John Steinbeck is one of my top favourite authors. He dissects human character like no one else - with ease, humour, sadness and love. He is an excellent story-teller whose characters are real people. 

Cannery Row's Doc is the inspiration for this project, 
“A man with a beard was always a little suspect anyway. You couldn’t say you wore a beard because you liked a beard. People didn’t like you for telling the truth. You had to say you had a scar so you couldn’t shave.” (p.77) 

Things have changed since the book was first published in January 1945. Beards are now in fashion and the beard grooming industry is booming. It is interesting to see how the perception has changed. 

I often approach strangers on the street with interesting beard specimens. In exchange for their time and permission to photograph them I give them a photograph or two. If you know someone with a fascinating beard or you have one yourself, email me: