The Tattoosday Book Review - London Tattoos

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOK_PJluCuC1lu0D4ElXurykqDsv-rUPQUULvk3XBlrKsNW3QA_-VxgHoyTvtMrJvsTq_HeysZ5KlEwkBwqgqYcJcIhm7ml_luNnhDFvBLAPf_3gswCVA7LCD_4kRkQTC3jcoZfxJHgxM/s1600/tattoos-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOK_PJluCuC1lu0D4ElXurykqDsv-rUPQUULvk3XBlrKsNW3QA_-VxgHoyTvtMrJvsTq_HeysZ5KlEwkBwqgqYcJcIhm7ml_luNnhDFvBLAPf_3gswCVA7LCD_4kRkQTC3jcoZfxJHgxM/s640/tattoos-001.jpg" width="420" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /> </div>Let's eliminate the suspense - London Tattoos is a lovely book, and one of the best tattoo titles I have seen in recent years. I recommend it highly and strongly encourage Tattoosday readers to check it out.<br /> <br /> The book is beautifully photographed by Alex MacNaughton. The concept is simple: each subject stands in a full shot at the beginning of their section. There is a paragraph or two composed by the host, describing, in various degrees of detail, their tattoo journeys. A list of tattooist credits follow as footnotes, and then we are treated to several more (at the very least) more detailed shots of the body sections featuring the person's ink.<br /> <br /> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7vx4sX0gbAj-1Irvx8BamUz1NmXSsb_xFQhf0q0ZonGEgaL4NplVug-Z9dRkKMEeqcqr6YBWJnZO585cvTvlcwoaGXlOiARlGcNNp4ycYTcCgYEGjvHEjx13aF79FxKszJ99WtT9KOZw/s1600/tattoos-015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7vx4sX0gbAj-1Irvx8BamUz1NmXSsb_xFQhf0q0ZonGEgaL4NplVug-Z9dRkKMEeqcqr6YBWJnZO585cvTvlcwoaGXlOiARlGcNNp4ycYTcCgYEGjvHEjx13aF79FxKszJ99WtT9KOZw/s400/tattoos-015.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7vx4sX0gbAj-1Irvx8BamUz1NmXSsb_xFQhf0q0ZonGEgaL4NplVug-Z9dRkKMEeqcqr6YBWJnZO585cvTvlcwoaGXlOiARlGcNNp4ycYTcCgYEGjvHEjx13aF79FxKszJ99WtT9KOZw/s1600/tattoos-015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>There is a fine distinction here, that between a close-up of a tattoo, and a close-up of the tapestry on which the tattoo is marked. Its a fine line of art that McNaughton executes brillianty. We catch glimpses of work, we see sections in great detail, but we are rarely confronted by an image that is a sterile full-frame of tattoo.<br /> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdq0UXEdzmfCMk3HXVtEtMAJkKlNCN6oXMPXoJkYdo_pEd2rRtOt_JazaXLN2oAS-WuqyUBcKNAERCBhjqNBFPxupRWSdUYTkdA1MYTFvYGnZV5gyYAbxz2dzQYDMk8gJYBA2nGirNT2I/s1600/tattoos-016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdq0UXEdzmfCMk3HXVtEtMAJkKlNCN6oXMPXoJkYdo_pEd2rRtOt_JazaXLN2oAS-WuqyUBcKNAERCBhjqNBFPxupRWSdUYTkdA1MYTFvYGnZV5gyYAbxz2dzQYDMk8gJYBA2nGirNT2I/s400/tattoos-016.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /> I just love the way that this photo narrative unfolds. Especially remarkable are the subjects who appear mostly, if not fully, covered. A turn of the page strips layers off of the individuals and we are treated to the artistic treasures that lie beneath. It dazzles the imagination, the unveiling of a person who appears uninked, only to reveal a breath-taking display of coverage that illuminates that this person spent hours upon hours under the needle.<br /> <br /> It is brilliantly executed and I recommend it fully, all 304 pages with 700 color illustrations. Alex MacNaughton is also the author of London Street Art, London Street Art 2 and London Street Art Anthology. I encourage Tattoosday readers to buy London Tattoos - the holidays are just around the corner - and, at the very least, visit MacNaughton's website here to get a bigger taste of the work inside this wonderful book.

The Tattoosday Book Review - London Tattoos

  Let's eliminate the suspense - London Tattoos is a lovely book, and one of the best tattoo titles I have seen in recent years. I rec...

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