For years, Ron Galella, “the godfather of U.S. paparazzi culture,” has provided the world a glimpse into the off-limits world of celebrity. With Viva l’Italia!, a deeper and more probing Galella emerges. He sets out to find his own Italian roots, and in so doing, takes us on viaggio as he combs his vast archive for images of Italian and Italian-American actors, artists, and fashion designers, along with a wide range of other cultural icons. Galella’s tour begins in Rome’s famed Cinecittà where Federico Fellini relaxes between takes on a film set. It was Fellini who proclaimed, “paparazzi are bandits of images,” coining the word with his character Señor Paparazzo in La Dolce Vita. As he continues on, Galella presents us with rare portraits of Italy’s most famous sons and daughters, including Isabella Rossellini, Silvana Mangano, Marlon Brando, Monica Bellucci, Carla Bruni, and Sophia Loren. Never one to shy away from bad boys, he even includes the “Dapper Don,” John Gotti, emerging from federal court in Manhattan. The appeal and power of Galella’s beautiful photography is complimented by extemporaneous quotes he has amassed over a half-century of travel and celebrity encounters. “You look Italian,” quipped Anna Magnani as Ron captured her in Rome, during the filming of The Secret of Santa Vittoria, with Virna Lisi and Anthony Quinn. Some crossed the ocean, some changed their names, some were born in disparate locations as with Dean Martin of Steubenville, Ohio, and Frank Sinatra of Hoboken, New Jersey; but they all brought with them passion born of Italy—love of cinema, music, art, and fashion—as Galella triumphantly proclaims with Viva l’Italia!

Viva l'Italia! (English and Italian Edition)

Arts & Photography

Individual Artists

Ron Galella, Ltd.

To say that Ron Galella is obsessed with Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis is an understatement. Galella took literally thousands of candid shots of the legendary style icon from 1968 through 1981, and his photographs remain the most enduring, most beautiful, and most revealing images of her in existence. In fact, it is widely held that our collective memory of Jackie would be non-existent if it weren't for Ron Galella, though his body of work did not come by easy means. And now, just when you thought you'd seen every iconic image of Jackie that Galella has to offer, this 400-page gilded masterpiece has arrived featuring many never-before-published photos of the subject who is arguably the most famous woman in history. Among the hundreds of spontaneous portraits of Jackie are many candid shots of her with the Kennedy family, as well as long, lingering glimpses into the Jackie-and-Ari years. Rounding out the book are written contributions by Matthias Harder, Chief Curator of the Helmut Newton Foundation, and designer Valentino, along with quotes from various sources, including Michael Kors, Andy Warhol, Halston, Christine Onassis, and more.

Jackie: My Obsession

Ron Galella

Photography & Video

This independently published and American-made 233-page softcover contains over 280 of Ron Galella's most iconic images, taken over the course of his sixty-plus-year career. With it, Galella reveals not only the stories behind the pictures, but the twenty-two paparazzi techniques he developed and utilized to get the shots. Whether you're using an old-school film camera, SLR or compact digital camera, cell phone, or even a tablet, through this guide you'll learn first-hand the secrets Ron has perfected for taking genuine, off-guard pictures -- giving you the chance to become a first-rate amateur or professional paparazzo, and have fun while doing it! Introduction by Peter Howe. Epilogue by Anthony Miller.

The Stories Behind the Pictures: A Guide to the Paparazzi Approach

Peter Howe

Anthony Miller

With its focus on voyeurism, Ron Galella's Sex in Fashion pays homage to one of his favorite films: Alfred Hitchcock's murder-mystery-thriller, Rear Window. Showcasing over 600 images of the sexiest and most fashionable subjects ever to be photographed--from Elizabeth Taylor to Taylor Swift--this collection spans Galella's entire career from 1955 to 2015. Possessed of a unique talent to catch stars at moments when they seemed their most stylish and alluring, Galella was able to do what no other celebrity photographer could: become a star himself. And now, with Sex in Fashion, Galella shows you how the camera is truly a voyeuristic instrument, with results to be enjoyed by all who choose to look.

Sex in Fashion

Kathy Lener

Donald Trump The Master Buildier

“A truly iconic photograph is timeless - something that is valued, honored and treasured long after the photo was taken,” Ron Galella writes in the book's introduction. This 160-page hardcover volume includes eighty-seven black & white and thirteen color photographs of Ron’s most iconic images, gloriously reproduced for the first time in one volume. Some rarely seen, culled from his unprecedented archive. The book features behind-the-scenes, never before revealed stories of some of his most famous images, including a touching passage by May Pang recollecting the night the cover photo of John Lennon and Mick Jagger, (with Ms. Pang) was taken. The image may also be the last professional photograph taken of the two music icons before Lennon's tragic death. Ron’s nearly six-decade career spans generations, ushering out the old Hollywood studio guard system including Ava Gardner, Greta Garbo, Audrey Hepburn, Frank Sinatra, Liz Taylor, Bridget Bardot, Sophia Loren and transitions to the rough and tumble mavericks of the 60s and 70’s-Marlon Brando, Steve McQueen, Richard Burton, Clint Eastwood, Jack Nicholson, Robert De Niro and Al Pacino. Criss-crossing between the East and West coasts, with numerous stops around the world in-between, Ron amassed millions of photographs of every conceivable type of celebrity - film, television, music, supermodels, athletes, politicians, business moguls, artists, and innovators. They’re all here: Elvis, Princess Diana, Paul McCartney, Bob Dylan, Jackie Onassis, Muhammad Ali with Joe Lewis, Sammy Davis and Jerry Lewis, David Bowie, Michael Jackson, Diana Ross, Simon & Garfunkel, a 5-year-old Angelina Jolie clinging to her father Jon Voight’s leg, all caught candidly in Ron’s unique, spontaneous, off-guard style - the paparazzi approach. Many are exclusive. His two most popular images - Windblown Jackie and the Lennon and Jagger photo gracing the book's cover have one thing in common: neither of the subjects knew they were being photographed. They are, according to Ron's manifesto, the perfect Galella photographs, iconic people caught unrehearsed, spontaneous in his inimitable style. In 2016 Time Magazine proclaimed Windblown Jackie, “one of the most influential photos of all time.” The book - Galella’s 22nd - includes a foreword by Bob Ahern, Director of Getty Images Worldwide Archive Photography, and photographer Geoffrey Croft’s stunning color photographs detailing several historical artifacts Ron has saved and treasured over the years. Printed exclusively in Italy, it’s a sure bet that 100 Iconic Photographs will be a cornerstone of the Ron Galella bibliography and an impressive addition to every pop culture enthusiast and photography lover’s bookshelf! Galella, an U.S. Air Force veteran, celebrated his 90th birthday in January 2021.

100 Iconic Photographs - A Retrospective

See the best price to sell, buy or rent books by the Ron Galella, Ltd. publisher. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.