Excessive tattoos on models

[Lawry]

Originally Posted by imagesbyeduard

Individuality is the most important aspect in art. I consider a model as a living, breathing work of art. Many of the models I have come across emphasize their individuality by what I feel is excessive body art. I don't begrudge their decision to decorate their bodies, but there are occasions when I need to shoot a model with minimum to no body art. I'm finding it difficult to locate such models. As a point of curiosity, what is the consensus of other photog, models regarding body art?

Personally I hate tattoos; can't imagine why anyone would want to decorate millions of years of nature's perfect handy work with an ugly scrawl that you wouldn't even want framed on the living room wall. For the sheep brained fashion conformists there are plenty of temporary tats that can be changed and modified easily. For a model this is a much more flexible option and I don't know why they don't go that way.
Fortunately it is fairly easy to remove tats from a image with a little image processing.

[Bobby Deal]

Originally Posted by Lawry

Personally I hate tattoos; can't imagine why anyone would want to decorate millions of years of nature's perfect handy work with an ugly scrawl that you wouldn't even want framed on the living room wall. For the sheep brained fashion conformists there are plenty of temporary tats that can be changed and modified easily. For a model this is a much more flexible option and I don't know why they don't go that way.
Fortunately it is fairly easy to remove tats from a image with a little image processing.

Yea I feel the same way about narrow minded people that you feel about tattoos. Small world ain't it?

[Lawry]

Glad you agree. I never thought to group narrow mindedness with getting a tattoo but now you point it out it makes sense, thanks. Yes it is a small world but I wouldn't want to tattoo it.

[stef@apl]

Originally Posted by Lawry

Personally I hate tattoos; can't imagine why anyone would want to decorate millions of years of nature's perfect handy work with an ugly scrawl that you wouldn't even want framed on the living room wall. For the sheep brained fashion conformists there are plenty of temporary tats that can be changed and modified easily. For a model this is a much more flexible option and I don't know why they don't go that way.
Fortunately it is fairly easy to remove tats from a image with a little image processing.

I've seen some tattoos I would have framed in my house.

Especially if they were on human skin!

There are some seriously awesome tattoo artists out there. Some people don't think of photography as art; you obviously don't think of tattoos as art. No problem. But this is not the best board to be unappreciative of art in its various 2D forms, especially when you basically state that anyone who disagrees with your narrow view is a "sheep brained fashion conformist".

Perhaps that's why you're getting some well-deserved hostility.

For the record, I have zero tattoos. But humans didn't exist a million years ago, so neither did our naturally perfect skin, and neither did skin smoothing filters. But nonetheless, I hope that was a joke, otherwise there's no reason to get a root canal and mess up millions of years of nature's perfect teeth, either.

... and how dare those cavemen mess up a perfect, million year old wall with their scrawls?!

[patterfr]

You guys kill me.
I've already stated my opinion on tattoos, but one of the things about being open-minded is that you are going to have to accept that people are going to have different opinions than you. That's where the "open" part comes in.
You've got to understand that having tattoos says something about you, and that you will be judged by that by parts of society. Isn't that part of why you get a tattoo? TO say I don't care what people think? SO why start now?

[Lawry]

Originally Posted by stef@apl

I've seen some tattoos I would have framed in my house.

Especially if they were on human skin!

There are some seriously awesome tattoo artists out there. Some people don't think of photography as art; you obviously don't think of tattoos as art. No problem. But this is not the best board to be unappreciative of art in its various 2D forms, especially when you basically state that anyone who disagrees with your narrow view is a "sheep brained fashion conformist".

Perhaps that's why you're getting some well-deserved hostility.

For the record, I have zero tattoos. But humans didn't exist a million years ago, so neither did our naturally perfect skin, and neither did skin smoothing filters. But nonetheless, I hope that was a joke, otherwise there's no reason to get a root canal and mess up millions of years of nature's perfect teeth, either.

... and how dare those cavemen mess up a perfect, million year old wall with their scrawls?!

Hostility? actually I hadn't noticed any. I can't see why I would attract any, I said right at the start it was a personal view. I think we are all entitled to that. And the original thread was to express our opinions on tattoos. I won't judge you even with your desire to decorate your walls with human skin.
Perhaps I should not have used the local expression "sheep brained". I can see some people could take offense at that but where I come from it merely refers to the phenomenon where sheep follow a lead sheep, even across a road in front of traffic. Most people people feel, to a variable degree, the pressure to conform to peer pressure, that behavior has both good aspects and bad. Good if it leads to team solidarity, bad if it leads to mass suicide. I have often been sheep brained my self, perhaps that is why I joined this thread.
If I have offended anyone with my opinions I apologize, it was not intended.
BTW In case it ever comes up, where I come from "pigeon brained" means a good sense of direction; "elephant brained" means a good memory; "mule brained" means strong willed; "pig headed" means argumentive; "come the raw prawn" means to argue strongly when you know you are wrong. Colorful huh?.

[Bobby Deal]

Originally Posted by patterfr

You guys kill me.
I've already stated my opinion on tattoos, but one of the things about being open-minded is that you are going to have to accept that people are going to have different opinions than you. That's where the "open" part comes in.
You've got to understand that having tattoos says something about you, and that you will be judged by that by parts of society. Isn't that part of why you get a tattoo? TO say I don't care what people think? SO why start now?

You are correct openmindedness is a two way street but judgment is not. Judgment is bias and bias in its many forms often elevates to bigotry based on the actions of the judge. A persons appearance is a piss poor reason to accept bias and calling those being judged derogatory names (an action) is what elevates it from bias to bigotry.

I have no problem with you or anyone having an opinion believe what you want but when your opinion effects another, is acted on against another or is used in any manner to sway oppinion against any differing class of people (and you are the one putting tattooed people in the seperate class ) it ceases to be mearly an opinion. I will say it again "tattooed people will never judge you for NOT having a tattoo" seriously what gives one the right to judge and the other no right to judge. What gives you the right to separate me into a class simply because I am outwardly different then you? I am still a person with all the same rights and privileges as you. What gives you the right to judge me? Who elected you judge? You have an opinion and so do I neither of us have the right to deny the other their opinions. What I do have the right to deny is the legitimacy of your actions of forcing your opinion and judgment as a class on me.

If you judge me as less then desirable to society simply because of my outward appearance then by your actions You become a bigot. Who would you rather be friends with or do business with, a tattooed "sheep brained fashion conformist," or a bigot? I know which one I will choose.

For me to get a tattoo is not to thumb my nose at what others think? I get tattos because I enjoy the art, it represents pivotal moments in my life that I wish to be reminded of ever time I see the art. For others collecting tattoos is much like collecting art the only difference is where they choose to gallery the art. I don't ask you to defend your choice to not be tattooed, why should I have to defend my choice to be tattooed?

[Ed Shapiro]

In my earlier post I mentioned or implied that I would rather work with professional fashion models with no tattoos. The commercial work that I do is BREAD AND BUTTER catalog work. Nothing exotic except in my food work! This is a practical policy which I have discussed in that post!

Other than that part of my business, I do not judge people by their tattoos or lack thereof. their clothing or race, religion or their preferred lifestyle.

I have seen it all- people putting large grommets in their earlobes with fishing sinkers to stretch their ears down to their necks. All I say to myself is "that's gotta hurt and what the hell were the thinking when they disfigured themselves.

I am not hireling them as models so that is their own business. Honestly, could I hire theses folks with multiple piercings and facial tats as my receptionist- would y'all do that? If I refused a job to someone with that appearance would you call me a bigot? I tend to give everyone the benefit of the doubt when I am hireling people or even dealing with clients- sometimes to my own determent. Oftentimes I find that people who do not like to conform to traditional standards, also do not wish to conform to my business policies or directives either- then what am I supposed to do?

Persons with outrageous piercings and tats are making the statement that they don't care what other people think. Well fine- they could still be very great people. On the other side of the philosophy, folks who don't care what other people think can be exhibiting early signs of sociopathic behaviors. How do I know- I am not a psychologist.

Ed

[KA_Style]

Im fine with them as long as they dont look like old jail house tattoos! lol I have 6 so I like em'. My muze is covered. We actually did a shoot and I covered her sleeve with spray makeup, took maybe 15 minutes.


Sure models covered it tattoos do not work for all projects so I find a model with out them. When I cast I state no tattoos(well mainly no sleeves). I could careless about one I can take out in post in 2 seconds. Like a foot tat or the "tramp stamp". lol

[Mlinden]

I am refering to the "Suspension Post" only, Sorry Brother not for me, although I appreciate the artistry