Luva - Co-owner, Southern Swank

cdowell, first off, perfect portrait of a beautiful woman, your photo accentuates what is likely a

stm said:

TEX said:

Great portrait, but what a terrible thing to do to your body. It's fine when she is this age but can you imagine how horrible this will look when she is in her 70's. But then again I'm probably too conservative.

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Though my comment has nothing to do with the image, I agree with you 100% Tex. I am certainly not judging her, blah blah blah bible verse ref blah blah blah religious badge of justification blah blah blah

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Leviticus 19:28 is more than likely referencing the cutting/marking of flesh for religious reasons. If you interpret Lev 19:28 to be ANY marking/cutting of the flesh to be unholy, as you seem to be implying you DO, do you then believe any cutting for medical purposes to be unholy? That cutting or dying your hair is unholy? cutting your fingernails? painting your body? fingernails? etc etc etc
Thats the beauty of the bible if can be interpreted and "read" as fuel for many sides of an argument, even the self righteous, pitifully veiled, "I'm not judging bc God judges" judgmental ones.
Perhaps this girls tattoos are purely personal expression. Perhaps her self-image is so strong and solid, and her personal desire for self expression creation are so strong that she feels it worthy of adorning her own body with.
Of all the people I know, both young and quite old, that have tattooed themselves, many are continually proud of their ink throughout there lives.
Self loathing???? your assumptions are sad and pitiful.

Again, Cdowell, beautiful image.

Great shot. Ditto what Matt said. This woman gives every indication she knows exactly who she is.

jd callow said:

Great shot. Ditto what Matt said. This woman gives every indication she knows exactly who she is.

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Not only does she seem to know and enjoy who she is this photo makes ME want to know who she is--character and strength are always in short supply in this culture and she has both in spades. The key though is that your portrait exhibits those characteristics and that is what makes it is such a gifted piece of art.

Excellent on all accounts.

as to tats being some kind of self loathing ba humbug. I've got my kids (daughter and son) EKG printouts of their heartbeats from their first seconds out and about tatooed all over my heart. I couldn't be happier when I look in the mirror to know that they are METAPHORICALLY near me. When you live your life as narrative and through story you live through symbols and there are parts that represent both you and things greater than you. Tats like she has tell a story, a story worth hearing over some beer and in between shots.

GREAT PHOTO.

Zebra

I think it's a great portrait. The lady is beautiful and very physically fit, and her expression is one of confidence. As someone said, this lady knows who she is.

I'm not so sure I agree Matt.

I remember Xenu mentioning (telepathically) on the voyage over, that since there are thousands of us Thetans inhabiting a single body, we should be careful not to damage the host in any way.

First and foremost I do think that this is a fabulous portrait of a stunning looking woman. Secondly I regret passing any comment on her tattoos, sometimes I forget that this is a photographic web site for sharing our work and not somewhere I should be making personal comments about the people that might be appearing in the photographs.

Cheers
TEX

As the photographer, I really appreciate all these comments all the way around. Thank very much for all the kind words.

I admit that I had a passing fear at one point that I might have unintentionally subjected my subject to public ridicule and I thought about weighing in on this discussion. Then I realized that Luva surely knows perfectly well that some people disapprove of her choices. She makes them anyway. I got no indication she tries to please anyone but herself. And her husband...

Her husband, Marco, is the tattoo artist who does all her work. For them, it is a family activity.

Not at all similar to the family activities that go on in my house, but there you go.

Again, thanks for the comments. All of them. I appreciate your taking a look.

Excellent, excellent. I'd say that from looking at your recent environmental/character portraits that you just might be finding yourself as a photographer. This one is excellent as well.

Super looking portrait, get into a darkroom and print it. A good one well done

I love this style of portraiture and this one does not have any flaws in my opinion. Very nice. My only thought is since there are so many tattoos, I would want to see this in color too.