Peter Beard - Pirelli calendar 2009

Peter Beard was an American photographer, artist, and writer, famous for his spectacular and often confrontational photographs of Africa and its wilderness, as well as his flamboyant lifestyle. Here are his key points:

Background
• Full name: Peter Hill Beard
• Born: January 22, 1938, New York City
• Died: April 2020 (his body was found in Montauk, Long Island; he was 82).

Work and Career
• Beard became fascinated by Africa and its wildlife at a young age. He first visited Kenya in the 1950s and later settled part-time on a ranch on the edge of Tsavo National Park.
• He documented wildlife, poaching and ecological disasters, most notably the mass die-offs of elephants and hippos in Tsavo in the 1960s and 1970s.
• His most famous book is The End of the Game (1965), in which he showed the consequences of overpopulation and ecological destruction.
He was also known for his diaries, which incorporated photographs, drawings, collages, newspaper clippings, and even blood and leaves. These works became art objects in their own right and are now highly sought after.

Style and Themes
• His photography balances between documentary and art. He captured both the dramatic deaths of animals and the beauty of African nature.
• Beard photographed not only animals, but also models and celebrities. He worked with Veruschka, Iman, and was close to Andy Warhol, Francis Bacon, and Truman Capote.

Personality and Life
• He was known as a charismatic yet reckless personality, often living on the border between art, fashion, and adventure.
• His lifestyle was glamorous but also destructive: lots of partying, relationships, and a certain nonchalance towards danger (both from wild animals and his own health).
• He disappeared in April 2020; weeks later his body was found in nature near his Montauk home.