He's a paparazzi that lives in Philidelphia, but he's always in New York City checking out the big events. I met him in New York almost 3 years ago. He was living there at the time. I was playing the tourist on one of my many backpacking trips. We met outside the Zigfield theatre while waiting for Bruce Willis and David Morse at the movie premiere of '16 Blocks'. I also met Simon that day earlier at Letterman's stage door. The three of us are still friends.
Hughie wasn't a paparazzi then. He carried this fancy SLR camera around and I knew one day, he'd get there. Originally, he was just like me. Turning up as a fan to stage doors and premieres trying to get photos. Of course, his photos turned out nicer than the ones I took on my basic digital camera.
I worry for him. He doesn't know it, but I do. He works too much. Way too much. He has a regular day job working 9-5. Actually, I'm not sure if those are his actual hours, but if you say to someone that you work '9 to 5' then they understand that you have a day job working Monday to Friday. That's what Hughie does, he works Monday to Friday. Then when he's done with work, he'll go and check out an event in Philadelphia or take the train and see what's going on in New York City. It depends what's happening and what he's doing.
He doesn't stop. He's up at all hours working and researching and chasing people around for photos. I worry he doesn't sleep. I think he averages 4 hours a night, though that's just a guess on my part.
Granted, he deserves the photos he takes. He puts more research into this than anyone I know. More than any of the paparazzi's I've met both here in London and in New York City. I couldn't do that. I don't love it that much. I hope Hughie does. I'm assuming he does because he writes like he does. He blogs like he does. He photographs like he does.
Hughie is now a qualified Paparazzi. He gets his pass and attends events. He stands with the guys who do this for a living. He stands with them learning and getting tips. He doesn't get in their way, but he gets his shots. The paps, they yell and scream at the celebrities for the perfect shot. They stop them on the street or get in their way as they're exiting a car, a hotel or restaurant. Hughie doesn't do that. He's too polite to do this for a living. I don't think it could be his bread and butter. I'm sure he's said that too.
He has been published online and in magazines and has managed to sell some of his photos. Just last week he was published in the new issue of the American Magazine 'US Weekly'. I'm proud of him. And he knows this. At least if he didn't before, he will now.
I was in New York in January hanging with our mutual friends Simon and Kati, when they mentioned Hughie left a wonderful message on their answering maching saying that he was more than annoyed to have missed Ozzy Osbourne for a photo.
I'm not a fan of the Osbournes. At all. I don't get the hype. At all.
But I saw Sharon, Kelly and Ozzy just this past week at the Brit Awards here in London. Sharon got out of the car and pointed to the corner I just happened to be standing in and she told her husband to go and sign there. He did about 20 autographs. I didn't get it. I could have, but as I don't get the hype, I didn't really bother. Hughie will be annoyed at me I'm sure. Sorry.
This photo's for Hughie. The one that got away. You're time will come my friend...
