Tazio Secchiaroli: Greatest of the Paparazzi

Sophia Loren, Marcello Mastroianni, Ava Gardner, Vanessa Redgrave, Gregory Peck -- these are just a few of the celebrities photographed by Tazio Secchiaroli (1925-1998) during the 1950s and 1960s. Secchiaroli, who began his career as a photojournalist, was the inspiration for a character in Federico Fellini's 1960 film La Dolce Vita, in which the term paparazzo was first heard.In this first book on the Italian photographer, 200 stunning duotone reproductions show why Secchiaroli's pictures were in great demand throughout his career. He pioneered the art of public exposure, leading fellow paparazzi in the quest for the most suggestive, even scandalous, pictures of their chosen subjects. But he sought to achieve greater artistry and ultimately left his paparazzo experiences behind.

Secchiaroli was Fellini's official set photographer and spent 20 years as Sophia Loren's personal photographer. In this gallery of subtle glances, sensuous gestures, and beautiful portraits, a glamorous Italy comes alive.