SUBSCRIBE to Barcroft TV: http://bit.ly/Oc61Hj A RETIRED psychiatric nurse has been given a new lease of life through one of his …
Source from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1BffoLNa6AM
By Nicole Stover (@litlifecole)
Tattoos have become more than just ink on the skin — they evolved into a powerful means of self-expression, captivating attention, and inspiring awe. Once considered taboo, female tattoos have experienced a remarkable shift in societal perception. Previously regarded as rebellious and unruly, ink on women evolved into a celebrated symbol of strength, beauty, and individuality.
We’re moving past outdated stereotypes and toward celebrating these inked individuals, challenging the norm. They proudly display their body art, breaking free from traditional beauty standards and reclaiming their bodies as canvases of expression.
Bailey Sarian (@baileysarian) has emerged as a powerhouse of positive influence for women, inspiring them to live life on their own terms. Sarian skillfully combines her passion for true crime stories, makeup artistry, and history through enthralling podcasts such as “Murder, Mystery & Makeup” and “Dark History.”
In a recent interview, Sarian shared how tattoos contribute to her overall sense of identity: “I love my tattoos. I love body art. I feel gorgeous. I feel beautiful and like a piece of art myself. It’s a part of me.”
Sarian’s latest campaign with Melt Cosmetics’ Fatally Yours further showcased her ability to break barriers in the beauty industry, proving it is possible to thrive by embracing one’s unique passions while challenging society’s expectations along the way.
“Every tattoo artist is an artist, and I like to collect their work from all over,” Sarian said. “Most collectors put it on their walls; I put it on my body.”
Tattooed women challenge traditional ideas of femininity, defying expectations imposed on women’s bodies and their roles in communities. Tattoos empower these women to assert control over their physical selves and unabashedly express their distinct identities without apology.
MiMi Fulton (@mimi.fulton), a globally recognized model from Philadelphia, shared her perspective on challenging conventional standards: “People see the beauty of what I’ve collected in these wonderful photos that would not have the same powerful message had I no tattoos at all.”
As our cultural attitudes evolve, so does our understanding of what it means to be adorned with ink. Molly Hammons (@mollyyyhammons), a personal trainer and influencer in Los Angeles, is one of many women working toward changing the stigma surrounding tattooed females. As owner of streetwear clothing brand Intensions, Hammons defies society’s negative outlook on strong, inked women in the workforce.
“What people choose to do with their bodies does not correlate with their work ethic,” she said. “I love that I can be a part of the change and show other women that we can work corporate jobs, model, and so much more while being tattooed.”
The rise in visibility through social media platforms has played a crucial role in shattering cliches and paving the way for acceptance and inclusivity. Denver-based artist and painter Hailey Crossley (@hailstormtattoos) shared her thoughts on how media has played a role in the shifting popularity: “I think seeing more tattooed women in the media contributed to the rise in popularity of female tattoos. We can thank Kat Von D and tattoo TV shows for bringing tattoos into the mainstream media. Also, with social media, we have proof of females owning their truth and getting tattooed all over the world.”
Beyond personal significance lies an appreciation for the artistry behind each tattoo. Tattoo artists skillfully and creatively bring these designs to life, turning human skin into living compositions. The intricate details, vibrant colors, and expert craftsmanship make each tattoo unique.
Anna Chernova (@horror_tattoo), a 29-year-old studio owner based in San Francisco, explained her approach to designing tattoos for each of her clients. “I always approach each client’s idea individually; this inspires me very much,” she said, explaining, “First, I listen to each woman’s story, her idea, and what it means to her to create a masterpiece that we both like and so that no one else has such a tattoo.”
Undeniably, behind every tattoo lies a story waiting to be told — a narrative that speaks volumes about personal experiences, beliefs, or aspirations. From breast cancer survivors adorning mastectomy scars to individuals using tattoos as a form of activism or self-acceptance, these stories showcase the profound impact that tattoos can have on one’s sense of self.
At the center is tattoo artist and single mother of two, Rachel WS (@rachlws), who dedicated herself to transforming painful memories into beautiful works of art for her female clients. At her Rhode Island-based studio, Rachel WS Fine Arts, she empowers her clients to reclaim their bodies despite their overwhelming challenges. With compassion and impeccable skill bleeding through each stroke of her tattoo machine, she brings healing and beauty to those seeking solace in the transformative power of art.
One client, 30-year-old lab technician Kate Godfrey, revealed, “I’ve had visible self-harm scars on my arms for my whole adult life, and it’s always been an insecurity. Covering up the scars with art has been insane for my self-confidence.”
Similarly, preschool and dance teacher Meag Foy-Anderson emoted passionately about Rachel’s life-changing artwork. “Rachel WS understood the deep connection of trauma to scars and how much of an impact can be made by taking away that visual reminder of an ugly time in your life and replacing it with a thing of beauty and inspiration. I am ever grateful for her.”
As society increasingly embraces the allure and significance of tattooed artwork on women’s bodies, we wholeheartedly applaud their courageous defiance of conventions and the embrace of their authentic selves. Moreover, we pay tribute to their personal stories and commend the extraordinary artists who skillfully bring these narratives to life.
The 2023 Inked OG – Geoff Ratzlaff
Geoff Ratzlaff, a devoted architectural technologist at Aritzia, relocated with his wife, Adriana, and son, Leo, from Vancouver, B.C., to Golden, a serene town in the Rockies. Drawn by both family proximity and a longing for mountainous landscapes and a disconnect from the noise, he is now surrounded by nature finding constant inspiration for his architectural endeavors. This creative spirit extends beyond blueprints, delving into the world of tattoo art. We take a deep dive into the stories behind the captivating tattoos that serve as both an homage to his roots and a reflection of his personal journey.
“Influenced by my three older brothers, whom I’ve always admired, I developed a fascination for tattoos at a young age. Witnessing their tattoos, I was captivated by the striking coolness and personal interests etched within each design, sparking my own exploration into body art,” he said. Drawn to dark realism designs that skillfully evoke raw emotions, Ratzlaff appreciates the intricate portrayal of shadows and depth within this style. For him, dark realism becomes a powerful medium to express the complexities of human experience.
At 15, Ratzlaff got a Celtic tribal on his upper back shoulder blade. It wasn’t until 2018, after two decades of contemplation, that he decided to embark on a more profound tattoo project. “My favorite aspect of my tattoo is the tale it narrates, spanning the pilgrimage of my family from the hardships of the Russian Revolution to the present day. Each inked detail encapsulates our evolving legacy, commemorating the trials, triumphs, and enduring spirit that have shaped our collective history over the decades.”
The Four Horsemen
The centerpiece of Ratzlaff’s back piece is an epic story capturing the trials faced by his grandparents as they sought to escape the tumultuous era. The Four Horsemen — death, war, pestilence, and famine — are intricately etched onto his back, symbolizing the obstacles endured by his family. The hauntingly beautiful portrayal of these horsemen encapsulates the challenges they faced during their escape. “They were a part of a big farming colony. And when the revolution happened in Russia, the government basically said everything is the government’s now. So, everything was taken from them, including their farm. They had to get out of there. So, what my tattoo represents are all the things they had to go through before escaping Russia, so they might actually have been the four horsemen — which are, basically, the main things they had to go through to get out of the country.”
The Train through the Red Gate
Continuing the saga, Ratzlaff’s back features a tattoo of a train crossing the Red Gate. This marks the point of freedom, the threshold between oppression and escape. The Red Gate, situated on the Russian/Latvian border, became a symbolic gateway to liberation. The train on Ratzlaff’s leg represents his grandparents’ migration towards freedom, an odyssey that ultimately brought them to Canada.
The Spasskaya Tower at the Kremlin
Adding further historical context, Ratzlaff’s continuous tattoo includes a striking image of the Spasskaya clock tower at the Kremlin. The tower clock is frozen at 5 o’clock, representing the time his grandparents would rise to farm in Russia. This meticulous attention to detail showcases the dedication to capturing every nuance of their journey, emphasizing the sacrifices made during a pivotal chapter in history.
A family united
The culmination of Ratzlaff’s tattoo narrative is a heartwarming image that bridges generations. A picture of his son, Leo, symbolizes the continuation of the family legacy. Leo welcomes his ancestors to freedom and Canada, creating a poignant link between past and present. This blend of historical symbolism and personal connection makes Ratzlaff’s tattoo collection a truly unique and emotionally charged visual chronicle.
A Coat of Arms
His newest addition, which he will continue in an upcoming session, honors his recently departed grandfather, John Ratzlaff, with a coat of arms tattoo on his right arm, paying homage to his patriarchal legacy, incorporating symbols that hold deep significance for the entire family.
Ratzlaff credits his tattoo artist, Mark Roy, with making the meaningful stories come to life. Roy’s expertise in dark realism perfectly complements Ratzlaff’s vision. He’d also like to thank his family and friends for their support during the Inked Originals competition, and he has some advice for tattoo artists and enthusiasts: “Keep posting all your stuff. It’s inspiring to see everybody’s work. I follow a lot of tattooers on Instagram, and so every time you create or get a cool tattoo and post it, it’s inspiring and very much appreciated.”
Mroytattooart.com | @mroytattooart
Micki Rayne
A free-spirited goddess on the rise, Micki Rayne reveals her life story through etchings of astrological truths, animalistic evolutions, and ancestral tributes. Though mostly grounded, living in the ‘here and now,’ Rayne’s mind is often in the depths of the constellations, viewing life through a kaleidoscope lens, her world swirling in a colorful duality of light and dark. Rayne started getting tattoos in 2013, counting each one as an individual. But with the help of her beloved tattoo artist, Lindsey Pergentile, at An Tattoo Inc. in Calgary, Alberta, she has moved into a state of flow—where each new piece works in unison with the others, creating one beautiful masterpiece. Each image symbolizes resilience and transformation from the first horse on her upper arm to multiple scorpions, a rose, monkey, wolf, fox, doe, mouse, rabbit, flowers, lion, eagle, rooster, poetry, mantras, and a self-portrait. As she prepares for her next tattoo, the world awaits this Scorpio’s next chapter. @micki.013
Insta: @micki.013
Alec Lerman
Skynard would be a huge fan of Alec Lerman. He’s a ‘simple kind of man’ — authentic, easy to be around, and content with life. Lerman, a 29-year-old Neptune, NJ, resident, is a loyal client of @zackbrysontattoo. His first tattoo was a tribute to his late grandfather, a staple of his family. Since then, Lerman’s collection has grown to include a variety of designs, from family tributes to images of animals, mandalas, portraits, roses, and skulls. Lerman resonates with the simplicity of American traditional tattoos and admires the tebori style. Recently, his focus has shifted towards home life, cherishing moments with his mother, father, daughter, and dogs. He is a huge NY Giants fan and appreciates good food. Lerman offers a refreshing perspective, asserting that not every tattoo needs profound meaning. “You can get pieces just because you think they look cool.” His advice to fellow ink enthusiasts is to invest in quality work, emphasizing that good tattoos aren’t cheap.
X: @_aleclerman | Insta: @aleclerman
Torry Tucker
Torry Tucker, a 29-year-old Brazilian Jiujitsu coach at Tupelo Jiujitsu Academy in Tupelo, MS, is a fantasy devotee with some sweet mystical ink. He began his tattoo journey with a piece representing the obstacles of life with epilepsy. Tucker then turned to the cosmos, with art displaying the Milky Way in the form of a penguin. His favorite is a colossal sleeve that’s a fantasy lover’s dream. “It starts as the scene from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone where the kids first see Hogwarts as they cross over the Black Lake. As the elevation rises up my arm, it transitions into a Star Wars battle for the fate of the galaxy,” he said. “When I first pitched the idea, I thought it would be asking for way too much but I had a vision, and Jacob Jones at Aim High Tattoos took that vision and turned it into some beautiful art.”
The 2023 Inked OG – Geoff Ratzlaff
Geoff Ratzlaff, a devoted architectural technologist at Aritzia, relocated with his wife, Adriana, and son, Leo, from Vancouver, B.C., to Golden, a serene town in the Rockies. Drawn by both family proximity and a longing for mountainous landscapes and a disconnect from the noise, he is now surrounded by nature finding constant inspiration for his architectural endeavors. This creative spirit extends beyond blueprints, delving into the world of tattoo art. We take a deep dive into the stories behind the captivating tattoos that serve as both an homage to his roots and a reflection of his personal journey.
“Influenced by my three older brothers, whom I’ve always admired, I developed a fascination for tattoos at a young age. Witnessing their tattoos, I was captivated by the striking coolness and personal interests etched within each design, sparking my own exploration into body art,” he said. Drawn to dark realism designs that skillfully evoke raw emotions, Ratzlaff appreciates the intricate portrayal of shadows and depth within this style. For him, dark realism becomes a powerful medium to express the complexities of human experience.
At 15, Ratzlaff got a Celtic tribal on his upper back shoulder blade. It wasn’t until 2018, after two decades of contemplation, that he decided to embark on a more profound tattoo project. “My favorite aspect of my tattoo is the tale it narrates, spanning the pilgrimage of my family from the hardships of the Russian Revolution to the present day. Each inked detail encapsulates our evolving legacy, commemorating the trials, triumphs, and enduring spirit that have shaped our collective history over the decades.”
The Four Horsemen
The centerpiece of Ratzlaff’s back piece is an epic story capturing the trials faced by his grandparents as they sought to escape the tumultuous era. The Four Horsemen — death, war, pestilence, and famine — are intricately etched onto his back, symbolizing the obstacles endured by his family. The hauntingly beautiful portrayal of these horsemen encapsulates the challenges they faced during their escape. “They were a part of a big farming colony. And when the revolution happened in Russia, the government basically said everything is the government’s now. So, everything was taken from them, including their farm. They had to get out of there. So, what my tattoo represents are all the things they had to go through before escaping Russia, so they might actually have been the four horsemen — which are, basically, the main things they had to go through to get out of the country.”
The Train through the Red Gate
Continuing the saga, Ratzlaff’s back features a tattoo of a train crossing the Red Gate. This marks the point of freedom, the threshold between oppression and escape. The Red Gate, situated on the Russian/Latvian border, became a symbolic gateway to liberation. The train on Ratzlaff’s leg represents his grandparents’ migration towards freedom, an odyssey that ultimately brought them to Canada.
The Spasskaya Tower at the Kremlin
Adding further historical context, Ratzlaff’s continuous tattoo includes a striking image of the Spasskaya clock tower at the Kremlin. The tower clock is frozen at 5 o’clock, representing the time his grandparents would rise to farm in Russia. This meticulous attention to detail showcases the dedication to capturing every nuance of their journey, emphasizing the sacrifices made during a pivotal chapter in history.
A family united
The culmination of Ratzlaff’s tattoo narrative is a heartwarming image that bridges generations. A picture of his son, Leo, symbolizes the continuation of the family legacy. Leo welcomes his ancestors to freedom and Canada, creating a poignant link between past and present. This blend of historical symbolism and personal connection makes Ratzlaff’s tattoo collection a truly unique and emotionally charged visual chronicle.
A Coat of Arms
His newest addition, which he will continue in an upcoming session, honors his recently departed grandfather, John Ratzlaff, with a coat of arms tattoo on his right arm, paying homage to his patriarchal legacy, incorporating symbols that hold deep significance for the entire family.
Ratzlaff credits his tattoo artist, Mark Roy, with making the meaningful stories come to life. Roy’s expertise in dark realism perfectly complements Ratzlaff’s vision. He’d also like to thank his family and friends for their support during the Inked Originals competition, and he has some advice for tattoo artists and enthusiasts: “Keep posting all your stuff. It’s inspiring to see everybody’s work. I follow a lot of tattooers on Instagram, and so every time you create or get a cool tattoo and post it, it’s inspiring and very much appreciated.”
Mroytattooart.com | @mroytattooart
Micki Rayne
A free-spirited goddess on the rise, Micki Rayne reveals her life story through etchings of astrological truths, animalistic evolutions, and ancestral tributes. Though mostly grounded, living in the ‘here and now,’ Rayne’s mind is often in the depths of the constellations, viewing life through a kaleidoscope lens, her world swirling in a colorful duality of light and dark. Rayne started getting tattoos in 2013, counting each one as an individual. But with the help of her beloved tattoo artist, Lindsey Pergentile, at An Tattoo Inc. in Calgary, Alberta, she has moved into a state of flow—where each new piece works in unison with the others, creating one beautiful masterpiece. Each image symbolizes resilience and transformation from the first horse on her upper arm to multiple scorpions, a rose, monkey, wolf, fox, doe, mouse, rabbit, flowers, lion, eagle, rooster, poetry, mantras, and a self-portrait. As she prepares for her next tattoo, the world awaits this Scorpio’s next chapter. @micki.013
Insta: @micki.013
Alec Lerman
Skynard would be a huge fan of Alec Lerman. He’s a ‘simple kind of man’ — authentic, easy to be around, and content with life. Lerman, a 29-year-old Neptune, NJ, resident, is a loyal client of @zackbrysontattoo. His first tattoo was a tribute to his late grandfather, a staple of his family. Since then, Lerman’s collection has grown to include a variety of designs, from family tributes to images of animals, mandalas, portraits, roses, and skulls. Lerman resonates with the simplicity of American traditional tattoos and admires the tebori style. Recently, his focus has shifted towards home life, cherishing moments with his mother, father, daughter, and dogs. He is a huge NY Giants fan and appreciates good food. Lerman offers a refreshing perspective, asserting that not every tattoo needs profound meaning. “You can get pieces just because you think they look cool.” His advice to fellow ink enthusiasts is to invest in quality work, emphasizing that good tattoos aren’t cheap.
X: @_aleclerman | Insta: @aleclerman
Torry Tucker
Torry Tucker, a 29-year-old Brazilian Jiujitsu coach at Tupelo Jiujitsu Academy in Tupelo, MS, is a fantasy devotee with some sweet mystical ink. He began his tattoo journey with a piece representing the obstacles of life with epilepsy. Tucker then turned to the cosmos, with art displaying the Milky Way in the form of a penguin. His favorite is a colossal sleeve that’s a fantasy lover’s dream. “It starts as the scene from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone where the kids first see Hogwarts as they cross over the Black Lake. As the elevation rises up my arm, it transitions into a Star Wars battle for the fate of the galaxy,” he said. “When I first pitched the idea, I thought it would be asking for way too much but I had a vision, and Jacob Jones at Aim High Tattoos took that vision and turned it into some beautiful art.”
When you think about a college-educated individual, tattoos aren’t necessarily the first thing that comes to mind. It’s actually the opposite. Society’s interpretation of a laced-up, college-educated professional is someone who is serious, an intellectual, a hard-worker, and someone who has decided to invest in themselves and their future. Your mind immediately veers on the side of academia, doctors, lawyers, and financiers. You don’t immediately think of art, music, nature, or tattoos. While art and science work hand in hand in an educational setting, and these days an art degree is seen as just as valuable as a business degree, it’s still an educational path that has only recently gained any sort of legitimacy within the social stratosphere.
So when Juan Salgado, a celebrity tattoo artist and renowned painter based in Puerto Rico, got a call from the esteemed Ana G. Méndez collegiate system in Puerto Rico, the last thing he was expecting was to bridge the gap between tattoos and higher education. Salgado’s passion for not only this incredible artistic pursuit but also for art in general is palpable in every word he shares.
Can you introduce yourself for us and tell us where you’re from, and what you do?
Yeah, my name is Juan Salgado, I’m from Puerto Rico. I’m basically a multimedia artist. I specialize in tattoos, murals, paintings, and designing in general.
How did you get your start with art originally?
It’s the only thing I’ve known how to do since I was a little kid. I was a super shy person, so I think art helped me socialize a little bit in school. When I was little, I couldn’t look people in the eye. But, through my art, I started developing a sort of confidence. For example in school, I was the best artist in my class and that gave me a little bit of attention which helped me with my shyness, and brought me out of my shell a little. I think art is what helped me cope with reality a little bit. So, I think my interest in art has always been there.
What inspired you to paint murals specifically?
I mean, I love art, it’s glorious. Before tattooing, I was a painter. I mean I’m still a painter, but I stumbled upon painting before I had tattoos in my life, and I felt as if murals were the epitome of painting. It always amazed me how artists can do these massive paintings on walls, and I remember when I was little I thought it was impossible to do. When I started getting seriously interested in murals, it was at the same time mural art was booming in Puerto Rico. It became a movement, and I was a little bit a part of that.
What’s the most interesting mural project you’ve worked on?
I’ve done a lot of murals throughout the world. I’ve painted in Puerto Rico, Australia, Florida but the most interesting project I did was in Puerto Rico. I just recently finished three murals for one of the biggest university systems in Puerto Rico, the Ana G. Méndez University system. They have seven to eight campuses around the world, but in Puerto Rico they have four or five. So, for three of the main campuses, I did what I call the “Vitruvian Muses.” It consists of “Muses” that represent all the classes and the programs they offer right on each Campus of the university. The way we portray these offerings is by showcasing the Muses as tattooed. It’s just groundbreaking to me that this university system hired a tattoo artist and painter to create their murals. All of the Muses are women full of tattoos and I don’t think that would have happened 10 years ago. I really enjoyed it.
The thing is, they wanted to promote inclusion and so I was also able to tattoo the president of the University. The university thought it would be a good way to connect with the more modern generation. It just blows my mind, because in the past tattoos would never have been accepted on a collegiate level and now it is a tool in order to get closer to the youth and make the connection between art and education.
Where do you draw all of your inspiration from?
I mean, all of my inspiration comes from nature and the human experience. So for me, nature is the best teacher. I’m always gazing into the sunsets, and the trees and the leaves, and I study color theory through that every day. Women are also a huge inspiration in my life as well. I think women have been a central focus in every major art movement in every civilization and their connection to nature and the divine resonates with all of the beautiful aspects of life.
That is truly, so cool. How would you describe your art style?
I call it the “Juan Salgado” style, because it’s just a mix of everything I have learned throughout my art career. I’ve been tattooing for 22 years, but I’ve been into art for over 30 years. I’ve never stuck to a specific style. I let the spectator decide. What style do they want to fit me in? I try not to follow the rules too much and go with where the energy of the day takes me. Some days, I wake up and I want to be more traditional and other days I want to be more hyper realistic, and there are days I want to explore black and gray. I love every style and I love bringing them together to create something beautiful.
Your ability to adapt to any artistic situation is incredible.
I mean, I’m a big fan of the Renaissance, and so I grew up thinking that an artist can express themselves through any medium, you just have to adapt to it, but the vision is always going to be the same.
What’s the craziest medium that you’ve ever worked with?
Tattoos. Yeah, one hundred percent. It’s definitely one of the hardest to master. But also, when you have been tattooing for more than 20 years, it’s so rewarding to be able to see your work from way back when and how it’s held up over time.
How did you get your start in tattooing? You were a multimedia artist since childhood, so where did that leap into the industry come from?
I always say that tattooing chose me, I didn’t choose tattooing. I mean, you attract what you think about, and I was thinking about tattooing constantly. 20 years ago, starting to tattoo in Puerto Rico was nearly impossible. There was no social media, and the only way you could actually order tattoo materials was through magazines, or you had to already be working for a tattoo shop. Companies wouldn’t just send materials directly to your house. On top of that, it was difficult to start in a tattoo shop because they were run by rock stars and bikers who weren’t really looking to take on apprentices or give opportunities to anyone. They wanted to keep it a niche.
So my official “start” in tattooing was kind of like divine intervention. I was 19 or 20 years old, something like that, and I was just sitting in my house relaxing and by that point I was already collecting tattoos. I was the first person in my family to ever get tattooed. All of a sudden, there’s this knock at my door, and it’s this childhood friend of mine who had left the island when we were younger. He’s with this older tattooed guy and he goes, “I’m tattooing in Boston,” and immediately I was like, “did you bring your machine’s here?” So from there, he ran back to his house to grab his equipment and we took turns tattooing each other all day. We hadn’t spoken in years and in less than ten minutes, I was holding a tattoo machine for the first time. He had just remembered that I was a good artist from the neighborhood and he was excited to give his machine to a friend that could ink him for free. So basically, I started in my house. After that, he gave me an apprenticeship and in three months I was doing solid work. After a local shop heard about me, they offered me a job right away. I had only had three months of experience and suddenly I was tattooing full time, and the rest is history.
Are you working on anything big right now? Is there anything we should keep our eyes peeled for?
I’m definitely working on a couple of big things. I want to keep them a secret for the moment, but I am working and have a lot of big things in the pipeline as far as tattoo projects go. I also have an art book coming out soon and a few art shows coming up, so lots of exciting things are going on. You’re definitely going to be seeing a lot more of my art in the coming months.
The luxury watch market is booming and doesn’t appear to be hitting the brakes anytime soon. It’s currently sitting at $43 billion, and researchers forecast that the global luxury watch market will hit over $53.5 billion by 2028.
Exclusivity is the name of the luxury watch game, and the waiting lists that accompany many of these watches speak to that. But the exclusivity of these pieces doesn’t serve just as a status symbol; it also serves as an investment. Luxury watches often appreciate in value due to their limited numbers and craftsmanship, making them a sought-after investment. This is evident in secondhand watch sales, which account for roughly 30 percent of the luxury watch market. Younger generations are taking to these secondhand watches as they look beyond fashion to see the ROI in preowned top-brand models like Rolex and Audemars Piguet.
Each year brings with it more modern additions to these classic timepieces, making them even more luxurious blends of centuries-old craftsmanship and advanced engineering. Though at their heart, luxury watches will always stay true to their roots, we will continue to see advancements in new technology, mechanisms, precision and versatility.
Breguet Marine Hora Mundi x Only Watch
The Breguet Marine Hora Mundi gold watch features a blue dial, dual-time display and self-winding Calibre 77F1 with a 55-hour power reserve. While its sleek midnight blue rubber strap exudes style, there is an element of surprise in its power—this watch is water-resistant up to 100 meters, ready to accompany you on your underwater adventures.
Chanel J12 Diamond Tourbillon – The Flying Solitaire
Chanel’s stunning J12 Diamond Tourbillon embraces the art of timekeeping with its hand-wound caliber with a flying tourbillon, a triple-folding buckle, and nothing short of extravagance with a solitaire diamond on the cage. Crafted from the finest black ceramic, diamonds and white gold, this timepiece is more than just a watch. You can even dive into the depths without fear, as this luxurious watch is water-resistant up to 50 meters.
Girard-Perregaux Laureato Absolute Chronograph 8Tech
The horological marvel that is the Girard-Perregaux Laureato Absolute Chronograph has a 44mm carbon-titanium case with a unique Tech8 composite, making it quite the statement. It boasts intricate features that show you the details of the luxurious world of timekeeping, including a gradient grey dial, sandwich-style markers, and GP03300-1058 automatic movement.
Patek Philippe’s Calatrava Pilot Travel Time Chronograph
Elevate your watch game to new heights with the Patek Philippe Chronograph—a watch of style and functionality. This masterpiece features a date sub-dial, luminescent markers and a 60-minute counter, allowing you to live every moment with precision. The central chronograph hand and transparent case back are features that elevate this piece, making it another Patek Philippe piece of perfection.
Porsche Design Chronograph 1 Utility–LE
Looking for something exclusive? Look no further than the limited-edition Porsche Design Chronograph 1 Utility. This piece is the epitome of craftsmanship and offers details such as titanium carbide, flyback function and a 48-hour power reserve that allows you to enjoy every moment without concern. The slate grey “Bund” leather strap adds some opulence to this already incredible watch, making it a piece that boasts both style and performance.
Vacheron Constantin Les Cabinotiers Dual Moon Grand Complication
Time looks better when it’s read from the Vacheron Constantin Les Cabinotiers Dual Moon Grand Complication. This watch’s silvered dial is encased in a white gold case, making it a true piece of art. Powered by the Caliber 2755 TMRCCQP movement, every tick of this watch brings with it sophistication and style. You’ll not only look better, but you’ll also feel better with this watch on your wrist.
ZENITH Unveils Defy 21 Chroma II–Light, Color and Speed
Fusing both style and function, ZENITH’s DEFY 21 Chroma II is a limited black and white ceramic edition piece that takes the notion of conventional watches and runs with it. This exclusive timepiece features a stunning black and white ceramic design with a refracted rainbow dial. Under the surface you’ll find the El Primero 21 movement operating at 5Hz and a whopping 50Hz to give you the top level of accuracy. The dial reveals its decorated movement through a sapphire case back, giving you a look into the heart of this horological masterpiece.
Hublot Spirit of Big Bang Magic Gold
The Hublot Spirit of Big Bang Magic Gold timepiece embodies innovation and luxury in a fusion of cutting-edge materials. Crafted from Magic Gold, a proprietary alloy renowned for its resilience, this watch exudes sophistication. Its tonneau-shaped case merges modern aesthetics with intricate mechanics, housing a self-winding movement. The skeletonized dial offers a mesmerizing view of the intricate gears and mechanisms within. With a blend of contemporary design and technical prowess, it balances style and substance effortlessly. The Spirit of Big Bang Magic Gold stands as a testament to Hublot’s dedication to pushing boundaries in haute horology, epitomizing opulence and innovation.
Kross Studio Central Floating Tourbillon
The Kross Studio Central Floating Tourbillon timepiece exemplifies horological finesse with an avant-garde touch. Its mesmerizing floating tourbillon, centrally placed on the dial, captivates with its graceful, weightless rotation. Encased in sapphire crystal, the intricate movement is a visual spectacle, showcasing meticulous craftsmanship. The minimalist design, coupled with a sophisticated blend of materials, enhances its contemporary allure. Limited in production, this timepiece signifies exclusivity and innovation in haute horology. Kross Studio’s dedication to precision and artistry shines through in this Central Floating Tourbillon, redefining elegance and sophistication in the realm of luxury watches.
The Audemars Piguet ‘The Chocolate AP’ by Travis Scott
The Audemars Piguet ‘The Chocolate AP’ by Travis Scott is a horological marvel fusing haute horology with streetwear allure. This limited-edition timepiece embodies the rapper’s signature style, featuring a tantalizing brown colorway that exudes boldness. The octagonal case, a nod to Audemars Piguet’s iconic design, showcases intricate details, including the Mega Tapisserie dial and the ‘Cactus Jack’ insignia, reflecting Travis Scott’s artistic flair. Its self-winding chronograph movement combines precision with a rugged, urban aesthetic, appealing to watch enthusiasts and fashion-forward individuals alike. ‘The Chocolate AP’ stands as a testament to the fusion of high-end craftsmanship and contemporary culture, marking a dynamic collaboration between luxury watchmaking and music iconography.
Prior to the late 1990s, tattoo culture primarily existed on the outskirts of the mainstream. A badge of honor amongst sailors in the U.S. Navy and cultural subgroups, as well as an artistically rebellious symbol of expression for curators of punk, metal, goth music, and more. Subsequently, during the 2000s, the painfully enticing trend of getting inked transcended emo, hip-hop, the NBA, Hollywood, and the corporate world. Near the turn of the 2020s, a number of tech companies began implementing inventive ways of tatting up their clientele with new software, 3D tattooing, eco-friendly methods, and more. In November, Blackdot, a tech company based in Austin, Texas, introduced the “V1 Device” as part of a game-changing initiative that also includes an online tattoo marketplace where consumers can purchase signature designs from entrepreneurial-minded artists all over the world. Blackdot’s V1 Device generates body art in high definition, utilizing an unprecedented technique that serves as a fresh alternative to modern wireless tattoo machines and traditional hand-tapping methods. The future is here. But, according to the company’s CEO/Founder Joel Pennington, it should not deter tattoo enthusiasts and artists who view the time-honored process as a rite of passage.
“Blackdot is not a substitute for the experience found by way of various traditional tattooing methods,” explained Pennington. “Instead, Blackdot offers an entirely different tattooing experience; it’s an interesting option for tattoo seekers looking for something new and forward-looking…The Blackdot device can be thought of as a futuristic stick-and-poke device whereby each dot that we tattoo is intentional…We use continuous suction for ink removal and are therefore able to tattoo without the need to wipe-think-tattoo-repeat.”
Alongside Pennington at the forefront of the Blackdot technocentric movement is the company’s Chief Technology Officer Yan Azdoud. The pair of business partners met in 2017 after Pennington took on a mentorship role with a startup established by Azdoud called Project Canary. This experience gave Pennington an up close and personal view of Azdoud’s penchant for navigating scientific principles. It also sparked a resolution about how their ideals in the tech world could add a new dimension to the tattoo industry.
“After the three-month program, I debriefed with Yan Azdoud,” recalled Pennington. “Yan had a great deal of experience with hyper-elastic surfaces, medical devices, and mechanical design–he was uniquely qualified to help bring my vision to fruition.”
Shortly thereafter, Blackdot entered a developmental phase that lasted nearly half a decade. Two years into the stealth period, during the Summer of 2019, the company administered its first-ever tattoo on human skin. In addition to presenting Blackdot’s inaugural recipient with hi-res body art, Pennington wanted to ensure that the gift from his company also came with quality that would stand the test of time without the common necessity of tattoo retouching.
“Our first human tattoo was executed on a gentleman named Chris Harvey,” Pennington said. “We then developed the first version of our automated tattooing device (the V1), followed by the commercially viable version we’re using today—the V1c… Blackdot is able to minimize the discomfort associated with tattooing. As for healing, we use a slim needle and do not tattoo deeper than necessary. We’ve conducted [more than 90] tattooing sessions over the past five years and have never caused bleeding or scarring.”
Today, Blackdot is fully operational with plans to expand to major U.S. cities like Los Angeles, New York, Miami, and Las Vegas. In recent years, these regions have hosted some of the biggest live events in sports entertainment, from Super Bowl LVI, WrestleMania 39, and Rolling Loud to ComicCon, EDC, and the Met Gala. During his exclusive interview with Inked Magazine, Pennington floated the idea of teaming up with notable fashion lines to provide attendees at similar affairs with customized body art ranging from the song lyrics of iconic recording artists to Marvel Comics’ sketches and skateboard decks from old-school skaters. For now, shoppers can purchase their next tattoos at the company’s flagship location in Austin, Texas, or remotely through the Blackdot Certified Artist Program. The BCA allows online shoppers to survey Flyway designs drawn by prominent visual artists such as Tyler Hobbs and other notable creators.
Kevin Rose, a California-based entrepreneur, recently stopped by Blackdot’s headquarters where he became one of the first costumers to procure Hobbs’ signature Flyway design. The on-camera session depicted the founder of Revision3 resting comfortably in an exam chair while the V1 Device tattooed the image of three birds on his inner right arm. As for the founder of Blackdot? Pennington suggested that the next time he is under the V1 Device, he will get a tattoo that combines the love of his youngest daughter, Naiya, with his admiration for the Smashing Pumpkins. Pennington and his staff met up with Jimmy Chamberlin and Jeff Schroeder from the two-time Grammy Award-winning band in the Winter of 2022 after being given backstage access.
“I found myself sitting on the couch beside [Schroeder], a Pumpkins guitarist,” Pennington said. “I struck up a conversation and eventually asked if I might show him some tattoo designs made by my young daughter…His favorite was the dragon holding the guitar. He let me take a photo of him holding the drawing and signed the back of it. Naiya would be thrilled. I looked up to see my team was already chatting with [Chamberlin]…They were discussing how he might potentially be able to help Blackdot…I later showed [Chamberlin] Naiya’s designs and asked him the same question. He also went for the dragon holding the guitar and signed the back of it. Naiya’s drawing of a dragon holding a guitar, affectionately referred to as ‘The Pumpkins-approved tattoo,’ is likely my next tattoo.”
Blackdot was made with advanced technology. But if Joel Pennington’s company grows into a well-known commodity, it will likely be due to principles based on diversity, where everyday people and his kids have input just like his business partners and favorite Rock stars.
When you think about a college-educated individual, tattoos aren’t necessarily the first thing that comes to mind. It’s actually the opposite. Society’s interpretation of a laced-up, college-educated professional is someone who is serious, an intellectual, a hard-worker, and someone who has decided to invest in themselves and their future. Your mind immediately veers on the side of academia, doctors, lawyers, and financiers. You don’t immediately think of art, music, nature, or tattoos. While art and science work hand in hand in an educational setting, and these days an art degree is seen as just as valuable as a business degree, it’s still an educational path that has only recently gained any sort of legitimacy within the social stratosphere.
So when Juan Salgado, a celebrity tattoo artist and renowned painter based in Puerto Rico, got a call from the esteemed Ana G. Méndez collegiate system in Puerto Rico, the last thing he was expecting was to bridge the gap between tattoos and higher education. Salgado’s passion for not only this incredible artistic pursuit but also for art in general is palpable in every word he shares.
Can you introduce yourself for us and tell us where you’re from, and what you do?
Yeah, my name is Juan Salgado, I’m from Puerto Rico. I’m basically a multimedia artist. I specialize in tattoos, murals, paintings, and designing in general.
How did you get your start with art originally?
It’s the only thing I’ve known how to do since I was a little kid. I was a super shy person, so I think art helped me socialize a little bit in school. When I was little, I couldn’t look people in the eye. But, through my art, I started developing a sort of confidence. For example in school, I was the best artist in my class and that gave me a little bit of attention which helped me with my shyness, and brought me out of my shell a little. I think art is what helped me cope with reality a little bit. So, I think my interest in art has always been there.
What inspired you to paint murals specifically?
I mean, I love art, it’s glorious. Before tattooing, I was a painter. I mean I’m still a painter, but I stumbled upon painting before I had tattoos in my life, and I felt as if murals were the epitome of painting. It always amazed me how artists can do these massive paintings on walls, and I remember when I was little I thought it was impossible to do. When I started getting seriously interested in murals, it was at the same time mural art was booming in Puerto Rico. It became a movement, and I was a little bit a part of that.
What’s the most interesting mural project you’ve worked on?
I’ve done a lot of murals throughout the world. I’ve painted in Puerto Rico, Australia, Florida but the most interesting project I did was in Puerto Rico. I just recently finished three murals for one of the biggest university systems in Puerto Rico, the Ana G. Méndez University system. They have seven to eight campuses around the world, but in Puerto Rico they have four or five. So, for three of the main campuses, I did what I call the “Vitruvian Muses.” It consists of “Muses” that represent all the classes and the programs they offer right on each Campus of the university. The way we portray these offerings is by showcasing the Muses as tattooed. It’s just groundbreaking to me that this university system hired a tattoo artist and painter to create their murals. All of the Muses are women full of tattoos and I don’t think that would have happened 10 years ago. I really enjoyed it.
The thing is, they wanted to promote inclusion and so I was also able to tattoo the president of the University. The university thought it would be a good way to connect with the more modern generation. It just blows my mind, because in the past tattoos would never have been accepted on a collegiate level and now it is a tool in order to get closer to the youth and make the connection between art and education.
Where do you draw all of your inspiration from?
I mean, all of my inspiration comes from nature and the human experience. So for me, nature is the best teacher. I’m always gazing into the sunsets, and the trees and the leaves, and I study color theory through that every day. Women are also a huge inspiration in my life as well. I think women have been a central focus in every major art movement in every civilization and their connection to nature and the divine resonates with all of the beautiful aspects of life.
That is truly, so cool. How would you describe your art style?
I call it the “Juan Salgado” style, because it’s just a mix of everything I have learned throughout my art career. I’ve been tattooing for 22 years, but I’ve been into art for over 30 years. I’ve never stuck to a specific style. I let the spectator decide. What style do they want to fit me in? I try not to follow the rules too much and go with where the energy of the day takes me. Some days, I wake up and I want to be more traditional and other days I want to be more hyper realistic, and there are days I want to explore black and gray. I love every style and I love bringing them together to create something beautiful.
Your ability to adapt to any artistic situation is incredible.
I mean, I’m a big fan of the Renaissance, and so I grew up thinking that an artist can express themselves through any medium, you just have to adapt to it, but the vision is always going to be the same.
What’s the craziest medium that you’ve ever worked with?
Tattoos. Yeah, one hundred percent. It’s definitely one of the hardest to master. But also, when you have been tattooing for more than 20 years, it’s so rewarding to be able to see your work from way back when and how it’s held up over time.
How did you get your start in tattooing? You were a multimedia artist since childhood, so where did that leap into the industry come from?
I always say that tattooing chose me, I didn’t choose tattooing. I mean, you attract what you think about, and I was thinking about tattooing constantly. 20 years ago, starting to tattoo in Puerto Rico was nearly impossible. There was no social media, and the only way you could actually order tattoo materials was through magazines, or you had to already be working for a tattoo shop. Companies wouldn’t just send materials directly to your house. On top of that, it was difficult to start in a tattoo shop because they were run by rock stars and bikers who weren’t really looking to take on apprentices or give opportunities to anyone. They wanted to keep it a niche.
So my official “start” in tattooing was kind of like divine intervention. I was 19 or 20 years old, something like that, and I was just sitting in my house relaxing and by that point I was already collecting tattoos. I was the first person in my family to ever get tattooed. All of a sudden, there’s this knock at my door, and it’s this childhood friend of mine who had left the island when we were younger. He’s with this older tattooed guy and he goes, “I’m tattooing in Boston,” and immediately I was like, “did you bring your machine’s here?” So from there, he ran back to his house to grab his equipment and we took turns tattooing each other all day. We hadn’t spoken in years and in less than ten minutes, I was holding a tattoo machine for the first time. He had just remembered that I was a good artist from the neighborhood and he was excited to give his machine to a friend that could ink him for free. So basically, I started in my house. After that, he gave me an apprenticeship and in three months I was doing solid work. After a local shop heard about me, they offered me a job right away. I had only had three months of experience and suddenly I was tattooing full time, and the rest is history.
Are you working on anything big right now? Is there anything we should keep our eyes peeled for?
I’m definitely working on a couple of big things. I want to keep them a secret for the moment, but I am working and have a lot of big things in the pipeline as far as tattoo projects go. I also have an art book coming out soon and a few art shows coming up, so lots of exciting things are going on. You’re definitely going to be seeing a lot more of my art in the coming months.
It was 2018 near mid-city west Los Angeles, California, inside the Seventh Letter Gallery on Fairfax avenue, and a rare scene sparked motorsport nostalgia. Defined by harsh lines and subtle familiarity, an iconic 1995 Acura NSX metaphorically revved its engine as it practically popped off the page with graphic lines that reimagined the cult-classic car into a piece of art. The exhibit showcased a 3D sketch over the speedstar’s metal frame, much like a humorous 90’s cartoon, and it was inexplicably iconic.
The artist behind the daredevil display is Southern California-based Joshua Vides, a graphic designer and renowned visual artist who is known for his unique interpretations of urban landscapes. A short scroll down his Instagram page reveals an entertaining parody of fire hydrants, fast food, fashion, and freshly-painted Ferraris. Vides’ bread and butter is his approach, which involves using a modern perspective to convey art through a black and white medium to blur the line between what’s real and what’s not. The Acura scene was part of a series that has evolved over the last five years to encapsulate various ideas at the inception of a concept, an exhibit he calls “Reality to Idea.”
Fast forward to 2023, and Vides has used his years of fashion and street art expertise to forge a partnership with momentous luxury spirit brand, Cincoro Tequila. And he’s been able to use a masterful version of his “Reality to Idea” concept to create a culturally-relevant tequila bottle design. Not only was this an incredible opportunity for Vides, it’s Cincoro’s first time collaborating with an artist on a limited edition bottle. So it’s safe to say both parties recognized each other’s ingenious level of talent prior to the collaboration. We imagine most of you will want to snag the sleek añejo (limited to 150 bottles) before it sells out.
Cincoro Tequila was launched in 2019 by five NBA legends including Jeanie Buss of the Los Angeles Lakers, Wes Edens of the Milwaukee Bucks, Wyc Grousbeck of the Boston Celtics, Wyc’s wife Emilia Fazzalari, and most notably, Michael Jordan. The Cincoro brand boasts a robust portfolio of award-winning luxury tequilas including a smooth blanco, an oaky gold, a deep coppery-hued extra añejo, and a complex reposado with a touch of toasted creme brûlée. This hand-picked añejo for the collaboration is no exception to the brand’s quality and approach. In fact, Jordan and Fazzalari personally chose this exquisite variety, so we imagine that no detail was left unnoticed. Timed perfectly for Miami Art Week, this exclusive collaboration was featured during a private, invitation-only affair at the Edition Hotel where guests could mingle with well-to-do patrons and try sips of the luxe spirit.
Much like its fine quality, the tequila itself is meticulously crafted to tantalize your senses. A delicate swirl in your glass and you’ll breathe in the infectious aroma of maple and orange rind. After one small sip of the añejo, you’ll immediately taste a richness that can be attributed to the heart-warming, sweet and bitter essence of oak, agave, butterscotch, and dark chocolate. Made of 100% agave and at 40% alcohol per volume, this tequila has an elegant finish of dried fruit and baking spices. While Cincoro Tequilas are made to enjoy neat, specialty cocktails are also a recommendation. Choose to mix yours into a delightfully dapper old fashioned cocktail using light agave nectar, bitters, orange peel, and a maraschino cherry.
The bottle design itself pays tribute to Vides’ love for monochrome and pop art. Adorning Cincoro’s slender bottle, the black and white polka dot motif is reminiscent of Vide’s 2018 Acura installation – reiterating his signature cartoon-like feel. Defined by immersive illustrations and bold outlines, pop art has been the premise for street aesthetics since the early 1950’s drawing inspiration from popular culture and current events. A blend of humor, irony, and color takes this tequila bottle to a playfully clever level. To enunciate the level of luxury, every bottle arrives in a gift box with a signed and numbered sketch for authenticity.
“I was able to design it with a 360-degree approach, allowing me to accentuate the authentic beauty of the bottle in a new way,” Vides said. “ This creation is one I’m proud to share with my community and Cincoro’s devoted fan base.”
However you interpret the bottle and perceive the intricacies of Vide’s “Reality to Idea” concept, this collaboration results in a fine collector’s piece for any home. It acts as a symbol of the realities of downtown Los Angeles – the beauty and hardship of inner-city life – and merges it with influence from street style and close-knit neighborhoods to educate all ages with the truest form of cultural appreciation. Front and center in your collection, the añejo artist yearns to have a subtle presence within your most treasured safe haven. Priced at $649.99 (750ml), the Cincoro Añejo x Josh Vides collaboration was made available online for exclusive pre-release through luxury e-commerce platform, ReserveBar and has sold at an exceptional rate. Aged 20 months, it’s ideal for placing on your favorite wooden storage case for years to come…. if nothing else, as a subtle reminder of the art and our past.
By Si Si Penaloza
David Yarrow is recognized as one of the best-selling fine art photographers in the world. David’s evocative and immersive photography of life on earth is most distinctive and has earned him an ever growing following amongst art collectors. His limited edition works regularly sell at high prices at Sotheby’s and other auction houses. Since 2018, David’s work has raised over $6m for philanthropic and conservation organizations including charitable collaborations with Cindy Crawford, Cara Delevingne and Chris Hemsworth. His position in the industry has been rewarded with a wide range of advisory and ambassadorial roles. Our intrepid interview dives deep into what drives David Yarrow to such dizzying photographic feats, and the meaningful causes he has literally gone to the ends of the earth for.
In South Sudan, where you photographed the Dinka people engulfed in cattle, dust and shadows on the career-defining shoot of Mankind, describe the visceral feeling that remains with you to this day, the rush or adrenaline of capturing civilization in this sense.
DY: I had a preconception of the image that I wanted to return home with – something that conveyed the raw enormity of a Dinka cattle camp in an elemental and biblical setting. Something timeless and vast. Like a Rembrandt, I wanted people to be able to look at the picture for hours and find new stories each time. I think at that moment in time I had three emotions. Firstly, I knew that our research had paid off. Secondly, I was worried about walking across the Nile in the dark with crocodiles, and thirdly, I wanted to go home and get some much needed sleep!
A major economic preoccupation in the 19th and early 20th century American West, the cattle drive has been glorified in mythology and culture as an eternal symbol of the American spirit. The Thundering Herd gives us an unflinching, atmospheric sense of the scale and intensity of the drive. How did observing and engaging with Texas wranglers Craig Carter and Ryon Marshall inform your photographic captures of the complexities beyond our collective cowboy mythology?
DY: First, the whole thing played to my purism in its conception. This is cowboy country in its purest sense. They are working cowboys, and to me, it is crucial to do cowboy culture justice as I have massive respect for it. Whilst I can’t say I identify with cowboy culture, I highly respect their work ethic, decency and manners.
Cara Delevingne has said that she loves working with you because you are the epitome of an artist, going above and beyond to capture a moment in its true essence. She says, “he makes me feel safe and inspired whilst always producing a visual feast.” How has your ability to establish rapport with human subjects evolved over the years?
DY: It’s all about trust. If you are working with extraordinary people whose time is an opportunity cost, you can’t let them down. You have to make sure that their days working with you are happy, good and memorable. If you can combine the removal of stress with art creation, there’s more chance of them coming back to work with you. And like most things in life, I think you get better as you get older because you learn from what he didn’t do quite right before.
What is it about Cara’s particular ethos or acumen that makes her a chameleon capable of collaborations that may capsize a lesser model?
DY: She’s unique, authentic, and in many respects, in a league of her own. I am humbled to have worked with her over the years. The problem of working with the likes of Cara is that it is hard to exceed the product of any other collaboration.
Hitchcock inspired one of my all-time most consciousness-expanding moments as a young art writer standing in a gallery. Douglas Gordon’s, 24 Hour Psycho. Your 2020 work, The Birds, also influenced by the late auteur, has me itching to see the genuine article. In the age of Google Image Search, where I can access a considerable body of your work as 2 inch expandable thumbnails, a contemporary condition that can leave us feeling freakishly phenomenal and absurdly empty all at once. I perhaps naively hope that the viewing experience will always matter, no matter how much the analog world becomes extinct or passé. Given this, what hotel or private entity has presented your work most interestingly or impressively to your eyes?
DY: The Thompson in Dallas, which is as close to a six-star hotel there is anywhere in Dallas. They have 50 of my works on show. But I guess the piece that gets the most referrals, because it gets so much footfall, is the Cindy Crawford piece in Sass Cafe in Monaco.
With your visually arresting images literally raising monumentally significant sums for conservation, you have emerged as one of the most relevant photographers of your generation. In what sense have you enjoyed wielding this positive influence most? What communities are you proudest for supporting and assisting with your charitable giving?
DY: My proudest contribution is towards the paediatric Cancer Care Hospital in Wisconsin, a collaboration with Cindy Crawford, where we’ve now raised over a million dollars. Helping any charity is a privilege, but given Cindy’s personal connection – this cause was of significant importance.
Your accomplishment at staged storytelling has set the gold standard very high. I find a chilling cinematic syntax to your still images that evokes the moods of Stan Douglas, Christian Marclay, Richard Prince. What were some of the narrative art house or mainstream feature films that stirred your young imagination?
DY: My heroes are Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese, Ridley Scott and Clint Eastwood. They all have many things in common. That’s work ethic, making screen sweat, but most of all, emotional engagement. I have a lot to learn as a storyteller, and I still am gripped by their every scene.
I found your tribute to Peter Beard via Instagram so deeply soulful and stirring. Incinerating the rule book was his play book. You have that same irreverent streak. Who do you see on the horizon, say under the age of 30, that excites you as much as the epiphany you felt being in Peter’s gallery in your 20s?
DY: As a father of two kids under the age of 21, I would encourage them to look to Emerald Fennell, who won the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay for her film, A Promising Young Woman. I know her dad well. I can’t think of a dad more proud of a daughter than Emerald’s. Her chosen star in the film has got to be the most promising and talented British actress of her generation, Cary Mulligan. The two together are an example for everyone who is growing up and wishing to get involved in the arts.
You write so eloquently on Peter in the Instagram caption: “Peter was a photographer who had contempt for photography; a diarist whose densely adorned volumes have influenced artists and writers as disparate as Andy Warhol, Francis Bacon and Truman Capote. Above all, he was unique – a sacred word.” As such a gifted writer, give us a few opening lines on Tom Brady if you had to return the favor. Speaking of which, is there an interesting backstory for how Tom Brady and Cindy Crawford came to write the Foreword and Afterword to your latest book?
DY: No, but I’m very flattered that they have. They’re both successful people who have always seen the benefits of collaboration. It’s nice to be dragged up by people rather than dragged down, and they set a high bar of commitment to excellence.
When you consult logistics experts or production coordinators on your more monumental, grand scale shoots, what considerations go into that decision and what qualities are you looking for?
DY: Tolerance and an awareness of the pressure I am under and the financial risks I have. Also, an understanding that we’re not in a studio, so things won’t always go to plan.
As you have explored some of the most dangerous environments on earth, what is the one bit of kit or gear that you would feel vulnerable without?
DY: My mobile phone, because if I need help, I can call someone and ask for it.
Your relentless pursuit of excellence is near pathological. Where do you think this stems from? It obviously serves you well; yet is there a personal cost for such monomaniacal and monastic professional discipline?
DY: I think it stems from my mother, an artist who went bankrupt because she didn’t work on the commercial side enough. She was a brilliant artist, though. I’m trying to balance the rest of my life, especially my work and my children. My daughter was head girl of her school and is at Oxford university doing history, so that part of it I guess we got right.
A thoroughbred’s imposing proportions — a sublime orchestration of sinewy muscles and brawny bones — are much easier to admire without the distortions of a heated race. As you “freeze” animals associated with speed – horses, lions and wolves – does this play into your sense of composition? Surreal and so effective to see wolves riding shotgun.
DY: As a still photographer, I have no choice but to freeze motion. The only thing I have control over is where I freeze the motion. That decision will be taken with regard to emotion but also to the glorification of the animal. I am a romanticist before I am anything else.
Arguably, you are as much a phenom in your arena as Tom Brady is in his. Any interesting shoot day superstitions or routines?
DY: I think it’s always important to back yourself and be positive, and believe you’re going to get the shot. But no superstitions. Though I will always leave a note to myself in my hotel room saying ‘Do your best’. I haven’t told anyone that before.
Over the years, have you developed a sixth sense when it comes to location scouting? Who or what has been the most useful tool or resource when it comes to this?
DY: I don’t know whether it’s a sixth sense, but we will not settle on a location until we know it’s absolutely right. In many ways, I’m guided by filmmakers like the Coen brothers, who want to make sure that the backdrop is an additive, not an afterthought. If you stage a shot, you have all the cards in your hand, so it would be a crime to ever settle for something that’s not perfect.
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