"Seize opportunity bye the beard, for it is bald behind"
~Bulgarian Proverb
This photo essay is about beards. A short, simplistic assumption likely made having read the title. Beards are indeed the subject matter of the essay, however the focus lies elsewhere. From Barbaric warriors to Abraham Lincoln to Hulk Hogan, beards have been used to symbolize the masculinity of an man. One can't help but assume that “the greater the beard the greater the man”. This illogical fallacy yields some truth, beards reflect a man's mind and character. Through this experience, I learned a great deal about the person in the photo, even though i spent a meager minute snapping 2-3 photos. Granted there was the ever present awkwardness from a random individual asking to photograph you facial hair, however i felt that i was able to use the ancestral roots of our bearded brethren to connect to these random people on a deeper level.
"You want to take a picture of my beard? My beard?What a weird project but go for it."
"Oh! Absolutely [ you can take a photo]...this has never happened to me before"
Me: "Sir, I am doing a project for Keller High School...do you mind if i take a photo of your beard?"
Him: "You may"
Me: *Snaps Photos*
Him: "..."
Me: "..."
Him: *Nods and walks a way*
"Your project is over peoples beards? What is your teachers name so I can send him a note with some suggestions for new projects"
"Hey Clay will this work"
"Sure!...that is a very good photo would you like me to take one of you?"
These two men did not speak very much english, so I had to use one of their coworkers to translate for me.
"Since you took a photo of his...yes you can...the trick is to use conditioner"
"If you head down I-45 towards Houston, you will see some crazy beards"
"You are my only customer to ask to take a photo of my beard"
This man also spoke very little english, he was fluent in french
"If they ask why he has pubes on his face, tell them it is because he is greek"
"My dad couldn't grow a beard...he is jealous of mine."
"My wife hates it"
