Tattoo + You: A Photo Story of Body Ink
Why do people get tattoos? That was the simple question behind this portrait project.
Not surprisingly, it turns out that the answers ranged from the simple to the highly complex and deeply personal. I am so grateful for the people who had the courage to stand under the bright lights in front of the seeming scrutiny of the lens.
As a portrait photographer, people have been my primary fascination. I have...
more »Tattoo + You: A Photo Story of Body Ink
Why do people get tattoos? That was the simple question behind this portrait project.
Not surprisingly, it turns out that the answers ranged from the simple to the highly complex and deeply personal. I am so grateful for the people who had the courage to stand under the bright lights in front of the seeming scrutiny of the lens.
As a portrait photographer, people have been my primary fascination. I have had the good fortune to photograph literally thousands of people.
It was through my portrait work that I started to see more and more tattoos showing up on my subjects. It seems that body ink has moved into mainstream culture, no longer sitting on the fringe of sailors, bikers and rock stars.
The idea was this: if a person had a tattoo and was willing to share up to 300 words about the inspiration behind their body ink, then a portrait session was arranged. The response was amazing. So much so that this book is launching a larger ongoing project that you can follow at tattooplusyou.com
Do I have a tattoo? That was the most common question asked of me. No, I don't. But, my curiosity has been sparked.
I hope you enjoy this eclectic collection of portraits and stories.
Gordon Ross
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