Pirelli calendar in the wilds

Last time round, it was China. This year, Peter Beard took his gear off to Botswana where the photographer had more than a safari in mind; he spent ten days taking pictures of internationally famous models in front of an African backdrop.

The results can now be seen in the 2009 Pirelli calendar which had its official launch in Berlin last Thursday. The seven photographic models are Daria Werbowy (Canada), Emanuela de Paula and Isabeli Fontana (Brazil) – Isabeli having already appeared in Patrick Demarchelier's 2005 calendar – Lara Stone and Rianne Ten Haken (Holland), Malgosia Bela (Poland) and Mariacarla Boscono (Italy) who made her debut in 2003 with Bruce Weber and went on to appear in the 2004 version by Knick Knight.

The 56 images in the latest edition of 'The Cal' are a collage of pictures, quotes and statements by the artist about the environment, climate change, overpopulation and the pressure on natural resources. All very nice, just like the ladies who have kindly agreed to be photographed, but erm... where are the cars?