Photographers gone wrong

"The worldwide obsession with celebrities spawns on of the most fascinating and feared by-products of pop-culture...paparazzi." The opening line of an article written facing the epidemic of dangerous pictures.

http://people.howstuffworks.com/paparazzi.htm

This article is based on our cultures "voracious hunger for celebrity snap shots."

Exploring the hunt of the common paparazzi as well as the legal implications of public vs. private places. The more intrusive they are, the more money they will receive for their immoral photographs.

Paparazzi have even begun employing private detectives, some even have a network of modified stalkers or informers who site celebrities and are given compensation for tipping off the paparazzi. These informants can work in popular restaurants or salons, leading to mistrust and loss of business. Also, paparazzi are said to work along side autographers, a new breed of stalkers that ask for an autograph and sell it on eBay for money.

Tactics are also getting more extreme. Paparazzi have been known to rent helicopters or station themselves on rooftops to get a good shot, and if the event is held indoors, they will stage fake fire alarms or bomb threats. The methods being put into action are extremely illegal but these people are rewarded with big checks and front page pictures.

The article gives examples of crossing the line of legal vs. illegal
Intentional car accident with Catherine Zeta Jones to force her out of her vehicle.
Sean Penn has repeatedly been provoked for being known for his short temper and limited patience.
Susan Sarandon found a paparazzi camp stationed on her private property.

These are just a few examples of serious invasions of privacy.

Many celebrities are attempting to be proactive and release photos to the media before the paparazzi have the chance. Russel Crow and Heidi Klum have both practiced this action.

Celebrities should not have their privacy forced out of them, but it all comes with the job.