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PowerHouse To Publish 'Skin Deep: Looking Beyond the Tattoos'
21 June 2017
PowerHouse Books has announced the September release of Skin Deep: Looking Beyond the Tattoos by U.K. photographer Steven Burton. The 176-page book pairs before-and-after photos of tattooed Los Angeles gang members with the after shot erasing their tattoos.
Before & After. From 'Skin Deep: Looking Beyond the Tattoos' by Steven Burton, published by powerHouse Books.
A prominently placed tattoo can identify you as a member of a particular gang, making the difference between life and death in the streets and even in prison. But what happens to the tattooed person who wants a fresh start with no gang affiliation?
Skin Deep, Burton's a photography project, shows what these people might look like without their tattoos. With the help of a Father Greg Boyle, a Jesuit priest who founded Homeboy Industries in Los Angeles, he arranged to take a portrait of several former gang members trying to forge a new life.
The portrait with their tattoos was then retouched in Photoshop, removing them.
After showing the results to the subjects, they were asked to talk about their life and hopes for the future. A few of the reactions:
I am shocked. I don't know what to say about this. I am going to give this to my mom, she is going to be so happy.
I think this guy in the pictures would judge the one with tattoos right off the top.
That's crazy, that looks real crazy. Those came out cool man! I think I like it better without the tattoos.
PowerHouse Books will release the title Sept. 19 but it's available now for pre-order from amazon.com at $28.46.
PowerHouse To Publish 'Skin Deep: Looking Beyond the Tattoos'
For decades now tattoos have been potent symbols of the Los Angeles gang-life scene. The black and white tattoos with recognizable gang symbols appear on members' faces, necks and all over their bodies, making their gang affiliation immediately clear to whomever crosses their path. This can mean the difference between life and death on the streets and, just as often, in prison.
What does this prominently placed imagery mean for those men and women who somehow extricate themselves from gang life or are released from prison or want to separate themselves from the gang and start life anew? The very tattoos which may have helped guard against the constant threat of rival gangs now bar many ex-gang members from employment, life without harassment and the freedom to move on from a past they have worked hard to overcome.
Skin Deep is a photography project that seeks to show the effects of this ongoing gang conflict in Los Angeles. Photographer Steven Burton set out to photograph realistic portraits of former gang members who are trying to escape the revolving door of death and prison. For these men and women, the aftermath of gang life is not only carried within -- it is also scrawled across their faces and bodies. Skin Deep uniquely highlights the impact tattoos have on the way a person is perceived by showing what each participant might look like without them.
Utilizing before and, thanks to the advantages of Photoshop, after photographs, these men and women got a chance to see what they'd look like without the inked visual armor. After the bare images were presented to each, they were asked to talk about themselves and their families, what tattoos represent to them and their aspirations for the future.
Seeing themselves without tattoos -- many for the first time in decades -- naturally brought about a wide range of emotions, recollections, hopes and dreams, with responses such as: "I am shocked. I don't know what to say about this. I am going to give this to my mom, she is going to be so happy." "I think this guy in the pictures would judge the one with tattoos right off the top." "That's crazy, that looks real crazy. Those came out cool man! I think I like it better without the tattoos."
Burton met his subjects thanks to Father Greg Boyle, the founder of Homeboy Industries in Los Angeles and the entire project is inspired by his tireless work to help rehabilitate these former gang members and give them all a crucial second chance in life. Skin Deep offers a chance to expose the realities these individuals face when trying to rebuild their lives and re-enter society. As importantly, for the public, the project provokes consideration regarding how society perceives and judges people with tattoos and violent pasts and seeks to garner empathy for those caught in the crosshairs of gang life as they try to change their futures.
Steven Burton is a self-taught photographer from the U.K. Following a successful modeling career where he had the opportunity to work with and be inspired by iconic photographers such as Bruce Weber, Patrick Demarchelier and Michael Roberts to name a few, Steven has combined his love of photography with his passion for travel and portraiture, traveling to remote locations around the world, working for various advertising clients and NGOs. Steven now lives between New York and Miami.