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Interview with Justice Howard (March 2006
Tattoo Photo Contest Winner)
Do you remember the first time you saw a tattoo,
and what your reaction was?
Hmmmmmm, Id have to give that one some thought but I can tell you when
my life went to the edge. I was 8 years old and at a carnival. I was
over by the freaks and they were doing that thing onstage to pull you
into the show, you know the free "sneak -peek-freak" thing. There was
this one black guy called POPEYE. The barker was saying "watch Popeye
actually pop his eyes out folks" . Now before this I had never seen
anything wild like this, (well of course not I was 8.) But when the
barker said that I was immediately transfixed to Popeye and it was like
this invisible hand reached out and grabbed me and touched me putting
the power of the edged-out dark side into me which forever more and
since that time was instilled. I sat there and watched Popeye actually
pop his eyes 3 inches out of his sockets. I thought that was the coolest
thing Id ever seen and was instantly transformed into a wild child.
After that I was never the same.
(you can Google Popeye and read about him and the deformity he had where
he could pop his eyes out...for real)
Do you have any tattoos yourself?
Actually no. I always say "never mess with perfection". That's my standard
answer when asked. The truth is I am such a work in progress I wouldn't want to
be stuck with one thing. I'm always changing the art on my walls every month, I
guess that's why.
As a photographer, do you approach
shooting a model with body art any differently than a model without tattoos?
Not at all. I might light her a little differently but that's about it.
Any tips for working with models who
have tattoos?
Yes, if you're a tatted out model then market yourself to the people who will WANT YOU.
It's a smaller niche but don't waste time with people who
wont want to use your style of likeness or image. Market yourself to a
niche where you will fit in.
Are tattoos and body modifications a
problem in other work that you do? Do you ever have to shoot around tattoos or
use cover-up make-up?
Never I would never use a cover up. I love models that are extremely edgy but then
that's just me. There are a lot of clients I have had that do not want
tatted up girls. I had one model I love her name is CHAOTIKA and I got
her a lot of paid gigs here in LA and she lost every one of them as they didn't want a girl with ink.
It's a double edged sword. But you can use that sword to cut your own path through the thicket.
What is it about a particular tattoo
or model with tattoos that you find interesting? Have you ever seen a tattoo, or
a person with tattoos and said, "I have to shoot that!"?
Oh yes yes I get inspired by peoples ink art all the time. My friend David
Wells is a fabulous example. David has 450 hours of religious tats all done by one artist.
He's a living breathing work of art. He's also my best
pal and has more of my work collected on his walls than a gallery or
any one collector. When I met him I totally wanted to shoot him in some great art pics. We did that and they are remarkable. I went to the Pomona
tattoo convention with David and there's like 3000 tatted out people there
and everyone was lined up like 8-10 deep just staring and taking pics of
him. He is quite exceptional and the fact that one person did all his work
means it has a flow to it that's unlike anyone else's work I've ever seen.
What would be your advice to someone
who wants a great photo that shows their body art to its best advantage?
Don't go to a "GWC" (guy with camera). Go to a "TPP" (technically proficient
photographer) Make sure you see someone's work BEFORE working with them. Make
sure its someone reputable not just an asshole looking to get lucky that got a
camera and a business card printed up. I hear these horror stories all the time
and unfortunately its rampant and unprofessional behaviour.
What is the biggest difference
between shooting editorial work - say for someone like Bob Baxter at Skin & Ink
- and working in a studio?
For the record i don't work with Bob Baxter. I do love working in a studio
because you can be more technically proficient with the lighting and posing and you will get a tighter photograph than jus t shooting flash on camera on the fly. My studio shots are really tight,
I'm known for my lighting, I actually have students now that study all that stuff from me.
They call me "Sensei" its rad. I am using something called an OCTOBOX that is a remarkable lighting device the light actually wraps around the shooter and the model and the quality of light from this is
remarkable and skin looks incredible when you use this thing too. I'm addicted to it!!
I just had a very very successful show where 600 people attended in a one night show called SHARP EDGES. We had "stabbed art". All the wild art was adhered to the wall by custom made knives by House of Steel. Wild shit!
Someone actually coined the term 'stabbed art' to describe the show. No
ones ever done this before...that's because the idea came out of my head.
Any tips for taking good photos at
tattoo conventions?
#1...Work quickly.
#2... Be considerate & Ask if you can shoot someone before you take their photo.
#3... Have good lighting with you.
#4... bring candy bars for bribery techniques. (no not really... just kidding on
this one)
What do you think of the growing
numbers of celebrities and models who have tattoos?
It's rockin'. More power to the inked celeb hordes!!! The more art in the world
the better, whether its on skin or on the wall. Its all good!
What tips would you give to the home photographer, tattoo
enthusiast or tattoo artist who wants to take a great photograph of a tattoo?
I'm giving seminars on this stuff now actually, but here's a few tips for your
readers.
A... Make sure you don't get any blowout on the skin.
B... Use even lighting.
C... Don't have any of that lubrication or grease that they put on the skin
after a new tattoo. It wont shoot well with that.
D... Shoot a lot you'll get better I promise!
What would be your dream tattoo photography assignment?
Well I've already shot over 300-400 tattoo magazine covers. And completed over 100 interviews and articles that were in SAVAGE, as well as of other mags both in US and Europe and Japan.
I've shot entire tattoo mags that were coverage from one entire convention.
I've shot tons of edgy CD covers for bands. So I've probably already done my dream assignment . My regular dream, since
I've already done all the edgy stuff, is to shoot for Vanity Fair magazine and replace boring Annie "Dweeb" o-witz. Plus,
I've always had a dream to photograph Tom Waits. My pals the Fabulous Thunderbirds tried to
hook that up for me a few weeks ago when they invited me down t o meet
Wait's bass player Larry Taylor. He plays with Waits consistently all the time and also played with Jerry Lee Lewis and Canned Heat. He has a
remarkable history. At any rate Larry instantly became a big fan of my
art and is trying to hook Tom & I up. If it happens, it happens, if it doesn't
that's fine too. Ill always love his CD's and I have them all.
Wrapping up, I want to thank the 600 people who came to my SHARP EDGES event and the people who continue to have an interest in
Justice Howard art.
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