Dave Mead’s “Magnificent Specimens” opens at the Land Gallery in Portland, Oregon, tomorrow. But you can see 40 of his extraordinary photographs today.
Each photo features a man who’s spent a lot of time cultivating his beard or mustache. Jake from Ontario could pass for Paul Bunyan’s twin. Jeremy from Anchorage looks like an extra from Lord of the Rings. And Rodney from Alexandria, Virginia, is a dead ringer for any number of Old Testament prophets. Many of Mead’s subjects are German; they’re sporting especially impressive beards. (Architectural isn’t a bad word to use if you’re looking to describe them.) But the most striking thing about these photographs is the way that a truly great beard can make a man look like he’s stepped straight out of some previous century. We hope Hollywood’s casting directors are paying attention.
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