JCB has launched its calendar for 2007, photographed by George Bamford, youngest son of JCB Chairman, Sir Anthony. Now in its third edition, the calendar uses the female body with iconic JCB imagery. The 2007 calendar features silhouetted women covered in dripping yellow paint – yellow symbolising JCB.
Planned eight months in advance by a creative group, this year’s concept was developed from several ground-breaking ideas. The consistent theme, however, was the use of the colour yellow as the JCB identity. The execution, using the female form in an unusual setting, helps portray many of the company’s brand values, notably ‘a touch of humour’.
The production process involved one day casting followed by a five day photographic shoot. The selected girls were asked to pose individually while a make-up artist slowly poured yellow liquid latex over the model. Occasionally sections of the body were poured and photographed separately, other times the results were left to gravity.
“Photography is a family passion,” explains Bamford. “Just before my grandfather passed away he told me he had wanted to be a photographer but that he couldn’t afford it. He inspired me to pursue a career as a photographer. Photography is also a passion for my father.”
Bamford has an enviable photographic career. He studied photography at the world-renowned Parsons School of Design in New York and later served his apprenticeship under John Swannell, Rankin and Antoine Verglas. Swannell was former assistant to David Bailey but is more commonly known for his subtly lit portraits of the British Royal family.
The 2006 calendar, also photographed by Bamford, won the prestigious Business Calendar of the Year Award and recently won a Roses Design Award, for best use of photography. The 2007 JCB calendar (a limited edition with a print run of 3500) is available to buy at £19.99 through the JCB online shop at www.jcbshop.com from 15 November 2006.
To review images from the calendar click http://upload.fingaldev.co.uk/JCB_CALENDAR_07_extract.pdf