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.
  • Souls to Burn


    Here’s a little known fact: Dan DiMattia of Calypso Tattoo is not actually a tattoo artist. Weird, right? Because you’ve seen all these beautiful things that he claims to have tattooed? Never. Not once has he tattooed a person. You know how he tipped his hand? “His” “pieces” are too good. No human being could actually produce tattoos that gorgeous. Either Dan DiMattia is some sort of space creature, or he is in league with magicians and/or witches who just make these works of art appear. These are obviously the only two reasonable options to explain how he can consistently claim to produce such incredible work. (Actually, there’s a third option, one which involves me being a moron. Guess which one is correct! I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised.)

    That’s it for today, ModBlog. Embrace the evening, and we’ll see you tomorrow.

    See more in Skull and Skeleton tattoos (Tattoos)


  • Fall Upon Your Heart


    More stunning work from Iestyn at Diamond Jacks Tattoo and Piercing in London, England, who is just killing it right now. (More from him here.)

    See more in Skin Removal Scarification (Scarification)


  • Spread ‘Em


    Money? Check. Diamonds? Check. BME? Check and mate. (I don’t really know what that’s supposed to mean.)

    (IAM: Shannon Hodgkin‘s got his hands aloft, with tattoos by Mel Keidge at Phatt Tatt2 in Queensland, Australia.)

    See more in BME Logo Tattoos (Tattoos)


  • Strikes Me Down With a Fist of Lead


    “… they call that a paradox.”

    (Tattoo on IAM: deathbeforedecaf, by Thomas Kenney at Classic Electric Tattoo in Frederick, MD.)

    See more in Old School (and Old) Tattoos (Tattoos)


  • I Would Have Been a Locksmith


    This election business has been fun, hasn’t it? (Except when it was goddamn excruciating.) Anyway, all else being equal, this was an exciting evening, but let’s check in with ol’ Einstein up there before we check out:

    “Laws alone can not secure freedom of expression; in order that every man present his views without penalty there must be spirit of tolerance in the entire population.”

    Sound advice, quote-of-the-day toilet paper. Goodnight, ModBlog, and we’ll see you in the morning.


  • Well, Hello There, Stranger


    Ha ha, talk about the right to bare arms, right? Am I right? Eh? Huh? HEHNGHH?

    Sigh.


  • Every Hour is Grace


    I wish we had the story on this one, but alas …

    (Tattoo by Poko at Bizzart Tattoo in Jerusalem, Israel.)


  • Civic Duties


    Good morning, ModBlog, and happy election day to the Americans among us! Let’s kick things off on a patriotic-ish tip today — reader Sarah Glasgow sends in these tattoos by Rachael at Genuine Tattoo Co. in Bloomington, Indiana. We’ve got Sarah’s favorite amendment (maybe), after the jump.


  • Full Coverage: Links From All Over (Nov. 3, 2008)

    [TheNewsRoom] There’s a lot going on here, so let’s go piece by piece. This girl collects celebrity autographs, on her body, and then gets them tattooed for posterity (and bragging rights, and profit?). She just got Fergie’s, bumping up her running total to 87 or 88 (!). Among the others: Sheryl Crow, Meg Ryan, Angelina Jolie and Miley Cyrus. The big catch, though, as far as she’s concerned, is Tim McGraw on her left breast. The problem, for some reason, is that her dad, who supports her financially, will cut her off and send her back to her birth mother in Pittsburgh if he finds out that she’s been getting tattooed. Except that people have apparently filmed her and sent videos to her dad. I swear to God this is a real story.

    [The News Star] We have a new champion! John “Joker” McManus of Joker Tattoo Shop in West Monroe, LA, just broke the world record for most tattoos performed in a 24-hour period, tattooing 775 two-inch-by-two-inch stars from noon Friday to noon Saturday last weekend.

    By the end, McManus was exhausted to the point that his wife (and other onlookers) were worried for his health, but it all worked out in the end: In addition to bragging rights, it was a charity event, with all proceeds going to Toys for Tots, The Ouachita Humane Society and The Louisiana Cerebral Palsy Foundation. Good show, Joker.

    [Wallet Pop] So, we’ve covered shops giving away free Obama tattoos, and others offering free piercings for anyone who votes, and now the good folks at New Look Laser Tattoo Removal are getting in on the sweet election action too:

    New Look is offering the citizens of North Texas a chance to vote for change this election … if you prove that you voted this year by bringing in your “I Voted” sticker, voter registration card, or give us your word you fully punched your chad, we’ll give you a free tattoo removal treatment.

    You can get change in the White House and change in your skin. And whether your candidate wins or loses at the battle box, your failed policy of bad tattoo ink will definitely be left in the dustpan of history.

    The gauntlet has been thrown down. Your move, FadeFast.


  • Prepare for glory!

    Niki Patterson sent in this video of a (500 needle) play piercing session she did on her friend Eric Hubble..

    [Javascript required to view Flash movie, please turn it on and refresh this page]


    DivX download link for BME members: Extreme2 or Full members

    Tiki Tattoos and Body Piercing, Thermopylae, Greece Groton, CT.