Jason came up with this idea awhile ago and I thought it would be a great project. When he asked me to be a part of it, I was very excited, because I have been obsessed with getting a tattoo since I was old enough to know what they were. (much to my mothers horror, I assure you) I have been trying to come up with a different perspective to add to this project. I was thinking about men tattoo artists, and women tattoo artists, and their different techniques and style. I know every tattoo artists, man or woman has their own style and try to find a way to put their own unique spin on a tattoo that they do, but in essence there a uniqueness to a man 's style vs a woman’s style. I’m not trying to be sexist in any way, shape or form, so just go with me on this one.
I told my boyfriend that I can look at a tattoo and tell whether a man or a woman has tattooed it. He looked at me like I was crazy. He asked me how I could do that. He even tested me by bringing up random pictures of tattoos and asking if it was done by a man or a woman. I was right on every case save one. I couldn't put my finger on it at that time, but after giving it some consideration, I realize that it is perspective. Of course men and women’s perspective are different, which makes the way they interpret a concept different.
I take, for example, my own tattoos. I have a fairly large one on my hip, it was inspired by a painting I had seen in Hawaii when I was there. I brought a photo of the picture to a male tattoo artists and he went to town. I was happy with it. I’ll try to post a picture of it.
A few years later I went to a different tattoo place, with another idea for a tattoo, and again I brought a couple of pictures and told the woman tattoo artist what I was looking for. A few days later she emailed me a picture of her conceptualization of my idea. I loved it, and I went and had it done. To this day that tattoo is my favorite tattoo. I find it hard to believe I will ever have another tattoo I love as much. (I hope so, I’m overdue for another) If you scroll down to the bottom of this blog, you’ll see a picture of it.
So since I became a part of this project, I have been giving my tattoos more thought than I have in years. And one day, I realized that my hip tattoo, while definitely a “female” tattoo, looks like a man’s interpretation of the picture I brought in. The ocean looks sharper, the dolphin looks more stark, and impersonal. While looking at my foot, I see that the hibiscus are soft, the ocean looks more subtle. Again, another totally “female” tattoo, but totally different.
So what do you think? Am I totally off here? Anyone have any opinions or stories to share?

Stacey G

How I Got Here

About 6 years ago (I'm not entirely sure on that, my memory is a little fuzzy), an older male acquaintance of mine and his 19-20 year old daughter got matching tribal tattoos on the small of their back.

That was...odd...to me.

A couple years later, my brother-in-law and his brother got matching tattoos on their upper arms.  A kind of family crest that they designed.

I found that to be a pretty interesting idea.

At that point, I was pretty intrigued.  It happened around the same time that I really started getting into photography.  Those two things danced with each other in the back of my mind over the next several years.

Why would my brother-in-law, a young professional, choose to do something like that?  Weren't tattoos a niche thing?  Something that existed more on the periphery of society?

Then I started noticing, more and more, tattoos finding their way into the mainstream.  They weren't just for bikers or rock stars and groupies anymore.  They weren't just a rebellious thing for young people just coming of age.  They were appearing everywhere.

I was also getting better with my photography.

I slowly developed a framework of an idea in my mind.  I could combine the two.  I could create a photographic essay.  Something that would delve into the psychology of the mind behind the choice, and couple that with the beauty inherent in the art.

I pitched the idea among some people with some positive results.  I could do this.

As a husband, father, and professional software engineer, as often happens, routine and daily life got in the way.  The idea festered in the back of my mind.  It was refined and sharpened.

Almost a year ago now, my life took a dramatic change.  The particulars there aren't important.  But I needed, and still do, an outlet.  Something that I could point to and say "I did that".  Something that could give me a creative sense of accomplishment.

I couldn't do it all alone.  I enlisted a close personal friend with some experience in publishing and an excellent creative mind.  Together, we can bring this to fruition.  We can delve into this subject, and learn something about these interesting and amazing people and their choices.  Hopefully, I can make them feel beautiful, or handsome.  Powerful and insightful.  And maybe...we can sell a few books while doing it!

Thanks for letting me take up some of your time.  Hopefully, you'll enjoy the ride on our way to a finished project.

Jason T. Countryman