Is that a Paparazzi?

Picture: Homes above the Upper Newport Bay Preserve, Newport Beach, Orange County, California

And speaking of the Southern California mindset; I was tangibly aware of how different people looked at me with my camera. You can tell that their thoughts focused on my being a Paparazzi. People would turn to look at WHO I was shooting, not WHAT I was shooting. I didn’t like the feeling, and could almost taste the disdain in some people’s expressions.

So one day, I’m standing on the side of Back Bay Drive in Newport Beach, getting photos of the Upper Bay for my current book project. Back Bay Drive is a one-way auto route, but is also very popular for bicyclists. While taking photos, a pair of casual cyclists ride by. I can hear one of them say in an accented voice, as if he were visiting from overseas, “Is that one of those Paparazzi?” I feel like I just swallowed a bit of barbed wire or need a shower – or both. After a brief moment, as they’re riding away, I retort loudly, “No, I’m Not! (blank) You & Thank you very much!” I heard them both laughing as they rounded a corner out of view.

However, If I was a Paparazzi, and someone famous did live in one of those houses, I’d be sure to sell the National Enquirer or TMZ photos of the house where the ‘famous’ litterbug lives.

Of all the affluent houses in the area, where NIMBY-ism is likely alive and well, apparently tossing trash off your own backyard cliff into a nature preserve is OK at this household. Funny enough, through Google Maps and Street View, I know exactly where this house, so if I’m ever back in the area, I can leave a nice “Clean up” note on their mailbox.