On his 34th birthday, Ethan James Green received a call that would set his career on a remarkable path. Speaking at the Mandarin Oriental hotel in London's Knightsbridge on the eve of its launch, he recalls the unexpected gift. Legendary Vogue fashion editor Tonne Goodman, who styled the project, sat to his left. Green emphasizes the significance of being asked to become a Pirelli photographer, stating that it's like being included in a prestigious club.
From Its Beginnings to Present Glamour
The Pirelli calendar was first launched in 1964 as a giveaway to clients, initially pushing a certain kind of sexiness with models wearing minimal clothing. Over time, it evolved into a symbol of glamour and celebrity, representing a space for the most important fashion image-makers of each generation to make their mark. Past photographers like Sarah Moon in the 1970s, Richard Avedon in the 1990s, Mert and Marcus in the 2000s, and Tim Walker in the 2010s have all left their indelible marks. Green adds that these photographers have been huge inspirations for him, fueling his desire to become a photographer.Green's Steady Approach
The Michigan-born ex-model started by photographing friends and members of New York's queer community on the streets of eastern Manhattan. His frank black and white portraits captured an essential beauty and were published in his debut book "Young New York" in 2019. In the five years since, his work has graced leading fashion tomes and shaped numerous campaigns for brands like Dior and Prada. Building on his contemporary vision of identity, sex, and style, Green's Pirelli calendar looks back to its beach days while looking forward to what sensuality means in 2024.Two Worlds, One Calendar
The 12 subjects of the calendar were captured in two different worlds - the sandy shores of Miami's Virginia Key Beach Park and a traditional studio set-up. Drawing upon the sharp beauty of Avedon's calendar, the cast is star-studded, including Hunter Schafer, Padma Lakshmi, Vincent Cassel, Hoyeon, John Boyega, and Jenny Shimizu. Green invited his subjects to embody their own personal ideas of sensuality and expose as much skin as they were comfortable with. The process was completely collaborative, with each subject guiding the styling process.Green's Self-Portrait
In an unusual twist, Green himself appears stark naked as the month of November. When asked why he chose to include a self-portrait, he explains that with multiple women fully nude, they needed at least one guy. The only person he could ask was himself. Stepping on the other side of the camera not only leveled him with his subjects but also sparked an interest in taking up modelling once more. He recently signed with IMG. Green describes the experience as liberating and is ready to embrace and go with the flow.