Alex dedicated his life to hand-poke tattooing, garment printing, and photography. I visited him at his studio, a shared space with a few colleagues and a dog. People constantly come and go, making it a dynamic workplace — a world apart from a traditional corporate office. What draws Alex to this way of working is the freedom to create on his own terms and the sense of community around him. He takes pride in the uniqueness of his hand-poke tattoo technique, a craft that demands patience, precision, and careful preparation.
Tattoo studio collaboration
I visited Alex in his personal space - somewhere quiet, intimate, and deeply his own. We took turns stepping into the roles of photographer and model. He shot me on film first, and when we swapped places, I got to capture him away from his usual work tools.
Posing requires vulnerability - a willingness to be seen. Photographing, on the other hand, takes initiative: stepping forward and claiming your own authority.
Off the clock
Off the clock