Tattoo parlors are a universal landmark of every town and city in the United States. Tattoos themselves and the people who sport them are considered a subculture, feared and rejected by some or revered by others. However, for those who dedicate their lives to body art and using skin as a permanent canvas, it is a rich and complex world. Though the usual stereotypes are found such as weathered bikers, tough punks, and religious fanatics, the variety is as wide as the day is long. I have photographed over 500 people for this cultural study with two major shoots at Lucky Monkey Tattoo Parlor (Ann Arbor, MI) and the yearly Detroit Tattoo Convention.

Documentary Photographs by Isabelle Carbonell