Beard

by Matthew Rainwaters

Hundreds of bearded men strutted their stuff at the World Beard and Moustache Championships in Anchorage, Alaska, and photographer Matthew Rainwaters was there to capture it all. This resulting collection of portraits features the bushiest, most stylish, and downright weirdest beards from around the world. Taken straight on, the photographs are stark and stunning the beards speak for themselves. Alongside the images are essays by several of the championship competitors, including $teven Ra$pa and his beard Prepostero. A magnificent showcase of chops, bristles, and whiskers, this book belongs on the shelf of any true facial hair connoisseur.

Genres: Photography, Art

128 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 5, 2011

Reviews

[Bill · Rating 4 out of 5]

This caught my attention since I'm growing out my own beard, and I wasn't disappointed -- this book captures the many variations on facial hair from a beard (and moustache) competition in Alaska, a wide range of styles on competitors from around the world. There are a few short essays by the photographer, his friend that he convinced (two years in advance!) to participate, and a few other competitors about their experiences with their facial hair and with the competition itself. I would have liked to read more of these personal stories, but the beards themselves are, appropriately enough, the star of this show, and the photographer's interesting approach (including shadow-free lighting) captures them in a really unique way.

[Hobo]

Truly wonderful pictures of some of participants in 2009 world beard and moustache championships. With delightful stories breaking up the pictures.
Worth read and flick through when you don't know if growing a beard is worth all the trouble. It's always worth growing a beard.

[Jessie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well that was unexpected.

This is such a quirky book but I loved it. I bought it for my husband as a gag gift and it turned out to be a great find! The pictures are taken straight on; shadowless and completely honest. It fronts as a book about beards but, in reality, captures the heart of their owners. I know it seems weird to speak so passionately about a seemingly transparent book but it took me by complete surprise. I would recommend this book for two reasons. One being the obvious superficial one of 'hey let's check out some weird hair'. The second being it serves as a fantastic example of amazing documentary photography. Check it out.

[Slash Coleman · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a cool quirky book with some really artful and super interesting photos of beards. The photographer got a really cool effect with the subjects eyes. I wished there had been more prose. Just a few interesting stories by the author were included. As a sometimes bearded dude myself, the book gave me something to aspire to.

[Stephan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a nice book to have if you as a man like your own beard. It will give you a great opportunity to figure out how to make it more unique or just more you.

[M.Elizabeth Rival · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks for the wide range of eye candy.

[Chantell Petrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome facial hair. Saw it at the library and felt compelled to check it out.

[Ben Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely ridiculous insight into a strange world of beard envy and competitive moustaches. The essays are a scream, but I guess that's not the point - can't take beards too seriously.