Get Premium
Dark mode theme is available exclusively for premium users. Learn more about the benefits of subscribing.
No fees, cancel anytime.
Dark Mode 
No fees, cancel anytime 
then open in external browser
and click "Open in External Browser" 
Seeing a fully tattooed person in a shady neighborhood can create all kinds of negative assumptions. But sometimes (if not most of the time) they’re just stereotypes, that actually make the lives of these people quite a bit harder. That’s the topic photographer Steven Burton explores in his photo series “Skin Deep” where he removes tattoos from ex-gang members to show the person beneath.
“When I started Skin Deep I had a simple concept: take portraits of heavily tattooed ex-gangsters and do tattoo removal using digital re-touching to create before and after portraits,” Burton writes on his Kickstarter page. “Most of the homeboys/girls hadn’t seen themselves without the gang tattoos for decades, so during the interviews, I presented the photoshopped images. There was a deep emotional response by the subjects.”
“These images inspire personal insight from the subjects and elicit questions of how we as a society perceive and judge those with tattoos and how this stigma goes so far as to influence these former gang member’s perception of themselves.”
The photographer spent two years and over 400 hours on Photoshop to create the cool photos and turn it into a book. The last thing that’s missing is your support on Kickstarter.
More info: kickstarter | steven burton | (h/t: demilked, designboom)
RELATED:
#1
#2
#3
#4
#5
#6
#7
#8
#9
246Kviews
Share on Facebook
What do you think ?
tiagoobin 9 years ago
Interesting. How different people look without tattoos. I still love tattoos, but some of these people are better without.
Notchimine Mette 9 years ago
I don't know - with or without the tattoos I would still cross to the other side of the road if I walked alone and saw them coming my way... It is the eyes...
Load More Replies...
.gas. 9 years ago
This gives the impression that tattoos in and of themselves are bad, which is certainly not the case. Hate/gang tattoos, yes. But most of these people's ink was not gang-related.
Master Markus 9 years ago
Most facial tattoos, at least all the ones shown here, were very bad.
Load More Replies...
Jeanne Deaux 9 years ago
What is this trend to tattoo this awful playboy bunny on your face? Geez... Other than that it's nice to see the person under the tattoos, but they are still ex-gang members, so they stay people able to murder someone just because they are not "with them".
Daria B 9 years ago
If they are ex-gangsters, maybe they're people who gave up on murdering someone for any reason at all....
Load More Replies...
Susanna Vesna 9 years ago
I love tattoos in general, and most of these were made by true artists. I do not agree with the stupidity of the gang culture- it is like marking oneself as a slave of some cult. And why tattoo urself with naked slutty women and tattoo ur face? Really hope that after this project the would cover these tattoos with something more artistic and representing their current life.
Kira Thesloth 9 years ago
A friend of mine used to be the receptionist at a urology clinic. Her husband was completely tatted up and looked really rough. People wouldn't know their relationship and would always make comments about not wanting him as their nurse, to which she'd reply, "actually Hun, he's the best nurse we have!"
tiagoobin 9 years ago
Interesting. How different people look without tattoos. I still love tattoos, but some of these people are better without.
Notchimine Mette 9 years ago
I don't know - with or without the tattoos I would still cross to the other side of the road if I walked alone and saw them coming my way... It is the eyes...
Load More Replies... .gas. 9 years ago
This gives the impression that tattoos in and of themselves are bad, which is certainly not the case. Hate/gang tattoos, yes. But most of these people's ink was not gang-related.
Master Markus 9 years ago
Most facial tattoos, at least all the ones shown here, were very bad.
Load More Replies... Jeanne Deaux 9 years ago
What is this trend to tattoo this awful playboy bunny on your face? Geez... Other than that it's nice to see the person under the tattoos, but they are still ex-gang members, so they stay people able to murder someone just because they are not "with them".
Daria B 9 years ago
If they are ex-gangsters, maybe they're people who gave up on murdering someone for any reason at all....
Load More Replies... Susanna Vesna 9 years ago
I love tattoos in general, and most of these were made by true artists. I do not agree with the stupidity of the gang culture- it is like marking oneself as a slave of some cult. And why tattoo urself with naked slutty women and tattoo ur face? Really hope that after this project the would cover these tattoos with something more artistic and representing their current life.
Kira Thesloth 9 years ago
A friend of mine used to be the receptionist at a urology clinic. Her husband was completely tatted up and looked really rough. People wouldn't know their relationship and would always make comments about not wanting him as their nurse, to which she'd reply, "actually Hun, he's the best nurse we have!"
You May Like Finger Tattoos Are The Newest Trend, And We've Collected Some Amazing Ideas For You To Check 30 White Tattoo Designs That Look Like Magic Runes 45 Ear Tattoo Ideas For Your Next Ink
Akvile Petraityte 🇺🇦
Akvile Petraityte 🇺🇦
Akvile Petraityte 🇺🇦
Related on Bored Panda
277
60