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.

Seeing Purple

I know that tattooing the sclera doesn’t change the color of your vision, but when you see images like this it’s natural to think that she may be seeing the world through a purple haze.  Just so we’re clear, eyeball tattooing is extremely dangerous and can easily lead to blindness with the smallest error.

As you’ve probably guessed by the watermark, this eyeball tattoo was done by Howie down at First Blood in Sydney, Australia.

Comments

117 responses to “Seeing Purple”

  1. Joeltron Avatar

    @TJM: Sorry, I should have clarified. I meant in the ‘normal’ every day work place. These days I can go into a coffee shop (not a hip cafe either) and I see people with facial piercings and even occasionally mods. 10 years ago I got fired for having an eyebrow piercing at a check-out at a department store.

    @Rainbowdash: That sounds pretty harsh, I’m really sorry to read that. I guess we all just strive to be who we want to be on the outside as well as the inside – that’s the reason why I get the work that I do and also the reason why I do the work that I do.

  2. Joeltron Avatar

    @TJM: Sorry, I should have clarified. I meant in the ‘normal’ every day work place. These days I can go into a coffee shop (not a hip cafe either) and I see people with facial piercings and even occasionally mods. 10 years ago I got fired for having an eyebrow piercing at a check-out at a department store.

    @Rainbowdash: That sounds pretty harsh, I’m really sorry to read that. I guess we all just strive to be who we want to be on the outside as well as the inside – that’s the reason why I get the work that I do and also the reason why I do the work that I do.

  3. Kayla Avatar
    Kayla

    @Crabapple — really? You mean, you’re quite serious? I personally, can’t wait til I’m old and my grandkids can ask about all my awesome tattoos and point out their grandma as “The cool one with coloured arms”.
    Are you looking forward to your slow and boring death?

  4. Kayla Avatar
    Kayla

    @Crabapple — really? You mean, you’re quite serious? I personally, can’t wait til I’m old and my grandkids can ask about all my awesome tattoos and point out their grandma as “The cool one with coloured arms”.
    Are you looking forward to your slow and boring death?

  5. Kayla Avatar
    Kayla

    @Crabapple — really? You mean, you’re quite serious? I personally, can’t wait til I’m old and my grandkids can ask about all my awesome tattoos and point out their grandma as “The cool one with coloured arms”.
    Are you looking forward to your slow and boring death?

  6. Jordan Avatar
    Jordan

    @Joeltron – How well dos the colour maintain on the sclera tattoo? I’m not very familiar with how the structures of the eye hold ink as distinct from skin.

    Also, was the Tron comic book any good?

  7. Jordan Avatar
    Jordan

    @Joeltron – How well dos the colour maintain on the sclera tattoo? I’m not very familiar with how the structures of the eye hold ink as distinct from skin.

    Also, was the Tron comic book any good?

  8. Jordan Avatar
    Jordan

    @Joeltron – How well dos the colour maintain on the sclera tattoo? I’m not very familiar with how the structures of the eye hold ink as distinct from skin.

    Also, was the Tron comic book any good?

  9. Joeltron Avatar

    @Jordan – The eye has many different parts and layers. The sclera is kinda like the ocean and the iris is like an island. So when the sclera is coloured, it doesn’t really creep up onto the iris.

    That is, of course, if it is done correctly and the person doesn’t move at all.

    Also, the comic was pretty shit (as with the new movie, IMHO).

  10. Joeltron Avatar

    @Jordan – The eye has many different parts and layers. The sclera is kinda like the ocean and the iris is like an island. So when the sclera is coloured, it doesn’t really creep up onto the iris.

    That is, of course, if it is done correctly and the person doesn’t move at all.

    Also, the comic was pretty shit (as with the new movie, IMHO).

  11. Joeltron Avatar

    @Jordan – The eye has many different parts and layers. The sclera is kinda like the ocean and the iris is like an island. So when the sclera is coloured, it doesn’t really creep up onto the iris.

    That is, of course, if it is done correctly and the person doesn’t move at all.

    Also, the comic was pretty shit (as with the new movie, IMHO).

  12. rainbowdash Avatar
    rainbowdash

    got a tiny $80 shop minimum tattoo lastnight, building up the right sleeve a little, finishing the left sleeve in 2 weeks, I do have tattoos, I just would’ve loved to have my ears pointed or anti eyebrows… but 22 piercings and 16 hours of tattooing isn’t bad but I gotta fly under the radar and just do me, none of this holelier [pun] than thou

  13. rainbowdash Avatar
    rainbowdash

    got a tiny $80 shop minimum tattoo lastnight, building up the right sleeve a little, finishing the left sleeve in 2 weeks, I do have tattoos, I just would’ve loved to have my ears pointed or anti eyebrows… but 22 piercings and 16 hours of tattooing isn’t bad but I gotta fly under the radar and just do me, none of this holelier [pun] than thou

  14. rainbowdash Avatar
    rainbowdash

    got a tiny $80 shop minimum tattoo lastnight, building up the right sleeve a little, finishing the left sleeve in 2 weeks, I do have tattoos, I just would’ve loved to have my ears pointed or anti eyebrows… but 22 piercings and 16 hours of tattooing isn’t bad but I gotta fly under the radar and just do me, none of this holelier [pun] than thou

  15. Obese pope Avatar
    Obese pope

    The more I see these the more I want my eyes done in orange or a lime green. Is there anyone in Australia that performs this procedure? Google isn’t coming up with much.

  16. Obese pope Avatar
    Obese pope

    The more I see these the more I want my eyes done in orange or a lime green. Is there anyone in Australia that performs this procedure? Google isn’t coming up with much.

  17. Obese pope Avatar
    Obese pope

    The more I see these the more I want my eyes done in orange or a lime green. Is there anyone in Australia that performs this procedure? Google isn’t coming up with much.

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