My tattoos are deeply connected with my photographer experience

Let me share with you some stories about my tattoos.

Having a brother who is a tattoo artist by profession is super cool! When he started I acted as a guinea pig, with machines built by him, but then I received the advantages when his technical knowledge became what today makes him one of the best European tattoo artists. He won several awards.

About my tattoos connected with photography

I only believe in work done with passion. In my life I have had several professional lives, in which I have believed and believe intensely, and I have always done them by dedicating all of myself, passionate as always. When I didn't believe it, I quit jobs after two or three days, some even after a few hours, because I immediately realize when something isn't worth it.

I have been a professional photographer for 12 years now, and I think I have found what really makes me satisfied, even if it is a daily struggle.

I am a street photographer in the broadest sense of the term and therefore I decided to tattoo it on my arm too. Mine is not a game, it is not a pose. That's what I am every fucking day of my life. It is not something I write on the internet to look cool, and I am not one of those who only go to downtown to take pictures. I take risks and photograph every single day.

From 7am to 1am I work, and you know that my work is Photography or related in some way with Photography. It should not be a mystery therefore, how I manage to generate so much content, to launch so many initiatives related to the world of photography.

Because for me photography is everything. It's part of me.

Just like my tattoos show.

My Leica tattoo

OK, the camera that I have as tattoo is not similar to any Leica or maybe to any camera, it is a cartoon style tattoo, but I wanted the red dot because is a celebration of my work on assignment made for Leica Camera AG in 2013 and when I was in Italy in 2013 I asked for my first photography related tattoo. It is a funny tattoo and some years after I wanted my brother adding the 35mm written just below.

Mt Street Photographer tattoo

I have already explained above my reasons to have this on my arm. The tattoo simply emphasizes the essence of who I am. Not a label as someone said: in my case that's what I am, always going out with a camera and photographing almost compulsively. I am really proud of this tattoo my brother made using a latin barrio style cursive.

My Koi fish tattoo

It is a cover up and therefore the choices were limited. I certainly wouldn't have chosen the panther. The carp, on the other hand, yes, because it is cloaked in many meanings that I like. First of all, the idea of ​​having a traditional Japanese had been teasing me for a long time. The meaning of tattooing a Koi carp is really interesting:

First of all, let's say that the Japanese term Koi simply means carp. The Koi carp (鲤) or nishikigoi (锦鲤, pron. Niscichigoi, Literally “brocade carp”) or Japanese carp, groups together all the different ornamental varieties of the common carp. Koi and Koi carp tattoos, in particular, have always been considered good luck charms by Japanese tradition and culture.

The carp is above all a symbol of courage: if captured, it is said that it faces the blade of the knife without fear, exactly as a samurai does not fear the enemy blade.

Unlike other fish it seems that, when on the cutting board, the carp does not tremble and remains motionless. It is said that the carp is a sacred fish, which with extreme force goes up the waterfalls to reach the "Dragon's Gate", to become a dragon and be able to achieve immortality.

The meanings attributed to this type of tattoo are particularly interesting:

success

courage

willpower

diligence

excellence

aspiration

determination

intelligence

perseverance

good luck

transformation

My carp has a prevalence of red and black colors and therefore:

Red is the sign of passion and love, also symbolizing a strongly masculine nature. It is a very energetic color, suitable for a fish that goes… against the tide.

Black, a symbol of success. Success against pain and adversity, both personal and group. It represents well someone who has gone through a thousand difficulties to get to the goals set.

My tattooer, my brother

Let me conclude this post spending some words for the artist who realized my precious tattoos. He is specialized with traditional old school and Japanese style tattoos, but he is great also with realistic tattoos so if you want a tattoo with the portrait of your mother or your daughter, I recommend him a lot. Believe me because he realized a fantastic Nefertiti tattoo on the back of Carmen, my wife. Oh, don’t believe it? Look at that:

My brother is not a simple tattooer. He is first of all a painter so his skills about light are different from many tattooers.

You can see his work on his INSTAGRAM

My tattoos accompany me on this short journey called life. And through this post now you know more about me.