My sorta tri related tattoo...

[jesvetmed]

That is a really great design, and I'm glad it has such deep meaning to you. Did you design it all yourself? Very nice. And you were SMILING in the photo while they were doing it!?! Tough one, you are!

[Miranda]

Very beautiful ink, and the meaning that it holds to you.

One of my gym GFs that's a tri gal was going to get the ironman symbol after her last race. I'm not sure if she ever did or not. I went with a diff GF to get a cross put on her low back. It turned out very nice, for a similiar meaning to her life. I was just the photographer for that one.

I have always wanted to get one. But never have. It's always interesting to hear people talk about what their tat art means to them. Thx for sharing.

[Urlea]

Thanks for the compliments. I'm very happy with it!

The design is something I made myself. I can't draw to save my life so it's a compilation of about seven different graphics and photos that were creative commons licensed that I blacked out and merged in photo-shop.

Keep in mind the smiling picture was taken before he started to outline the man leading the camel. That portion of the tattoo was the most painful (near the spine) I had tingling nerves that wrapped under my armpit and into my chest. That made me grit my teeth a little bit.

The realization that I actually have a tattoo hasn't quite sunk in yet, but feeling it healing keeps me from forgetting.

Yay for racer back tech shirts! Right now anything I would wear that could cover it sticks. I've had to take two showers with my shirt on just to loosen up the top enough to peel it off. Yikes.

I think I'll have to wait a week or two before starting up Pilates again.

[teigyr]

It is beautiful

After going through months to design mine (it's a Celtic cross) and another 2.5 hours to get it done, I don't understand how someone can mindlessly put something permanent on their body. I like how there is a story attached to it.

Yours is all black? If so, that is probably good because it won't fade as much. You will love it!!!

When I had mine done, I was in a small type historic hotel near the tattoo person. That night, there was someone in the building who was (for lack of a better term) having quite the romantic night. It was loud. When I went to check out the next day, I went to sit down and kind of eased myself into the chair and looked like I was in a bit of pain. Everyone stared at me

I had to say "no, it wasn't me".

I can't wait to see your tattoo when it's healed. How much did you research your artist? I was positively obsessive.

[Urlea]

Teigyr, that is a hilarious story! Where did you have the tattoo placed?

I shot a wedding the day after I got mine done and was on hug patrol. The bride and a few of the bridesmaids tried to give me a hug and I had to put my arms out to stop them. Thankfully they were ladies I knew, so it wasn't offensive. Unfortunately though, while I was taking photos of the reception toasts the flower girl found me and decided my tattoo should be poked.

As to how much I researched my tattoo artist, my husband has three tattoos (four now, he got another on Sat.) by the same artist here in town and all the people we referred him to have great pieces as well so I felt totally at ease with having him do the work.

It is all black, which I really like. The original design I put together had a setting sun between the camel and the man, but we decided to wait on that part. Right now I'm very content with it just being black so I may not add that in. We'll see.

I'm to the itchy, lotion it up every few hours phase now. So far I've managed not to itch it.

[KSH]

WOW! Sorry, but that looks painful. Mine is way smaller and it hurt so bad. Maybe I'm just a horrible whimp!

Very nicely done though!

Oh, Aquaphor is amazing! My tat healed up beautifully using that stuff. I used for about 2-3 weeks after I got it done. Never switched to lotion, just kept putting that on.

[Urlea]

KSH, you did an ironman and all the training to get you there! Trust me, you aren't a "horrible whimp".

The placement of the tattoo has a lot to do with how much it hurts and some of us just have more of a pain tolerance for that type of pain.

I'm still really fond of your hibiscus IM tattoo. Once I've earned mine I'm sure I'll try to be creative with a design like you were.