Photographer Reveals What Hides Under Tattooed People’s Everyday Clothes
People who love to get tattoos come in all different shapes and sizes, which London-based professional photographer Alan Powdrill proves in his new Covered photo series. The people in his series, many of whom are covered in cool tattoos chin-to-toe, are all walking, breathing works of art.
To drive the point home, each of Powdrill’s interesting photos comes with a brief comment from the sitter about their history with tattoos. Some are extraordinarily late bloomers who started getting tattoos at 40 or 50, while some are life-long enthusiasts who’ve been getting unique tattoos since before they were of legal age.
Powdrill has tons of great portrait photography shots of interesting people in his portfolio, so if you like this photo series, be sure to check out his other work on his website! His photos will be on display in London on November 11th as well, so if you’ll be in the city, check out his site for more info.
More info: alanpowdrill.com | Facebook | Twitter (h/t: ufunk)
Graham, 58
“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”
Lillianna, 23
“I don’t feel my opinion will change on my tattoos, I doubt I’ll have any regrets regardless of my age”
Dave, 66
“I started in 1963 when I was 14 and I don’t think I’ll ever stop”
Victoria, 37
“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”
Alex, 49
“Me mum wasn’t happy at all about the swallow on my hand so I said ‘Look mum it’s not like I’m on the street doing heroin”
Izzy, 48
“I love being different and everyday I’m asked about them. Good tattoos aren’t cheap, cheap tattoos are not good”
James, 33
“I was 16 and got a small lizard on my hip. My parents said ‘how would I ever get a job!'”
Kimmy, 29
“My Kiss tattoos are my favourites, the pain was incredible but it feels good to show my ultimate dedication to the band”
Peter, 38
“They have given me confidence in life since my Crohn’s illness, I will love them in the future like I do now”
Michelle, 53
“Can’t say what age I’ll stop. While there’s still space to fill, It’ll get filled. I don’t think my attitude will ever change”
Bill, 59
Patrick, 34
“My first tattoo was at 13 and was a secret for 10 years. It’s a part of me and I’m never going to get old”
Chris, 25
“If I ever forget who I am I take my clothes off and look in the mirror and find out who I am again”
Kenny, 27
“I love my tattoos, it’s a way of life and part of me. I’ll carry on getting them for as long as I can”
Ness, 40
“I’m loving how they change as my body gets older and the creases and wrinkles change how they look When I’ve got no space below my neck I’ll stop”
Simon, 47
“As long as I get to the toilet and piss on my own, I don’t care what I look like when I’m older. I never intended to get this many but I had an addictive personality”
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Share on FacebookThey look so unhappy! I guess the photographer told them not to smile.
of course they did not smile ! at the 1st they wore complete cloth + jacket + scarf , and for the next they should show their whole tattooed body . brrrrrr :D
Load More Replies...I love my tattoos, and excellent one's are mobile art. So skin me when it's over, I won't feel it.
“I was 16 and got a small lizard on my hip. My parents said ‘how would I ever get a job!'” Wait... What kind of job did your parents thought you would search for to be bothered by a HIP tattoo? Parents can be so funny sometimes.
Yeah and of course you will be showing off you hip at a job interview...!
Load More Replies...While I like tats, my opinion is that most of these folks have overdone it and therefore destroyed the actual art. Cramming too many tats on one body is not appealing (to me). The one exception in these photos are Graham's tats. They are beautiful and well done. Again, just my opinion. However, at 78, I have no desire to even get one tat... I'll leave it all up to the younger generation...
I'm also on the photos and the same artist did mine and graham's so I don't see how graham's ink can look any better.
Load More Replies...Interesting study - 'Jekyll & Hyde'. Now it will make me wonder what other people look like without their clothes.
Great photo montage but it wouldn't work here in Australia, it would be just too hot too often to be that covered up. It's interesting just how many layers some of these people have to wear to cover their tattoos, and even then a couple of the still had tattoos showing. Not sure how some of these people would go getting jobs in Australia, there are still taboos (and enforceable rules) around visible tattoos - http://tattsamistake.com/?s=visible+tattoos
That he has an addictive personality? ... NOT a good thing.
Load More Replies...Got my first tattoo this year at 56. Got another 2 weeks ago.
The. Content of Boredpanda is being shared by a fraudulent facebook page called Gizmo's Frenss. It is a page that hacked other sites to steal the followers. Please complain to Facebook if Gizmo's Frenss has inappropriately taken your intellectual property and posted on their fraudulent page.
Absolutely beautiful, I love the variety!, who needs to go to a gallery when there are beautifully tattooed people like this walking around!:) xx
I call BS on the clothing, they all look new and off the rack, something tells me this ain't what they dress like everyday... and everyone is woefully out of shape, and the skinny guys look like they never lifted a weight, are there no gyms in GB??
Like I said in a previous comment I'm also on the photos and the clothes are our own and yes I do wear that type of clothing .
Load More Replies...George R R Martin wrote a novel about a culture on a strange planet where everyone spent their lives getting these, and when they die, their skins are preserved. Do not remember the title as it was long ago, but the idea is in my head forever.
They sometimes did this when Yakuza had body suits. Some of these preserved skins can be found in private collections or some museums :)
Load More Replies...I can't believe someone would downvote this, Its a compliment if you ask me... Hordor is hung like an elephant
Load More Replies...bill is impishly adorable. he looks like he could get in a bit of trouble... in a very good way.
I do not like this . its so trashy such a waste of money .if god wanted us have tattoo he paint on us. this is crazy.
Thank God I'm only using MY money, that I worked hard to earn then!
Load More Replies...They should direct some of that effort away from the ink and onto the canvas, if you know what I mean.
Maybe I work on canvas usually and then let OTHER people work on my skin canvas. Why does it matter???
Load More Replies...Same here... its like ODing on it, I don't get the giant black ones like Simons [last one], whats the point.
Load More Replies...A lot of faking going on. Probably half of these are composed where the model is studio shot. All the winter clothing seems forced and not the everyday outfit that is claimed, several background show people wearing summer cloths.
No faking went on stood nearly naked on the the seafront
Load More Replies...i think i'd like them better without tattoos. some tattoos are very pretty (like my friend has an awesome wolf's head in grey and white), but i don't like these and there are so many, that i see one melted mass instead of pretty pictures.
It doesn't matter if you like it. Did you even read what they said.
Load More Replies...Only if you keep your ugly opinions to yourself Elaine, I think that is a fair deal, right?
Load More Replies...NO photoshop. Not at all. Just absolute brilliant photography out in the open and near winter
Load More Replies...They look so unhappy! I guess the photographer told them not to smile.
of course they did not smile ! at the 1st they wore complete cloth + jacket + scarf , and for the next they should show their whole tattooed body . brrrrrr :D
Load More Replies...I love my tattoos, and excellent one's are mobile art. So skin me when it's over, I won't feel it.
“I was 16 and got a small lizard on my hip. My parents said ‘how would I ever get a job!'” Wait... What kind of job did your parents thought you would search for to be bothered by a HIP tattoo? Parents can be so funny sometimes.
Yeah and of course you will be showing off you hip at a job interview...!
Load More Replies...While I like tats, my opinion is that most of these folks have overdone it and therefore destroyed the actual art. Cramming too many tats on one body is not appealing (to me). The one exception in these photos are Graham's tats. They are beautiful and well done. Again, just my opinion. However, at 78, I have no desire to even get one tat... I'll leave it all up to the younger generation...
I'm also on the photos and the same artist did mine and graham's so I don't see how graham's ink can look any better.
Load More Replies...Interesting study - 'Jekyll & Hyde'. Now it will make me wonder what other people look like without their clothes.
Great photo montage but it wouldn't work here in Australia, it would be just too hot too often to be that covered up. It's interesting just how many layers some of these people have to wear to cover their tattoos, and even then a couple of the still had tattoos showing. Not sure how some of these people would go getting jobs in Australia, there are still taboos (and enforceable rules) around visible tattoos - http://tattsamistake.com/?s=visible+tattoos
That he has an addictive personality? ... NOT a good thing.
Load More Replies...Got my first tattoo this year at 56. Got another 2 weeks ago.
The. Content of Boredpanda is being shared by a fraudulent facebook page called Gizmo's Frenss. It is a page that hacked other sites to steal the followers. Please complain to Facebook if Gizmo's Frenss has inappropriately taken your intellectual property and posted on their fraudulent page.
Absolutely beautiful, I love the variety!, who needs to go to a gallery when there are beautifully tattooed people like this walking around!:) xx
I call BS on the clothing, they all look new and off the rack, something tells me this ain't what they dress like everyday... and everyone is woefully out of shape, and the skinny guys look like they never lifted a weight, are there no gyms in GB??
Like I said in a previous comment I'm also on the photos and the clothes are our own and yes I do wear that type of clothing .
Load More Replies...George R R Martin wrote a novel about a culture on a strange planet where everyone spent their lives getting these, and when they die, their skins are preserved. Do not remember the title as it was long ago, but the idea is in my head forever.
They sometimes did this when Yakuza had body suits. Some of these preserved skins can be found in private collections or some museums :)
Load More Replies...I can't believe someone would downvote this, Its a compliment if you ask me... Hordor is hung like an elephant
Load More Replies...bill is impishly adorable. he looks like he could get in a bit of trouble... in a very good way.
I do not like this . its so trashy such a waste of money .if god wanted us have tattoo he paint on us. this is crazy.
Thank God I'm only using MY money, that I worked hard to earn then!
Load More Replies...They should direct some of that effort away from the ink and onto the canvas, if you know what I mean.
Maybe I work on canvas usually and then let OTHER people work on my skin canvas. Why does it matter???
Load More Replies...Same here... its like ODing on it, I don't get the giant black ones like Simons [last one], whats the point.
Load More Replies...A lot of faking going on. Probably half of these are composed where the model is studio shot. All the winter clothing seems forced and not the everyday outfit that is claimed, several background show people wearing summer cloths.
No faking went on stood nearly naked on the the seafront
Load More Replies...i think i'd like them better without tattoos. some tattoos are very pretty (like my friend has an awesome wolf's head in grey and white), but i don't like these and there are so many, that i see one melted mass instead of pretty pictures.
It doesn't matter if you like it. Did you even read what they said.
Load More Replies...Only if you keep your ugly opinions to yourself Elaine, I think that is a fair deal, right?
Load More Replies...NO photoshop. Not at all. Just absolute brilliant photography out in the open and near winter
Load More Replies...
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