Photogs at home in Venice
VENICE They call themselves the paparazzi, but they don’t hide behind bushes or jump in dumpsters to get that million dollar shot of a celebrity and their new love necking at the Ivy. They don’t even take pictures of the rich and famous.
Instead, Edizen Stowell and Aoy Austin are two amateur photogs who get a kick out of snapping pictures of the regular, making locals the real stars of the show.
They are the Venice Paparazzi. What began as a means to make some extra cash — taking tourists’ pictures on the famed boardwalk — has evolved into something much more befitting the star set.
The two aren’t exactly sure what that is yet, but they are excited about the possibility of turning their online photo gallery (www.venicepaparazzi.com) into the leading resource for those looking to learn something about the funky seaside community that is going through some growing pains of its own, as the affluent clash with the bohemian.
“It’s really all about just taking photos and trying to document the cutting-edge culture and everything that is Venice,” said Stowell, a professional boxer from Canada who started Venice Paparazzi in the fall of 2006 along with her husband Alex, a Soviet strength-training specialist.
“It’s an online photo album where people can view themselves, their friends and their neighbors to see what they’re up to,” Stowell added.
At first, the site (previously www.edizens.com) was simply a place where Stowell could post personal photos for friends and family back home. But as time passed, Stowell, who was making extra money taking pictures of tourists on the boardwalk, envisioned turning her hobby into something more.
She thought it would be fun to go out and focus on the many different people she came across each day, aiming her lens at locals.
Austin,who was taking boxing lessons from Stowell, signed on a few months later, along with another volunteer, Sara Gepp, and things just took off. Taking pictures on the boardwalk soon turned into covering art openings, weightlifting competitions and business mixers — all taking place within Venice.
Presently, no one is getting paid for their efforts. It’s still all about having fun and learning more about the art of photography. There is hope that more sponsors will come aboard and provide some funds to help pay for supplies, but in the meantime, the staff at Venice Paparazzi continue to volunteer their time, cameras and interest in the everyday.
“It’s just the pure joy of it all,” said Austin, who just recently learned how to take photographs. “It’s just about meeting new people and bringing the community together.”
Things weren’t so easy in the beginning. “Not everyone wants to have their picture taken and put on a website, but since we’ve been doing this, only two people have asked for their pictures to be removed — one because she didn’t like the way her hair looked,” Stowell said.
Now, whenever Stowell and Austin stride into an event like a paddle tennis competition, “people are yelling out, ‘Hey, Venice Paparazzi,’” Austin said.
The photogs have received a lot of support from local merchants, artisans and the City of Los Angeles, most notably the Department of Recreation and Parks, where Stowell used to work, and Councilman Bill Rosendahl’s office.
“Who wouldn’t want a group like the Venice Paparazzi,” said Jeffrey Solomon with the Venice Chamber of Commerce, which invited Venice Paparazzi to cover a few chamber mixers.
With so many community events taking place and so few reporters to cover them, Solomon said the Venice Paparazzi are needed to keep residents informed and to document the spirit of Venice.
“Our property values have risen substantially, far ahead of almost any other area in Los Angeles County, but what you may not know is that Venice is also championing a cultural renaissance,” Solomon said. “I’m sure that the Venice Paparazzi will shoot the entire movement.”
When Stowell and Austin are out taking photos, they use their charm and infectious enthusiasm to get their subjects to let their guard down and play with their poses. After each photo is taken, the two hand out their cards, which tease people by saying, “See if you made the cut.” Subjects are then encouraged to go online and check out that day’s gallery to find out if they have indeed made the cut.
“The thrill of going to their website to see if ‘You made the cut,’ is awesome,” said Solomon, who described the photographers as “fireballs.”
“Since they are so professional, well mannered and doing a great job, I have not heard one comment that was negative,” Solomon added.
The next step for the site is to offer video clips of events and continue to add more information about Venice.
“We are really trying to be the most up-to-date web-site on Venice out there,” Stowell said. “It’s definitely going to evolve.”
So the next time you’re walking through Venice, be prepared to say “Cheese!” You never know where the paparazzi will be lurking.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on July 14, 2007. Read the original PDF.