'The Tattoo Parlor Boss'

This is the 'Tattoo Parlor Boss' who seems completely unfazed about

being photographed, or just about anything else, it appears Your

ratings and critiques are invited and most welcome. If you rate harshly

or very critically, please submit a helpful and constructive comment;

please share your superior photographic knowledge to help improve my

photography. Thanks! Enjoy! John

John, this is the kind of shot I long to get. This guy looks scary and maybe crazy, and he is loaded with attitude. I admire your guts.

Tattoo parlors hereabouts are run like most hair dressing salons -- with each artist renting space and acting as an 'independent contractor' and this is the boss of bosses - he's collecting the rents and royalties of his tenant recruits busy tattooing in the back, if I understand correctly.

 

He appears to have all the attributes you describe, but he could have cared less that I photographed him; I did ask his permission to go in back and photograph in back (asking permission from the various tattoo artists) then returned to the front and proceeded to take a few of him, and he scarcely flinched -- it was the end of a fairly warm day and he was 'zoning out'. Frankly, he could have cared less, I hardly deserve so much credit as you give me -- but it is scary to walk in such a place the first time, since I don't frequent such places or hang out with the tattoo crowd.

 

However, as a photographer, I have an increasing photographer's appreciation for the photographic attractiveness of the tattoo, even if I am not personally attracted to tattooed individuals -- so I might say to someone 'Wow, that's some 'tat' and be completely genuine about it, because indeed it might make part of a wonderful photo.

 

The key to getting the photo in a place like this is that the tattoo makers are all 'artists', and if the photographer also is an artist and with digital captures, they see the captures and approve the first capture or two, then it's 'smooth sailing', and they'll allow you all sorts of 'license'.

 

I get away with literally 'murder' (in a manner of speaking) because I am willing to show my subjects their photos, and because they often like how they are depicted - I often can figure out which captures best to show them, and I get very enthusiastic when I show them, just in case they are 'not sure', so they know how I feel, and that's genuine, as they can initiallly be my harshest critics, but often end up my strongest supporters.

 

(I make tons of unusual friends on the street - even sometimes getting asked to dinner - as today - and even sometimes given gifts, etc., and people often greet me warmly when they anticipate they'll see me -- not always of course, but far more frequently than you'd ever imagine.

 

One guy went so far as to try to rearrange his dinner plans today to invite me to dinner because he spent some time as I visited his yard sale to look at my portfolio on his laptop and was highly congratulatory - a very wonderful and generous guy.

 

I declined dinner, but may drop by and say 'hello' in the near future.

 

I literally make an unbelievable number of 'friends' (some real true 'friends' or 'true friend potential' and others are real warm acquaintances -- even before they've known of my output - because most feel that I'm 'genuine' -- especially those who view their captures when I ask to 'hang around' when I'm not using longer lenses or working a crowded place.

 

However, I do have a sizable pair of cajones (figurtively speaking) in a circumstances I could relate to you, but not in a public forum, and indeed this very moment have to rely on them for possibly my very physical survival -- plus my diplomacy and wile.

 

True, and no exaggeration, and it's been like that for weeks. (Giuseppe Pasquale is privy to the workings, and if I suddenly stop posting for a long period -- get in touch with him as he knows the particulars).

 

My very best to you,

 

john

 

John (Crosley)

 

I know it sounds mysterious,and it is, and not for public consumption, but if we ever meet in person, should I survive . . . . I'll consider filling you in on the scary details, It's all very real -- no figment here, and you know my sterling reputation on this site for veracity. But only if we met, and only if I feel like discussing it then -- hopefully soon it will be long forgotten.

 

jc