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The
Pirelli 2005 Calendar
On November 18th 2004, at the Copacabana Fort in Rio de Janeiro,
was revealed the world premiere of the Pirelli 2005 Calendar,
the most exclusive world event for beauty lovers, fashion
followers and photography connoisseurs.
Shot
by world-renowned French photographer Patrick Demarchelier,
the 2005 Pirelli Calendar has chosen the spectacular setting
of Rio de Janeiro, the metropolis that, as Naomi Campbell
says (appearing for the third time in the "The Cal")
"reflects the Brazilian people's energetic and positive
spirit"
The
Theme
Demarchelier has grasped and assimilated the spirit of Brazil:
'O espirito do Brazil' is in fact the title chosen for the
backstage film and of Rio de Janeiro, a city dominated by
strong contrasts, required a masterly use of light to express
strong contrasts and obtain striking portraits, black and
white only.
Quite
the opposite of last year imaginative, highly coloured and
almost hyper-technologic calendar signed by Nick Knight, the
Cal 2005 goes back to the traditional technique of black and
white photography that also characterised the calendars by
Arthur Elgort (1990), Peter Lindberg (1996), Richard Avedon
(1997), Bruce Weber (1998) and Herb Ritts (1999). As the art
director, Douglas Lloyd, states, "every image is a graphic
portrait, classic but at the same time modern, exalting the
beauty of the female body".
Demarchelier
uses a personal technique that ensures the immediacy of the
result, taking direct positive shots on Polaroid film. His
photography stands out for its capacity to apply the most
sophisticated studio techniques to spectacular, luminous locations,
creating images that are fluid and at the same time immersed
in nature.
The
result is a truly unique version of the Pirelli Calendar,
made up for the first time of 22 pages. The Calendar closes
with a lively collage of shots "stolen" by the great
photographer in a famous Rio discotheque, during the party
that concluded the shooting.
The
Models
The black and white photographs investigate the most mysterious
aspects of the models seeking out the invisible source of their
allure: alongside the already mentioned Naomi Campbell are Filippa
Hamilton and Isabeli Fontana (already chosen by Bruce Weber
for the 2003 edition), Adriana Lima (the current testimonial
of TIM), Diana Dondoe, Erin Wasson, Euguenia Volodina, Julia
Stegner, Liliane Ferrarezi, Marija Vujovic, Michelle Buswell,
"Valentina" and Valeria Bohm.
A
truly an international cast with three Brazilians, two Americans,
one Russian, one Montenegrin, one Romanian, one Swede and one
German.
Always
attentive to details, Demarchelier chose the model's clothes
with particular care. These, he comments, "confer elegance
and an aura of mystery and emotion on women". Intriguing
and sensual, the garments were specially designed to underline
contrasts and geometrical lines. Standing out amongst the clothes
worn by the models is the Pirelli Pzero line, to which Demarchelier
dedicates his August portrait.
The
twenty two year old Brazilian model Valeria Bohm, who won the
"Garota Tim" competition promoted by Tim Brazil in
collaboration with MTV, also took part in the photo sessions.
Voted for by SMS, she beat off competition from the other 14
splendid girls specially selected by the agency Ford Models.
"This is my first great chance", Valeria commented,
on winning her place in the legendary Pirelli 2005 Calendar.
The
Location
Demarchelier has chosen two particular locations to immortalise
his muses and to re-create in the open, the environment of the
photographic studio: a dune on the beach and the luxuriant garden
of a colonial house.
The elegance and fresh spontaneity of the young models give
the photos a sense of expression and natural beauty, in line
with the exuberance of Brazil.
The Calendar closes with a lively collage of shots "stolen"
by the great photographer in a famous Rio discotheque, during
the party that concluded the shooting.
The
Format
The 2005 edition is a truly unique version of the Pirelli Calendar,
made up for the first time of 22 pages, one cover page, twelve
pictures (one for each month) and a lively collage of 9 shots
named "credits".
All pictures are on black and white with high contrast, mounted
on a page frame which is purposely in white or black, to enhance
the effect of the picture in the center.
Demarchelier uses a personal technique that ensures the immediacy
of the result, taking direct positive shots on Polaroid film.
His photography stands out for its capacity to apply the most
sophisticated studio techniques to spectacular, luminous locations,
creating images that are fluid and at the same time immersed
in nature.
So
how can you get a Pirelli Calendar? You probably can't. Pirelli
Corporation sells the calendars to their distributors around
the world at a cost of around $40 each. The distributors, in
turn, give them as promotional gifts to the media, their distributors
and friends. In a country like America where there is such a
huge hangup over nudity and an employer can be sued for sexual
harassment if they hand out or display a nude calendar in the
workplace, Pirelli USA buys and gives away only a handleful
of calendars to special industry friends. Once in a while you
can find an old Pirelli Calendar on Ebay.com, but your change
of getting a current calendar is next to impossible.
The
Photographer
Patrick Demarchelier was born in 1943 in a suburb of Paris,
France. Abandoned as a child by his father, he was brought up
with his four siblings by his mother in Le Havre. At 17 years
old he was given a camera, and discovered his true calling.
To pay for the cost of film and developing his photos, he worked
for two years in the basement of a photo shop in Le Havre, learning
everything there was to know about developing techniques and
photographic paper.
Later
he moved to Paris, where he found work as an assistant in the
black and white laboratory of Publicis. For a few years he worked
hard to earn a living, reaching a turning point in the mid sixties
when he became the assistant to Hans Feurer, an expert fashion
photographer and art director. The first tough impact with professional
reality came a few years later, when he presented his photos
to the Art Director of Elle who rejected his work out of hand.
This was the lowest moment in the young photographer's career,
and yet he persevered, and three years later it was the magazine
Elle that commissioned a photograph from him for the cover which,
out of negligence, was published without his name.
In
the early seventies, a group of young photographers, including
Gilles Bensimon, Arthur Elgort and Pierre Houles, began to develop
new ideas on fashion photography, adding more provocation and
subtlety. They considered photography in the same way as sculpture
and not only as a way of displaying clothes. Patrick, an active
member of the group, managed to build his own particular, personal
style that made him one of the leading professional photographers.
He
opened his first studio 1975 in New York and from 1992 to May
2004 was the leading photographer for Harper's Bazaar. He currently
works with Condé Nast Publications. Celebrated in the
pages of the most important international magazines, Demarchelier
is undoubtedly one of the master fashion photographers of our
era. His work has been published in the American, British, French
and Italian editions of Vogue, in Mademoiselle and Glamour and
other magazines around the world including Premier, Life and
Rolling Stone.
He
has been responsible for major international advertising campaigns
for brands such as Chanel, Calvin Klein, Revlon and Lancome,
The Gap, Gianni Versace, Giorgio Armani, Elizabeth Arden and
many others, alongside many television campaigns. His talent
can also be recognised on the album covers of records by stars
such as Janet Jackson, Billy Joel, Madonna and Quincy Jones.
In
1989 Princess Diana asked him to portray her, becoming her official
photographer and the first non-Briton to photograph the Royal
Family. Demarchelier published his first book "Fashion
Photography" in 1989. His second work, "Patrick Demarchelier
Photography", published at the end of 1995, was so successful
that a second edition followed in February 1996.
At
the end of 1995, the Tony Shafrazi Gallery in New York hosted
the photographer's first show; in 1997 the Museum of Contemporary
Art in Monterey, Mexico (MARCO) presented his one-man show "Patrick
Demarchelier, revealing elegance". The exhibition "Forms"
at the Italian Museum of Modern Art (PAC) in Milan, first seen
in 2000, is now in its third edition.
Art
Director
Doug Lloyd established Lloyd & Co in 1994 and it has become
one of the leading advertising and design companies in the world
of fashion, fragrance and beauty. His vast experience and expertise
has extended across many sectors and media: branding, 3-D design,
sales and public relations support, graphic design, product
consultation, and television, not to mention a valuable contribution
in books and magazines. Gucci, Marie Claire, Yves Saint Laurent
and Arena Homme are but a few of his prestigious clients.
Prior
to Lloyd & Co, Doug was Art Director at Mademoiselle Magazines,
Barneys New York, then moving on to Gap as Senior Art Director
responsible for Baby Gap, Gap Kids and Gap advertising, plus
the launch of Gap's shoe division.
Lloyd
& Co have been featured in many world publications including
the "New York Times", "i-D", "Big",
"Commercial Photo", and "Elle Décor".
His innumerable clients include Anne Klein (advertising), Gucci
Envy and Gucci Rush, Karl Lagerfeld Fragrances, Nikon Eyewear,
Swiss Army Watches and Tommy Hilfiger.
Visit
Pirelli for More...
The
Pirelli Calendar Books we offer here, and Pirelli Website is
your best opportunity to see what you've been missing. Perhps
someday Pirelli will offer their calendar for sale internationally
through their website. But for now, you can find detailed information
and pictures from the Pirelli Calendars on the Pirelli website
at Pirelli.com
• Visit
the Pirelli Calendar Page on the Pirelli Website HERE
• Join the Pirelli Calendar Website to see all the
images and shoot, model bios and details at PirelliCal.com
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