I decided to step out of my secluded world, and go to a tattoo shop on 4th Avenue. I was welcomed with smiles and laughs, as I started taking photographs. I was given the freedom to move around anywhere I wished and explored a relatively unknown world to me. I think it is an important issue to document because they are usually the 'outsiders' of society, people covered with tattoos and intimidating to some. In fact they were some of the friendliest and most welcoming people I have met. I was trying to tell the stories of the artists and clients, and trying to capture the process of each of the two tattoos I shot. The message I was trying to convey is while some people see tattoos as trashy or just generally not acceptable, it truly is an art, and I was honored to be able to see it from start to finish. I also tried to capture the atmosphere of the shop, and the connection between the client (who was usually in pain), the guests, and the artist. For the clients and artists, it wasn't just a picture, each of their tattoos had a special meaning, as well as a story. I enjoyed hearing the stories behind them, and was honored that they opened up their worlds to me.
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