It’s very important that you know that the 2009 Pirelli Calendar was introduced to the public in Berlin, just this week!

Models – hanging out
Elephants – enjoying it

Now for those of you who need to polish up your GK, this is exactly what the Pirelli calendar is all about (Wikipedia):

The calendar is famous for its limited availability because it is not sold and is only given as a corporate gift to a restricted number of important Pirelli customers and celebrity VIPs. The Pirelli Calendar is perhaps the world’s only prestigious and exclusive “girly” calendar, featuring pictures generally considered glamour photography including artistic nudes.

Publication was discontinued after the 1974 issue as an economising cut back in response to the world recession from the oil shock. It was resurrected 10 years later and has been published regularly since then.

Awesome. Every year has had a different theme and location and, as you may have gathered, this year’s shoot was done in AFRICA! I’m surprised we didn’t run into them.

It’s pretty weird that Guiness, an alcoholic beverage, happens to be the benchmark for globally recognised World Records. And then Michelin, a tyre manufacturer, also happens to be recognised as the decider and provider of the most prestigious COOKING awards on the planet (I trust we’ve all read about the chef that killed himself after losing a Michelin star?). And then you get Pirelli, another tyre manufacturer, who also happen to create and provide the world’s most exclusive nude calendar!

It’s all a bit mental. I should think of something to diversify into and become the best at. I would do sausages, but Abe Fromans got that covered..

Nonetheless, some of the pics from the 2009 Pirelli Calendar have been leaked and you can check them out HERE.

[thanks henrik]