Curvaceous models, exotic places, amazing photographers -- this is what dreams are made of for Diane Smith, senior editor of the Sports Illustrated (SI) Swimsuit Edition. And for aspiring models and photographers, the issue can make their career.

In the last decade, Smith has brought talented, virtually unknown photographers and models to the forefront. As only the third editor in the magazine's 44 years of existence, this art school graduate has put her signature on the swimsuit phenomenon with the distinctive themes she creates for each yearly volume. Last year, she broke new ground showcasing a non-model, Beyoncé Knowles, on its coveted cover. Smith tells Picture how she makes dreams happen.

ARNY FREYTAG:
Hef's Righthand Man
by Michelle Lanz

Arny Freytag has the job any heterosexual male in America (or the world) would kill for. As photographer for Playboy Magazine for over 30 years, he has seen almost as many stunningly beautiful women in the nude as Hugh Hefner, who happens to be his boss. Freytag took time out from his “stressful” job to chat about his career, the future of Playboy and his hatred for Photoshop.




TIM WALKER'S PICTURES
by Jerome Tufte

British fashion photographer Tim Walker's newest book, published by German based teNeues, arrives in the US this June. The collection is titled Pictures, but contains much more than just the polished images we have come to know in high fashion magazines like Vogue and W. What makes Pictures unique is the inclusion of a variety of sketches, contacts, Polaroids, and other behind the scenes tidbits of inspiration and creative process. Across 320 large-scale pages, Pictures is a more intimate visual exploration of Walker's distinctive style and peculiar vision.