Polynesian Guy with Turtle Tattoo

Turtles and shark tooth patterns are common in tattoos from the Polynesian islands of the South Pacific.

This guy at Pasifika in Auckland had a classic South Pacific Polynesian tattoo on his upper arm. If I had arms like that I might even consider some body art. Dreams are free!

For another version of this photo please see Polynesian Guy with Turtle Tattoo #2.

This and other photos of people can be seen in either the broadband people photo gallery or the dial-up people photo gallery.

Canon EOS 20D
Canon 18-55mm lens at 51mm
1/125 secs at f/16
ISO 200

Tattooed Polynesian Guy at Pasifika

Tattooing is a traditional art form in Polynesian culture that was a mark of rank and warriorhood. Tattooing was an incredibly painful and drawn-out process in which the skin was actually chiseled! In pre-European days, the ends of pointed sticks were used to carve the flesh and rub ashes and charcoal into the wounds. Once the European settlers arrived, the sticks were abandoned in favor of actual chisels. And people complain today about how much it hurts! (More here about the origins of tattooing in the South Pacific and the art of Charles F Goldie, an early New Zealand artist who painted portraits of Maori with traditional tattooing, including ta moko, the face tattoo).

This photo was taken at the Pasifika Polynesian festival in Auckland in March 2007

Canon EOS 20D
1/50sec at f/5.6
ISO 100
Canon 70-300mm lens at 70mm