A black-and-white photo of a person mid-air in a Superman-style body suspension pose, supported by multiple hooks in their back and legs, smiling joyfully toward the camera. They are suspended horizontally in a large indoor space with high ceilings and visible rigging. A group of onlookers—some seated, some standing—watch with expressions of admiration, amusement, and support. The atmosphere is lively and communal, capturing a moment of shared experience and transformation.

Curled

Donna from the UK shot this nice self portrait including her nine-year old tattoo (“a lot of people have thought I was a bean or a rock at first glance; that makes me chuckle!”) — she works as a mortgage advisor and writes, “you can’t judge someone by the clothes that they wear!”

PS. She also asks — “if anyone can recommend any really good tattoo artists/piercers in the north of England (round Manchester way!) i would be very grateful!” If you have a recommendation, feel free to post it in the comments.

Comments

74 responses to “Curled”

  1. Tisch Avatar

    That is such a beautiful self-portrait.

  2. Tisch Avatar

    That is such a beautiful self-portrait.

  3. Caen Avatar
    Caen

    That’s gorgeous. Beautiful texture of the feathers – and it contrasts nicely with the skin of her back.

    (And the tattoo-artist reccommendation: anyone know of any in the North East [middlesbrough area]? The artist I was booked in with is moving away! Looking for delicate greyscale work.)

  4. Caen Avatar
    Caen

    That’s gorgeous. Beautiful texture of the feathers – and it contrasts nicely with the skin of her back.

    (And the tattoo-artist reccommendation: anyone know of any in the North East [middlesbrough area]? The artist I was booked in with is moving away! Looking for delicate greyscale work.)

  5. caroline Avatar
    caroline

    beautiful!and the comment so true.it’s all ways the people
    you least expect hiding mods under their clothes.

  6. caroline Avatar
    caroline

    beautiful!and the comment so true.it’s all ways the people
    you least expect hiding mods under their clothes.

  7. toast Avatar

    For piercing, Holier Than Thou, in Manchester… http://www.holier-than-thou.co.uk/

  8. toast Avatar

    For piercing, Holier Than Thou, in Manchester… http://www.holier-than-thou.co.uk/

  9. Dan Avatar
    Dan

    A good artist in manchester is Laurence, of Red Sea Tattoo…www.redseatattoo.co.uk. He did all my work and I love it!

  10. Dan Avatar
    Dan

    A good artist in manchester is Laurence, of Red Sea Tattoo…www.redseatattoo.co.uk. He did all my work and I love it!

  11. John Blake Avatar
    John Blake

    or thou-art in sheffield

  12. John Blake Avatar
    John Blake

    or thou-art in sheffield

  13. fuus Avatar
    fuus

    Holier Than Thou is definitely the place to go.

  14. fuus Avatar
    fuus

    Holier Than Thou is definitely the place to go.

  15. Zerstoerte Avatar

    This is so beautiful.

  16. Zerstoerte Avatar

    This is so beautiful.

  17. Rich Avatar
    Rich

    Holier than Thou definately, they’re also on IAM, under that name 🙂

  18. Rich Avatar
    Rich

    Holier than Thou definately, they’re also on IAM, under that name 🙂

  19. Hayduke Avatar
    Hayduke

    Wow…. just wow!

  20. Hayduke Avatar
    Hayduke

    Wow…. just wow!

  21. nicole Avatar
    nicole

    I like this a lot!

  22. nicole Avatar
    nicole

    I like this a lot!

  23. Dave Kerfoot Avatar
    Dave Kerfoot

    Lovely portrait.
    Saz is a great tattoist. I think he works from Cadishead. They also have a branch in Warrington
    The website is
    http://www.saztattoos.co.uk/

    hope this helps

  24. Dave Kerfoot Avatar
    Dave Kerfoot

    Lovely portrait.
    Saz is a great tattoist. I think he works from Cadishead. They also have a branch in Warrington
    The website is
    http://www.saztattoos.co.uk/

    hope this helps

  25. Michelle Avatar
    Michelle

    I really like the wings, very good job.
    crack kills.

  26. Michelle Avatar
    Michelle

    I really like the wings, very good job.
    crack kills.

  27. creep Avatar
    creep

    The head of a penis?

  28. creep Avatar
    creep

    The head of a penis?

  29. Braydon Avatar
    Braydon

    One big penis. . . if thats the head, I can only IMAGINE the shaft. . .

  30. Braydon Avatar
    Braydon

    One big penis. . . if thats the head, I can only IMAGINE the shaft. . .

  31. Dagon Avatar
    Dagon

    Very nice.
    I have a similar picture of myself actually… it’s interesting seeing the difference because I have a reverse curvature of my spine and it sticks out, whereas this one goes in.
    http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b284/KakashiProwler/2007_03_03_0126editsmall.jpg
    Haha, I’d like to get wings tattooed or scarred onto my back as well. =D

  32. Dagon Avatar
    Dagon

    Very nice.
    I have a similar picture of myself actually… it’s interesting seeing the difference because I have a reverse curvature of my spine and it sticks out, whereas this one goes in.
    http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b284/KakashiProwler/2007_03_03_0126editsmall.jpg
    Haha, I’d like to get wings tattooed or scarred onto my back as well. =D

  33. kt Avatar
    kt

    what a beautiful photo! the detail on the wings is great, it looks like it has aged wonderfully.

  34. kt Avatar
    kt

    what a beautiful photo! the detail on the wings is great, it looks like it has aged wonderfully.

  35. Chaq Avatar
    Chaq

    That is such a beautiful photo. And she really does look like a bean!!

  36. Chaq Avatar
    Chaq

    That is such a beautiful photo. And she really does look like a bean!!

  37. katie Avatar
    katie

    at number 14: hahahaha i TOTALLY see that now!

    but great photo and nice tattoo!

  38. katie Avatar
    katie

    at number 14: hahahaha i TOTALLY see that now!

    but great photo and nice tattoo!

  39. C Avatar
    C

    I heard that laurence sucks, as in he is only good at a few styles, can’t draw straight lines, and is terrible at shading. His portfolio online is also pretty bad… nothing in there really grabs me as demonstrating any particular tattooing skills. One of my friends from uni went there to get some stars on her back recently… and whilst they are “alright”, it’s not the sort of place to go if you want something amazing, like those wings.

    Louis Malloy, in middleton, is amazing (don’t be put off by the fact that he does David Beckhams tattoos) http://www.tattoos.co.uk/. Oh the hours I have spent drooling over his portfolio, wishing that I had loads of money! He does have a massive waiting list of like.. a year, or something, but I’m sure it is worth the wait.

    also, as everyone says – holier than thou for piercing/branding/cutting/etc. That place is seriously the cleanest and most reasonabley priced studio I have ever seen.

  40. C Avatar
    C

    I heard that laurence sucks, as in he is only good at a few styles, can’t draw straight lines, and is terrible at shading. His portfolio online is also pretty bad… nothing in there really grabs me as demonstrating any particular tattooing skills. One of my friends from uni went there to get some stars on her back recently… and whilst they are “alright”, it’s not the sort of place to go if you want something amazing, like those wings.

    Louis Malloy, in middleton, is amazing (don’t be put off by the fact that he does David Beckhams tattoos) http://www.tattoos.co.uk/. Oh the hours I have spent drooling over his portfolio, wishing that I had loads of money! He does have a massive waiting list of like.. a year, or something, but I’m sure it is worth the wait.

    also, as everyone says – holier than thou for piercing/branding/cutting/etc. That place is seriously the cleanest and most reasonabley priced studio I have ever seen.

  41. eternalsunshine Avatar

    Beautiful photo!

  42. eternalsunshine Avatar

    Beautiful photo!

  43. Shannon Larratt Avatar

    C – Point of trivia about Louis Malloy — he’s sent me (as in BME) threatening letters about tattoos that he think resemble tattoos he’s done on Beckham. It’s ridiculous.

  44. Shannon Larratt Avatar

    C – Point of trivia about Louis Malloy — he’s sent me (as in BME) threatening letters about tattoos that he think resemble tattoos he’s done on Beckham. It’s ridiculous.

  45. Donna Avatar
    Donna

    I recommend Steve Byrne in Leeds.

  46. Donna Avatar
    Donna

    I recommend Steve Byrne in Leeds.

  47. Hannah Avatar

    Holier Than Thou is the place to go for piercings!
    And for tattoos, Either Thou-Art (though it’s in Sheffield) or Tattoo Studio 81.

    Amazing photo.

  48. Hannah Avatar

    Holier Than Thou is the place to go for piercings!
    And for tattoos, Either Thou-Art (though it’s in Sheffield) or Tattoo Studio 81.

    Amazing photo.

  49. Claire Avatar

    If you don’t mind going to Liverpool (it’s only about an hour away), I definately recommend Bodyworks2 in Liverpool. And they’re planning on starting doing dermal anchor soon, which I’m verrry excited about! They’re guinea pig-ing on each other at the minute, apparently.

  50. Claire Avatar

    If you don’t mind going to Liverpool (it’s only about an hour away), I definately recommend Bodyworks2 in Liverpool. And they’re planning on starting doing dermal anchor soon, which I’m verrry excited about! They’re guinea pig-ing on each other at the minute, apparently.

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