Thanks for the link, Fred; my first coffee of the day (I'm supposed to stay with one) is now twenty minutes late!
I also have a new favourite face: Bianca Balti!
There's something about Karl that I just can't stomach. It might be envy, but I think I could envy many others before him, so I'll discount that - but those silly gloves, that wearing of suits in a 'relax' tense situation, it all smacks of dischord to me and boy, does it work commercially!
The mythological theme has been done by Pirelli before: by Barry Lategan in '88 with balletic references; in '91 by Clive Arrowsmith with references to mythological historical characters and, again, by him in '92 with Chinese references of more in that manner.
It smacks of a ready-to-use solution, when the best (for me) remains the freestyle of Moon, Giacobetti and Feurer. More often than not, the others look to have have been too art directed, too stiff and totally in thrall to the aura of the big deal. Avedon produced great studio photography, as has Lagerfeld, but somehow, most miss the essence of soul that my first three choices had in abundance.
I think the job has simply outgrown the ability of most to come up with an honest version: it's all super-hype today, too much perfection. And that's deadly.
But, a great video for snappers to see!
Incidentally, was a time you could log on to the Pirelli calendar site and see the entire range; now, it's blocked without key codes... how sweet! Keep the peasants hungry at the door. Goodness me, do I need that first coffee!
Thanks again.
Rob C