‘Beard’- a new free exhibition at London’s Somerset House features an 80 photo-strong series of men who sport extraordinary facial hair. Created by Warwickshire-based photographer Brock Elbank, the photographs are printed by Lumejet on Fujifilm Crystal Archive Paper and depict actor John Hurt, models Ricki Hall and Billy Huxley, tattooist Miles Better – and British woman Harnaam Kaur among others. “I was completely blown away with the quality of prints that Lumejet produced for this exhibition - all output on Fujifilm Crystal Archive Paper,” Elbank says. “They look phenomenal and the colour accuracy is superb." Taking place from 5-29 March 2015, the exhibition is free to attend.

Press Release

Why beards are right ‘in yer face’ for top portrait photographer Brock Elbank

Just as Gillette mounts a new campaign to get more men shaving with their latest high-tech manual razor – Warwickshire-based photographer Brock Elbank is thinking in completely the opposite direction, as legions of men across the world shun wet shaves for whiskers.

‘Beard’- a new free exhibition at London’s Somerset House (March 5 -29) features an 80 photo-strong series of men who sport extraordinary facial hair – including actor John Hurt, models Ricki Hall and Billy Huxley, tattooist Miles Better – and British woman Harnaam Kaur, who has been growing a beard since the age of 16 after being diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome, a condition which causes excess hair growth.

Mr Elbank’s series of pogonophiles - printed by Lumejet on Fujifilm Crystal Archive Paper - has been widely acclaimed, even before the London exhibition even opens its doors, after one of his early portraits of Australian charity campaigner Jimmy Niggles went viral on social media.

Niggles was trying to raise awareness of skin cancer after a close friend had died from the disease.

Mr Elbank then started #Project 60 – with a view to photographing 60 people with beards from all walks of life to help the cause.

He then received over 1,200 applications from people wanting to participate and those selected travelled to his studio to sit for their portrait at their own expense. The sitters grew from 60 to 80.

Said Mr Elbank: “I’m not jumping on any fashion bandwagon with this – it’s just a very interesting subject.”

He added: “I was completely blown away with the quality of prints that Lumejet produced for this exhibition - all output on Fujifilm Crystal Archive Paper. They look phenomenal and the colour accuracy is superb.

I just gave Lumejet’s Paul Anderson my files and he told me he’d show me what they could do. The combination of the Lumejet S200 printer and FujiColor Crystal Archive DP11 Matte Paper worked brilliantly and the exhibition prints look fantastic.”

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