For decades now tattoos have been potent symbols of the Los Angeles gang-life scene. The black and white tattoos with recognizable gang symbols appear on members' faces, necks and all over their bodies, making their gang affiliation immediately clear to whomever crosses their path. This can mean the difference between life and death on he streets, and just as often, in prison. What does this prominently placed imagery mean for those men and women who somehow extricate themselves from gang life or are released from prison or want to separate themselves from the gang and start life anew? The very tattoos which may have helped guard against the constant threat of rival gangs now bar many ex-gang members from employment, life without harassment, and the freedom to move on from a past they have worked hard to overcome. Skin Deep is a photography project that seeks to show the effects of this ongoing gang conflict in Los Angeles. Photographer Steven Burton set out to photograph realistic portraits of former gang members who are trying to escape the revolving door of death and prison. For these men and women, the aftermath of gang life is not only carried within--it is also scrawled across their faces and bodies. Skin Deep uniquely highlights the impact tattoos have on the way a person is perceived by showing what each participant might look like without them. Utilizing before and, thanks to the advantages of Photoshop, after photographs, these men and women got a chance to see what they'd look like without the inked visual armor. After the bare images were presented to each, they were asked to talk about themselves and their families, what tattoos represent to them, and their aspirations for the future. Seeing themselves without tattoos--many for the first time in decades--naturally brought about a wide range of emotions, recollections, hopes, and dreams, with responses such as: ''I am shocked. I don't know what to say about this. I am going to give this to my mom, she is going to be so happy.'' ''I think this guy in the pictures would judge the one with tattoos right off the top.'' ''That's crazy, that looks real crazy. Those came out cool man! I think I like it better without the tattoos.'' Burton met his subjects thanks to Father Greg Boyle, the founder of Homeboy Industries in LA, and the entire project is inspired by his tireless work to help rehabilitate these former gang members and give them all a crucial second chance in life. Skin Deep offers a chance to expose the realities these individuals face when trying to rebuild their lives and re-enter society. As importantly, for the public, the project provokes consideration regarding how society perceives and judges people with tattoos and violent pasts and seeks to garner empathy for those caught in the crosshairs of gang life as they try to change their futures.

Offers a collection of sixty-one beguiling dogs caught in the most candid of moments: mid-shake. This volume will stop you dead in your tracks as you are presented with images of man's best friend caught in contortion: hair wild, eyes darting, ears and jowls flopping every which way. A few years ago Carli Davidson was just another young photographer. To make money she worked as a zookeeper; and because she is a fervent animal activist, she volunteered at animal rescues. In 2010 she purchased a high-speed shutter camera and had the idea of combining her two passions. She began photographing the rescue dogs in mid-motion, pausing them at a thirteen-thousandth of a second. She called the project Shake and posted a few pictures on Facebook. They quickly spread virally, reposted over and over. In 2011 a Shake photo was featured in Photo District News, the award-winning magazine for the professional photography industry, and won the prestigious 'Best Photo' award. Photographers were instantly impressed. By the third quarter of 2011, Carli's website was getting 30,000 hits a month. She only had a few Shake photos up, but everybody wanted to see them. Then the 'big publications' began to write about her: Huffington Post, New York Times, Vanity Fair Italy, to name just a few. In a 90-day period her site spiked to 8.5 million views. People were visiting the site from all over the world and the fan letters came pouring in. Shake is the answer to the fan requests Carli received over and over again. Everybody wanted more Shake photos. One hundred dangerously adorable models posed for the book. Sixty-five of them, including the likes of Scooby the Rottweiler, Greta the Shi Tzu, Twinkie the Jack Russell Terrier, and the famous, mixed-breed Ramen Noodle were selected. Two photographs of each dogs are featured side-by-side in the book to caption the motion of their shakes. One photo shows the dog beginning to turn; the other shows its wild hair and fabulous facial expression mid-twist. Many of the dogs are shaking off water; that is captured in the photographs too. The New York Times said it well when they described Carli's work as a "hilarious portrayal of flying fur, flopping jowls, and bulging eyes." Shake will feature an introduction by Carli explaining the inspiration behind the project and her experience shooting the dogs. This will be followed by her spectacular photography of each dog shaking. The back of the book will feature each dog in a non-shaking pose, with name, breed mixes, and personality traits from their owners and the rescues. National publications such as National Geographic, Rolling Stone, People, Discovery, and Huffington Post have already expressed interest in featuring the book. Nikon Camera is also a staunch supporter of Carli. They gave her the camera she used to shoot the photos in the book. She is a favorite of their European headquarters, particularly their UK office, and was asked to shoot the Olympics for them. Three of her Shake photos are in a press-kit they sent out about her that went to journalists at magazines in 33 countries.

Forever More covers the best of the ever-changing contemporary tattoo underground. Bold tribal motifs and gritty stick and pokes bask in a resurgence alongside the fluidity of watercolors and the deviance of Art Brut. From traditional sessions in parlors to traveling artists, Forever More celebrates tattooing’s unsung heroes and contemporary celebrities. Forever More tracks the scene’s inventiveness and originality as tattoos continue to emerge from subculture obscurity. Just as the needle infuses the skin with ink, the artists profiled infuse life into current tattoo culture. In a scene where artists travel the world, often organizing appointments exclusively via social media, tattooing can be a lifestyle and a way of life. Featuring Miriam Frank, Duncan X, David Schiesser, Grace Neutral, Fidjit, Isaiah Toothtaker, and many others, Forever More explores their unique stories and iconic work whilst creating a comprehensive narrative of this dynamic and enduring scene.