WallpaperGrage - Automotive Photography

Master Automotive Photographer
Easton Chang

The Pirelli calendar is one that's eagerly awaited by all and sundry involved with automotive matters and excellent photography, but 'sundry' rarely ever gets to own a copy. Even so, there is always keen interest in both the models, the photographer/s shooting this exclusive calendar, and how the models are depicted in the calendar.

One of the most striking, and yet subtle, calendars from this tyre company came several years ago when the tyre tread pattern was tastefully depicted as an element of the whole image. This time around, the thirty-fifth, Pirelli has a more commercial motive behind the choice of models - Pirelli's increased presence in China with the opening of a new tyre plant. So, along with the inclusion of Chinese models in the calendar, the theme of the calendar focuses on Shanghai, along with its teahouses and former colonial areas.

The photographer is Patrick Demarchelier, originally from the small French sea town of Le Havre. He is possibly most well known as being Princess Diana's official photographer - historic because he was the first non-Brit to photograph the royal family. This is Demarchelier second time as the Pirelli calendar photographer - the first was in 2005 in Rio de Janeiro in exotic, sultry Brazil.

The 2008 edition has (disappointingly for those expecting a skin show) 23 portraits, the odd number due to August having just one. The selected models include Agyness Deane and Lily Donaldson (UK), Doutzen Kroes (the Netherlands), Catherine Mc Neil and Gemma Ward (Australia), Sasha Pivovarova (Russia), Coco Rocha (Ireland) and Caroline Trentini (Brazil). The Chinese beauties are Mo Wan Dan, Du Juan and Maggie Cheung, the latter is an actress known for her roles in Chinese and English films like Police Story, Super Cop, Actress, Chinese Box and others.

Du Juan, whose name means both the Azalea flower and the Cuckoo bird, was the first Asian model to grace the cover of French Vogue. Mo Wandan was born in Guangdong Province, China. She trained in track and field, but quit after injury. After she participated in, and won, the China Model Star Contest in 2004, she was signed on by a modeling agency.

You've just won the lottery, or suddenly discovered a great inheritance. Whatever the reason - the important thing is that now you're rich. But there's a catch, there always is. It's not what you're thinking though - you don't have to sell your soul, far from it in fact. The only condition is that you have no choice but to spend all the money in a single year, and no safe investments allowed either.

Now you can really rub your hands with delight - you may actually enjoy this yet. If you like to travel the world, and have even a hint of petrol in your veins, here are a few good tips on how you can make the most of it:
Another legend of the sport and multiple F1 champion, Sir Jackie Stewart, termed the infamous Nurburgring - 'the Green Hell.' At the time, the track was both revered and anticipated for the challenge it presented, but also dreaded for the threat it posed. Sir Jackie, a forceful proponent for safety during his time in F1, once exclaimed that if he were ever to go around the track slowly, and in doing so notice the real dangers it posed, he may never race there again.