Virgin no longer

It's been just about 24 hours since the motor clicked on and the first drop of ink was punched into my right shoulder.  While still a bit tender, it looks so wicked I can hardly believe I waited till mid-way through my 49th year to get my first tattoo.

What started as a hypothetical discussion 4 years ago, days after my Open Water dive certification, has now come to it's awesome realization.  Over the last 4 years as the dives rolled by I continued to gain a more and more profound appreciation, awe really, for the life in our oceans.  I pondered whether to get a tattoo, when it would make sense, where to put it and what exactly it would be: reef scene, ship wreck, diver and flag. 

As the pictures I took underwater began to improve, the idea of basing the tattoo on something I had shot underwater began to take shape.  See some of my images here: Underwater Pics at Heresyourshot.com
Once I found the artist and decided on the time, we discussed two ideas: a reef scene with a combination of corals and fish, or perhaps a single fish or set of fish.  Reviewing some of my pictures with Uncle Pauly we ultimately decided on doing a flight of rays. 

With some sketches in hand and some last minute thoughts, what had once seemed so foreign - I never really thought of myself as a "tattoo guy" - now seemed a very natural expression of my love of diving.  Using this picture as the initial basis:

Pauly researched rays, looked at many photos, and had sketched out an awesome representation.

From first drop to completion was just a bit over 3 hours.  While it stung a bit more than I expected, the excitement and anticipation of seeing the completed work made the time fly by.  While still a bit tender and a bit red, I can't believe how great it looks after one day. 

Sweet.