ByKen Sakamoto, Star-Bulletin
Kathy Ireland and crew are on Oahu for a week, shooting
her 1998 swimsuit calendar.
Can you spell s-u-p-e-r m-o-d-e-l? Kathy Ireland, the woman who has graced the cover of Sports Illustrated more than any other person, was spending this cloudy day posing and posing for her 1998 swimsuit calendar, which is all being shot on Oahu.
Despite splashing waves just a few feet behind her and salt spray filling the air from a gusty wind, Ireland and a crew of nearly a dozen people - personal assistants, photographer's aides, news media and security - spent from dawn to dusk photographing the model in dozens of swimsuits.
"Throw your hair back when the wave breaks, Kathy," a sweating, sunburned Reinsdorf is ordering. "Yes, perfect, hold it, beautiful."
Then the photographer asks Ireland to crawl catlike up the lava shelf, while eyeing the camera. Ireland carefully slides to her hands and knees and seems to be growling at the camera.
"Oh yes, yes, that's it, I love it," Reinsdorf says.
During lunch break in her trailer, Ireland, now wearing a robe and fuzzy boots, says modeling is more difficult than people might think.
"People think it's just a glamorous job but there's more to it than glamorous locations and nice clothes," Ireland says. "You have to be ready, be able to concentrate even though there are lots of people watching, and you have to be able to deal with the elements.
"Eventually, you learn to tune out distractions and imagine it's just you and the camera."
Her favorite photographers are the ones who are able "to communicate well, have a good eye, pay attention to detail, and have a passion for their work."
Some of the proceeds of sales of the calendar, which will be out in July, will go to three charities.
Ireland says she is always trying to improve over the last project.
"I'm always afraid of running out of poses," she said, laughing. "I guess I'm still looking for the perfect pose."