Unquestionably, the unveiling of the annual calendar from Italian tire company Pirelli has become an event. Tying in sport and culture, each successive edition employs one of the world's finest photographers to share his vision of Pirelli through an exotic location...and some terrifically attractive women.
For 2013, Pirelli commission photographer Steve McCurry. Known for vividly documenting his travels, McCurry spent 2 weeks in Rio de Janeiro taking in the economic redevelopment, Favela culture, and local landscapes. The result is a calendar book containing 34 total images and 23 stunning portaits. McCurry aimed to capture the changing nature of the vibrant country, without failing to reveal the strength of vernacular tradtions.
Along with McCurry's street snaps the calendar features 11 models, actresses and singers: Brazilians Isabeli Fontana (who appeared in Bruce Weber's 2003 Pirelli Calendar, in Patrick Demarchelier's 2005 edition, in Peter Beard's of 2009, in Karl Lagerfeld's of 2011 and in Mario Sorrenti's of 2012) and Adriana Lima (also in Patrick Demarchelier's 2005 edition), actress Sonia Braga and singer Marisa Monte; Italian-egyptian actress Elisa Sednaoui, Czech model Petra Nemcova, Tunisian model Hanaa Ben Abdesslem, Ethiopian model Liya Kebede, and American models Karlie Kloss, Kyleigh Kuhn and Summer Rayne Oakes.
McCurry follows Karl Lagerfield, Bruce Weber, and Terry Richardson in the illustrious line of Pirelli calendar photographers. 2013 is the 40th edition.
RELATED: Hottest Pirelli Calendar Girls
