Amateur Photographer

Pirelli Calendar 2019: the inside story

In May 2017 Albert Watson’s New York studio got the call from Pirelli to ask if he would consider shooting the 2019 Pirelli Calendar, aka ‘The Cal’. Ironically, it came many years after Watson was first approached to shoot the calendar – that was a project he declined as he didn’t think the ballet dancer theme of that year suited him at that time. He laughs and says, ‘But I guess it eventually came round to me again!’

Watson prepared for the 2019 project in his usual meticulous fashion. He explains, ‘I had a storyboard of references of my own pieces and sometimes random things, like an old still of a man teaching a woman to tango. I had 24 fairly extensive boards and each board had about 10 images on it, so about 240 or 250 images were prepped as inspiration.’

Like many of the recent Pirelli Calendar photographers, Watson took the decision to move away

You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.

More from Amateur Photographer

Amateur Photographer2 min read
3 Legged Thing Ultra Plates
● £52 ● 3leggedthing.com In essence, these Ultra Plates are very simple. They are long quick-release plates that can be mounted on any Arca-Swiss-type tripod head (including 3 Legged Thing’s) instead of a standard plate. That extra length and the add
Amateur Photographer3 min read
Join the Club
When was the club founded? Wensleydale Camera Club was founded at the inaugural meeting on 31 January 1957. In our 50th anniversary year, in 2007, we contacted many people from throughout Wensleydale and met regularly to look through over 14,000 sli
Amateur Photographer1 min read
Canon Finally Opens Up RF Mount
SIGMA is releasing six APS-C lenses for Canon EOS RF mount, thus widening the choice of glass for Canon’s previously ‘closed’ RF system. First to hit the market is the Sigma 18-50mm F2.8 DC DN, equivalent to 29-80mm on Canon APS-C bodies and availabl

Related Books & Audiobooks