WorkPhotography

Hand Jobs: Photographs that reveal the faces behind the world's most famous hands

They moisturise 30 times a day. They know 200 different ways to pick up a LEGO brick. They can method act with a Ferrero Rocher. They're the only people who get paid as much for cleaning a toilet as they do for modelling a diamond. These models are the stars of the biggest advertising campaigns on the planet. They adorn huge billboards. Their five fingers are insured for seven figure sums. Some are classed as supermodels. But you've never seen their faces... until now.

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Bright yellow book cover titled Hand Jobs: Life as a Hand Model by Oli Kellett and Alex Holder, showing hands peeling a banana against a pastel background

Hand Jobs: Life as a Hand Model is a collaborative series by photographer Oli Kellett and creative director Alex Holder that includes 24 portraits of hand models, showing us 24 different ways to peel a banana. It's fascinating, it's strange, you'll be encouraged to peel your own fruit in some elegant fashion, once you've seen the different hand poses for yourself. Even better, you'll love to discover the faces behind the world's most famous hands.

Want to see this series transformed into a colourful photo book? Hoxton Mini Press is currently requesting support via Kickstarter, so if you want to make it happen – go offer your support. To find out more about Oli, visit olikellett.com.

Via direct submission | All images courtesy of Oli Kellett

Hand model peeling a banana in two hands against a pale pink and green background
Man in rust-coloured t-shirt on left; hands peeling a banana on right, from the Hand Jobs series by photographer Oli Kellett
Hand model in white t-shirt and black hat beside close-up of hands holding a banana, demonstrating different ways to peel fruit
Woman with short blonde hair wearing a patterned shirt on the left; hands demonstrating a hand model pose on the right
Man in green v-neck jumper on left; hands peeling a banana on right, from the Hand Jobs series by photographer Oli Kellett
Portrait of a hand model with reddish-blonde hair alongside a close-up of hands peeling a banana, from the Hand Jobs series by photographer Oli Kellett
Young man with brown hair wearing a blue v-neck t-shirt alongside a hand holding a peeled banana
Portrait of a hand model with curly brown hair alongside a close-up of hands peeling a banana in different positions
Hand model wearing black lace gloves peeling a banana, shown alongside her portrait on a pink background
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