The Creation Of The 2011 Pirelli Calendar NSFW

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Pirelli is constantly pushing the envelope with their sexy Calendars. This year, mega fashion designer/photographer Karl Lagerfeld was in charge of shooting this Greek Goddess themed photoshoot. Karl seems to shoot most of the shots with 1 single bare bulb flash and his images are stunning. Once again this video is NSFW and does have lots of nudity. View with caution.

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Lee Morris is a professional photographer based in Charleston SC, and is the co-owner of Fstoppers.com

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30 Comments

Omg the Nymph is amazing looking, and i want to do not this, but a shoot much more accurate to the actual statues, one day prolly in the spring

Bravo Karl. Du grand art!!! You are the best...

It's good to have someone moving the light with the model. I need lighting assistants too. Though other than for video, what are the other 4 lights for? I saw two softboxes at the sides, one umbrella on a boom high overhead and a light with barndoors pointed upward, was it just for the video as the diffused modeling lamps aren't very strong for video I assume.

I love the way he keeps his sunglasses on, even when shooting!

While I admire the brassy light of the actual stills, I prefer the warm rendition of the video capture waiting for the strobe to fire

can't view it? im in the UK,,

wow...isnt he a fashion designer?? But i guess when you have a photographer next to you telling you what to shoot it makes you a fashion photographer??? this is a travesty to our industry and shows now anyone can just pick up an expensive camera and shoot their stuff without the need of talent behind a camera.... tsk tsk.... well i guess ill just go get some clothes designed and throw a "designer name" on the tag...that will make me a fashion designer!!

Come on people....take pride in your career, dont let others make a mockery out of it !

The gloves are sharp too!

I like his camera hand Guantlets =)

apparently I can't spell today Gauntlets....

I'm not sure what to make of this.... Models calling him the Einstein of Fashion Photography but it looks like quite a standard setup. Seems quite "Style over Substance" - He's just picked up a Hasselblad with the Stock Lens, keeps his glasses on (the view finder isn't THAT bright) and wears gloves to shoot indoors.

Renowned Photographers that talk about their gear usually tell us it feels like an extension of their body and their so connected to their camera and lenses. I see Karl might feel connected to his gloves, but not his hasselblad.

Wow well this was a disappointment. Having the best gear and having somebody next to you sorting it out. Anyone can click a button.. No real skill on his behalf, photos were okay, but alot of fall off and hot spots on the full length due to bare strobe. hmm and the guy himself, sunglasses inside, good job he was shooting raw as they would have came out under exposed :P

apparently some commenters obviously don't even know who karl lagerfeld is and what he has done for the fashion industry not only as Head designer and creative director of Chanel, HIs own line and Fendi but a photographer as well. the statement about being the einstein of the fashion world is not embellished but sheer fact. keep in mind he is not a photographer first he is a clothing designer but if you've been in and around fashion as long as he has and rubs elbow with some of the greatest living photogs you pick up a few things. im not sucking his balls just because of who he is and his images may not be the most technical but they are the images he sees in his mind and thats what he is delivering to the client.

I don't see why all the hate towards Karl. Yes photo isn't his main job, but that's the same thing as a lot of people who read here. I might be mistaking but doesn't the guy shoot most of Chanel's campaigns and published a few books ? Sure why the hell would you shoot with sunglasses indoor? But I don't think the guy is an idiot when it comes to photo.

@will
Lagerfeld has been doing photography since 1987. FYI:

Karl Lagerfeld was born in 1938 in Hamburg. In addition to his career as fashion designer and perfume creator, he began working as a photographer in 1987. He has received the Lucky Strike Design Award from the Raymond Loewy Foundation and the cultural prize from the German Photographic Society. In 1998, he founded the Lagerfeld Gallery in Paris. Steidl has published most of Karl Lagerfeld's photography books.

So I would think he knows something about being behind the camera.

Clearly several people haven't the faintest clue who he is. The sunglasses and gloves are his trademark. He's been doing it for years. He usually has a folding fan too. Anyone how who has followed fashion and fashion photography has probably run across shots of him backstage at a show or working with a model and knows that's his 'thing'. If the guy wears shades and gloves what do you care? As for the hotspots and falloff, that was the whole point. Photography is an art. There are no hard a fast rules dictating that a picture has to have no hotpsots and no severe fallout. What would you say about about Matthew Brady.. one of the greatest photojournalists who ever carried a camera? Oh wait....you probably never heard of him.

"It's more important to decide what you want to shoot rather than what technique to use." Ellen von Unwerth

There are two types of Photographers, Artists and Technicians. Artists make Art and Technicians make perfectly exposed dreck.

Tkae, what in the world are you talking about!!! Sweat from their balls? Pubes? Ha goodness, you are crazy! NYC meetup again soon; them Fstoppers boys are coming back to tha heart of the city!

lol. photography is art, and art is opinion. what art is to one person may not be to another. so in the end nobody is right or wrong. but considering karls work is no stranger to practically every fashion magazine that has ever existed since hes been around.... hes abviously doing something right.

like mother always said... "if you have nothing nice to say then say nothing at all... otherwise your your just another annoying shithead in the world" haha. gotta love mothers.

Come on, he had great models, props and gears and that's all he was able to do?

NO Mr. Lagerfeld working in fashion does not make you a photographer!

SOMEBODY noticed that Elisa said (a MODEL what else can be ... even she gorgeous ... not too much BRAIN) said:
"Check out, 2011 is gonna be a ... GOODYEAR!"

Hahahahahahahaahahahahahahahahahahah ...

I didn't know everyone would be checking out the guy and what he was wearing. I was focused on the super HOT models wearing interesting accessories. I guess I'm the minority.

This calendar is about pure beauty of the female form. If you put Bianca Balti, naked, in front of camera..any camera..you are going to get beautiful images. 10% of the credit has to go to the photographer, makeup, wardrobe, lighting, etc... but 90% has to go to the beauty behind the lens.

I would bet hard cash that if you had her in your studio and said "look pretty", no matter what lighting, gear, etc you had...The images would be stunning.

Just my 2c.

Karl Lagerfield is a pioneer in the fashion industry. But he is getting a little more credit than is due. At best, he's a producer while the photographer and assistants are the models. Also, the first 10 or so comments make me laugh.

I read this post to late... the video has been removed :-(

he is not a photographer.
he just pushes the shutter.
the work is done by his assistants.

Forgetting who the pompous prick in the sunglasses and gloves (inside?) is for a moment, look at the actual work and preperation of the models.
Huge effort looks like it went into the tonality and feel of the shoot, those beautiful outfits with their texture and form and the overarching golden theme and he goes and shoots b&w with one bare light? WTF? Seriously what a waste of talent.

wow, where's the love in this world ?

I'm sorry there are so many sour comments! 

Photography in fashion has always been a collaboration, from model, hair stylist, make-up, photographer, touch up artists, creative director, assistants and so on. 
Honestly, if you can only see the facade of Karl, and unfortunately ageing, I pity those who are just plain jealous, since at least he has a legacy! Seriously, learn to respect fellow artists whether it to your taste or not!