Published: July 05, 2009 12:55 am      

PHOTO: GNN photographer’s work is on ‘People’ cover

North Tonawanda, NY — COVER SHOT: Photo of Michael Jackson

is by Dan Cappellazzo.

BY RICK PFEIFFER

rick.pfeiffer@lockportjournal.com

Niagara Gazette photographer Dan Cappellazzo has seen his fair share of history.

He raced to New York City on Sept. 11, 2001, to record what had happened there. His photos of massive abortion protests in Western New York in the 1992 Spring of Life were published in more than 200 publications worldwide, while his picture of Buffalo Bills defensive end Bruce Smith’s sack of New York Giants quarterback Jeff Hostetler in Super Bowl 25 hangs in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

For 16 years he has brought memorable images to Gazette readers, and now one of those is memorializing pop music icon Michael Jackson.

The current issue of People Magazine, a special memorial edition highlighting Jackson’s life, features a cover photo snapped by Cappellazzo at yet another Bills’ Super Bowl appearance. Jackson was the featured half-time performer at Super Bowl XXVII in Pasadena.

“It was before I came to the Gazette,” Cappellazzo said, “I was working for the Batavia News and also selling my stuff to the Polaris Agency.”

Half-time is normally when photographers covering a football game take a break. After all, Cappellazzo said, their job is to cover the game and not worry about what else might be taking place.

In addition, Jackson’s publicist had warned the photogs there was to be no picture-taking during the pop king’s performance.

“Telling a (news) photographer not to shoot something is an exercise in futility,” Cappellazzo said.

So as Jackson hit the stage, “Cappy” picked up his camera and began snapping. The performance featured several costume changes by Jackson, as well as a massive light show and some pyrotechnics.

The image Cappellazzo captured is a singular vision of Jackson at the height of his musical success. Bathed in light and smoke, Jackson stands on the stage in his then trademark short black pants, white socks, white T-shirt and unbuttoned white dress shirt, open and blowing backward.

His arms are outstretched, and his mouth is wide open, a song apparently bursting out.

“(As a photojournalist) you are documenting life,” Cappellazzo said.