book By The Ionian Sea.
Secchiaroli was probably the first photographer to understand the value of images of film celebrities caught in candid, and sometimes embarrassing, moments.
luca zordan 