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9 Ex-Gang Members With Their Tattoos Removed
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9 Ex-Gang Members With Their Tattoos Removed

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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: demilkeddesignboom)

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tiagoobin avatar
tiagoobin
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Interesting. How different people look without tattoos. I still love tattoos, but some of these people are better without.

lamijunk_2013 avatar
Notchimine Mette
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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...
kf_samandari avatar
.gas.
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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.

rhon avatar
Rhon
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They were all so much better looking when you can see clean skin. Very good looking people.

incognitushumanum avatar
Jeanne Deaux
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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".

dariab_1 avatar
Daria B
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If they are ex-gangsters, maybe they're people who gave up on murdering someone for any reason at all....

Load More Replies...
tina_martina avatar
Tina Martina
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Problem is not tatoo in skin, problem is in heads these peoples.

susanna-alsaeedi avatar
Susanna Vesna
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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.

valedab avatar
adv3se
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Pretty sure that #6 is one of the women featured in the opening credits of Orange is the New Black.

kirathesloth avatar
Kira Thesloth
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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!"

joelei avatar
Joel Ei
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They all have the same look in their eyes. They all probably have killed a few people. Gangs are very wicked.

keraedming avatar
Kera Tucker
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The creator of this project is amazing! It's absolutely stunning to me the amount of detail that went into not just removing the tattoos but the contouring, coloring and depth of the body thats been hidden away underneath.

kikkaio avatar
Kikka io
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I like the tatoo. I have a big forearm owl and if I find the money I lighthouse as well, but I believe there is a limit to what we should do on the skin. Perhaps it is true that one should not be looking to influence others but as in life everyday as we are what we appear havoc in the end influence their lives.

florapolvado avatar
Flora Polvado
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Amazing, the sweetness in the most of the faces without tatts. Many get facial tatts to look tough, it works.

barinho87 avatar
Alvaro Santos
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sure... MOST of the times when you see a guy with a face tattoo, is just a stereotype

robin_scrbak avatar
Robin Ščrbak
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

well it will be nice thing if its not a photoshop they have same position on bouth pic its stupid and tattoo remov cant look like that

at_fixthephoto avatar
Alissa Tipton
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Good idea, in the article http://fixthephoto.com/blog/retouch-tips/tattoo-retouching-how-to-retouch-skin-professionally.html I found the portrait of the photographer - creator of this project, and more photos with these gansters' stories)

valedab avatar
adv3se
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Pretty sure #6 is featured in the opening credits of Orange is the New Black.

sickboy1974 avatar
Sick Boy
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Don't knock stereotypes that easily. They are usually there for a reason. In case of gang-members, ex or existing, even more so.

pay1370 avatar
pay1370
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

yep, if i'd ever meet someone like that on the streets no doubt i'd make a beeline around them. i'd rather have my life than not adhere to stereotypes.

Load More Replies...
nandangduryatnandur93 avatar
NanDur93
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Its looks like.. clear skin the add tattos later.. great awesome works

catfight_macrae avatar
Sharron MacRae
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

These tattoos are not real. Some would be faded and have turned "bluish." Tattoos are only that black when they are brand new, like within a day or two of being done.

idasteenimezia avatar
Ida Steen (Imezia)
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If you look at the video you see that the tattoos are real and have faded, some more than others. The artist have altered both the before ANd the after picture, to enhance the tattoos in the before photo to create a bigger difference

Load More Replies...
nampe avatar
nampe
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I wonder how could they pose from 'with' tatoo to 'without' tattoo with VERY exact same pose from every single pixel in the body..haha..photoshop skill lvl900000

spotsotw avatar
Onthe Wall
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's great now we will never know who is a gang member and who is not. Makes for a big problem! WHICH ONE DO WE SHOOT!

5532814529cb5 avatar
c-l-baxter91 avatar
Little letitia
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You realize they didn't actually remove the tats right...I think you're the fool

Load More Replies...
jackiemixon avatar
Jackie Mixon
Community Member
7 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

Someone,.. Anyone... Know how to get in touch with #2? Name? Location? I've never seen anything so beautiful.... Must find him.

anni-manni avatar
Anni -Manni
Community Member
7 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

Surprisingly good made tattoos. Of course some are their past life but most of them look very good. Blank is truly madly deeply boring!

la8421 avatar
La
Community Member
7 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

I like them with tattoos better...

pacodesign avatar
Paco Design
Community Member
7 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

Fake.... same picture with or not Tattoo... you can't make the same picture 2 times a time...

incognitushumanum avatar
Jeanne Deaux
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Did you even read the introduction text? I bet you didn't. And if you did, you should really read it again because you didn't understand what it is about.

Load More Replies...
jlmoore80 avatar
Jessica Nussbaumer
Community Member
7 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

Looks like a bunch of thugs with or without tattoos.

tiagoobin avatar
tiagoobin
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Interesting. How different people look without tattoos. I still love tattoos, but some of these people are better without.

lamijunk_2013 avatar
Notchimine Mette
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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...
kf_samandari avatar
.gas.
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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.

rhon avatar
Rhon
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They were all so much better looking when you can see clean skin. Very good looking people.

incognitushumanum avatar
Jeanne Deaux
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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".

dariab_1 avatar
Daria B
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If they are ex-gangsters, maybe they're people who gave up on murdering someone for any reason at all....

Load More Replies...
tina_martina avatar
Tina Martina
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Problem is not tatoo in skin, problem is in heads these peoples.

susanna-alsaeedi avatar
Susanna Vesna
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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.

valedab avatar
adv3se
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Pretty sure that #6 is one of the women featured in the opening credits of Orange is the New Black.

kirathesloth avatar
Kira Thesloth
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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!"

joelei avatar
Joel Ei
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They all have the same look in their eyes. They all probably have killed a few people. Gangs are very wicked.

keraedming avatar
Kera Tucker
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The creator of this project is amazing! It's absolutely stunning to me the amount of detail that went into not just removing the tattoos but the contouring, coloring and depth of the body thats been hidden away underneath.

kikkaio avatar
Kikka io
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I like the tatoo. I have a big forearm owl and if I find the money I lighthouse as well, but I believe there is a limit to what we should do on the skin. Perhaps it is true that one should not be looking to influence others but as in life everyday as we are what we appear havoc in the end influence their lives.

florapolvado avatar
Flora Polvado
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Amazing, the sweetness in the most of the faces without tatts. Many get facial tatts to look tough, it works.

barinho87 avatar
Alvaro Santos
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sure... MOST of the times when you see a guy with a face tattoo, is just a stereotype

robin_scrbak avatar
Robin Ščrbak
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

well it will be nice thing if its not a photoshop they have same position on bouth pic its stupid and tattoo remov cant look like that

at_fixthephoto avatar
Alissa Tipton
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Good idea, in the article http://fixthephoto.com/blog/retouch-tips/tattoo-retouching-how-to-retouch-skin-professionally.html I found the portrait of the photographer - creator of this project, and more photos with these gansters' stories)

valedab avatar
adv3se
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Pretty sure #6 is featured in the opening credits of Orange is the New Black.

sickboy1974 avatar
Sick Boy
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Don't knock stereotypes that easily. They are usually there for a reason. In case of gang-members, ex or existing, even more so.

pay1370 avatar
pay1370
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

yep, if i'd ever meet someone like that on the streets no doubt i'd make a beeline around them. i'd rather have my life than not adhere to stereotypes.

Load More Replies...
nandangduryatnandur93 avatar
NanDur93
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Its looks like.. clear skin the add tattos later.. great awesome works

catfight_macrae avatar
Sharron MacRae
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

These tattoos are not real. Some would be faded and have turned "bluish." Tattoos are only that black when they are brand new, like within a day or two of being done.

idasteenimezia avatar
Ida Steen (Imezia)
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If you look at the video you see that the tattoos are real and have faded, some more than others. The artist have altered both the before ANd the after picture, to enhance the tattoos in the before photo to create a bigger difference

Load More Replies...
nampe avatar
nampe
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I wonder how could they pose from 'with' tatoo to 'without' tattoo with VERY exact same pose from every single pixel in the body..haha..photoshop skill lvl900000

spotsotw avatar
Onthe Wall
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's great now we will never know who is a gang member and who is not. Makes for a big problem! WHICH ONE DO WE SHOOT!

5532814529cb5 avatar
c-l-baxter91 avatar
Little letitia
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You realize they didn't actually remove the tats right...I think you're the fool

Load More Replies...
jackiemixon avatar
Jackie Mixon
Community Member
7 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

Someone,.. Anyone... Know how to get in touch with #2? Name? Location? I've never seen anything so beautiful.... Must find him.

anni-manni avatar
Anni -Manni
Community Member
7 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

Surprisingly good made tattoos. Of course some are their past life but most of them look very good. Blank is truly madly deeply boring!

la8421 avatar
La
Community Member
7 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

I like them with tattoos better...

pacodesign avatar
Paco Design
Community Member
7 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

Fake.... same picture with or not Tattoo... you can't make the same picture 2 times a time...

incognitushumanum avatar
Jeanne Deaux
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Did you even read the introduction text? I bet you didn't. And if you did, you should really read it again because you didn't understand what it is about.

Load More Replies...
jlmoore80 avatar
Jessica Nussbaumer
Community Member
7 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

Looks like a bunch of thugs with or without tattoos.

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