Emma Summerton is only the fifth woman in the history of the Pirelli calendar to be behind the lens. Summerton is a big name in the industry, having photographed for well-known publications and with the world’s most famous models.
The project “The Cal™”, which has always been one of the most prestigious commissions in the fashion sector, has always been a dream of the Australian Emma Summerton. She follows in the footsteps of Bryan Adams, rock star and photographer, who photographed the music calendar in 2022 with superstars such as Cher, Jennifer Hudson and Iggy Pop.
According to Pirelli, the concept of the 49th edition of Pirelli Calendar focuses “on the muses, imaginary and archetypal figures that have inspired the photographer throughout her life. It’s a tribute to all those women who gave impetus to Summerton, from her mother to singers, actresses, artists, writers, activists, painters and many others. Many of their ideas come from these women, both real and imaginary.”
“I love photographing women and showing them [als] strong, but also sexy, powerful and sometimes a little weird,” says Summerton, whose work has been exhibited internationally. She is only the fifth woman to photograph the Pirelli calendar. In addition to Annie Leibovitz (2000 and 2016), it was Inez van Lamsweerde in 2007, Joyce Tennson in 1989 and Sarah Moon in 1972. “So it wasn’t just about finding beautiful and adorable models, but women who also had stories to tell,” she continues. “Muses who have other things to talk about and explore.”
The result is a sumptuous series of portraits that not only highlight the celebrated discipline or characters, but also show the model in a new light.
