RON GALELLA ^©  

(New York, 1931 - Montville, New Jersey, 2022)

(Diptych, photo 1 by Joe Smith)

2 Vintage gelatin silver prints

Photo 1 cm 24, 5 x 15 - Photo 2 cm 24 x 19,5

Each signed, titled, dated and stamped on verso

Each framed (black wood) size cm 42 x 37

 

It was late in the afternoon around 4.30 PM. I finished photographing a model, Joe Smith, who needed pictures for her portfolio. I wasn’t getting payed for it so I thought I might as well shoot in Central Park across from Jackie’s apartment in case I get lucky, and I did! Upon leaving the park I saw Jackie leave her apartment on 85th Street and head towards Madison Avenue. Joy could not believe it was Jackie! We were behind her at 85th street and Madison Avenue. Jackie made a left going north. I decided not to run in front of her, if I did she would have put on those dark glasses. So we hopped a cab to get in front of her so she couldn’t see me. “Follow that woman!” I told the cab driver. For once, Jackie’s instincts were all wrong; instead of turning away she turned right towards ma after hearing the first two clicks of the camera from the cab window. After getting out of the cab she spotted me and immediately put on sungalsses. I then handed Joy one of my cameras with a wide angle lens and prefocused to 15 feet. I told her to get the two of us together. Both Joy and I were clicking and laughing until Jackie furious turned and said “Are you pleased with yourself?” Well I knew then to stop and said “Thank you !” This is my favorite photo because it captures the qualities of paparazzi style; offguard, unrehearsed, spontaneous; the dramatic soft backlighting and the over-the-shoulder composition show her at her sexiest. She was casually dressed, wore no make-up and her hair was windblown which all added up to natural beauty. This is in contrast to the usual studio style picture. All the natural elements worked for me, including a little luck! Da Vinci had his “Mona Lisa” and I have my “Windblown Jackie”, my favorite, the most famous photo of Jackie.

Ron Galella

© 2004 Photology Editions

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