Longwood Gardens in Kennett Sq. Pa Christmas Display

I was having blog withdrawl and needed a fix so here I am with another Happy New Year Post. I first/last went to Longwood Gardens about 10 years ago. Mike was spontaneous and said he wanted to check it out again. The best time to go is in the evening when the trees are filled with lights to mimic their summer blossoms and others their evergreen spirit. These trees remind me of the Spanish Moss trees one would find in the Southern States, similar to the photo on my new friend from Louisiana's blog http://lesbourgeoisie.monroeblogs.com//lesbourgeoisie1.html Bald is beautiful, I love how these trees look without their leaves. As you stroll the grounds on your way to the Musical Fountain Show, or to tour the many Horticultural Houses, you come across acres and acres of evergreen looking trees decorated in the brightest holiday colors On closer inspection you can tell that they are just regular ole' trees and the lights hanging on them are in the evergreen triangular shape. I've changed my mind, I won't be starting my book online for a bit, I still have more things to say about life in NYC and celebrities. When I wasn't shooting celebrities, I was shooting the mayhem that went on around them and I was photographing everyday life in NYC; which resulted in about 12,000 photos, all of which I now must review and edit for future use. So come with me along the journey. HAPPY NEW YEAR again, and again. I must now clean our house to welcome our guests tonight.

A Few Things that Made my 2006 so Awesome, and a look towards the Future

One of my most proudest accomplishments this year was finally having two of my photographs published by Vision Graphics, which is a publishing company of significant photographic images of Philadelphia and other cities around the country. It's fairly hard to have your image picked to be published as just three people make the decision. I had always been a huge admire of the images that were picked, and then when they choose this image of The Betsy Ross House and another of the Liberty Bell, and just recently I got noticed that they will be printing a run of a B/W of the Philly City Skyline, I was really excited and honored. WOW I GOT TO LIVE, WORK and PLAY in NYC FOR A YEAR. A DREAM COME TRUE FOR ME!! This is my favorite shot, from Pier 23 near Battery Park. Its now under reconstruction as a recreation pier.Flat Iron Building to the rightNaked Cowboy in Times SquareI walked through Central Park as often as possiblePoet's WalkI saw the hustle and bustle of the crowd, which sometimes grated my nerves... My 15 Minutes of Fame (See sidebar for explanation) This is the last picture of Reese and Ryan together. This year my sister moved to Boston with her husband, and then they got pregnant. I went up to visit and we compared pregnancies. She's due to drop a few pounds and a baby Jan 24, I on the otherhand intend to succeed in dropping about 50 lbs over the next 7 months. Look for the updated photo in August as I loose my NYC+ weight .

I saw over 33 Broadway and Off-Broadway shows in 15 months After not knowing a soul for the first 7 months, I began meeting the nicest people who would become my friends and who I saw almost everyday for the next 9 months. Simon and Katie at the July 4th fireworks display on Roosevelt Island. Who knew I would discover a subculture of people who had similar interests as I (who would have known these people existed [this is us waiting outside the Ritz for Hilary Duff to return from dinner, eventually one of the girls called the hotel to see if Hilary was in [the girl who must be a huge fan, knew Hilary's secret name, which escapes me at the moment], they connected her to the room where Hilary answered the phone herself and told the girl she went in the backdoor and wouldn't be coming out for the rest of the night - LOL]) Some of the people I hung with the most, Nick, Dee, Cara and Kenny. David Letterman with Rebecca Romjim and the "Fans", crazy out of control "Dealers" who I will talk more about in the new year...(This is the side I would normally stand on as I was not "Press" yet) (Poor Rebecca whats that bump on her bum?)I also met a lot of photographers/paparazzi along the way who after they learned I wasn't a reporter befriended me and taught me a lot about the business. I am really grateful to Fernado who told me that most publications are only interested in photographs that are verticle, the long shot, as it fits on the page nicely next to the written word, it was great to meet Janet, Luis (who gave me a photo of Oprah and Me that he took), Luisa, Rick, coutless others whose names I didn't know, but faces I did, videographers David and Jonathan, Willem DeVries http://www.jossip.com/gossip/willem-devries/ , AND Especially MARGARITA AND CARMEN who taught me more in the 3 months that I knew them then anyone who befriended me in the entire 15 months, Hughie Get the FASHION SHOT. (I am irritated that I can't find the 3 photos I took of them in the midst of the 5,000 I took since meeting them) http://www.photoimagepress.com The shot below is outside of David Letterman's stage Door, in the background posing is Felicity Huffman.I also met a lot of "Tourists" who I spent a few hours waiting for celebs with and felt I had known them forever. It was really an amazing experience with Jane, Janet, Shea, Mike from England, Julie from Austrailia, and so many other people I met while out shooting celebrities. Here is Jane and Janet with Sam Rockwell at the 24hr Play also starring Jennifer Anisten.

Everyday I got to walk by the Library on my way to work. It's a beautiful building, with beautiful artwork inside and a storied past.

There's no doubt about it....Now I am back at home... enjoying the beautiful view from my balcony looking towards Center City PhilaNYC was an amazing adventure, a great work experience, I was wondering about my life in Philly, and really missing Mike (we often spoke 5xs a day). Now that I just spent an amazing three weeks getting to know my old life again, seeing friends, relatives and neighbors who all told me how nice it was to see me again, and that they missed me, it was an easy decision to make and I won't be persuing a paparazzi life in NYC. When the occassion arises I will persue it in Philly, I plan to continue to shoot for exhibititions, and as most of you don't know, my greeting card business, but I am most excited about getting the chance to wake up next to Mike everyday. I don't want to spend another day without him. My blog will still be live and I will utilize it to begin writing the draft to one of the two books I am working on (Frannie do we still know a publisher?). I have covertly interviewed dozens of photographers, dealers and celebrity stalkers and I took fairly good notes. +++++++++ We'll see how it goes, I think after a few entries everyone will be bored with the shallow vapid life of celebrities and their admires, at least that seemed to be the case for the presentation I put on last night at my apartment building for some of the residents (although truthfully they didn't know half the people, but seemed excited that I saw Sophia Loren)- LOL

Happy New Year 2007 -HughE2030

James Brown is Dead

James Brown, the dynamic, pompadoured "Godfather of Soul," whose rasping vocals and revolutionary rhythms made him a founder of rap, funk and disco as well, died early Monday, his agent said. He was 73. I shot this after the VMA's in August. I remember thinking, loudly "OH MY GOD I CAN"T BELIEVE THAT I JUST PHOTOGRAPHED JAMES BROWN, he's a legend!!" I was so incredibly honored that I got to see him up close and in person. I was waiting until his birthday in May to post the photo, as I had so many time relevant shots to post of the VMA's that early September. Sadly I post this photo on Christmas Day when I awoke to the shocking news of his death.

Rachael Ray and the "Dealers"

The other day when I was taking my photos of Rachael Ray's book signing in Philadelphia, I noticed there were other people working RR too. Whenever you see a guy carrying a USPS envelope there's a good chance he is an autograph dealer, collecting (or racking as they call it) to either sell on Ebay or to sell to a reseller who will sell them. As I mentioned before, Rach announced to her fans, and there were handouts that stated "NO PHOTOS WITH RR, but she will pose with CHILDREN", if you wanted a photo you had to take a candid one where Rachael wasn't going to look up. The dealers would have none of that, as persistent as they are getting their 'graphs, they are equally persistent if they want a "photo with". During this series of photos the guy leaning across the table is constantly saying, Rachael just look up and smile. C'monShe replies, with head slightly up, but with her eyes still looking down and with her best Mary Poppins polite, but firm tone. No photos, just candids, I am not looking up, I have a lot of books to sign, another signing tonight and I was late. They were still persistent as he continued to lean in, and she continued to sign the books stating "What's your name?", their reply "Oh don't personalize it, I don't know who I am going to give it to yet"

Finally Ratch looks up, look guys if I give you the photo I have to give it to everyone else who askes. And the guy missed the shot. RR knew what she had to do to get rid of them and gave them the picture. As they were packing up, I noticed one of their girlfriends waiting for them in the wings. I noticed she was holding photo paper signed by Rachael Ray. With this close up you can see the sheets. The dealers get the sheets signed and then they print out the celebrities photo on top, and the signature still comes out perfect on top of the photo. Most of the "in the know" celebrities refuse to sign blank photo paper as they would rather choose which photos are put with their signature.I am not opposed to "Dealers" as they are providing a service to the fans that don't have access to the celebrities, what I am disturbed by is how some of them can be rude and disrespectful. Yesterday an incident was posted on TMZ.com regarding Taye Diggs stating he was rude to a fan, but in actuality he wasn't a fan but probably an aggressive dealer as Taye had already signed 2 things for him. The guy wanted more signed and Taye called him a parasite. See the video at the link below.

http://www.tmz.com/2006/12/19/taye-rips-penarazzi-youre-a-parasite/

The Celebrity Sightings Continue in Philadelphia - Rachael Ray

At the Rocky Premiere someone mentioned that Rachael Ray was having a book signing the next day at Barnes & Noble. So after my 4 hr nap I just trekked over there. Having no press credentials, but a persuasive talk and my Rocky Press Pass and that big camera I just bought, they granted me access. I was the only photographer there, which was great practice for me when the fun started. RR was about 45 minutes late, did a little TV interview, didn't pose for me when I asked for a quick shot, saying there were a lot of people waiting. She apologized to the crowd, and sometimes thank each one for waiting for her. Occasionally she would sign the wrong thing in a book and yell out "Gravy!" or "Oh my lucky stars", channeling her best Samantha Stevens from Bewitched impression. She mentioned her mother and how much she loved her about 1000 times, and mentioned her husband and her love for him about 200 times. She still can't believe she's married, and its been a joy. She's making lasagna for Christmas. She believes her fans are devoted to her because they are all in this cooking thing together, they discover new recipes together and they all want the same things from life. She's the new Gidget, Katie Couric and Rosie in one package (and look what happened to them).

Rachael Ray does not pose for photos, except with little kids. Here I shot my friend David F (a photographer that I admire greatly), remember I wrote about him two weeks back how I ran into him out of the blue in NYC when we were both shooting the moon, wait that doesn't sound correct, when we were photographing the full moon over the ESB. Well I ran into him again yesterday, he was among the 200 people waiting to meet RR and get a few books signed. She never looked up once from signing. But she does a cute picture with kids. (I wish I had this kids name, I think it would've have been the shot to make me millions, or er a hundred.) After shooting RR for an hour, I guess she got tired of me. Had she gave me more than a handful of decent shots, I maybe would have left earlier, do any of my friends believe that, nah I didn't think so? I had to leave to get ready for a Christmas party last night at the Westin, la de dah!!See some of my best images at

http://www.citizenimage.com/photographer_details.do?photographer=HughE2030Did I mention that RR loves her mother and told the crowd over and over again, and emphatically told this women after the women asked about RR's mom. Today she missed her mother a lot, and hoped that she wasn't suffering any pain at the dentist as she had an appt.

YO Adrian, One More Time - ROCKY (VI) Balboa Premiere

Last night the Prince Theater in Philadelphia held the East Coast Rocky Balboa movie premiere!! For me it was an awesome night as it was the first time I attended any event as a "credentialed" member of the press (I finally reached the goal I set out to do when I arrived in NYC Aug 2005). I was unbelievably nervous, imagining all sorts of crazy things happening, especially someone in authority (or not) saying or yelling, "You don't belong here, get out of the press pit." Thankfully that didn't happen and instead I made a lot of new acquaintances. Very few photographers in Philly do this as a full time gig, like they do in NYC. I met the Phila City Photographer who shoots Council people, broken water mains and other problems the City has, I met a guy who is an accountant by day and in the evening and on weekends shoots sporting events for his local small town NJ newspaper, I met the Phila Inquirer newspaper photographer and the AP news guy photographer who didn't really care about shooting celebrities and didn't even know who Sly's wife was (Jennifer Flavin). He wasn't even born the year Rocky came out (1976). He thinks shooting car accidents and kids on their first day of school is more exciting than a Red Carpet event. Geeez this town really is small. Another thing bizarre about shooting on the Red Carpet in Philly that none of them are very aggressive and some of the best shots escaped us as the celebrities just breezed by because 1) no one called out any names even after the PR people told us who they were. 2) Some of the Phila. photographers, even the photographer representing the meanest, most underhanded, stalkerazie photo services in NYC "WIRE IMAGE" who is based in Allentown PA, said they she was too polite to yell at the celebrities and didn't want to bother them if they didn't want to pose. (OH boy am I gonna change that I thought), and then I preceded to use my best trained NY Paparazzi voice to tell the celebrity to stop and look my way and smile. I had some of the finest teachers in NYC, thanks Fernado, Luis, Carmen, Margarita and even James Devaney from Wireimage 3) I was glad I bought a little plastic ladder right before I got to the event. 4) I think my images came out fairly well since I had just bought my new semi-professional Nikon D80 10.2 Mgpxl the day before. Oh my darn flash kept hitting the guy to the side of me and these series of photos were very dark. I had to photoshop the heck out of this one to make it decent of the Stallone's heading for the Red Carpert. Sly is talking to one of the PR people. Unfortunately for me I thought the best place to shoot would be the center carpet. I was wrong, The Stallone family got to the first set of Photographers ( 4 of which were from NYC, 2 who I knew and I think they were shocked that I decided to turn pro after I told them I never would - oops) After the shot, the kids got antsy and Jennifer took them closer to the entrance of the theater. Oh well. Next time I will know where to stand. I have had a crush on this women for years and years. In fact if you looked up my name on Yahoo or Evite it says in my profile I have a secret crush on her. She looks like Meg Ryan, but she is much more confident. It's our film commissioner, Sharon Pinkenson. Ms. Pinkenson markets the City of Philadelphia and the surrounding tri-state region to the film, video, and television industry, and coordinates every aspect of production with personnel, businesses, community relations, locations and government services, while enhancing the region’s reputation internationally on both the big and small screen. OK her comes Burt Young and taking a page from Kevin Costner's book is dating his daughter, er I mean someone young enough to be his daughter or granddaughter I think.

Burt was one of those celebrities I successfully got to stop and look at me.even wave, although a wave and a look at the same time would have been nice. This is a reject Sly Stallone. If only my flash was working properly I would have gotten rid of that shadow. Oh well, I just bought the darn thing yesterday. I ran into some Rocky fans at the after party at the Phila Art Museum near the famous steps and in front of the Rocky Statue recently placed there. I got a photo of Sly's costar Milo Ventimigulia there too and its better than this one, but I submitted it to the agency and you can't see it, sorry. But here's Milo Ventimigulia, he plays Rocky's son. He's been in a lot of TV shows and movies. He was on the Gilmore Girls (Maybe my friend Philip can tell us more about that!), currently he is on a show called Heros.OK this is one of my all time favorite pictures. In another photo Sistine Rose shuts her eyes to sleep, but Sly turns to look at her and all we can see is her one eye shut tight and his head of hair. So I choose this one instead. (Ugh its almost 4AM, gotta sleep for the big Holiday Party that I am going to tonight.) Thanks for all your support and your continued readership.

OK I'm a Paparrazzi and I have my first professional gig Monday Night

The Rocky VI premiere is in Philadelphia on Monday night. I mentioned it in a conversation with my friend David, who told me he knew the name of someone to call to get a press pass for that event. SO tomorrow night will be my first official gig as a "credentialed" Paparazzi (meaning I can cross over at least one velvet rope [or gate] and not get yelled at by security or the "paid" paparazzi!) I am actually upgrading my camera today so that I can have a more professional looking one with a top mounted flash, I feel like a grown-up - LOL. To say the least I am very nervous about the first gig, but am glad I had the year or so experience around the hard core pros in NYC. Picture below is my very first experience in NYC at a movie premiere. It was the Gwyneth Paltrow's movie premiere of "Proof". I was already scoping out the situation as I took this shot from an odd angle. Gwyneth came and I couldn't get a clear shot. I knew what my goal had to be, the other side of the gate was the plan. Over the next few months I will tell you how my plan unfolded, the people I met along the way, and the story behind the Fans/Paparrazzi's/Stalkers/Dealers (autograph dealers) and others that follow the celebrities in NYC. It was an amazing journey.

OK I am a Paparazzi !!

Last week I was talking to my friend Margarita, who owns a NYC based photography agency, http://www.photoimagepress.com, who said HughE you are a paparazzi, after I referred to myself as a photographer and I don't jump out of bushes for my shots. "Accept it, you are a paparrazzi!" I of course was like, what are you talking about, I take photos of celebrities, usually at events, and when possible I ask them, I am not a paparazzi, just a photographer/fan of celebrities. "Doesn't matter", Margarita said. "Look up the definition. " Paparazzi is a plural term for photographers who take candid photographs of celebrities, usually by relentlessly shadowing them in public and private activities." Damn her, I was so happy to be in denial, and then a few days later I shot this picture of Jerry Seinfeld and family leaving the Charlotte's Web premiere, and it dawned on me, holy mackerel she's right!! but c'mon, if I wasn't a paparazzi we would have missed this cute shot of Jerry holding his daughters pink pocketbook.

The Charlotte's Web Premiere starring Dakota Fanning

The set-up wasn't the best for me to get very good shots of the arriving celebs, but I gave it my best shot (hmm pun intended) Pictured here in foreground in the blue hat is an honest to goodness autograph seeker. He's an accountant by day, single and lives at home. He started off by collecting autographs by sports figures and it just morphed into celebrities. (Although having stood next to him for one too many events, he's not up on the names of todays celebrities. Imagine Arnold Horshalk from "Welcome Back Kotter" or Samuel 'Screech' Powers from "Saved by the Bell" constantly asking you "Who's that?", "Is that anyone?". Then there's Simon, a paparazzi fan like me, and next to him a tourist, "What's going on?", "anyone famous here?" guy from the UK. To the left of them, moviegoers. Our host for the show,, Gossip columnist Liz Smith. The 3rd sighting of one of the women that was on my TOP Ten list to shoot in 2006. Behind her and to the left is Cynthia McFadden, single mother of one, best friend of Katherine Hepburns of 30 years and the excutor of her Estate. Hmm forever single Liz and forever single Cynthia. I think it's a relationship based on more than just journalism.I tried not to be too paparazzi when I shot Chris Meloni (L&O:SUV) and family calming son Dante down as he began to cry for some unknown reason as they exited their SUV. (This was the only shot I took). After the movie was over, they just walked down the street like normal folk, towards the subway.André Benjamin is an only child and was born in Atlanta and raised by a single mother. He met his future OutKast partner, Antwan "Big Boi" Patton, when the two attended Tri-Cities High School in East Point, Georgia. Lately I have heard that the OutKast partners have had a falling out as André is now more interested in making movies than singing. In Charlotte's Web André plays a crow in the barn. "The barn represents the world," says Benjamin, who voices Elwyn the crow. "You got cows, geese all different animals, they represent different nationalities. It's a great message. You see all these different animals in a barn getting along. They talk differently, they act differently, and they get along."

There's our girl, working the red carpet like a pro, but check out her feet, a childs akwardness. Between age 6 and current age of 12, Dakota has been in 15 movies.

Miss Fanning sure has an eclectic career. Up next is director Deborah Kampmeier's "Hounddog," in which Fanning's character is raped. Not to disappoint after the celebrities went it, I went and had a bite to eat. I returned in time for departures and asked Ms. Fanning for a picture. She was more than happy to comply. Thanks!! THE MOVIE OPENS FRIDAY December 15, 2006 Julia Roberts is Charlotte Kimora Lee Simmons, who'da thought I would have a nice long conversation with the Queen of Fabolous after the movie. She waited alongside her kids as we all waited for Dakot to leave the theater. Her kids began to complain, and Kimora said "Aoki and Ming, many people wait longer time than this for Mommy, so just be patient and Dakota will come out and talk to you." "If you need a coat, I will go in the Limo and get you one!" At this point was my conversation with Kimora. I had recently seen a show she did on the Style Network. I told her I loved the party she threw after her fashion show. She said that she hope she helped people in throwing parties and gave them good ideas. I said you sure did, I would have like to have tasted the $4,000 desserts that you served, you know the one's with the 24K edible gold sprinkled on top. She laughed. (She was really sweet, which sucked as I was about to write a funny nasty piece about her when I saw her at the Black Ball a week earlier, which I haven't written about yet.) After about 10 minutes Kimora realized who she was, and just went into the theater with the kids and got in line with the rest of the folks to get their Charlotte's Web book signed.

It's begining to look a lot like Christmas, even if the tempertures are in the 50F's

New York City is magical most anytime, but in December it is especially magical as the City prepares to celebrate the joyous holidays. I shot the full moon on a partly cloudy night earlier in December. I shot it at 24th and 8th Ave after my friend Simon and I had just eaten at Dallas BBQ (plug delicious food, his wife Kati is a vegetarian and a good sport for eating there occassionally with us), anyway when we left the place a lot of people along the avenue were looking up in the sky towards the ESB. This is what they were looking at and as a good full moon stalker I had my camera with me. Another ironic incident happened and as I was shooting another photographers wife and I started chatting, as her husband David shot away. What a small world as David is an attorney from Philly, he and I worked on a couple cases together, and once in Minneapolis went on a photography expedition around the City (I am a huge fan of his work). I hadn't seen or spoken to him in about 3 years, and here on this corner, away from the tourist area, in NYC we meet again, shooting the full moon. His wife it turns out is from Long Island, she was a sweetheart, they were on their way to Dallas BBQ for dinner this Sunday night. I caught this at the Charlotte's Web premiere. Ahh if only this kids mom had taken this shot to blackmail him into showing it to his girlfriends as he ages... Don't forget to visit the Top of The Rock where you get a view of the City and the ESB building.Expect crowds. If you want a shot of the Tree with few people, think 11:30PM, preferably Tues - Wed, the tree turns off at Midnite. I took this photo last Monday at about 7PM You can't forget the Department Store Windows. This is Saks 5th Ave across from Rockefeller Center. Sometimes the lines are long, but the displays are always worth waiting to see.This is my favorite photo. For the past few years, Saks has done a snowflake light show every 30 minutes. It's really spectacular. This is the view from Rockefeller Plz, the skating rink is behind me.

Last year was the first time I ever saw the Radio City Music Hall Rockets, and it was just on a whim. I went by TKTS to see what shows were at the half price ticket place, lo and behold the Rockets show was listed. Now I don't recommend you try this on a weekend as I am sure they are sold out in advance for those dates, but I went on a Wednesday night. I did see them listed there last week too.Washington Square OK this is my other favorite photo and it's vintage now as TKTS as in Times Square is undergoing a complete build over. When it opens later this month, this spot will have a huge "staircase" for tourists to climb and gander at Times Square. Behind me is where the "New Years Ball drops"

The Devil Wears Prada comes out on DVD Today

And it's based on this women. Can you guess who own's this scary hand? I think she was the first person to do the "calorie restriction diet".If you're a long time reader of my blog you know I have tried to get a decent photo of Anna Wintour even before the movie made her infamous. In this shot she was attending an Oscar De LaRenta affair for the Queen of Spain. Most guests went in the front door, especially since there were PETA protestors at the side or "VIP" entrance of the Pierre Hotel. No our Miss Anna went right passed them and towards me where I was yelling, "Ms. Wintour may I have a photo", she looked up and smiled, and then saw that I wasn't a paparazzi, as I had my pocket Nikon, made the nastiest face (which I would rather of had than the shot I did get), and turned her head so that I may get the first of the many shots of her bob over the next 15 months. A few months later I tried to shoot her leaving a private party that Mario Testino had, again I was the only photographer there and she refused to pose. Thankfully Drew Barrymore and Gwen Stefani were much more accomodating.

CFDA in JuneThings got a little better this past September at Zac Posen's Fashion Show at Bryant Park. Ms. Wintour and her long suffering husband exited the tents through the "Stage Door". I knew from experience if I wanted a shot of her face I'd better do it from 30 feet or get another "Bob" shot. Since when did magazine editors get bodyguards? Graydon Carter runs around town begging to get noticed with the pile of hair on the top of his head.Then that fateful night two weeks ago at the Verticle Hours opening. I saw her walking my way, I thought this was my chance, I needed a clearing, as she approached I said "Miss Wintour, may I have a shot please", she responded by speeding up and putting her hand over her face. BITCH, I thought, I'll just add this to my collection of bobs. Then the paparazzi gods heard me, a genuine paparazzi with a big lens, flash and battery pack wanted to shoot both Anna and her #11 Social Ranked off-spring http://www.socialiterank.com/?p=670 Bee Schaeffer, and Anna complied as she thought "Now you're talking, this could go in People or something real important!" I love Anna Wintour's bio on the Vogue website: With her razor sharp bob, slim build and sunglasses - which she reportedly wears to shield her eyes from the fashion shows' flashbulbs (more like all the work she's had done on her face) - Anna Wintour is the fashion industry's ultimate icon. Like her image, Wintour's daily regime is legendary. Based in Manhattan, she wakes up at 5.45am every morning, to go to play tennis, before being professionally made-up (professionally is debatable?), coiffed and chauffeured to the offices of American Vogue.Though one of New York's most prolific party throwers, she never stays at any one event for more than the first ten minutes, preferring to be in bed by 10pm. (end of bio) "The DEVIL WEARS PRADA" is really a movie about choices and who you want to be. It poses the question of "do you need to be a ruthless devil to be professionally successful?" One of the things that's also worth mentioning is the question of if Anna Wintour was a man, would people still regard her as the devil? Things were cleverly written and smart resonances can be found littering around in the whole movie. So run out today and pick up a copy of "The DEVIL WEARS PRADA" if you want to satisfy your bitch craving. Starring an Oscar worthy Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway.

Whatever happened to the Gastineau Girls

I shot this earlier this year when they were doing a promo near Times Square. I haven't heard anything about the show recently. It was so mind blowing entertainment, so thoughtful and insightful, whatever could have happened to them? The Gastineau Girls was a reality series that made its debut on the E! cable channel in late 2004. The show followed the daily exploits of Lisa and Brittny Gastineau, respectively the ex-wife and only daughter (whom he has not seen in 17 years) of former NFL player Mark Gastineau. The first season chronicled Lisa and Brittny's quest for love in New York City as well as Brittny's attempt to make it in the world of modeling.

Gwen Stefani's Homage to Madonna?

(I am pulling a Perez and lifting someone else's photos. I would give them credit, but they were on other peoples blogs. I will take them down if requested) This has to be said, I hated Madonna's hair stylist when I thought she did this do, and so did many other style conscious people.WHY then didn't Gwen listen to the hoardes who were shocked and not in a good way to the Madonna hair change. I always thought Gwen was going to blaze her own trail and not imitate Madonna, especially because they already looked so similar. I have to say this haircut and the Yodel song have forced me towards ITUNES instead of buying the CD. I just can't bear accidently listening to the Yodel song anytime soon. I hope she doesn't do it as an encore in her concert, it's not the last song of the night I would want to hear after a GWEN concert! Didn't this poster shock Gwen back to reality. GWEN WAKE UP, the blunt haircut is not flattering on you! Is this her homage to Madonna? This look will no doubt create many magazines to do a "Gwen's Hairstyles through the ages" montage. I guess its rather a clever PR idea. I've certainly done something out of the norm just so I can write about the distaste of the 'do! What do you think about Gwen's new look?

http://www.misterpoll.com/poll.mpl?id=3388845409

Wednesday, I started a Two Month break from my NYC work project, and returned to my house in Philadelphia. It's been an interesting return as I immediatly made plans to return for the Angelina Jolie movie premiere Monday Night in NYC. Mike wasn't too keen on the idea, and Mike want's me to concentrate and reaquaint myself with our home, family and friends. I had hit rock bottom, and things had gotten out of control. He was right, he knows, that to get some of these shots I have to put myself in dangerous situations (that's just dealing with some of the crazy people that earn a real living from celebrities - LOL), very little sleep, and the worse eating habits you could imagine. I agree, but the draw of the big City, and lights of NYC are ever present in my mind. (I will still be featuring lots and lots of current photos that I took over the last few weeks, but will also write about my withdrawl from Celebrity Gawking, stalking and photographing. In addition I will tell you the story, from the begining of how I discovered that you could see celebrities in NYC almost every single day [I kept a journal]) It's time to get honest, share and withdrawl, I'll try not to drool. Let's start with what I am missing this week. dear Diary... just woke up, Mike let me sleep entirely too long, its 12:30PM. Last night we had a into the wee morning discussion. He wants me to give up the project that "I can't mention here", he says its like a moth to the flame, or an alcoholic calling a friend inside a bar to see how the drinks are, it's not going to help me break the cycle of celebrity. He might be right, but it really is the last tie to celebrity Gawking for me, I think as I sit here looking at the Photo Wire Services of the Pitts in NYC walking along 57th street last night. In one photo its Angelina and Family outside of Lee's Art Store; I love that place on 57th Street. Are they staying at the Parker Meridian right down the street (the place I caught J-Lo leaving for the VH1 Music Awards a few months back, or the Pussycat Dolls when they were in town for their concerts?)and they were walking by, oh no, she had a bag in her hand. They were shopping there. How very exciting, I hope the paparazzi weren't inside too, as the store is chock full of Christmas and holiday stuff. I went inside a few weeks back. Talk about an intoxicating place, there's so much to look at and contemplate buying. WOW Angelina is carrying her own bags. I see Devaney [photographer] has gotten the shot, he must have been up all night waiting for them to return from Pennsylvania and their trip to Falling Waters. He always gets the best shots, talk about motivating he has to maintain his golden sports car and his condo in the sky in the golden building. He truly is one the paparazzi that is making the money, but I wouldn't exactly call him nice and if you stick with me I will be telling stories about him as I encountered him several times. I've heard from the "GIRLS", who will remain nameless because I love them and they taught me everything about the ways of being a good paparazzi [which I will also talk as I go through my story], they say that this week will be all about Gwen and Angelina, and there will be no sleep to be had until after Monday's premiere and after party, which we surmise will be at Cipriani's or Gustavino's. It has to be an impressive place and it has to hold a lot of people. It's all very exciting, and I have a twinge need to be there, but feel the weight of my responsibilities that I left behind here in Philadelphia and as close as my apartment and its bulging closets. Here are the Pitt photos from last night http://www.wireimage.com/GalleryListing.asp?navtyp=gls====249563&nbc1=1

The Next Ed norton,

Move over Norton, there's a new kid in town, he's got a much better disposition and he is cuter to boot! Channing Tatum was born on April 26, 1980 in a small town called Cullman outside of Birmingham, Alabama. Growing up he was full of energy and somewhat troublesome, so his parents decided to enroll him in different sports such as Track, Baseball, Soccer, Football to keep him out of trouble. In the ninth grade he was sent to military school. Eventually working for a men's clothing store and getting into modeling. Tatum has said that his modeling career has helped him with his life, specifying that "It's made my life, and my family's life, a lot easier, because I never knew what I wanted to do and now they don't really have to worry about me anymore. I've been able to explore life, and through exploring it I've found that I love art, I love writing, I love acting, I love all the things that make sense to me. And I've been given the chance to go out and see the world, and to see all the things out there. Not everyone gets that chance". He has modeled for Abercrombie & Fitch, Nautica, Gap, Aeropostale, Emporio Armani, and has been featured in television commercials for American Eagle, Pepsi and the very popular mountain dew commercials. Tatum's most recent roles were in Step Up, a dance-themed romance which opened on August 11, 2006 and the 1980s-set drama A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints, in which he plays Antonio, a street youth in Astoria, Queens. Tatum has described the latter film as his "first dramatic role"; his performance received positive notices at the 2006 Sundance Film Festival, where the film premiered.[3] The acclaim continued when he received an Independent Spirit Award nomination for Best Supporting Male. Tatum's next film role will be in director Kimberly Peirce's Stop-Loss, about a soldier returning home from the Iraq War. You can now see him on the big screen A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints. [damn] Channing Tatum has been dating Step Up co-star Jenna Dewan since the filming. (although I know the gay community would like to claim him for their own)

ED NORTON ED NORTON ED NORTON ED NORTON

I remember a few months back a regular reader of the HughE Blog requested an Ed Norton picture. I search and search for an Ed Norton event and finally found one, he was not very cooperative (the rumors were true - he is a DIVA). His luck ran out as I attended the Gotham Awards at Pier SIXTY last week and he was a sitting target (standing actually). Pier Sixty, who knew, easy to gawk at celebrities as they made their way up the "Red Carpet", especially if you are somewhat well behaved. By this time every security personnel knows me, I am respectful of their job and when they ask me to move or not stand too close to the press line, I obey. Then they give me leeway in other areas, like departures. Anyway Ed was getting interviewed and I took out my long lense and capture a few shots. It's a good thing too, as he made his way to the paparazzi part of the press line, he posed and then moved swiftly from their line of sight. First up - Access Hollywood, ET and the Inside Edition video interviews (rt - Tim Robbins, Lft Ed Norton)(Without flash shot) (With flash shot) Looks like Ed lost his battle with a razor as shown in this picture (see near chin - ewww) Guess Ed doesn't believe in cover-up make-up. I think he needs a good women in his life to advise him.Ed as he swiftly moves away from the "Red Carpet" and photographers...everyone got lots of nice profile pixs Have a happy Ed Norton day.

The Blood Diamond Private Screening - Jennifer Connelly and Leonardo, does he need a last name?, DiCaprio!

The other night I was at a "Peggy Siegel" private screening of Blood Diamond. I have seen Peggy, but she is quick on her feet and I never got a shot of her. This is what the David Columbia of the NYC Social Diary says about her: The Peggy Siegal Scene: A new picture, pre-release, in one of several private screening rooms in Manhattan, filled to capacity with “names,” “somebodys” (all buddies, or could or would be, for at least the moment), followed by, after the picture, a sit-down dinner for fifty or sixty (often with placement at Le Cirque, or the Four Seasons, or the Plaza Athenee or any number of the chicest, or latest, spots in town). Billy Joel's new Uptown Girl - Kati lee Damn that Janet, she let me stand behind her but her head or hand got in the way. Oh well I did get to stand in the press box and that was awesome. Here's Janet's shot of Stephanie March.

http://www.photorazzi.com/store/category.cgi?item=JTM-022018&type=store

Sweet little Emily Rossum. I've written about her before, she grew up in NYC, sung Opera at the Met at the age of 7, speaks 5 languages and is a real down girl currently attending Columbia University. We will only see her on the social circuit scene as she has no movies in the can, but she is now enrolled at Columbia University and has already completed a course in art history, being inspired by her study of Degas in Paris.Star of the show and Janet's head. The photographers often stand on ladders or milk crates, so they are always a foot taller than me.

Peggy saved Leonardo DiCaprio for the inside "invited" press (the outside press, including me, showed up because someone was kind enough to spread the word to us, and since the paparazzi all have press passes, Peggy can't prevent them from getting their shots outside on the "public sidewalk", so instead they work with them and set up a nice press area for them. They were also nice to set up a "Fan Area" too.) Leonardo snuck in through the backdoor to give the "exclusive" shot of himself to the invited few, which are usually photo wireservices like Wireimage.com Getty Images and a couple glossy magazines. (Although I hear he did walked boldly down the street with bodyguards, from his hotel The Four Seasons a block away)

Liam Neeson and wife Natasha Richardson attending the premiere of the Dreamgirls movie in NYC last night

Ok actually they are leaving the afterparty which was held at Gotham Hall in NYC. The time is about 1AM, and it was one of my latest nights in awhile. When we get a little closer to the premiere I will post the rest of the pictures of the night and my comments. These two were sweet as can be and gave me this nice shot. Natasha won the 1998 Tony Award® Best Actress in a Musical Cabaret and Liam was a nominee for a Tony Award® Best Actor in Play The Crucible ; They met on Broadway in 1992 while perfoming in Anna Christie . Her sister is Joely Richardson, of the television show "Nip/Tuck". Last night Rosie O'Donnell was also at the premiere; perhaps they discussed Rosie's Nip/Tuck spin-off show.

There was an event at MoMa the other night, and Ice T and his Wife were there

You know I have spoken about her before, and I must say she is fairly conservatively dressed in this outfit. Maybe she knew she would be among the cream de la creme of NY Celebrities like Glen Close, Leonardo DiCaprio and Lauren Bacall. I would have liked to have been in the room when Ms. Bacall got an eyefull of her.

Houston we have a problem. Something is up with blogger and I am unable to post even one of the 250 shots I took this week. Hopefully they will get it corrected. In the meantime check out my photos at or visit my friends moviemerlin, sarah's adventure or the NY City Critic