Justice

These Gorgeous Photos Reveal Who Really Gets Tattoos

January 11th 2016

London-based photographer Alan Powdrill is receiving ample attention online for his photo series Covered, which challenges stereotypes about people with tattoos.

Powdrill took pictures of heavily tattooed people who were nearly naked and juxtaposed these images with photos of the people completely covered up. These photos show that many types of people choose to get tattoos and that the stigma and stereotypes surrounding people with tattoos are unfair.

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For example, a man named Bill was photographed for the series, and he noted that he loves being a professional worker, who also has a "No Fucking Way" tattoo on his chest. Bill's photos challenge the idea that people with tattoos can never get jobs and are less appealing to managers. It also goes against the idea that people with tattoos can't work professional jobs at all and limit themselves professionally by getting inked.

1. Bill

 

“I love the fact I’m middle aged, have a professional job, am surrounded by straight people and I have ‘No Fucking Way’ tattooed on my chest,” Bill, the subject pictured above, told Powdrill.

2. Graham

 

“I was 51 when I started and my father was already dead and my mum didn’t say anything as she was in the early stages of dementia,” another photograph subject, 58-year-old Graham, told Powdrill.

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Many people with tattoos face scrutiny from others who argue that they will regret having tattoos as they age. Graham challenges this idea, along with a 23-year-old named Lillianna, who told Powdrill that she doesn't believe her views on having tattoos will change as she gets older.

3. Lillianna

"I don’t feel my opinion will change on my tattoos, I doubt I’ll have any regrets regardless of my age,” Lillianna said.

4. Victoria

 

“My tattoos are part of who I am and I’ll always love my bodysuit now and when I’m 80. The love I get for what I look like is what it’s all about,” Victoria told Powdrill. 

5. Kimmy

 

“My Kiss tattoos are my favorites, the pain was incredible but it feels good to show my ultimate dedication to the band,” Kimmy said. 

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Last year, the Pew Research Center found that around 40 percent of people between the ages of 18 and 29 have a tattoo. Around half of those with tattoos have up to five, and nearly 20 percent of people with tattoos have six or more. In the U.S., 45 million people have at least one tattoo, according to data from the Statistic Brain Research Institute.

Check out more of Alan Powdrill's work at his website.

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