Brock Elbank: Talking
Beauty and Photographing
DIVERSITY
B
rock Elbank, 45,
is a photographer
who has a passion
for documenting
humankind
and celebrating
imperfections through
his photographic
portraits. He has
worked in advertising
for over ten years in
Sydney, Australia,
with brands such as
Nike, Coca-Cola and
San Pellegrino and
now his work focusses
on capturing unique
looking individuals -
specifically, those who
don’t necessarily fit
in with the media’s
perceptions of beauty.
Elbank reveals, “the
more unique the
individual, the more
intriguing I find them.”
He has completed
portrait series on
individuals with beards,
freckles, vitiligo and is
currently wrapping up
another on individuals
with rare birthmarks.
His most recent
exhibition was a series
dedicated to raising
awareness of a rare type
of birthmark called
congenital melanocytic
nevus.
“ the more
unique the
individual,
the more
intriguing...”””
Elbank’s exhibitions
are seemingly creating
a positive impact upon
people who aren’t
deemed beautiful in the
eyes of the media. Some
of the models have
expressed to him how
they wish the exhibition
was made years ago
as their childhood
would’ve been a lot
easier, knowing how
common the condition
was (it’s twice as
common as vitiligo).
Brock feels it is
fundamental that
people should be
educated and view all
types of skin as normal
as there are currently
many ignorant/
unaware people in
the world. He thinks
the representation
of people with
skin conditions is
improving in the media.
However, the problem
of the unrealistic
and unattainable
expectations for people
to be perfect still exists.
Elbank believes that
“if we can make things
that are rare, more
mainstream then it’s
better for everyone.”
The photographer
reiterates that he’s
just the man behind
the camera and it’s all
about the people: “I
know these people are
incredible, that’s why I
photograph them. The
work that I do is not
because it’s my work,
it’s about the people in
the pictures. If there’s
no people, there’s no
show.” •
Picture credit: Brock Elbank,
Photographer, Instagram: @mrelbank