Meaning

Even though these qoutes do not contain the word I choose for the blog I felt the qoutes broadly expressed about tattoos and meaning. I am finding it very important to photograph models that have tattoos that have real meaning and importance to them.  My models who have real connection to what they choose express as image permanently on their body i find myself more interested in photographing.  Since I find that I am more interested in their meaning and story of their tattoo my images for them come out more more successful.  I believe if these quotes are believed by who I photograph then those who see my work will be more interested in what I am doing.    

"Tattooing is about personalizing the body, making it a true home and fit temple for the spirit that dwells inside it.... Tattooing therefore, is a way of keeping the spiritual and material needs of my body in balance." ~Michelle Delio


"[A] genuine tattoo.... tells a story.  I like stories and tattoos, no matter how well done, and if they don't tell a story that involves you emotionally, then they're just there for decoration, then they're not a valid tattoo.  There has to be some emotional appeal or they're not, to my way of thinking, a real tattoo.  It tells people what you are and what you believe in, so there's no mistakes. " ~Leo, tattooist, 1993, quoted in Margo DeMello, Bodies of Inscription, 2000


"When the designs are chosen with care, tattoos have a power and magic all their own.  They decorate the body but they also enhance the soul. " ~Michelle Delio 


My book I concentrated on researching this week was called True Love by Henk Schiffmacher (I will go back later edit this be proper mla format).    This book basically listed any and every reason people would choose to go and get tattoo.  From listing reasons to different means of tattooing a subject and the tools they use.  The majority of the book contained images of a handful of the main categories tattoos usually go under (ethnographic, classical, early days, Japanese, contemporary).  My favorite qoute from the book was " A tattoo always raises questions that do not so much concern the technique but rather the meaning and purpose of the tattoo."  I also like when it said " Tattoos function as a non- verbal communication" The book goes into detail several reasons why one chooses to get a tattoo and purpose to them which is most interesting part from mentioning it as way express "freedom of the spirit in the prison of the body" to forms of punishment and giing people strength to survive.  All I found very interesting.  I hope photograph tattoos  who go in every catagory I can find for reasons why one recieved and got one.  

I mentioned above in the beginning why meaning was important to my body of work. I think with pairing each subject with two photographs or three express meaning in different ways will help my work.