Photos Of Celebrities

The tabloid newspapers and magazines are full of hastily taken images by the paparazzi. There is a tradition however, of artistically pleasing photos of celebrities. Some of these have cemented the reputation of the photographer involved and have become iconic images of their era. The interest in the famous is not new and there are many books that celebrate the world of show business, the arts and sport as seen through a lens.

Some of the books available are collections of photos of celebrities, compiled from magazines. People Magazine: Celebrity Weddings contains photos and reports of star studded weddings including ceremonies, the wedding cake, the wedding dress and guest list. Famous couplings include Charles and Diana, Jack Kennedy and Jackie Kennedy and Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton. People in Vogue: a Century of Portrait Photography shows model, Kate Moss on the cover. It traces the memorable photos of celebrities that have appeared in the glamorous fashion template, Vogue. The photos shown are a mixture of black and white and color. Some are posed and some are informal. Hollywood stars range from Rudolph Valentino and Marlene Dietrich to Jude Law and Nicole Kidman. One photograph shows the Prince and Princess of Wales on a picnic with sons, William and Harry.

Vanity Fair Portraits: A Century of Iconic Images looks back over 95 years of this influential publication in which leading photographers have captured the Hollywood stars, politicians and sportsmen and women and other figures of the 20th century. There are over 300 photographs from photographers, such as Annie Leibovitz, Mario Testino and Cecil Beaton. Celebrities depicted include Cary Grant, Katherine Hepburn, Rupert Murdoch, Pablo Picasso, Arthur Miller and Madonna.

Jazz Giants and Journeys: The Photography of Herman Leonard, edited by David Houston, captures the icons of a certain age, including Billie Holliday, Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett and Marilyn Monroe. The collection isn't just show business and there is a photo of Albert Einstein too.

There are some photos that celebrities would prefer not to be taken, particularly if they document indiscretions and problems with the law. Mug Shots: Celebrities Under Arrest, edited by George Seminara, shows the mug shots of Hugh Grant, Keanu Reeves and OJ Simpson on the cover. On a more sophisticated note, Cecil Beaton was noted for his shots of the glamorous. Cecil Beaton (Stern Portfolio) contains images of Pablo Picasso, Coco Chanel, Maria Callas, various Hollywood stars and the British Royal Family. There are also counter culture subjects, such as Andy Warhol and Mick Jagger.

Annie Leibovitz is well known for her association with the magazine, Rolling Stone. Photographs 1970-90 is a collection containing film stars and cultural icons, such as the Rolling Stones, the Grateful Dead, Michael Jackson, Isabella Rossellini, Muhammid Ali, and Andy Warhol. There is also the famous picture of John Lennon and Yoko Ono that was taken on the day that Lennon was killed. Linda McCartney Sixties: Portrait of an Era is a book of photos of celebrities and of Linda's reminiscences. She was a prominent photographer of the rock scene at the time and the cover shows Jimi Hendrix.