Saturday, June 7, 2014
I love tattoos. I think that they are works of art and that the whole process is fascinating. From coming up with a design, to the nervousness that comes from sitting on the table and waiting, the way getting one feels, the excitement of seeing the finished product, the whole kit and kaboodle. You may not feel the same but I know that I’m not alone in this and that’s why I was stoked to photograph the 18th annual Atlanta Tattoo Expo at the Wyndham Atlanta Galleria hotel on Saturday. Close to 90 tattoo artists set up shop in three ballrooms of the hotel as more than 2,500 people perused the designs, took photographs and of course sat down and got themselves a new tat.
Eddy Arg (left) tattoos Chris Emory’s inner thigh during the Atlanta Tattoo Expo at the Wyndham Atlanta Galleria hotel on Saturday, June 7, 2014.
Wil Hilderbrand (left) works on a new tattoo on James Knight’s arm during the Atlanta Tattoo Expo at the Wyndham Atlanta Galleria hotel on Saturday, June 7, 2014.
James Knight (right) sports a fresh tiger tattoo on his leg as Wil Hilderbrand works on a new tattoo on his arm during the Atlanta Tattoo Expo at the Wyndham Atlanta Galleria hotel on Saturday, June 7, 2014.
Jay Bargoil mixes ink during the Atlanta Tattoo Expo at the Wyndham Atlanta Galleria hotel on Saturday, June 7, 2014.
Jay Bargoil (left) tattoos Alexis Johns’ leg during the Atlanta Tattoo Expo at the Wyndham Atlanta Galleria hotel on Saturday, June 7, 2014.
Pili Mo’o Tatau (left) and Penina Samo’o (right) work a traditional Samoan tattoo on Jason Eller’s chest during the Atlanta Tattoo Expo at the Wyndham Atlanta Galleria hotel on Saturday, June 7, 2014.
Pili Mo’o Tatau (left) and Penina Samo’o (right) work a traditional Samoan tattoo on Jason Eller’s chest during the Atlanta Tattoo Expo at the Wyndham Atlanta Galleria hotel on Saturday, June 7, 2014.
Mike Cummings (right) tattoos Trina Brookshire’s arm during the Atlanta Tattoo Expo at the Wyndham Atlanta Galleria hotel on Saturday, June 7, 2014.
K.C. Wagner (right) tattoos Dana Kelso’s ribcage during the Atlanta Tattoo Expo at the Wyndham Atlanta Galleria hotel on Saturday, June 7, 2014.
Brent Roman (top) works on a tattoo design for Kyle Downie’s stomach during the Atlanta Tattoo Expo at the Wyndham Atlanta Galleria hotel on Saturday, June 7, 2014.
Josh Lindley (right) tattoos Charlie Solonka’s arm during the Atlanta Tattoo Expo at the Wyndham Atlanta Galleria hotel on Saturday, June 7, 2014.
Josh Lindley (right) tattoos Charlie Solonka’s arm during the Atlanta Tattoo Expo at the Wyndham Atlanta Galleria hotel on Saturday, June 7, 2014.
Craig Foster (top) tattoos Christopher Smith’s leg during the Atlanta Tattoo Expo at the Wyndham Atlanta Galleria hotel on Saturday, June 7, 2014.
Erika McKibben stencils out a new tattoo design during the Atlanta Tattoo Expo at the Wyndham Atlanta Galleria hotel on Saturday, June 7, 2014.
Anthony Locke (right) tattoos Gunda Blankenship’s leg during the Atlanta Tattoo Expo at the Wyndham Atlanta Galleria hotel on Saturday, June 7, 2014.
Josh Ford (left) touches up one of Scott McCown’s ten tattoos during the Atlanta Tattoo Expo at the Wyndham Atlanta Galleria hotel on Saturday, June 7, 2014.
Scott McCown (left) sits in a chair as artist Josh Ford touches up one of his ten tattoos during the Atlanta Tattoo Expo at the Wyndham Atlanta Galleria hotel on Saturday, June 7, 2014.