Week 6: EOC Ron Galella and the First Amendment

Ron Galella was and still is an important advocate for photographers and their ability to make pictures in a public place and profit from it.  He did go about it in a relentless way but he was entitled to.  The question of whether he intruded in on Jackie's privacy is subjective and only answered by the courts.  The first amendment does entitle us to free speech and the ability to write and present our interpretation of events.  Ron presented images of an iconic woman of the times and felt the public had a right to know.  Jackie always acted as if she was intimidated and feared for her well being but Ron never did anything to create that hysteria.  Ron was very public about his intentions and only presented images that were of Jackie in public places.  Ron's persistence,  paid off and iconic images were made and admired by millions.  Did he go overboard?  At times the argument can be made that he was extreme and wanted to be the only person with a one of a kind image.  A good example is of Liz Taylor on the boat putting up screens to create privacy from passers bye while Ron was in an adjacent building with a birds eye view of the happenings.  There you could argue he invaded privacy, but she was in an open air boat in a public area so the lines of legality are very thin and subjective.  Ron achievements only come from pushing the envelope and having good representation to defend his Constitutional rights.  A lesson that all photographers should learn from.