Neal McGuinness - the "English Gentleman"

So two weeks ago I decided to undertake a series photographing men who had grown a moustache for Movember. I decided I wanted to test out a style of lighting I had only really played with at home, a simple black and white portrait, showing off the mos in a serious, yet hopefully comical way.

I pushed myself a little with this project and set out to also interview all my subjects to find out a bit more about their experiences and reasonings behind participating in Movember. I quite enjoyed playing interviewer as well, the first time I had done this. This is something I’d definitely love to do again (both the interviewing and the portrait series).

Mike Fritz - the "German"

Rhys Venning - the "Womb Broom"

Sam Cloake - the "Ivan Milat"

Vaughen Hatcher - the "70s Cop"

Edward Cavanagh - the "Pencil Mo"

Jake Anderson - the "Thick and Natural"

Aaron Wiggan - the "Tickler"

All participants were also interviewed. The interviews are below:

Can you introduce yourself…
My name is Mike Fritz and I am an Art Director at Clemenger BBO Brisbane.

Why did you participate in Movember?
A few guys from work decided to get together and participate to try and raise money and also for a bit of fun as well. We are always trying to be a bit zany in the creative department here [at work] so mainly for the fun aspect of growing a mo, but also to get behind the good cause as well. That’s a bonus.

How have your friends and family reacted to your growth?
They have reacted very positively. I have received about $200 worth of donations from friends and family. They also think its a bit funny cause I’ve also got a ranga mo so it’s worth more of a donation then anything. I’m outing myself pretty much.

Does your mo have a nickname or given you a certain persona?
They call it the German here cause my last name’s Fritz.

What has been your most interesting response to your mo?
My girlfriend thinks I look like a porn star so I think because that is what I get all the time it’s probably the most memorable.

Do you feel like there is a camaraderie between you and other Movembians?
Yeah definitely it’s funny seeing another younger guy cause older guys you just don’t know as they’ve probably had it for years. The younger guys with the moustaches clearly are like ‘yeah’ or you high five them at a pub when you have had a few. Yeah it’s definitely the thing that everyone gets behind.

Will you keep your moustache now Movember is almost over?
No I think it’s just the itch factor. Plus meetings here at work. I can’t really grow a moustache it looks very pre-teen pubescent so I will be sort of glad to see it go.

Why do you think Movember is important?
On a few levels obviously because, in my opion, it’s a lot harder to get males to donate to a cause. But I guess its a way that we can donate towards something where it’s coming from predominately men who are getting behind it. Obviously but everyone is donating towards it. I guess its important because its something that affects us and so for us to get behind it in a sort of fun way I think is really good. Its a great cause and I think year and year they make more money.

Did your growth raise an awareness of the real issues behind Movember? Besides the novelty of the moustache have you had any reactions from people regarding your support for the cause?
I think collectively this time of month when all the young guys are growing moustaches it does inherently raise an awareness for cancer and depression. Me individually raising awareness, I don’t think so but I think as a collective everyone gets behind it and when someone donates they kind of realise what the cause is for.

What have been the highlights?
The highlighs would be just getting everyone here at work to donate and with the other guys at work as well just seeing the progress and putting it on the Movember site. I think the highlight is just you know being in this band of four that is doing it and getting up the people here for not donating enough.

Will you participate again next year?
Probably I will probably try and get more people in the office doing it as well. Try and maybe go for the esquire next time.

Out of the team of four who would you think have won best mo?
Oh Neal definitely. His is just great. I wish I could grow more of a moustache. I think this is as good as it gets. It gets patchy. I can get a bit of a goatee but Neal by far.

–

Can you introduce yourself…
Rhys Venning

Why did you participate in Movember?
I was sort of spurred on by the guys to do it.

How have your friends and family reacted to your growth?
Pretty well they have thrown in a few dollars here and there.

Does your mo have a nickname or given you a certain persona?
Initially it was the Butch Cassidy but now it is the Womb Broom. I guess that’s a bit rude.

Can you explain the meaning of Womb Broom?
I don’t know, it suits my personality I guess.

What has been your most interesting response to your mo?
That it actually looks better then without the mo. It suits me apparently.

Do you feel like there is a camaraderie between you and other Movembians?
Yes when you see someone on the street during Movember you give them a little nod and say ‘How it going man’.

Will you keep your moustache now Movember is almost over?
Probably not the missus doesn’t like it so it will be shaved off.

Why do you think Movember is important?
To raise awareness in regards to the issues regarding men’s health. It’s been around for a couple of years now and people are well aware of it so its good that you can wear a mo and show your support. It’s kind of like wearing a badge.

Did your growth raise an awareness of the real issues behind Movember? Besides the novelty of the moustache have you had any reactions from people regarding your support for the cause?
Not particularly, I am not that active preaching for why I am doing it. I am just doing it for a good cause so I guess it’s really up to them to spread the word.

What have been the highlights?
Probably the photos everyday. I can’t wait to see the end of it because we are doing a time-lapse of the growth. We have been taking photos every couple of days.

Will you participate again next year?
Probably.

Out of the team of four who would you think have won best mo?
Neal. He has a curl and everything.

–

Can you introduce yourself…
Hi I am Neal McGuiness.

Why did you participate in Movember?
I thought it would be an interesting challenge. A good excuse to try and grow a moustache, I’ve never grown one before. It is also a great chance to raise some money for the cause.

How have your friends and family reacted to your growth?
Everyone has found it pretty hilarious. Most people I know have donated. People are laughing a lot.

Does your mo have a nickname or given you a certain persona?
Yes its the English Gentleman persona. I went to a fancy dress party the other night and did the whole top hat and cane with the suit and stuff.

Did you grow your mo with that persona in mind?
Ah no, I thought if I was going to do it I was going to do it properly. There is no point in just growing a small little mo so my inspiration was the butch from Gangs of New York.

What has been your most interesting response to your mo?
I’ve had high fives on the streets from randoms. I was at a fancy dress party on Friday, my wife’s Christmas do and people were coming up taking photographs of me and stuff. I found that quite amusing.

Do you feel like there is a camaraderie between you and other Movembians?
Definitely yeah, you get the nod from other moustached men, yeah definitely.

Will you keep your moustache now Movember is almost over?
Definitely not. It is coming off on Wednesday.

Will you be having a big shaving off ceremony?
No but my friends, I am going back to London on the 8th for a wedding, and they are trying to convince me to keep it until then to have a shave off in the pub but it’s not happening. Wednesday morning it is coming off.

Why do you think Movember is important?
Men’s health is important. I don’t think it gets enough awareness. There is a lot of awareness for breast cancer and I just think that it is a good cause. I know some people who haven’t raised money they just do the mo thing for awareness. I think its good.

Did your growth raise an awareness of the real issues behind Movember? Besides the novelty of the moustache have you had any reactions from people regarding your support for the cause?
I think so, it gets people talking. People see your moustache then ask what it is for and it just gets people talking, it definitely does. I especially think its good that TV presenters have gotten involved, its good its getting publicity.

What has been highlights?
I guess Friday night at that fancy dress party as it gave me a good excuse to have an easy but very effective outfit.

Will you participate again next year?
Don’t know. At this moment it is itchy as hell. If I do I will probably go a bit more simple.

Out of the team of four who would you think have won best mo?
I think I officially won best mo. And I raised the most money. I’ll take that accolade.

–

Can you introduce yourself…
Hi I am Sam Cloake

Why did you participate in Movember?
To support the charity and its something you can do that is good to be a part of but ist is also fun to grow a moustache when usually you can’t get away with it in a corporate situation.

How have your friends and family reacted to your growth?
It has been positive and negative I guess. Friends, you know, have a bit of a laugh about it but a few of my sisters don’t like it at all. But on a whole its been positive because I guess at the end of the day you can just say its for charity and its all understandable then.

Does your mo have a nickname or given you a certain persona?
Yes it doesn’t have  a nickname but it has given ME a nickname of Sam Milat, as in Ivan Milat the backpacker murderer. I have played on it a bit in that I’ve been asking people if they are backpackers for a joke.

What has been your most interesting response to your mo?
I guess just laughter or I’ve personally had an interesting response actually because you forget about it. When you know you are going up to a mirror you know its going to be there, but if you spot yourself in other reflections around the place you have to do a quick double-take. It’s a bit of a big thing on your face when you think about it.

Do you feel like there is a compradore between you and other Movembians?
Yeah for sure you see each other on the street and you look at them. They check out your mo and you give them a little high five or a bit of a wave.

Will you keep your moustache now Movember is almost over?
I’ll definitely keep it until the end of Movember but I don’t know, I might keep it for a couple of more days for a joke but I’ll definitely shave it after then.

Why do you think Movember is important?
I believe its important to create an awareness for men’s health because men don’t really like to draw attention to that. So I think if they kind of do it in a way that’s funny and sarcastic I think that’s a good spin on it and I think that’s why it works so well. Because we can take the mickey out of ourselves but still do it for a good cause.

Do you think it is important to keep it light-hearted?
Yeah definitely, I think that is why it is so effective. It is a brilliant idea for prostate cancer and men’s health in general and men’s depression.

Did your growth raise an awareness of the real issues behind Movember? Besides the novelty of the moustache have you had any reactions from people regarding your support for the cause?
I guess yeah in the way that it is designed we have raised awareness by not going around canvassing. Not everyone knows about it but they know that its a big cause and a big thing to get apart of. Everyone who participates is kind of a canvas for the month, a bit of a billboard so in that way yeah I guess I’ve raised awareness.

What has been highlights?
I guess growing it and in different stages seeing your mates trying to do it as well. And different things like that. There is a bit of an area that I can’t really grow yet, it’s just getting there. So a few things like that and having that shock value of seeing each other after the weekend and going ‘you know you are going well’. I guess that is my highlight.

Is there a way to encourage certain bits to grow?
No, I wish. That would be exciting. No I don’t think there is. But it is quite funny on the Monday when you just want to have a shower, and make yourself feel clean. Usually I shave off all my stubble so you go to start shaving and actually I accidentally did shave it. I  went ‘oh no’ cause its just common that you shave everything off your face.

Will you participate again next year?
Yeah definitely

Out of the team of four who would you think have won best mo?
Best mo, Neal’s is pretty good, but I think Mike beat him on the actual scores with the money. But I think Neal’s is out there the most.

–

Can you introduce yourself…
Vaughen Hatcher

Why did you participate in Movember?
It was more about having a bit of fun with the boys in the office but also to raise money so that was a good thing.

How have your friends and family reacted to your growth?
I’ve gotten various different nicknames so stuff like that, it has been  bit of fun mainly.

Does your mo have a nickname or given you a certain persona?
Ah yes I was Chopper Reed last week when I had the handle bars. I’ve been changing it [my moustache] week by week. I was joined up to the side here [pointing  to his jaw line]. We are on to the second to last version, tomorrow it is the Adolf Hitler.

And what is the one that you have currently.
I don’t know, it’s either a 70s cop, or the 70s porn guy who comes to clean the pool.

I’ve noticed a trend with nicknames, it’s either sexually related or to do with some violent character, like  gangster or serial killer.
Yeah.

What has been your most interesting response to your mo?
It is a bit hard to tell, it’s a bit varied.

Do you feel like there is a camaraderie between you and other Movembians?
Definitely.

Will you keep your moustache now Movember is almost over?
Not at all

Did you participate officially in Movember? Did you raise funds for the cause?
Yes

Why do you think Movember is important?
Because I think prostate cancer and things like that are almost as much, or round about as much as Breast Cancer in females but just not as widely mentioned in the media and things like that, so Movember helps to get it out there.

Did your growth raise an awareness of the real issues behind Movember? Besides the novelty of the moustache have you had any reactions from people regarding your support for the cause?
Definitely

What has been highlights?
The cute girls down the coffee shop talking to me about it.

Will you participate again next year?
Maybe not next year, I did it about three years ago but I will do it every now and  then.

Who do you think has won best mo out of all the Cornucopia Movembians?
Mmm it’s a bit too tough to call there are a few good ones.
–

Can you introduce yourself…
Edward Cavanagh and I work in the call centre at Cornucopia.

Why did you participate in Movember?
I guess for a team building exercise, but it is definitely a good cause for men’s health and I think for mental health in general is definitely overlooked a lot in Australia.

Does your mo have a nickname or given you a certain persona?
It hasn’t changed my persona much but I think I look creepier maybe. I’ve given it a nickname though, I call it the Pencil moustache.

What has been your most interesting response to your mo?
I’ve had some people that have kind of liked it but other people have been really offended. Mixed reactions but nothing spectacular.

Do you feel like there is a camaraderie between you and other Movembians?
Yeah I think so, it gives us something to chat about. We can share a short quip about moustaches between guys.

Will you keep your moustache now Movember is almost over?
No.

Why do you think Movember is important?
I guess it breaks down the barriers for guys to talk about men’s mental health and health issues which is good and definitely important.

Did your growth raise an awareness of the real issues behind Movember? Besides the novelty of the moustache have you had any reactions from people regarding your support for the cause?
Not personally I don’t think but I have raised money.

Do you think by walking down the street with your moustache you are raising awareness?
Maybe for some people appreciate it but others might not. At least it is an effort, it is a good reaction I think.

What has been highlights?
Probably seeing more hair then last year, there is probably twice as much as there was last year. It was pretty stringy and bad, but it is getting thicker. I am becoming a man.

Will you participate again next year?
Yes I think I will definitely.

Who do you think has won best mo out of all the Cornucopia Movembians?
I think Vaughan definitely has the thickest, lushest mo. And he seems to be trimming it pretty well.

–

Can you introduce yourself…
Jake Anderson

Why did you participate in Movember?
Because it is a really good cause, and it is not very hard to do.

How have your friends and family reacted to your growth?
They want me to shave it off they are looking forward to the 1st.

Does your mo have a nickname or given you a certain persona?
No, nothing like that.

Has anyone inspired your style or certain cut?
No, it just grows really thickly there. I think it is just a natural sort of style.

What has been your most interesting response to your mo?
My first friend who saw it when it was thick, they hadn’t seen me in a couple of months and they screamed. It shocked them that I would ever be able to grow a mo.

Do you feel like there is a camaraderie between you and other Movembians?
Definitely, because it is a group cause, so everyone is friends with people who are doing it as well.

Will you keep your moustache now Movember is almost over?
Not a chance.

Why do you think Movember is important?
Because it is a really good cause and to raise awareness even if people do not donate, they know that people are out there trying to help out with the cause.

Did your growth raise an awareness of the real issues behind Movember? Besides the novelty of the moustache have you had any reactions from people regarding your support for the cause?
A lot of my friends, have been talking about it. They see I am doing Movember and laugh, and if they didn’t know about Movember before they will look in to it so it spreads more awareness that way.

What has been highlights?
Probably the first shave that I actually shaved it in [the shape] and when it got really thick and I shaved away all the stubble just leaving the shape. I thought ‘yeah that’s cool’.

Will you participate again next year?
Of course.

Who do you think has won best mo out of all the Cornucopia Movembians?
Maybe Vaughan when he had the handlebars.

–

Can you introduce yourself…
Aaron Wiggan

Why did you participate in Movember?
I have done it for the past three years not because I can grow a great mo, but because I’d like to raise awareness as I think everyone else. But it is also a great bit of fun. Grow a mo and look a little bit different.

Does your mo have a nickname or given you a certain persona?
I can’t say it has, but I can say it is certainly itchy. I probably wouldn’t have it for more then a month. Yeah though its good to at least change your appearance once in a while. Maybe next year I’ll do October-beard or something like that. something a bit different as well.

What has been your most interesting response to your mo?
‘That tickles.’ [laughs]

From a partner?
Yeah. And also uh [stops] ‘not quite as abrasive as I would have thought’. [laughs]

Do you feel like there is a camaraderie between you and other Movembians?
I guess so yeah

Will you keep your moustache now Movember is almost over?
No. I have had enough of it. It is good for the month but as a constant part of my appearance, no.

Why do you think Movember is important?
I guess to raise awareness, have a bit of fun, and just an opportunity for people to do something a little bit different. And something that everyone can see, you walk out on the street and people see your support for Movember. A lot of people participate in it as well, which is great to see.

Did your growth raise an awareness of the real issues behind Movember? Besides the novelty of the moustache have you had any reactions from people regarding your support for the cause?
I certainly hope so. I had plenty of people donate. People donating generally means they are having a look at what the cause actually is and they are interested.

What has been highlights?
Probably the Movember party. I think the costumes for one.

Can you describe what the Gala party was and what happened on the night?
Basically a massive party that starts at 7 o’clock and a whole heap of people come in extremely immaculate costumes, for instance one of my mates came as Darth Maul and his mo was epic and his costume was epic. I think his wife put in a lot of effort in to it and then there are the other who go out on lunchtime of the day to pick up something to wear.

But I have to say the costumes, the mingling and also the general laid back atmosphere of it all. And there are so many people there.

Will you participate again next year?
Definitely.

Out of all your mates that have participated in Movember, who do you think won best mo?
Vinnie [Darth Maul] definitely would have. Because his mo was literally the face tattoos of Darth Maul so his was definitely the most intricate of all the mos.