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Under the skin: Stories Written in Ink
Under the skin: Stories Written in Ink
Carmine Castelli
February 4, 2025
LFI: What do you think it is that motivates people to get a tattoo?
Carmine Castelli: I’ve often asked myself this question when I observe these ornate bodies through my viewfinder. The answers are as varied and the people themselves. Some reasons surface time and again: a desire for uniqueness, the urge for attention, deeply felt emotions such as love, anger, religion, protest – and the confrontation with death. So tattoos become a form of processing and dealing with existential issues.
What fascinates you as a photographer about the tattooing process?
There are few processes that have cast such a strong spell on me as tattooing. The combination of art, handicraft and individual expression creates a magical aura that is hard to describe in words; but that’s precisely where the fascination lies. I don't simply want to capture moments, but also give visibility to emotions, the atmosphere and the essence of the moment. It’s my aim to draw the viewer further into the scene, so that all this become tangible.
How did the project actually come about?
The impulse behind this tattoo photo project came from a chance encounter in front of a tattoo studio. I met a man whose body was impressively covered with large tattoos. In that moment it was as if a door to a completely new world opened up. It wasn’t just the artwork on his skin, but the stories hidden within, and I just couldn’t get it out of my mind. As of that moment, I just had to follow my curiosity and dive into this amazing world. This project became a journey where I wanted to use my viewfinder to bring the people behind the tattoos and their individual stories to life.
What was your photographic process, and how did the camera work?
My photographic process always begins with observation. I dive into the scenario, feel its effect on me, and then I wait for the right moment when everything comes together: the light, the composition, the emotions. While taking the pictures, I try to remain invisible and not disturb, to be focussed and concentrated. Thanks to its excellent close focus range, the Leica Q enabled me to take perfect detail shots. For the rest of the pictures I used my favourites: the Leica M10, the Leica M246 Monochrom, and the Leica M11 Monochrom. These cameras allow me to play with the aperture as a creative tool, in order to focus on the essentials and ensure that distracting elements fade into the background. This results in images that captivate the viewers and allow them to immerse themselves in a world of their own.
Katja HübnerCarmine Castelli: I’ve often asked myself this question when I observe these ornate bodies through my viewfinder. The answers are as varied and the people themselves. Some reasons surface time and again: a desire for uniqueness, the urge for attention, deeply felt emotions such as love, anger, religion, protest – and the confrontation with death. So tattoos become a form of processing and dealing with existential issues.
What fascinates you as a photographer about the tattooing process?
There are few processes that have cast such a strong spell on me as tattooing. The combination of art, handicraft and individual expression creates a magical aura that is hard to describe in words; but that’s precisely where the fascination lies. I don't simply want to capture moments, but also give visibility to emotions, the atmosphere and the essence of the moment. It’s my aim to draw the viewer further into the scene, so that all this become tangible.
How did the project actually come about?
The impulse behind this tattoo photo project came from a chance encounter in front of a tattoo studio. I met a man whose body was impressively covered with large tattoos. In that moment it was as if a door to a completely new world opened up. It wasn’t just the artwork on his skin, but the stories hidden within, and I just couldn’t get it out of my mind. As of that moment, I just had to follow my curiosity and dive into this amazing world. This project became a journey where I wanted to use my viewfinder to bring the people behind the tattoos and their individual stories to life.
What was your photographic process, and how did the camera work?
My photographic process always begins with observation. I dive into the scenario, feel its effect on me, and then I wait for the right moment when everything comes together: the light, the composition, the emotions. While taking the pictures, I try to remain invisible and not disturb, to be focussed and concentrated. Thanks to its excellent close focus range, the Leica Q enabled me to take perfect detail shots. For the rest of the pictures I used my favourites: the Leica M10, the Leica M246 Monochrom, and the Leica M11 Monochrom. These cameras allow me to play with the aperture as a creative tool, in order to focus on the essentials and ensure that distracting elements fade into the background. This results in images that captivate the viewers and allow them to immerse themselves in a world of their own.
ALL IMAGES ON THIS PAGE: © Carmine Castelli
EQUIPMENT: Leica Q with Summilux 28 f/1.7 Asph, Leica M10, Leica M Monochrom (Typ 246), Leica M11 Monochrom with Summilux-M 35 f/1.4 Asph
Carmine Castelli+-
Born in Switzerland in 1972 the son of a Sicilian migrant worker family, the photographer has been exploring the world with his Leica cameras since 2017. He seeks his motifs on the street, and in 2023 was able to contribute to the release of the new Leica M11 Monochrom for Leica Camera Switzerland, with a video, a blog post and an exhibition at the Leica Store Basel. His work captures the beauty and essence of everyday life and has already appeared in various publications. More
